Ham and the Porcupine

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【导读】这篇《含与豪猪》收编在牛津大学出版社1995年出版的Just So Stories（《原来如此的故事》）中，作者吉卜林（J.R.Kipling,1865—1907）是英国首位获得诺贝尔文学奖的作家。《原来如此的故事》初版于1902年，最初只有12个故事，1903年美国版增加成13个，牛津版中的《含与豪猪》是该书的第14个故事。

在吉卜林繁多的作品中，《原来如此的故事》是一颗令全世界少年儿童神往的明珠。该书中的故事是作者早年为了回答其女儿提出的各种问题（如鲸鱼的咽喉为什么很小、大象的鼻子为什么很长，以及骆驼为什么有驼峰，等等）而“杜撰”的答案。照顾到孩子的年龄和心理特征，作者运用其非凡的想象力和童趣十足的幽默感，把故事讲（写）得绘声绘色、通俗易懂、风趣诙谐，并极富知识性和寓意，展现了作者高超的语言才能。

笔者早年翻译《原来如此的故事》所据的是美国艾尔蒙特出版公司1966年普及版。拙译于1986年由希望出版社出版，后有多家出版社重版，但这些版本都只包含我早年翻译的那12个故事。后来接力出版社的“名著名译名绘版”（2015）和人民文学出版社的“全译插图本”（2017）增加了笔者补译的第13个故事。考虑到拙译《故事》再版尚待时日，故将新近译出的这第14个故事呈《英语世界》刊出，让读者先睹为快。

When all the Animals lived in Big Nursery, before it was time to go into the Ark1诺亚方舟是一艘根据上帝的指示而建造的大船。据《圣经·旧约·创世记》记载，上帝计划发大洪水消灭恶人，但他发现世间有个叫诺亚的好人，于是他指示诺亚建造一艘方形大船（方舟），带上他的妻子、儿子（闪、含与雅弗）和儿媳妇，以及各种陆生动物和飞鸟，一起躲避那场灾难。, Big Nurse had to brushtheir hair.She told them to stand still while she did it or it might be the worse for them.So they stood still.The Lion stood still and had his hair brushed into a splendid mane with a blob at the tip of his tail.The Horse stood still, and had his hair brushed into a beautiful mane and a noble tail.The Cow stood still and had her horns polished, too.The Bear stood still and got a Lick and a Promise.They all stood still, except one Animal, and he wouldn’t.He wiggled and kicked sideways at Big Nurse.

在登上诺亚方舟之前呀，所有动物都住在大养殖场里，管养殖场的那位大个头阿姨必须得为它们梳理毛发。阿姨告诉那些动物，梳毛发时得乖乖地站着不动，不然后果会很糟糕。于是那些动物都乖乖地站着不动。狮子乖乖地站着不动，结果阿姨在它头部和颈部周围梳出了一圈威武的鬃毛，还在它尾巴尖上梳出了一个毛球。马乖乖地站着不动，结果阿姨在它颈上梳出了一溜漂亮的鬣毛，还为它梳出了一条飘逸的马尾。牛乖乖地站着不动，结果梳毛的阿姨连它的角都擦得又光又亮。熊也乖乖地站着不动，结果也被梳出了一身光滑的皮毛。所有动物梳毛发时都站着不动，只有一个家伙除外。那家伙在阿姨跟前东摇西摆，前仰后合，还不停地踢腿。

[2]Big Nurse told him, over and over again, that he would not make anything by behaving so.But he said he wasn’t going to stand still for anyone, and he wanted his hair to grow all over him.So, at last, Big Nurse washed her hands of him and said: ‘On-your-own-headbe-it-and-all-over-you!’ So, that Animal went away, and his hair grew and grew—on his own head it was and all over him—all the while that they werewaiting to go into the Ark2相传诺亚造方舟一共用了120年。.And the more it grew, the longer, the harder, the harsher, and the pricklier it grew, till,at last, it was all long spines and jabby quills.On his own head it was and all over him, and particularly on his tail!So they called him Porcupine and stood him in the corner till the Ark was ready.

