Chapter 11
第十一章
The Journey North
向北前行
King Fred’s spirits rose higher and higher as he rode out of Chouxville and into the countryside. Word of the king’s sudden expedition to find the Ickabog had now spread to the farmers who worked the rolling green fields, and they ran with their families to cheer the king, the two lords and the Royal Guard as they passed.
隨著國王弗雷德走出首都來到郊外，他的精神越來越高昂亢奮。國王突然遠徵艾卡伯格的傳言已經傳到在田野作業的農民。這些農民拖家帶口的跑來為經過的國王，兩個爵士和皇家衛隊吶喊助威。
Not having had any lunch, the king decided to stop in Kurdsburg to eat a late dinner.
由於沒有吃午飯，國王決定在科德斯伯格市停下吃個晚飯。
『We』ll rough it here, chaps, like the soldiers we are!』 he cried to his party as they entered the city famed for its cheese, 『and we』ll set out again at first light!』
「我們和將士們在這裡休息一下！」國王對著隊伍大喊著，進入了以奶酪聞名的城市。「我們明天黎明再出發！」
But, of course, there was no question of the king roughing it. Visitors at Kurdsburg’s finest inn were thrown out onto the street to make way for him, so Fred slept that night in a brass bed with a duck-down mattress, after a hearty meal of toasted cheese and chocolate fondue. The lords Spittleworth and Flapoon, on the other hand, were forced to spend the night in a little room over the stables.
當然，沒有國王休息一下沒有任何問題。科德斯伯格最好酒店裡的顧客都走出酒店只為國王騰出空間，因此那晚弗雷德吃完豐盛的烤奶酪和巧克力酪酥晚餐，就睡在了鋪有鴨絨墊的黃銅床上。另一方面，斯派頭沃斯和菲萊普恩卻被迫在馬廄旁邊的小屋度過了那晚。
Both were rather sore after a long day on horseback. You may wonder why that was, if they went hunting five times a week, but the truth was that they generally sneaked off to sit behind a tree after half an hour’s hunting, where they ate sandwiches and drank wine until it was time to go back to the palace. Neither was used to spending hours in the saddle, and Spittleworth’s bony bottom was already starting to blister.
兩人在長時間在馬背騎行後渾身疼痛。你也許好奇為什麼會這樣，因為他們是畢竟一周打獵五次的人，實際上他們一般都會在打獵開始一會就溜走，坐在大樹下，吃著三明治，喝著葡萄酒，直到回宮殿的時間。兩人從來沒有在馬背上超過幾小時，斯派頭沃斯的瘦弱的屁股都一開始起皰了。
Early the following morning, the king was brought word by Major Beamish that the citizens of Baronstown were very upset the king had chosen to sleep in Kurdsburg rather than their splendid city.
Eager not to dent his popularity, King Fred instructed his party to ride in an enormous circle through the surrounding fields, being cheered by farmers all the way, so that they ended up in Baronstown by nightfall. The delicious smell of sizzling sausages greeted the royal party, and a delighted crowd carrying torches escorted Fred to the best room in the city.
第二天大清早，梅傑比姆世給國王帶來話說巴融斯通的市民非常沮喪因為國王選擇在科德斯伯格過夜而不是他們的華麗城市。國王為了不削弱他的名望，於是帶領軍隊繞了周圍的田地一大圈，路上當然少不了農民們的歡呼，等達到巴融斯通時已經是傍晚了。滋滋響著的烤腸的香甜氣味誘惑著整個隊伍，開心的群眾舉著明亮的火把護送著國王弗雷德去了城市裡最好的酒店。
There he was served roasted ox and honey ham, and slept in a carved oak bed with a goose-down mattress, while Spittleworth and Flapoon had to share a tiny attic room usually occupied by two maids. By now, Spittleworth’s bottom was extremely painful, and he was furious that he』d been forced to ride forty miles in a circle, purely to keep the sausagemakers happy. Flapoon, who』d eaten far too much cheese in Kurdsburg and had consumed three beefsteaks in Baronstown, was awake all night, groaning with indigestion.
在那裡，國王品嘗了烤牛和蜜制火腿，睡在了鋪有鵝絨的橡樹雕刻床上，與此同時，兩個爵士睡在了狹小的閣樓裡，那兒以前是兩個侍女住的地方。如今，斯派頭沃斯的屁股超級的疼痛，對於只為了取悅一群製作香腸的人，他就被迫騎行繞圈40英裡的事，他無比惱火。菲萊普恩由於肚子消耗不良，整個晚上都沒睡著，因為他在科德斯伯格吃了太多的奶酪，又在巴融斯通吃了三個牛排。
Next day, the king and his men set off again, and this time they headed north, soon passing through vineyards from which eager grape pickers emerged to wave Cornucopian flags and receive waves from the jubilant king. Spittleworth was almost crying from pain, in spite of the cushion he』d strapped to his bottom, and Flapoon’s belches and moans could be heard even over the clatter of hooves and jingle of bridles.
