诗翁彼豆故事集 第11期:男巫的毛心脏(1)

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　　There was once a handsome, rich and talented young warlock, who observed that his friends grew foolish when they fell in love, gambolling¹ and preening², losing their appetites and their dignity. 从前，有一位英俊、富有、禀性聪慧的年轻男巫，他发现他的朋友们一旦陷入爱河就会变得愚蠢起来，开始嬉闹打扮，失去了自己的品位和尊严。

　　The young warlock resolved never to fall prey³ to such weakness, and employed Dark Arts to ensure his immunity⁴. 年轻的男巫打定主意绝不做这种意志薄弱的牺牲品，并利用黑魔法来加强自己的免疫力。

　　Unaware⁵ of his secret, the warlock's family laughed to see him so aloof⁶ and cold. 男巫的家人不知道他的秘密，看到他这么冷漠孤僻，都取笑他。

　　“All will change,” they prophesied⁷, “when a maid catches his fancy!” But the young warlock's fancy remained untouched. “一切都会改变的，”他们预言道，“等他的梦中情人出现之后！”可是，年轻男巫的心迹一直没有任何触动。

　　Though many a maiden⁸ was intrigued⁹ by his haughty¹⁰ mien¹¹, and employed her most subtle arts to please him, none succeeded in touching¹² his heart. 尽管许多姑娘都被他高傲的风度所吸引，用尽各种微妙的技巧来讨他的喜欢，但都没能够打动他的心。

　　The warlock gloried in his indifference¹³ and the sagacity that had produced it. 男巫为自己的冷漠以及冷漠背后的先见之明而沾沾自喜。

　　The first freshness of youth waned¹⁴, and the warlock's peers began to wed¹⁵, and then to bring forth¹⁶ children. 青春的最初阶段过去了，男巫的同龄人都开始结婚，养儿育女了。

　　“Their hearts must be husks,” he sneered¹⁷ inwardly, as he observed the antics of the young parents around him, “shrivelled by the demands of these mewling offspring!” “他们的心肯定都成了空壳，”看到周围年轻父母们的滑稽行为，他暗自讥笑道，“被这些啼哭着的娃娃们弄得束手无策！”

　　And once again he congratulated himself upon the wisdom of his early choice. 他再一次庆幸自己之前做出的决定是多么英明。

　　In due course, the warlock's aged¹⁸ parents died. 后来，男巫年迈的双亲去世了。

　　Their son did not mourn them; on the contrary, he considered himself blessed by their demise¹⁹. 男巫并不为此感到悲痛。相反，他认为他们的死是上天的赐福。

　　Now he reigned²⁰ alone in their castle. 现在他一个人掌管着他们的城堡。

　　Having transferred his greatest treasure to the deepest dungeon²¹, he gave himself over to a life of ease and plenty, his comfort the only aim of his many servants. 他把自己最重要的财富转移到最深的地牢里，放任自己过着富足和安逸的生活，他的许多仆人都把让他舒适当作他们唯一的工作目标。

　　The warlock was sure that he must be an object of immense envy to all who beheld²² his splendid and untroubled solitude²³. 男巫坚信不管谁看见他奢华而无忧无虑的独居生活，肯定都会非常羡慕。

　　Fierce were his anger and chagrin²⁴, therefore, when he overheard two of his lackeys²⁵ discussing their master one day. 因此，当他有一天无意中听见两个男仆谈论主人时，他简直怒不可揭。

　　The first servant expressed pity for the warlock who, with all his wealth and power, was yet beloved by nobody. 第一个男仆表示了对男巫的同情，认为他虽然有财富和权力，但至今没有一个人爱过他。

　　But his companion jeered²⁶, asking why a man with so much gold and a palatial²⁷ castle to his name had been unable to attract a wife. 可是他的同伴笑了起来，反问为何一个拥有这么多金子和宏伟城堡的男人却没能找到一位妻子。

　　Their words dealt dreadful blows to the listening warlock's pride. 男巫听到后，自尊心受到了沉重的打击。

　　He resolved at once to take a wife, and that she would be a wife superior to all others. 他立刻下定决心找一位妻子，而且她一定要比别人的妻子都优秀。

　　She would possess astounding²⁸ beauty, exciting envy and desire in every man who beheld her; she would spring from magical lineage, so that their offspring would inherit outstanding magical gifts; and she would have wealth at least equal to his own, so that his comfortable existence would be assured, in spite of additions to his household. 她要拥有惊人的美貌，每个男人一看见她，内心都会激起爱慕和欲望。她要来自魔法家庭，这样他们的子女将会继承出色的魔法天赋。她还要拥有至少与他相当的财富，这样，即使家里添了人口，他的舒适生活也能得到保障。

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