凯斯宾王子 第五章 凯斯宾的神奇探险之旅（上）

C. S. 刘易斯 （吴民　译）

After this， Caspian and his Tutor had many more secret conversations on the top of the Great Tower， and at each conversation Caspian learned more about Old Narnia， so that thinking and dreaming about the old days， and longing that they might come back， filled nearly all his spare hours. But， of course， he had not many hours to spare， for now his education was beginning in earnest. He learned sword-fighting and riding， swimming and diving， how to shoot with the bow and play on the recorder and the theorbo， how to hunt the stag and cut him up when he was dead， besides Cosmography， Rhetoric， Heraldry， Versification， and of course History， with a little Law， Physic， Alchemy， and Astronomy. Of Magic he learned only the theory， for Doctor Cornelius said the practical part was not proper study for princes. “And I myself，” he added， “am only a very imperfect magician and can do only the smallest experiments.” Of Navigation （“Which is a noble and heroical art，” said the Doctor） he was taught nothing， because King Miraz disapproved of ships and the sea.

He also learned a great deal by using his own eyes and ears. As a little boy， he had often wondered why he disliked his aunt， Queen Prunaprismia; he now saw that it was because she disliked him. He also began to see that Narnia was an unhappy country. The taxes were high and the laws were stern and Miraz was a cruel man.

那以后的時光，凯斯宾和他的老师便常常在塔顶密谈，每一次谈话后，古老的纳尼亚在凯宾斯的脑海中越来越清晰。那个奇妙的世界引起了这位年轻王子的无限憧憬和向往。他多想重返古老的纳尼亚啊。然而，并没有多少时间给他遐想，因为这时，他已经开始接受正统教育，击剑、骑马、游泳和潜水都是必修课，此外，射箭、狩猎、吹竖笛、弹琵琶也必须掌握。当然了，这还不够，还要学习宇宙学、修辞学、纹章学、诗体韵律，以及历史、法律、物理、炼金术和天文学。关于占星术，他只学了一些基础理论，因为克奈尔斯博士说实际操作不宜教授给王子。“而我自己，”他补充道，“也只是一个很不成熟的占星家，只能做最简单的试验。”他没有上航海课，（“这是一门高尚而又富有英雄色彩的学问。”博士说。）这是因为国王弥若兹反对提到船舶和大海。

王子依靠聪慧的头脑和勤勉的学习态度，掌握了不少其他学问。当他还是个孩子的时候，他就经常思考为什么他不喜欢自己的婶婶——普鲁娜普瑞丝弥尔王后。现在他明白了，那是因为王后不喜欢他。同时他渐渐发现，现在的纳尼亚是一个不幸福的国家，税收过重，法律严酷，而叔父弥若兹更是一个十足的暴君。

After some years there came a time when the Queen seemed to be ill and there was a great deal of bustle and pother about her in the castle and doctors came and the courtiers whispered. This was in early summertime. And one night， while all this fuss was going on， Caspian was unexpectedly wakened by Doctor Cornelius， after he had been only a few hours in bed.

“Are we going to do a little Astronomy， Doctor？” said Caspian.

“Hush！” said the Doctor. “Trust me and do exactly as I tell you. Put on all your clothes; you have a long journey before you.”

Caspian was very surprised， but he had learned to have confidence in his Tutor and he began doing what he was told at once. When he was dressed， the Doctor said， “I have a wallet for you. We must go into the next room and fill it with victuals from your Highnesss supper table.”

“My gentlemen-in-waiting will be there，” said Caspian.

“They are fast asleep and will not wake，” said the Doctor. “I am a very minor magician， but I can at least contrive a charmed sleep.”

They went into the antechamber and there， sure enough， the two gentlemen-in-waiting were， sprawling on chairs and snoring hard. Doctor Cornelius quickly cut up the remains of a cold chicken and some slices of venison and put them with bread and an apple or so and a little flask of good wine， into the wallet which he then gave to Caspian. It fitted on by a strap over Caspians shoulder， like a satchel you would use for taking books to school.

“Have you taken your sword？” asked the Doctor.

