The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them—all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the other. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that it made Alice quite hungry to look at them—'I wish they'd get the trial done,' she thought, 'and hand round the refreshments!' But there seemed to be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about her, to pass away the time.
當他們到達時,紅心國王和紅心王后正坐在王座上,還有一大群各種小鳥獸圍著他們,就像一整套紙牌。那個武士站在他們面前,用鏈條鎖著,兩邊各有一名士兵看守著。國王旁邊站著白兔,一手拿著喇叭,一手拿著一卷羊皮紙。法庭正中有一張桌子,上面放著一大盤餡餅。餡餅十分精美,愛麗絲見了頓時覺得餓得慌。愛麗絲想:“希望審判能快些結(jié)束,然后讓大家吃點心。”但是,看來并沒有這種跡象。于是,她只好環(huán)視周圍的一切來消磨時光。
Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read about them in books, and she was quite pleased to find that she knew the name of nearly everything there. 'That's the judge,' she said to herself, 'because of his great wig.'
愛麗絲還沒有到過法庭,只在書上讀到過。她很高興的是對這里的一切都能說得上。“那是法官,”她對自己說,“因為他有假發(fā)。”
The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he did it,) he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly not becoming.
該說一下,那位法官就是國王。由于他在假發(fā)上又戴上王冠,看起來很不順眼,而且肯定也不會舒服的。
'And that's the jury–box,' thought Alice, 'and those twelve creatures,' (she was obliged to say 'creatures,' you see, because some of them were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose they are the jurors.' She said this last word two or three times over to herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and rightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the meaning of it at all. However, 'jury–men' would have done just as well.
“那是陪審員席,”愛麗絲心想,“那十二個動物”(她不得不稱之為“動物”,因為有的是獸類,有的是鳥類),“該是陪審員了。”這最后一句,她對自己說了兩三遍,覺得挺自豪的。因為她想,幾乎沒有像她那樣年齡的女孩,會懂得這么多的。即使說“法律審查員”她們也不會懂的。
The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates. 'What are they doing?' Alice whispered to the Gryphon. 'They can't have anything to put down yet, before the trial's begun.'
十二位陪審員全都在紙板上忙著寫什么。“他們在干什么?”愛麗絲對鷹頭獅低聲說,“在審判開始前,他們不會有任何事情要記錄的,”
'They're putting down their names,' the Gryphon whispered in reply, 'for fear they should forget them before the end of the trial.'
鷹頭獅低聲回答:“他們在記下姓名,怕在審判結(jié)束前忘掉。”
'Stupid things!' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but she stopped hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out, 'Silence in the court!' and the King put on his spectacles and looked anxiously round, to make out who was talking.
“蠢家伙!”愛麗絲不滿地高聲說,但她立刻就不說話了,因為白兔喊著:“法庭肅靜。”這時,國王戴上了眼鏡,迅速地掃視了四周,想找出誰在說瓜。
Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down 'stupid things!' on their slates, and she could even make out that one of them didn't know how to spell 'stupid,' and that he had to ask his neighbour to tell him. 'A nice muddle their slates'll be in before the trial's over!' thought Alice.
愛麗絲就像趴在陪審員肩頭上看到的那樣清楚,看到所有的陪審員都在紙板上寫下了“蠢家伙”。她甚至還看到有個陪審員不會寫“蠢”字,要求鄰座的告訴他。“不到審判結(jié)束,他們的紙板準會寫得一塌糊涂!”愛麗絲想。
One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked. This of course, Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it away. She did it so quickly that the poor little juror (it was Bill, the Lizard) could not make out at all what had become of it; so, after hunting all about for it, he was obliged to write with one finger for the rest of the day; and this was of very little use, as it left no mark on the slate.
