Jack and His Comrades

Once there was a poor widow, as often there has been, and she had one son. A very scarce summer came, and they didn't know how they'd live till the new potatoes would be fit for eating. So Jack said to his mother one evening, "Mother, bake my cake, and kill my hen, till I go seek my fortune; and if I meet it, never fear but I'll soon be back to share it with you."

从前有个穷寡妇，这样的事从前也常有，她有一个儿子。有一年夏天遭了大荒年，他们不知道该怎么撑到新马铃薯能吃的时候。于是有天晚上杰克对母亲说：“妈，给我烤个饼，杀了咱那只母鸡，我要出去闯闯运气；要是让我碰上了好运，放心吧，我一定很快就回来和您一块儿分享。”

So she did as he asked her, and he set out at break of day on his journey. His mother came along with him to the yard gate, and says she, "Jack, which would you rather have, half the cake and half the hen with my blessing, or the whole of 'em with my curse?"

于是她照他说的做了，他便在破晓时分动身上路了。他母亲一直送他到院门口，说道：“杰克，你是愿意要半个饼、半只鸡，外加我的祝福呢，还是愿意要全部的饼和鸡，外加我的诅咒？”

"O musha, mother," says Jack, "why do you ax me that question? sure you know I wouldn't have your curse and Damer's estate along with it."

“哎哟，妈呀，”杰克说道，“您怎么问我这种问题？您明知道我就算能白得达默家的产业，也不愿意换来您的诅咒啊。”

"Well, then, Jack," says she, "here's the whole lot of 'em with my thousand blessings along with them." So she stood on the yard fence and blessed him as far as her eyes could see him.

“好吧，那么，杰克，”她说道，“这全部都归你了，还外带我千千万万的祝福。”于是她站在院墙上，一直目送他，直到再也看不见为止，一路祝福着他。

Well, he went along and along till he was tired, and ne'er a farmer's house he went into wanted a boy. At last his road led by the side of a bog, and there was a poor ass up to his shoulders near a big bunch of grass he was striving to come at.

好了，他走啊走，走得累了，可没有一户农家愿意雇个小厮。最后他走的路经过一片沼泽，只见一头可怜的驴子陷在泥里，泥都快没到肩膀了，它正拼命想够到旁边一大簇青草。

"Ah, then, Jack asthore," says he, "help me out or I'll be drowned."

“哎呀，杰克老弟，”它说道，“帮我出去吧，不然我就要淹死了。”

"Never say't twice," says Jack, and he pitched in big stones and sods into the slob, till the ass got good ground under him.

“这话不用说第二遍，”杰克说道，便往泥沼里扔进大石块和草皮，一直填到驴子脚下有了坚实的地面为止。

"Thank you, Jack," says he, when he was out on the hard road; "I'll do as much for you another time. Where are you going?"

“谢谢你，杰克，”驴子一上了坚硬的大路，便说道；“改天我也会这样报答你的。你这是要去哪儿啊？”

"Faith, I'm going to seek my fortune till harvest comes in, God bless it!"

“说实话，我正要去闯闯运气，一直闯到秋收的时候，愿上帝保佑这秋收！”

"And if you like," says the ass, "I'll go along with you; who knows what luck we may have!"

“要是你不介意，”驴子说道，“我就跟你一块儿去吧；谁知道咱们能碰上什么好运呢！”

"With all my heart, it's getting late, let us be jogging."

“求之不得，天色也不早了，咱们赶紧走吧。”

Well, they were going through a village, and a whole army of gossoons were hunting a poor dog with a kettle tied to his tail. He ran up to Jack for protection, and the ass let such a roar out of him, that the little thieves took to their heels as if the ould boy was after them.

好了，他们正穿过一个村子，一大群小孩正在追赶一只可怜的狗，狗尾巴上还拴着一只水壶。那狗跑到杰克跟前寻求庇护，驴子一声怒吼，那帮小捣蛋鬼撒腿就跑，仿佛魔鬼在后面追他们似的。

"More power to you, Jack," says the dog.

