貝德格勒特[中英對照]

　　Beddgelert (Wales)Long ago in the highlands of North Wales there lived a large black hunting dog called Beddgelert. Beddgelert lived with his master in a cottage by a river at the edge of a small town. The town was situated in a beautiful valley, surrounded by woods and rugged mountains. Everyday Beddgelert and his master would go into the forest or up into the mountains to hunt for game. Every evening they would return home laden with a wild deer, or a wild boar, or very often with rabbits, hares, pheasants or grouse.

    People marveled not only at their success as hunters but also at the unique friendship that existed between Beddgelert and his master. Without question, a strong bond existed between the two friends. Beddgelert was a fierce and aggressive hunter with powerful limbs and strong teeth sharp enough to tear away the flesh of any creature. Nevertheless, he showed great affection and devotion to his master. In fact, Beddgelert would follow his master’s every move. When his master sat, he sat, and when his master walked, he walked. The two friends were inseparable.

    As time passed, Beddgelert’s master fell in love and married a beautiful girl. Unfortunately, a year later, while giving birth to a baby boy, the mistress died leaving her husband in great sorrow. However, despite the tragic circumstances of his birth, the beautiful baby boy brought great happiness to the lives of Beddgelert and his master.

    One day, news spread throughout the little town of the appearance of a hungry wolf on the prowl in the area. Sheep had been found slaughtered in the fields and the people were afraid. Beddgelert’s master was worried about the safety of his young son, so when he set out to go hunting he ordered the dog to stay at home to protect the child. Each day the child played happily in his cot while Beddgelert guarded the door of the cottage, carefully watching for the wolf.
    Then one warm summer’s afternoon, the wolf finally came. As the child lay sleeping in his cot, the wolf leapt in through the window; his eyes fixed firmly upon the boy. Quick as a flash Beddgelert jumped up and lunged forward, placing himself between the wolf and the young child. The two animals fought, relentlessly tearing at each other’s flesh. The wolf was determined to get to the child while Beddgelert was determined to prevent it from doing so. After a long and bitter fight the wolf retreated, wearily limping away and licking his wounds while Beddgelert lay exhausted upon the child’s cot. He was seriously wounded and very weak.

    When the master returned home, the young child was sleeping soundly. Beddgelert, however, was barely alive. Nonetheless, he found the strength to wag his tail and to raise his head from the bed to greet his master. Seeing blood splattered about the room, in the cot and around the dog’s mouth, the master was convinced that Beddgelert, perhaps in a fit of jealousy, had killed his son.

    The master cried out, “Beddgelert, my faithful friend, how could you betray me like this?” He was so distraught that he immediately raised his rifle and shot Beddgelert dead. Then the master stumbled out of the door of the cottage and fell to his knees, weeping helplessly. Suddenly, he heard the tiny sobs of his son. The master leapt to his feet and rushed back into the cottage amazed to find his son alive and well, indeed without even the smallest scratch on his body.

    The master suddenly realized his terrible mistake. All too late, he realized that the blood he saw was that of the wolf and his devoted dog, Beddgelert. Filled with remorse, he carried Beddgelert to the oak tree in the garden and buried him. The remains of Beddgelert lie there to this very day. The story of his loyalty and bravery is written for all to read on a beautiful headstone erected in his honor. Beddgelert was laid to rest in the shade of a large oak tree, situated by a babbling river, on the edge of the town which is now called Beddgelert.