時间过得真快啊，一晃几年过去了。近来，王后好像病倒了，整个城堡都因此显得忙碌和不安，成群的医生被召入宫，侍臣们都在议论纷纷。举国上下陷入一种莫名的恐慌中。那时是初夏，一天夜里，凯斯宾刚入睡不久，便意外地被克奈尔斯博士摇醒了。

“我们要讲一点儿天文学吗，博士？”凯斯宾睡眼惺忪地问。

“嘘！”博士低声说，“什么也别说，你要相信我，按照我说的做。穿上衣服，马上离开这里。”

凯斯宾感到十分诧异，但他完全信任自己的老师，便立刻照博士的吩咐做了。穿好衣服之后，博士递给他一件东西：“我这儿给你准备了一个旅行袋，我们马上到隔壁房间，从你晚餐桌上取些吃的，把袋子装满。”

“那儿有我的仆人，他们总是寸步不离的。”

“他们都睡着了，放心好了。”博士说，“我这个蹩脚的魔法师想让别人昏睡一会儿还是没问题的。”

他们一齐来到前厅。果然，两个仆人仰靠在椅子上，鼾声如雷。博士迅速地切碎餐桌上剩下的凉拌鸡和几片鹿肉，连同面包、一个苹果及其他的一些食物和一小瓶好酒一起放进那个旅行袋里，像上学背的包一样，捆扎好，让王子背在身上。

“宝剑带上了吗？”博士问。

Word Study

earnest /'??n?st/ adj. 非常认真的;诚实的;真诚的

in earnest（更加）严肃地，认真地，坚定的

The work on the house will begin in earnest on Monday.

heroical /h?'r???k?l/ adj. 英雄的

bustle /'b?sl/ n. 忙乱嘈杂;喧闹

contrive /k?n'tra?v/ v.（不顾困难而）设法做到;巧妙地策划;精巧地制造

“Yes，” said Caspian.

“Then put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet. Thats right. And now we must go to the Great Tower and talk.”

When they had reached the top of the Tower （it was a cloudy night， not at all like the night when they had seen the conjunction of Tarva and Alambil） Doctor Cornelius said，

“Dear Prince， you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune in the wide world. Your life is in danger here.”

“Why？” asked Caspian.

“Because you are the true King of Narnia： Caspian the Tenth， the true son and heir of Caspian the Ninth. Long life to your Majesty”—and suddenly， to Caspians great surprise， the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.

“What does it all mean？ I dont understand，” said Caspian.

“I wonder you have never asked me before，” said the Doctor， “why， being the son of King Caspian， you are not King Caspian yourself. Everyone except your Majesty knows that Miraz is a usurper. When he first began to rule， he did not even pretend to be the King： he called himself Lord Protector. But then your royal mother died， the good Queen and the only Telmarine who was ever kind to me. And then， one by one， all the great lords， who had known your father， died or disappeared. Not by accident， either. Miraz weeded them out. Belisar and Uvilas were shot with arrows on a hunting party： by chance， it was pretended. All the great house of the Passarids he sent to fight giants on the northern frontier till one by one they fell. Arlian and Erimon and a dozen more he executed for treason on a false charge. The two brothers of Beaversdam he shut up as madmen. And finally， he persuaded the seven noble lords， who alone among all the Telmarines did not fear the sea， to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean， and， as he intended， they never came back. And when there was no one left who could speak a word for you， then his flatterers （as he had instructed them） begged him to become King. And of course he did.”

“带着呢。”凯斯宾说。

“那就快披上这件斗篷，把宝剑和旅行袋都遮住。嗯，好。咱们现在到塔顶上去，我有几句话对您讲。”

这时已是深夜，塔顶上黑漆漆的，寒气袭人，一切都仿佛笼罩在不祥的氛围中，让人觉得莫名地恐怖。这跟往日他们坐在这里一起看塔瓦星和阿拉姆毕尔星相会的感觉太不一样了。

“亲爱的王子，不要留恋这里，到更广袤的世界追求您的价值和幸福吧。在这里您随时都会有生命危险！”

“为什么？”凯斯宾惊愕地问。

“因为您才是纳尼亚真正的国王：凯斯宾十世——凯斯宾九世的亲生儿子和继承人。陛下万岁——”说着，这小人儿突然单膝跪地，亲吻了王子的手，这使凯斯宾大吃一惊。

“博士，你怎么啦？我都糊涂了。”