“谢谢你，杰克，”狗说道。

"I'm much obleeged to you: where is the baste and yourself going?"

“不用谢：你和这位驴大哥这是要去哪儿啊？”

"We're going to seek our fortune till harvest comes in."

“我们正要去闯闯运气，一直闯到秋收的时候。”

"And wouldn't I be proud to go with you!" says the dog, "and get rid of them ill conducted boys; purshuin' to 'em."

“那我能跟你们一块儿去，可真是求之不得呢！”狗说道，“还能顺便摆脱那帮没教养的坏小子；见他们的鬼去吧。”

"Well, well, throw your tail over your arm, and come along."

“好，好，把你的尾巴甩到胳膊上，跟我们一块儿走吧。”

They got outside the town, and sat down under an old wall, and Jack pulled out his bread and meat, and shared with the dog; and the ass made his dinner on a bunch of thistles. While they were eating and chatting, what should come by but a poor half-starved cat, and the moll-row he gave out of him would make your heart ache.

他们走出了镇子，在一堵旧墙下坐了下来，杰克掏出他的面包和肉，分给了狗吃；驴子则拿一丛蓟草当了午饭。他们正吃着聊着的时候，忽然来了一只可怜的、饿得半死的猫，它发出的那声哀鸣，能让人听得心都疼了。

"You look as if you saw the tops of nine houses since breakfast," says Jack; "here's a bone and something on it."

“瞧你这样子，好像从早饭起就没见过一顿饱饭似的，”杰克说道；“给你根骨头，上面还带点肉呢。”

"May your child never know a hungry belly!" says Tom; "it's myself that's in need of your kindness. May I be so bold as to ask where yez are all going?"

“愿你的孩子永远不知道挨饿的滋味！”汤姆猫说道；“我自己正需要你这份好心呢。我能不能冒昧问一句，你们这是要去哪儿啊？”

"We're going to seek our fortune till the harvest comes in, and you may join us if you like."

“我们正要去闯闯运气，一直闯到秋收的时候，你要是愿意，也可以加入我们。”

"And that I'll do with a heart and a half," says the cat, "and thank'ee for asking me."

“那我可是心甘情愿，加倍乐意，”猫说道，“也谢谢你邀我一块儿去。”

Off they set again, and just as the shadows of the trees were three times as long as themselves, they heard a great cackling in a field inside the road, and out over the ditch jumped a fox with a fine black cock in his mouth.

他们又出发了，正走到树影长得有自己身长三倍的时候，忽然听见路边一块田里传来一阵咯咯的叫声，只见一只狐狸叼着一只漂亮的黑公鸡，从沟里跳了出来。

"Oh, you anointed villain!" says the ass, roaring like thunder.

“哦，你这个该死的坏蛋！”驴子说道，吼得跟打雷似的。

"At him, good dog!" says Jack, and the word wasn't out of his mouth when Coley was in full sweep after the Red Dog. Reynard dropped his prize like a hot potato, and was off like shot, and the poor cock came back fluttering and trembling to Jack and his comrades.

“上，好狗！”杰克说道，话音未落，柯利已经全速追着那只红毛狐狸去了。狐狸像扔烫手山芋一样丢下了嘴里的猎物，撒腿就跑，那可怜的公鸡则扑扇着翅膀、浑身发抖地跑回杰克和他的同伴身边。

"O musha, naybours!" says he, "wasn't it the height o' luck that threw you in my way! Maybe I won't remember your kindness if ever I find you in hardship; and where in the world are you all going?"

“哎呀，各位邻居！”它说道，“能遇见你们，真是我天大的运气啊！要是以后我看见你们有难处，我一定不会忘了你们的这份恩情；你们这是要去哪儿啊？”

"We're going to seek our fortune till the harvest comes in; you may join our party if you like, and sit on Neddy's crupper when your legs and wings are tired."

“我们正要去闯闯运气，一直闯到秋收的时候；你要是愿意，也可以加入我们，等你的腿脚和翅膀累了，就到内迪的屁股上歇一歇。”

Well, the march began again, and just as the sun was gone down they looked around, and there was neither cabin nor farm house in sight.