有一名陪審員在書寫時發(fā)出刺耳的市音,愛麗絲當然經(jīng)受不住了,于是,她在法庭里轉(zhuǎn)了一圈,到他的背后,找了個機會—下子奪走了那支鉛筆。她干得很利索,那個可憐的小陪審員(它就是壁虎比爾)根本不知道發(fā)生了什么事。當它到處找不到自己的鉛筆后,就只能用手指頭來書寫了。這當然毫無用處,因為手指在紙板上留不下任何痕跡。
'Herald, read the accusation!' said the King.
“傳令官,宣讀起訴書。”國王宣布說。
On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:—
白兔在喇叭上吹了三下,然后攤開那卷羊皮紙,宣讀如下:
'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
“紅心王后做了餡餅,
All on a summer day:
夏日的白天竟發(fā)生這樣的事情:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts,
紅心武士偷走了餡餅,
And took them quite away!'
全都帶走匆忙離境!”
'Consider your verdict,' the King said to the jury.
“請考慮你們的評審意見。”國王對陪審員說。
'Not yet, not yet!' the Rabbit hastily interrupted. 'There's a great deal to come before that!'
“不行,還不行!”兔子趕快插話說,“還有好些過程呢!”
'Call the first witness,' said the King; and the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out, 'First witness!'
于是,國王說:“傳第一個作證人。”白兔在喇叭上吹了三下,喊道:“傳第一個證人!”
The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread–and–butter in the other. 'I beg pardon, your Majesty,' he began, 'for bringing these in: but I hadn't quite finished my tea when I was sent for.'
第一個證人就是那位帽匠。他進來時,一手拿著一只茶杯,一手拿著一片奶油面包。他說:“陛下,請原諒我?guī)н@些來,因為我還沒吃完茶點就被傳來了。”
'You ought to have finished,' said the King. 'When did you begin?'
“你應(yīng)該吃完的。你什么時候開始吃的?”國王間。
The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm–in–arm with the Dormouse. 'Fourteenth of March, I think it was,' he said.
帽匠看了看三月兔——三月兔是同睡鼠手挽著手跟著他進來的——說:“我想是三月十四日開始吃的。”
'Fifteenth,' said the March Hare.
“是十五日。”三月兔說。
'Sixteenth,' added the Dormouse.
“十六日。”睡鼠補充說。
'Write that down,' the King said to the jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then added them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence.
“記下來。”國王對陪審員說,陪審員急忙在紙板上寫下了這三個日期,然后把它們加起來,再把半數(shù)折算成先令和便士。
'Take off your hat,' the King said to the Hatter.
“摘掉你的帽子!”國王對帽匠說。
'It isn't mine,' said the Hatter.
“那不是我的。”帽匠說。
'Stolen!' the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who instantly made a memorandum of the fact.
“偷的!”國王叫了起來,并看了看陪審員。陪審員立即記下,作為事實備忘錄。
'I keep them to sell,' the Hatter added as an explanation; 'I've none of my own. I'm a hatter.'
“我拿帽子來賣的,我是個帽匠,沒有一頂帽子屬于我的。”帽匠解釋道。
Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted.
這時,王后戴上了眼鏡,使勁兒盯著帽匠,只見帽匠臉色發(fā)白,局促不安。
'Give your evidence,' said the King; 'and don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed on the spot.'
“拿出證據(jù)來,”國王說,“并且不得緊張,否則,我就把你拿到場上處決。”
This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept shifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread–and–butter.
這些話根本沒有鼓勵作證人。他不斷地把兩腳交替著站,不自在地看著王后,而且由于心里慌亂,竟在茶杯上咬了一大口,而不是去吃奶油面包。
Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as long as there was room for her.
正在這時,愛麗絲有一種奇怪的感覺,她迷惑了好一會,后來才慢慢地搞清楚,原來她又在長大了,起初,她想站起來走出法庭,但轉(zhuǎn)眼間她又決定留下了,只要這里還有她容身的余地。
'I wish you wouldn't squeeze so.' said the Dormouse, who was sitting next to her. 'I can hardly breathe.'