“难道您从来没有想过吗？”博士说，“为什么作为凯斯宾国王的儿子，您却不是纳尼亚的国王。除您之外，人人都知道彌若兹是个篡位夺权的小人。一开始，他还不敢自称国王，而称自己为‘君王的保护人。后来，您的母后去世了。她是一位贤德的王后，也是唯一一位待我宽厚仁慈的台尔马人。此后，您父亲的肱骨旧臣，要么一个个离奇地死去，要么就失踪了。这当然不是巧合，都是弥若兹干的。伯力沙和犹威拉思在一场狩猎中被暗箭射死，对外却说是失手误伤;弥若兹把所有伯萨瑞德的望族都派到北边战场上与巨人作战，直到他们一个个战死疆场;阿康和艾瑞蒙还有其他的十几个人，以莫须有的叛国罪被处以极刑;海狸大坝的两兄弟被当作疯子关了起来;最后，弥若兹说服了台尔马人中唯独不怕大海的七位爵爷航行到东海彼岸去寻找新大陆，正如他计划的一样，他们从此一去不返。再也没有人站在您这一边了，只剩下那些阿谀奉承之辈，在弥若兹的授意下，大家请求他做纳尼亚的国王。当然，他欣然接受了这请求。”

“Do you mean he now wants to kill me too？” said Caspian.

“That is almost certain，” said Doctor Cornelius.

“But why now？” said Caspian. “I mean， why didnt he do it long ago if he wanted to？ And what harm have I done him？”

“He has changed his mind about you because of something that happened only two hours ago. The Queen has had a son.”

“I dont see what thats got to do with it，” said Caspian.

“Dont see！” exclaimed the Doctor. “Have all my lessons in History and Politics taught you no more than that？ Listen. As long as he had no children of his own， he was willing enough that you should be King after he died. He may not have cared much about you， but he would rather you should have the throne than a stranger. Now that he has a son of his own he will want his own son to be the next King. You are in the way. Hell clear you out of the way.”

“Is he really as bad as that？” said Caspian. “Would he really murder me？”

“He murdered your Father，” said Doctor Cornelius.

Caspian felt very queer and said nothing.

“I can tell you the whole story，” said the Doctor. “But not now. There is no time. You must fly at once.”

“Youll come with me？” said Caspian.

“I dare not，” said the Doctor. “It would make your danger greater. Two are more easily tracked than one. Dear Prince， dear King Caspian， you must be very brave. You must go alone and at once. Try to get across the southern border to the court of King Nain of Archenland. He will be good to you.”

“你的意思是他现在也想除掉我吗？”凯斯宾问。

“毫无疑问。”克奈尔博士说。

“可是为什么要等到现在？这么多年，为什么他不下手，是因为我近来得罪了他吗？”凯斯宾问。

“他改变主意是因为两个小时前发生的一件事，彻底改变了您的命运——王后生了个儿子。”

“我不明白这与我有什么关系。”凯斯宾仍然迷惑不解。

“還不明白！”博士叫道，“我给您上的那些历史课和政治课，就没让您更加聪明一些吗？听着，在他还没有自己的儿子时，只好由您来继承王位，虽然他并不爱您，但他宁可把王位传给您，而不愿传给一个外人。现在他有了儿子，自然希望自己的儿子来继承王位。这时您就变得碍事了，他当然要清除你这个障碍。

“他真有那么坏吗？”凯斯宾感到震惊，“他真的会谋害我吗？”

“他已经谋杀了您的父亲！”克奈尔斯博士回答。

凯斯宾难受极了，半天没开口。

“我可以把事情的来龙去脉都告诉您。”博士说，“但不是现在，时间来不及了，您必须赶紧离开这里。”

“我们一起走吗？”凯斯宾问。

“恐怕不行，拖着我您会更危险。两个人一起更容易被发现。亲爱的王子，亲爱的凯斯宾国王，勇敢些！您必须一个人立刻走。向南越过国境，去投奔阿钦兰国的国王奈恩。他会好好待你的。”

Word Study

heir /e?（r）/ n.继承人;后嗣

execute /'eks?kju?t/ v. 处决，处死

fly /fla?/ v.（从……）逃走，逃跑

“Shall I never see you again？” said Caspian in a quavering voice.

“I hope so， dear King，” said the Doctor. “What friend have I in the wide world except your Majesty？ And I have a little magic. But in the meantime， speed is everything. Here are two gifts before you go. This is a little purse of gold alas， all the treasure in this castle should be your own by rights. And here is something far better.”

He put in Caspians hands something which he could hardly see but which he knew by the feel to be a horn.

“That，” said Doctor Cornelius， “is the greatest and most sacred treasure of Narnia. Many terrors I endured， many spells did I utter， to find it， when I was still young. It is the magic horn of Queen Susan herself which she left behind her when she vanished from Narnia at the end of the Golden Age. It is said that whoever blows it shall have strange help—no one can say how strange. It may have the power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund and Queen Susan and High King Peter back from the past， and they will set all to rights. It may be that it will call up Asian himself. Take it， King Caspian： but do not use it except at your greatest need. And now， haste， haste， haste. The little door at the very bottom of the Tower， the door into the garden， is unlocked. There we must part.”