好了，队伍又继续前行，等太阳一落山，他们四下张望，却连一间小屋、一处农舍都看不见。

"Well, well," says Jack, "the worse luck now the better another time, and it's only a summer night after all. We'll go into the wood, and make our bed on the long grass."

“好吧，好吧，”杰克说道，“这回运气差点，下回就会好些，反正不过是个夏夜罢了。咱们进树林里去，铺一铺长草当床睡吧。”

No sooner said than done. Jack stretched himself on a bunch of dry grass, the ass lay near him, the dog and cat lay in the ass's warm lap, and the cock went to roost in the next tree.

说做就做。杰克往一堆干草上一躺，驴子躺在他旁边，狗和猫窝在驴子温暖的怀里，公鸡则飞到旁边的树上栖息。

Well, the soundness of deep sleep was over them all, when the cock took a notion of crowing.

好了，大伙儿都沉沉睡去，正睡得香甜的时候，公鸡忽然心血来潮打起鸣来。

"Bother you, Black Cock!" says the ass: "you disturbed me from as nice a wisp of hay as ever I tasted. What's the matter?"

“讨厌，黑公鸡！”驴子说道：“你把我从这辈子吃过的最香的一口干草堆里吵醒了。怎么回事啊？”

"It's daybreak that's the matter: don't you see light yonder?"

“天亮了呗，怎么回事：你没看见那边有亮光吗？”

"I see a light indeed," says Jack, "but it's from a candle it's coming, and not from the sun. As you've roused us we may as well go over, and ask for lodging."

“我是看见亮光了，”杰克说道，“可那是蜡烛的光，不是太阳的光。既然你把我们吵醒了，咱们不如过去看看，讨个住处吧。”

So they all shook themselves, and went on through grass, and rocks, and briars, till they got down into a hollow, and there was the light coming through the shadow, and along with it came singing, and laughing, and cursing.

于是大伙儿都抖擞精神，穿过青草、乱石和荆棘丛，一路走下去，来到一处洼地，只见那亮光正从阴影里透出来，随之而来的还有唱歌声、笑声，和骂骂咧咧的声音。

"Easy, boys!" says Jack: "walk on your tippy toes till we see what sort of people we have to deal with."

“慢着，伙计们！”杰克说道：“踮着脚走，先看看咱们要打交道的是什么人。”

So they crept near the window, and there they saw six robbers inside, with pistols, and blunderbushes, and cutlashes, sitting at a table, eating roast beef and pork, and drinking mulled beer, and wine, and whisky punch.

于是他们悄悄爬到窗边，看见里面有六个强盗，带着手枪、大口径火枪和弯刀，坐在一张桌子旁，吃着烤牛肉和烤猪肉，喝着热麦酒、葡萄酒，还有威士忌潘趣酒。

"Wasn't that a fine haul we made at the Lord of Dunlavin's!" says one ugly-looking thief with his mouth full, "and it's little we'd get only for the honest porter! here's his purty health!"

“咱们在邓拉文老爷家那一票干得真漂亮！”一个丑陋的贼满嘴食物地说道，“要不是那老实的门房帮忙，咱们哪能捞到这么多！来，为他干一杯！”

"The porter's purty health!" cried out every one of them, and Jack bent his finger at his comrades.

“为门房干一杯！”其他人都跟着喊道，杰克朝他的同伴们弯了弯手指。

"Close your ranks, my men," says he in a whisper, "and let every one mind the word of command."

“都靠拢，弟兄们，”他低声说道，“各就各位，听我口令。”

So the ass put his fore-hoofs on the sill of the window, the dog got on the ass's head, the cat on the dog's head, and the cock on the cat's head. Then Jack made a sign, and they all sung out like mad.