[2]阿姨一遍又一遍地批评那家伙，说它不该老是动个不停。可那家伙却说，它不想在任何人跟前站着不动，还说它希望从头到尾都披毛散发。说到最后，阿姨不想再管那家伙，就对它说：“那你就自个儿去披毛散发吧！”那家伙一听便跑开了。于是，在大伙儿等着上船的那段时间里，那家伙的毛发就一直长呀长呀，真长得它从头到尾都披毛散发了。那些毛发越长越长，越长越粗，越长越硬，而且越长越尖。长到最后呀，那些毛发都变成了长长的棘刺。这下那家伙浑身上下都披棘散刺，而且尾巴末端还长出了一个刺疙瘩！于是大伙儿就管它叫豪猪，并且叫它站到一边角落去面壁思过，直到诺亚方舟造好。

[3]Then they all went into the Ark,two by two; but not one wanted to go in with Porcupine on account of his spines, except one small brother of his called Hedgehog who always stood still to have his hair brushed (he wore it short), and Porcupine hated him.

[3]然后大伙儿就开始登船，登船的动物都成双成对。豪猪浑身是刺，除了它那个名叫刺猬的小兄弟外，谁都不愿意同它结伴，可当初刺猬在梳毛时一直都乖乖地站着不动，结果身上的刺很短，所以豪猪并不喜欢它这个小兄弟。

Their cabin was on the orlop-deck—the lowest—which was reserved for the Nocturnal Mammalia, such as Bats, Badgers, Lemurs, Bandi-coots and Myoptics3“瞎眼猫”是作者杜撰的一个动物名。at large.Noah’s second son, Ham, was in charge there, because he matched the decoration, being darkcomplexioned4相传含是非洲人的始祖。but very wise.

豪猪和刺猬的房间在底舱（最下面一层甲板），这层舱房住的都是夜间出没的动物，诸如蝙蝠呀、狗獾呀、狐猴呀、袋狸呀，还有瞎眼猫，等等。负责管理底舱的是诺亚的第二个儿子，名字叫含，因为含皮肤黝黑，与黑咕隆咚的底舱环境相称，不过他非常聪明。

[4]When the lunch-gong sounded,Ham went down with a basketful of potatoes, carrots, small fruits, grapes,onions and green corn for their lunches.

[4]随着午餐铃敲响，含拎着篮子下到底舱，篮子里装有动物们午餐吃的甘薯、胡萝卜、小野果，另外还有葡萄、洋葱和嫩玉米。

The first Animal that he found was the small Hedgehog Brother, having the time of his life among the blackbeetles.He said to Ham, ‘I doubt ifiwould go near Porcupine this morning.The motion has upset him and he’s a little fretful.’

含碰到的第一个动物是豪猪那个小兄弟刺猬，当时它正美滋滋地在捕食蟑螂。刺猬对含说：“我拿不准今天早晨陪豪猪上船做得对不对。它一直为这事烦心，这会儿都还在发脾气呢。”

Ham said: ‘Dunno anything about that.My job is to feed ’em.’ So he went into Porcupine’s cabin, where Porcupine was taking up all the room in the world in his bunk, and his quills rattling like a loose window in a taxi.

含说：“我对这种事可是一无所知。我的任务就是来送饭。”说完这话他进了豪猪的舱房，见豪猪趴在铺上，把整个铺位都塞满了，浑身棘刺抖个不停，像出租车松动的车窗那样咔哒咔哒作响。

Ham gave him three sweet potatoes,six inches of sugarcane, and two green corn-cobs.When he had finished, Ham said: ‘Don’t you ever say ‘thank-you’for anything?’ ‘Yes,’ said Porcupine.‘This is my way of saying it.’ And he swung round and slapped and swished with his tail sideways at Ham’s bare right leg and made it bleed from the ankle to the knee.

含给豪猪分发了三个甘薯、一截甘蔗和两个嫩玉米棒子。发完食物后他问：“你难道就从来不会说声‘谢谢’？”“不会说，”豪猪回答，“这就是我表示感谢的方式。”说完它便朝含裸露的右腿嗖嗖地甩动尾巴，尾端的棘刺顿时就让含的右膝到右踝都开始流血。

[5]Ham hopped up on deck, with his foot in his hand, and found Father Noah at the wheel.

[5]用手托着受伤的右脚，含单腿跳上了甲板，到驾驶舱找到了正在掌舵的爸爸诺亚。

‘What do you want on the bridge at this hour of high noon?’ said Noah.

“这大中午的你到驾驶舱来干嘛？”诺亚问。

Ham said, ‘I want a large tin of Ararat5据《圣经》记载，阿勒山是大洪水消退后诺亚方舟停泊的地方，在今土耳其东部。biscuits.’

含回答说：“我想找一大罐阿勒山牌饼干。”

‘For what and what for?’ said Noah.