“Can I get my horse Destrier？” said Caspian.

“那我再也见不着您了吗？”凯斯宾的声音有些颤抖。

“我衷心希望我们还有再见的那天，亲爱的国王。”博士的脸上有些悲伤，“您是我在这个世界上唯一的朋友！我会一些小小的法术，可现在速度就是一切。您走之前，这里有两件小礼物，必须交给您。这是一小袋金子——这是微不足道的，因为本来整个城堡都应属于您。不过还有一件比这珍贵千倍的东西。”

博士把一件东西放在凯斯宾的手上。虽然看不清楚，但凯斯宾握在手里能够感觉到那是一把号。

“这是纳尼亚的神圣之号，是纳尼亚最伟大、最神圣的珍宝，我年轻时历经磨难，念了无数遍咒语才得到它。这号本来属于苏珊女王，她离开纳尼亚之前遗落在这里。据说，只要吹响它，就能得到神灵的帮助——但是我也不知道具体是什么帮助。也许它能把女王露茜、国王爱德蒙、女王苏珊和至尊王彼得召唤回来吧。又或者能够把阿斯兰唤回来，那时候，正义一定能够得到伸张，苦难一定能够得到解脱。带着它吧，凯斯宾国王！但是，千万记住，不到万不得已，绝不能吹响它。快走！我已经帮您打开了高塔通往花园的小门，您必须从那里开始一个人的逃亡了。”

“我能带上我的马戴思特里尔吗？”凯斯宾露出不舍的眼神。

“He is already saddled and waiting for you just at the corner of the orchard.”

During the long climb down the winding staircase Cornelius whispered many more words of direction and advice. Caspians heart was sinking， but he tried to take it all in. Then came the fresh air in the garden， a fervent handclasp with the Doctor， a run across the lawn， a welcoming whinny from Destrier， and so King Caspian the Tenth left the castle of his fathers. Looking back， he saw fireworks going up to celebrate the birth of the new prince.

All night he rode southward， choosing by-ways and bridle paths through woods as long as he was in country that he knew; but afterwards he kept to the high road. Destrier was as excited as his master at this unusual journey， and Caspian， though tears had come into his eyes at saying good-bye to Doctor Cornelius， felt brave and， in a way， happy， to think that he was King Caspian riding to seek adventures， with his sword on his left hip and Queen Susans magic horn on his right. But when day came， with a sprinkle of rain， and he looked about him and saw on every side unknown woods， wild heaths， and blue mountains， he thought how large and strange the world was and felt frightened and small.

“嗯，它正在果园边上等着您呢。”

快步走下那长长的旋转楼梯，克奈尔斯博士抓紧这最后的宝贵时光又交代叮咛了许多指示和建议。凯斯宾心里乱糟糟的，但仍然努力把每个字都记在心里。推开塔底的小门，一股清新的夜风扑面而来，耳畔传来戴思特里尔的蹄声和亲热的嘶叫声。王子翻身上马，惜别了自己最敬爱的老师，快马加鞭往城外疾驰。至此，凯斯宾十世离开了他父王的城堡。蓦然回首，他看见庆祝新生儿诞生的礼花绽放。

王子一路向南方飞驰，沿途尽量抄小路快行，伏兵已经被远远甩在身后。凯斯宾王子激动万分，之前的逃亡的伤感和眼泪汪汪的告别似乎都被甩到了身后。他觉得畅快起来，内心渐渐充满了勇气。这逃亡的路上，处处充满了自由的气息。他觉得自己就像是凯斯宾国王，左手执剑右手拿号，一路披荆斩棘，所向披靡。拂晓时分，天空飘起了丝丝细雨，凯斯宾勒住缰绳，四周除了无尽的森林，便是杂乱盛开的野菊花，远处是青黛色的群山。在这辽阔、陌生的世界里，王子感到自己是那么渺小，不禁有些害怕起来。

Word Study

endure /?n'dj??（r）/ v. 忍耐;忍受

They had to endure a long wait before the case came to trial.

haste /he?st/n. 急速;匆忙;仓促

fervent /'f??v?nt/ adj. 热情的;热诚的;热烈的

sprinkle /'spr??kl/ n. 少量;少數