于是驴子把前蹄搭在窗台上，狗爬到驴子头上，猫又爬到狗头上，公鸡再爬到猫头上。接着杰克一使眼色，大伙儿便一齐发疯似的叫喊起来。

"Hee-haw, hee-haw!" roared the ass; "bow-wow!" barked the dog; "meaw-meaw!" cried the cat; "cock-a-doodle-doo!" crowed the cock.

“咿哟，咿哟！”驴子吼道；“汪汪！”狗叫道；“喵喵！”猫喊道；“咯咯咯喔！”公鸡打起鸣来。

"Level your pistols!" cried Jack, "and make smithereens of 'em. Don't leave a mother's son of 'em alive; present, fire!" With that they gave another halloo, and smashed every pane in the window. The robbers were frightened out of their lives. They blew out the candles, threw down the table, and skelped out at the back door as if they were in earnest, and never drew rein till they were in the very heart of the wood.

“举起你们的手枪！”杰克喊道，“把他们打个粉碎。一个也别留活口；瞄准，开火！”话音刚落，他们又是一阵大喊，把窗上每一块玻璃都砸得粉碎。强盗们吓得魂飞魄散，他们吹灭蜡烛，掀翻桌子，从后门夺路而逃，那股拼命劲儿真跟玩命似的，一路狂奔，直到跑进树林深处才停下脚步。

Jack and his party got into the room, closed the shutters, lighted the candles, and ate and drank till hunger and thirst were gone. Then they lay down to rest;—Jack in the bed, the ass in the stable, the dog on the door-mat, the cat by the fire, and the cock on the perch.

杰克一行人便进了屋，关上百叶窗，点起蜡烛，吃喝了个够，直到饥渴全消。随后各自躺下歇息——杰克睡床上，驴子进了马厩，狗趴在门垫上，猫窝在炉火边，公鸡则站在栖木上。

At first the robbers were very glad to find themselves safe in the thick wood, but they soon began to get vexed.

起初那些强盗庆幸自己总算安然逃进了这片密林，可没多久便开始烦躁起来。

"This damp grass is very different from our warm room," says one.

“这潮湿的草地跟咱们那间暖和的屋子可差远了，”一个人说道。

"I was obliged to drop a fine pig's foot," says another.

“我硬是丢下了一块好好的猪蹄，”另一个说道。

"I didn't get a tayspoonful of my last tumbler," says another.

“我那杯最后的酒，连一茶匙都没喝上，”又一个说道。

"And all the Lord of Dunlavin's gold and silver that we left behind!" says the last.

“还有邓拉文老爷所有的金子银子，都留在那儿了！”最后一个说道。

"I think I'll venture back," says the captain, "and see if we can recover anything."

“我看我该冒险回去一趟，”头目说道，“看看还能不能抢救回点什么。”

"That's a good boy!" said they all, and away he went.

“好样的！”大伙儿齐声说道，于是他便去了。

The lights were all out, and so he groped his way to the fire, and there the cat flew in his face, and tore him with teeth and claws. He let a roar out of him, and made for the room door, to look for a candle inside. He trod on the dog's tail, and if he did, he got the marks of his teeth in his arms, and legs, and thighs.

蜡烛全灭了，他只得摸黑走到炉火边，就在这时猫猛地扑到他脸上，用牙齿和爪子把他撕挠了一顿。他大吼一声，冲向屋里的门，想去找根蜡烛。他一脚踩上了狗的尾巴，结果呢，胳膊、腿和大腿上都留下了牙印。

"Thousand murders!" cried he; "I wish I was out of this unlucky house."

“千刀万剐的！”他喊道；“真希望我从没进过这倒霉的屋子。”

When he got to the street door, the cock dropped down upon him with his claws and bill, and what the cat and dog done to him was only a flay-bite to what he got from the cock.

等他走到临街的门口，公鸡又用爪子和喙朝他扑了下来，比起公鸡对他做的这一顿，猫和狗方才那点“招待”简直算不了什么。

"Oh, tattheration to you all, you unfeeling vagabones!" says he, when he recovered his breath; and he staggered and spun round and round till he reeled into the stable, back foremost, but the ass received him with a kick on the broadest part of his small clothes, and laid him comfortably on the dunghill.