　　貝德格勒特(威爾士)

　　很久以前，在威爾士北部的高原上，生活著一只黑色的大獵犬，名叫貝德格勒特。貝德格勒特同他的主人一塊兒居住在一個小鎮(zhèn)邊上的一座傍河的農(nóng)舍里。小鎮(zhèn)坐落在一個為森林和多巖石的的山巒所環(huán)繞的美麗山谷里。每天，貝德格勒特都和他的主人到森林里或者山上去打獵。每天傍晚上回家時,他們都會帶回來一只野鹿、一頭野豬，或者更經(jīng)常的——帶回來野兔、野雞或者松雞。

    讓大家感到驚異的不僅是他們的狩獵成果，還有存在于貝德格勒特和他主人之間的那種獨特的友誼。這兩個朋友之間的紐帶關系無疑是牢固的。貝德格勒特兇猛而富于攻擊性，有著強有力的四肢和結實而鋒利、足以撕開任何一種動物皮肉的利齒。然而，他對主人表現(xiàn)出深厚的感情和忠誠。事實上，貝德格勒特對主人亦步亦趨。主人坐下時，他也坐下；主人行走時，他也行走。兩個朋友形影不離。

    隨著時光的流逝，貝德格勒特的主人戀愛了，與一個漂亮的姑娘結了婚。不幸的是，一年之后，女主人在生孩子時死了，她的丈夫極其傷心。孩子是個漂亮的小男嬰，盡管出生時發(fā)生了悲劇，他還是給貝德格勒特及其主人的生活帶來了許多的快樂。

    有一天，小鎮(zhèn)上傳開了一個消息，說當?shù)赜幸黄ヰI狼在活動。田地里發(fā)現(xiàn)了被咬死的羊，人們都很害怕。貝德格勒特的主人很擔心自己幼子的安全，所以臨出門去打獵時，他讓貝德格勒特留在家里保護孩子。每天，當孩子在自己的搖籃里開心地玩耍時，貝德格勒特便守護著農(nóng)舍的門，小心提防著那匹狼。

    一個溫暖的夏日午后，狼終于來了。就在孩子躺在搖籃里睡覺的時候，狼從窗戶跳了進來，眼睛緊盯著熟睡的男孩。貝德格勒特閃電般地跳起來，撲到狼的面前擋住孩子。兩只動物撕殺起來，彼此毫不留情地撕咬著對方的肉。狼一心想要抓住孩子，而貝德格勒特一心要阻止它達到目的。經(jīng)過一場長時間的殘酷搏斗，狼終于退卻了，它舔著傷口，瘸著腿，無力地走了。貝德格勒特精疲力盡地趴到孩子的搖籃上。他受了重傷，十分的虛弱。

    主人回家時，小男孩睡得正香。而貝德格勒特卻已經(jīng)奄奄一息，但他還是使勁搖了搖尾巴，抬起頭來迎接自己的主人。看到房間里面到處是血，搖籃里有，貝德格勒特的嘴里也有，主人認為是貝德格勒特出于嫉妒，一時沖動咬死了他的兒子。

    主人哭喊著，“貝德格勒特，我忠誠的朋友，你怎么能這樣背叛我呢？”他傷心如狂，舉起槍就把貝德格勒特打死了。然后他跌跌撞撞地走出農(nóng)舍，跪倒在地，放聲大哭。突然間，他聽到了兒子低低的哭聲。他跳起身來，沖回屋子，驚喜地發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的兒子平安無事，身上連一點小小的擦傷都沒有。

    主人一下醒悟到自己所犯的可怕錯誤。他意識到自己剛才所看到的是那只狼和他忠誠的狗貝德格勒特的血跡，但為時已晚。他無限痛悔地把貝德格勒特抱到花園里，掩埋在橡樹底下。貝德格勒特至今留在那里。為了紀念他，人們立起了一塊漂亮的石碑，并把有關他的忠誠和勇敢的故事刻在碑上，讓大家都能讀到。在這個如今被稱做貝德格勒特的小鎮(zhèn)的邊上，有一條水聲淙淙的小河，小河旁有一株巨大的橡樹。貝德格勒特長眠在這株橡樹的樹蔭下。(柯平 葛競譯，轉(zhuǎn)載請注明出處。本文收入譯林出版社《北歐民間故事集》)

                                                                                                                                                                           責任編輯：woaieb