第二天，國王和他的隊伍又次出發，這一次，他們一路向北，快速穿過那葡萄莊園，同樣滿懷熱情的葡萄採摘人揮舞著國旗，也收到了國王熱情的揮手。斯派頭沃斯疼痛的幾乎快要哭出來了，雖然他屁股下放了墊子。馬蹄聲和馬鈴聲釘釘作響，依然掩蓋不了菲萊普恩的打嗝和呻吟聲。
Upon arrival at Jeroboam that evening, they were greeted by trumpets and the entire city singing the national anthem. Fred feasted on sparkling wine and truffles that night, before retiring to a silken four-poster bed with a swans-down mattress.
當到達傑若保姆的那晚上，國王和軍隊被整個城市唱著國歌歡迎。國王享受著絕美的葡萄酒，之後在鋪有天鵝絨墊的四維柱絲綢窗上休憩。
But Spittleworth and Flapoon were forced to share a room over the inn’s kitchen with a pair of soldiers. Drunken Jeroboam dwellers were reeling about in the street, celebrating the presence of the king in their city. Spittleworth spent much of the night sitting in a bucket of ice, and Flapoon, who』d drunk far too much red wine, spent the same period being sick in a second bucket in the corner.
但是，兩個爵士卻被迫與兩個士兵一起分享酒店廚房附近的一個房間。醉醺醺的傑若保姆市民在街上比肩接踵，慶祝著國王來到他們的城市。斯派頭沃斯幾乎整個晚上都坐在了冰桶上，喝了超多紅酒的菲萊普恩花了差不多的時間在角落裡另一個木桶上。
At dawn next morning, the king and his party set out for the Marshlands, after a famous farewell from the citizens of Jeroboam, who saw him on his way with a thunderous popping of corks that made Spittleworth’s horse rear and ditch him on the road. Once they』d dusted Spittleworth off and put the cushion back on his bottom, and Fred had stopped laughing, the party proceeded.
第二天清晨，在傑若保姆市居民熱情送別後，國王和他的隊伍向麻石地出發。路上雷鳴般的掌聲讓斯派頭沃斯的馬受驚，把斯派頭沃斯摔在了路上。等（士兵）給斯派頭沃斯拍打完灰塵並把墊子放在放在其屁股下，弗雷德才停止了笑聲，繼續前行。
Soon they』d left Jeroboam behind, and could hear only birdsong. For the first time in their entire journey, the sides of the road were empty. Gradually, the lush green land gave way to thin, dry grass, crooked trees, and boulders.
不久後，傑若保姆市在身後越來越遠。也是行程的首次，路旁空曠無人，只有鳥叫。慢慢地，茂盛碧綠的田地變成了乾枯瘦弱的草地，彎曲的樹和石頭。
『Extraordinary place, isn’t it?』 the cheerful king shouted back to Spittleworth and Flapoon. 『I’m jolly glad to see these Marshlands at last, aren’t you?』
「卓越的地方，不是嗎？」興奮的國王朝後面的兩個爵士喊道，「最終看到麻石地我很開心，你們呢？」
The two lords agreed, but once Fred had turned to face the front again, they made rude gestures and mouthed even ruder names at the back of his head.
兩個爵士表示同意，但國王一轉過頭去，兩個爵士就在國王背後做出了粗魯的姿勢和咒罵的嘴型。
At last, the royal party came across a few people, and how the Marshlanders stared! They fell to their knees like the shepherd in the Throne Room, and quite forgot to cheer or clap, but gaped as though they』d never seen anything like the king and the Royal Guard before – which, indeed, they hadn’t, because while King Fred had visited all the major cities of Cornucopia after his coronation, nobody had thought it worth his while to visit the faraway Marshlands.
最後，皇家軍隊經過寥寥無幾的幾個麻石地人！他們就像在王宮的那個牧羊人那樣跪拜下來，都忘記歡呼或者鼓掌，他們目瞪口呆就像從來都沒有見過國王和皇家軍隊那樣，實際上，他們就是沒見過。因為當時國王弗雷德加冕後拜訪了考妞考皮亞所有的主要城市，但沒人認為去遙遠的麻石地拜訪是值得的。
『Simple people, yes, but rather touching, aren’t they?』 the king called gaily to his men, as some ragged children gasped at the magnificent horses. They』d never seen animals so glossy and well fed in their lives.