“哦，你们这群没心没肺的浪荡鬼，真该千刀万剐！”他缓过一口气来说道；接着他踉踉跄跄、晕头转向地转来转去，一路跌跌撞撞退进了马厩，倒退着进去，驴子却在他那大裤裆最宽的部位赏了他一脚，把他舒舒服服地送到了粪堆上。

When he came to himself, he scratched his head, and began to think what happened him; and as soon as he found that his legs were able to carry him, he crawled away, dragging one foot after another, till he reached the wood.

等他清醒过来，挠了挠头，开始琢磨到底发生了什么事；一发现自己的两条腿还能走路，他便拖着一只脚接一只脚地爬走，一直爬回了树林。

"Well, well," cried them all, when he came within hearing, "any chance of our property?"

“好啦，好啦，”大伙儿一听见他的动静便喊道，“咱们那些东西还有没有希望啊？”

"You may say chance," says he, "and it's itself is the poor chance all out. Ah, will any of you pull a bed of dry grass for me? All the sticking-plaster in Enniscorthy will be too little for the cuts and bruises I have on me. Ah, if you only knew what I have gone through for you!

“希望倒是可以说说，”他说道，“可那希望渺茫得不能再渺茫了。唉，你们谁能替我拔一堆干草铺个床吗？就算把恩尼斯科西全城的橡皮膏都用上，也不够贴我身上这些伤口和青肿。唉，你们哪里知道我为了你们受了多少罪啊！

"When I got to the kitchen fire, looking for a sod of lighted turf, what should be there but an old woman carding flax, and you may see the marks she left on my face with the cards.

“我摸到厨房炉火那儿，想找块点着的泥炭时，谁知道那儿竟有个老太婆在梳理亚麻，你们瞧瞧她用梳麻的耙子在我脸上留下的印子就知道了。

"I made to the room door as fast as I could, and who should I stumble over but a cobbler and his seat, and if he did not work at me with his awls and his pinchers you may call me a rogue.

“我尽快摸到房间门口，谁知却一头撞上了一个鞋匠和他的板凳，他抄起锥子和钳子对我一顿猛揍，你们不信就当我是个骗子好了。

"Well, I got away from him somehow, but when I was passing through the door, it must be the divel himself that pounced down on me with his claws, and his teeth, that were equal to sixpenny nails, and his wings—ill luck be in his road!

“好吧，我总算想法子摆脱了他，可我正要经过门口的时候，那简直一定是魔鬼本人扑到我身上，用爪子和牙齿——那牙齿简直跟六便士的钉子一样硬——还有翅膀，真是倒了八辈子霉了！

"Well, at last I reached the stable, and there, by way of salute, I got a pelt from a sledge-hammer that sent me half a mile off. If you don't believe me, I'll give you leave to go and judge for yourselves."

“好吧，我总算到了马厩，可到了那儿，权当是迎接礼，我挨了一记大铁锤似的猛击，被打飞了半英里远。你们要是不信，我随你们自己去瞧瞧好了。”

"Oh, my poor captain," says they, "we believe you to the nines. Catch us, indeed, going within a hen's race of that unlucky cabin!"

“哦，我可怜的头儿，”他们说道，“我们对你的话信得不能再信了。别说是让我们回去了，就是离那倒霉的小屋一箭之地，我们也不敢靠近！”

Well, before the sun shook his doublet next morning, Jack and his comrades were up and about. They made a hearty breakfast on what was left the night before, and then they all agreed to set off to the castle of the Lord of Dunlavin, and give him back all his gold and silver.

好了，第二天清晨，太阳还没抖开它的外套，杰克和他的同伴们就已经起来忙活了。他们把昨晚剩下的东西饱饱吃了一顿当早饭，接着便一致同意动身前往邓拉文老爷的城堡，把所有的金子银子都还给他。

Jack put it all in the two ends of a sack and laid it across Neddy's back, and all took the road in their hands. Away they went, through bogs, up hills, down dales, and sometimes along the yellow high road, till they came to the hall-door of the Lord of Dunlavin, and who should be there, airing his powdered head, his white stockings, and his red breeches, but the thief of a porter.