“找饼干来干什么？”

[6]‘Because something on the orlop-deck thinks he can teach a nigger something about porcupines,’ said Ham.‘I want to show him.’

[6]“底舱有个怪家伙，它以为它可以教一个黑人见识见识豪猪。我倒要叫他见识见识。”

‘Then why waste biscuits?’ said Noah.

“那为什么要浪费饼干？”诺亚问。

‘Law!’ said Ham.‘I only done ask for the largest lid off the largest box of Ararat biscuits on the boat.’

“唉，我不要饼干！我只想要船上最大那种饼干罐最大的马口铁盖子。”

‘Speak to your Mother,’ said Noah.‘She issues the stores.’

“去向你妈妈要吧，她负责发放给养。”

So Ham’s Mother, Mrs.Noah, gave him the largest lid off the very largest box of Ararat biscuits in the Ark as well as some biscuits for himself; and Ham went down to the orlop-deck with the box-lid held low in his dark right hand,so that it covered his dark right leg from the knee to the ankle.

结果含的妈妈（就是诺亚夫人）给了含船上最大那种饼干罐最大的马口铁盖子，还给了他一些饼干。含再次下到底舱，黑黑的右手拎着那个马口铁饼干罐盖子，把他那条黑黑的右腿从膝到踝遮了个严严实实。

[7]‘Here’s something I forgot,’ said Ham and he held out an Ararat biscuit to Porcupine, and Porcupine ate it quick.

[7]“我刚才忘了点儿东西。”含说着从篮子里拿出一块饼干。豪猪一口就把饼干吃了。

‘Now say ‘Thank-you,’ said Ham.

“现在请说声‘谢谢’。”含对豪猪说。

‘I will,’ said Porcupine, and he whipped round, swish, with his wicked tail and hit the biscuit-tin.And that did him no good.‘Try again,’ said Ham, and Porcupine swished and slapped with his tail harder than ever.‘Try again,’ said Ham.This time the Porcupine swished so hard that his quill-ends jarred on his skin inside him, and some of the quills broke off short.

“我会谢你的。”豪猪说完猛一转身，带刺的尾巴嗖的一下朝含抽来，但却抽在了铁盖上。这可叫它真不好受。“再抽呀！”含对它说。豪猪使出更大的劲儿，尾巴砰的一声又抽在铁盖上。“再抽呀！”含说。这次豪猪使出浑身力气猛抽，可反作用力震得它连着棘刺的皮肉都感到生疼，身上的好些棘刺也震断了。

[8]Then Ham sat down on the other bunk and said, ‘Listen! Just because a man looks a little sunburned and talks a little chuffy, don’t you think you can be fretful with him.I am Ham! The minute that this Dhow touches Mount Ararat, I shall be Emperor of Africa from the Bayuda Bend to the Bight of Benin,and from the Bight of Benin to Dar-es-Salam, and Dar-es-Salam to the Drakensberg, and from the Drakensberg to where the Two Seas meet round the same Cape.I shall be Sultan of Sultans, Paramount Chief of all Indunas,Medicine Men, and Rain-doctors, and specially of the Wunungiri—the Porcupine People—who are waiting for you.You will belong to me! You will live in holes and burrows and old diggings all up and down Africa; and ifiever hear of you being fretful again I will tell my Wunungiri, and they will come down after you underground, and pull you out backwards.I—amm—Hamm!’

[8]这时，含在另一个铺位上坐下来，厉声对豪猪说：“你给我好好听着！别因为一个人长得黑，说话有点儿粗，就以为可以对他发脾气。我可是含！等这船一到阿勒山，我就会成为非洲的皇帝，那时从拜尤达沙漠到贝宁湾，从贝宁湾到达累斯萨拉姆，从达累斯萨拉姆到德拉肯斯山脉，从德拉肯斯山脉到印度洋和大西洋相汇处的好望角，全都归我管辖。那时我将是王中之王，所有的族长、酋长、巫医、祈雨巫师，尤其是那些正等着你的豪猪猎人，全都归我统领。你得乖乖听我的！你将住在自己挖的洞穴和遍布非洲的废矿洞里。要是我听说你再发脾气，我就会告诉豪猪猎人。他们就会来找你，把你从洞里抓出来。我——是——含！”

[9]Porcupine was so frightened at this that he stopped rattling his quills under the bunk and lay quite still.