「單純的人們，是的，但無比的感人，不是嗎？」國王輕鬆的對著隊伍說。幾個穿著破舊的孩子屏住呼吸盯著華麗的駿馬。他們從來還沒見過如此光滑且健壯的動物。
『And where are we supposed to stay tonight?』 Flapoon muttered to Spittleworth, eyeing the tumbledown stone cottages. 『No taverns here!』
「我們晚上住哪裡？」菲萊普恩對沃斯抱怨道，眼睛看著那坍塌的石頭房舍，「別在這裡！」
『Well, there’s one comfort, at least,』 Spittleworth whispered back. 『He』ll have to rough it like the rest of us, and we』ll see how much he likes it.』
「起碼這裡至少這兒令人安慰，」沃斯對著菲萊普恩耳語道，「國王他也會像我們一樣住在這裡，看看他到底多麼喜歡這個地方。」
They rode on through the afternoon and at last, as the sun began to sink, they caught sight of the marsh where the Ickabog was supposed to live: a wide stretch of darkness studded with strange rock formations.
他們繼續前進，最終在太陽快下山時，他們看到了沼澤地——一個遼闊的黑暗區域鋪展開來，那裡應該就是艾卡伯格所在地。
『Your Majesty!』 called Major Beamish. 『I suggest we set up camp now and explore the marsh in the morning! As Your Majesty knows, the marsh can be treacherous! Fogs come suddenly here. We』d do best to approach it by daylight!』
「陛下！」比姆世說，「我建議我們在此安營紮寨，明天早晨再探索這沼澤之地！您知道的，沼澤地（天氣）是靠不住的！迷霧會突然來襲的。我們最好明天白天再去。」
『Nonsense!』 said Fred, who was bouncing up and down in his saddle like an excited schoolboy. 『We can’t stop now, when it’s in sight, Beamish!』
「胡說八道！」國王像個興奮的放學男孩一樣從馬鞍上跳了下來，「我們現在不能停止（前進），它就在眼前，比姆世！」
The king had given his order, so the party rode on until, at last, when the moon had risen and was sliding in and out behind inky clouds, they reached the edge of the marsh. It was the eeriest place any of them had ever seen, wild and empty and desolate. A chilly breeze made the rushes whisper, but otherwise it was dead and silent.
國王下了命令，因此軍隊只能繼續前進，最終，當月亮升起後又被厚厚的烏雲遮掩的時候，他們到了沼澤地的邊緣。這是他們所有人見過的最陰森可怕的地方——荒無人煙，空曠，悽涼。只有寒風凜冽吹得草叢沙沙作響，否則只剩下死氣沉沉和寂靜無比。
『As you see, sire,』 said Lord Spittleworth after a while, 『the ground is very boggy. Sheep and men alike would be sucked under if they wandered out too far. Then, the feeble-minded might take these giant rocks and boulders for monsters in the dark. The rustling of these weeds might even be taken for the hissing of some creature.』
「正如您看到的，陛下，」斯派頭沃斯爵士過了一會說，「地面是潮溼的。羊和人如果走的太遠很有可能會被吞陷。然後，膽小無知的人可能就把那些在黑暗之中的大石頭和漂礫當做怪物。這草植的沙沙響聲甚至可能被當做某些生物的嘶嘶聲。」
『Yes, true, very true,』 said King Fred, but his eyes still roamed over the dark marsh, as though he expected the Ickabog to pop up from behind a rock.
「是的，是的，說的對，」國王說著，但他的眼睛仍在黑暗沼澤區域巡視，就像他期望艾卡伯格突然從某個石頭背後出來。
『Shall we pitch camp then, sire?』 asked Lord Flapoon, who』d saved some cold pies from Baronstown and was eager for his supper.
「我們在此搭帳篷嗎？陛下」菲萊普恩問道，他從巴融斯通市藏下來幾個冰冷的糕點，渴望著（把它們當）晚餐。
『We can’t expect to find even an imaginary monster in the dark,』 pointed out Spittleworth.
「我們不能期望在黑夜裡找到甚至是想像出來的怪物，」斯派頭沃斯說。
『True, true,』 repeated King Fred regretfully. 『Let us – good gracious, how foggy it has become!』
「對的，對的」國王有點不舍的重複道，「讓我們——，天啊，迷霧怎麼變的這麼大了！」
And sure enough, as they』d stood looking out across the marsh, a thick white fog had rolled over them so swiftly and silently that none of them had noticed it.
確實如此， 當他們站在那裡看著沼澤地時，所有人都沒注意到，一股厚重的白色迷霧安靜的，迅速的籠罩了他們。