杰克把这些财宝分装进一只袋子的两头，横搭在内迪的背上，大伙儿便一齐上路了。他们穿过沼泽，翻过山岭，走过山谷，有时也走在那条黄土大道上，一直走到邓拉文老爷城堡的大门前，你猜谁站在那儿，正整理着他扑了粉的头发、白色长袜和红色马裤，不是别人，正是那个当贼的门房。

He gave a cross look to the visitors, and says he to Jack, "What do you want here, my fine fellow? there isn't room for you all."

他冲来客投去恶狠狠的一瞥，对杰克说道：“你到这儿来干什么，你这个大摇大摆的家伙？这儿可没地方容得下你们这么多人。”

"We want," says Jack, "what I'm sure you haven't to give us—and that is, common civility."

“我们想要的，”杰克说道，“正是我料定你根本拿不出来的东西——那就是最起码的礼貌。”

"Come, be off, you lazy strollers!" says he, "while a cat 'ud be licking her ear, or I'll let the dogs at you."

“得了，滚开吧，你们这群懒惰的流浪汉！”他说道，“快滚，不然我就放狗咬你们了。”

"Would you tell a body," says the cock that was perched on the ass's head, "who was it that opened the door for the robbers the other night?"

“你能不能告诉大家，”那只栖在驴子头上的公鸡说道，“那天晚上是谁给强盗们开的门啊？”

Ah! maybe the porter's red face didn't turn the colour of his frill, and the Lord of Dunlavin and his pretty daughter, that were standing at the parlour window unknownst to the porter, put out their heads.

啊！门房那张红脸恐怕都要变成他领口的颜色了，而邓拉文老爷和他那漂亮的女儿，本来站在客厅窗边，门房浑然不觉，此刻也都探出头来。

"I'd be glad, Barney," says the master, "to hear your answer to the gentleman with the red comb on him."

“巴尼，我很想，”老爷说道，“听听你怎么回答这位红鸡冠先生的话。”

"Ah, my lord, don't believe the rascal; sure I didn't open the door to the six robbers."

“啊，老爷，别信这个混蛋的话；我可没给那六个强盗开门啊。”

"And how did you know there were six, you poor innocent?" said the lord.

“那你这个天真无邪的家伙，又是怎么知道有六个强盗的呢？”老爷说道。

"Never mind, sir," says Jack, "all your gold and silver is there in that sack, and I don't think you will begrudge us our supper and bed after our long march from the wood of Athsalach."

“不打紧，老爷，”杰克说道，“您所有的金子银子都在那只袋子里，我想我们从阿萨拉赫森林一路长途跋涉过来，讨一顿晚饭、一张床铺，您总不会舍不得吧。”

"Begrudge, indeed! Not one of you will ever see a poor day if I can help it."

“舍不得，才怪呢！只要我能帮上忙，你们谁也别想有苦日子过。”

So all were welcomed to their heart's content, and the ass and the dog and the cock got the best posts in the farmyard, and the cat took possession of the kitchen. The lord took Jack in hands, dressed him from top to toe in broadcloth, and frills as white as snow, and turnpumps, and put a watch in his fob. When they sat down to dinner, the lady of the house said Jack had the air of a born gentleman about him, and the lord said he'd make him his steward. Jack brought his mother, and settled her comfortably near the castle, and all were as happy as you please.

于是大伙儿都受到了尽情的款待，驴子、狗和公鸡在农场里都得了最好的位置，猫则占了厨房。老爷亲自照料杰克，从头到脚给他穿上了呢绒衣裳，配上雪白的褶边和方头皮鞋，还在他的表袋里放了一块怀表。等大伙儿坐下吃晚饭时，女主人说杰克身上带着天生绅士的气派，老爷便说要让他当自己的总管。杰克把母亲接了来，安顿在城堡附近，过得舒舒服服，从此大家都尽情地过着幸福快乐的日子。