[9]豪猪被这番话吓坏了，马上就不再抖动耷拉在铺位下边的尾巴，一动不动地趴在铺上。

Then the small Hedgehog Brother who was under the bunk too, having the time of his life among the blackbeetles there, said: ‘This doesn’t look rosy for me.After all, I’m his brother in a way of speaking, and I suppose I shall have to go along with him underground, and I can’t dig for nuts!’

当时刺猬正在铺位下边美滋滋地捉蟑螂，听过含那番话后，它说：“看来我的前景不妙啊。不管怎么说，我多多少少也算是豪猪的小兄弟。我猜呀，我不得不跟它一道去住地下洞穴了。可我压根儿就不会挖洞呀！”

‘Not in the least,’ said Ham.‘On his own head it was and all over him, just as Big Nurse said.But you stood still to have your hair brushed.Besides,you aren’t in my caravan.As soon as this old bugga-low (he meant the Ark)touches Ararat, I go South and East with my little lot—Elephants and Lions and things—and Porcupig—and scatter ’em over Africa.You’ll go North and West with one or other of my Brothers (I’ve forgotten which), and you’ll fetch up in a comfy little place called England—all among gardens and box-borders and slugs, where people will be glad to see you.And you will be a lucky little fellow always.’

“不会叫你去挖的，”含说，“就像大阿姨说‘叫它自个儿去披毛散发’那样，就叫豪猪自个儿去挖吧。你当初梳毛的时候乖乖地站着不动，再说你也不会随我迁徙呀。这船一到阿勒山，我就要去南方和东方，带着我的队伍——大象、狮子等，还有豪猪，把它们分布到非洲各地。而你将跟随我的哥哥或弟弟（我记不清该是跟谁了）一道去北边和西边。你会到一个安逸的小地方，那个地方叫英格兰，那里有很多花园、灌木丛和你爱吃的虫子。在那儿你会受到人们的宠爱，永远都会是个幸运的小家伙。”

[10]‘Thank you, Sir,’ said the small Hedgehog Brother.‘But what about my living underground? That isn’t my line of country.’

[10]“谢谢先生，”小刺猬说，“可我还会住在地下吗？我可不擅长挖地洞呀。”

‘Not the least need,’ said Ham.And he touched the small Hedgehog Brother with his foot, and Hedgehog curled up—which he had never done before.

“压根儿没那个必要。”含一边说一边用脚碰了碰刺猬，刺猬一下就把身子卷成了一个刺球——它以前可从没那样卷曲过身子。

‘Now you’ll be able to pick up your own dry-leaf-bedding on your ownprickles so as you can lie warm in a hedge from October till April if you like.Nobody will bother you except the gipsies6据说吉普赛人喜欢吃刺猬。他们用黏土包住刺猬在火上烘烤，烤熟后剥除黏土，棘刺随之被拔除。; and you’ll be no treat to any dog.’

“以后呀，你可以用你的刺去拾枯枝落叶，用枯枝落叶在灌木丛中做窝。这样从每年10月到来年4月，要是你愿意，就可以暖暖和和地在窝里冬眠了。除了吉普赛人，没人会来打扰你睡觉，不过狗可不喜欢见到你。”

‘Thank you, Sir,’ said small Hedgehog Brother, and he uncurled himself and went after more blackbeetles.

“谢谢先生。”小刺猬说。说完它舒展开身子，又去捉蟑螂了。

And it all happened just as Ham said.

后来的事情就像含当时所说的那样。

[11]I don’t know how the keepers at the Zoo feed Porcupine but, from that day to this, every keeper that I have ever seen feed a porcupine in Africa,takes care to have the lid of a biscuitbox held low in front of his right leg so that Porcupine can’t get in a swish with his tail at it, after he has had his lunch.

[11]不知道现在的动物饲养员怎样给豪猪喂食，但据我所知，从那之后，直到今天，非洲人喂豪猪都很小心，都会用马口铁饼干罐盖子挡在右腿前，以防豪猪午餐后甩动带刺的尾巴抽中右腿。

Palaver done set! Go and have your hair brushed!

现在故事讲完了！快去让阿姨给你梳头吧！

ESports’ Freaks Vocabulary

Aggro:A term that refers to any play-style that’s more offensive than defensive.

Cheese:A strategy that attempts to exploit the mechanics of a game in an unfair or “cheesy” way.Indicative of a lack of skill.

Dennis:A Dennis is someone who’s new to the game and doesn’t quite grasp the fundamental mechanics.

GG:Short for “Good Game”.Interjection used at the end of a match.

Kappa:The main symbol/emote of Twitch.tv.It represents sarcasm, irony, puns, jokes, and trolls alike.