“我希望你不要擠我,我透不過氣來了。”坐在愛麗絲旁邊的睡鼠說。
'I can't help it,' said Alice very meekly: 'I'm growing.'
“我作不了主呀,你看我還在長呢!”愛麗絲非常溫和地說。
'You've no right to grow here,' said the Dormouse.
“在這里你沒有權(quán)利長呀!”睡鼠說。
'Don't talk nonsense,' said Alice more boldly: 'you know you're growing too.'
“別說廢話了,你自己也在長呀!”愛麗絲大膽地說。
'Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,' said the Dormouse: 'not in that ridiculous fashion.' And he got up very sulkily and crossed over to the other side of the court.
“是的,但是我是合理地生長,不是長成可笑的樣子,”睡鼠說著,不高興地站了起來,轉(zhuǎn)到法庭的另一邊去了。
All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter, and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers of the court, 'Bring me the list of the singers in the last concert!' on which the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off.
在愛麗絲和睡鼠說話的時候,王后的眼睛始終盯著帽匠,當睡鼠轉(zhuǎn)到法庭的那邊,她就對一位官員說:“把上次音樂會上唱歌人的名單給我,”聽到這話,這個可憐的帽匠嚇得發(fā)抖,甚至把兩只鞋子也抖了下來。
'Give your evidence,' the King repeated angrily, 'or I'll have you executed, whether you're nervous or not.'
“拿出證據(jù)來,否則,我就處決你,不管你緊張不緊張!”國王憤怒地重復(fù)了一遍。
'I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' the Hatter began, in a trembling voice, '—and I hadn't begun my tea—not above a week or so—and what with the bread–and–butter getting so thin—and the twinkling of the tea—'
“我是個窮人,陛下,”帽匠顫抖著說,“我只是剛剛開始吃茶點……沒有超過一星期……再說為什么奶油面包變得這么薄呢……還有茶會閃光……”
'The twinkling of the what?' said the King.
“什么閃光?”國王問。
'It began with the tea,' the Hatter replied.
“我說茶。”帽匠回答。
'Of course twinkling begins with a T!' said the King sharply. 'Do you take me for a dunce? Go on!'
“哦,擦,當然,擦火柴是閃光的。你以為我是笨蛋嗎?接著說!”國王尖銳地指出。
'I'm a poor man,' the Hatter went on, 'and most things twinkled after that—only the March Hare said—'
“我是個窮人,”帽匠繼續(xù)說,“從那以后,大部分東西都閃光了……只有三月兔說……”
'I didn't!' the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry.
三月兔趕快插嘴:“我沒說過。”
'You did!' said the Hatter.
“你說了。”徹匠說。
'I deny it!' said the March Hare.
“我沒說。”三月兔說。
'He denies it,' said the King: 'leave out that part.'
“它既然不承認,就談點別的吧!”國王說。
'Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said—' the Hatter went on, looking anxiously round to see if he would deny it too: but the Dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep.
“好,無論如何,那就睡鼠來說……”說到這否認。然而睡鼠什么也沒說,它睡得正香呢。
'After that,' continued the Hatter, 'I cut some more bread–and–butter—'
“從那以后,我切了更多的奶油面包……”帽匠繼續(xù)說。
'But what did the Dormouse say?' one of the jury asked.
“但是睡鼠說了什么?”一位陪審員問。
'That I can't remember,' said the Hatter.
“這個我記不得了。”帽匠說。
'You MUST remember,' remarked the King, 'or I'll have you executed.'
“你必須記得,否則我就處決你。”國王說。
The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread–and–butter, and went down on one knee. 'I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' he began.
那個可憐的帽匠丟掉了茶杯、奶油面包,單膝跪下說,“我是個可憐人,陛下。”
'You're a very poor speaker,' said the King.
“你是個可憐的狡辯者。”國王說。
Here one of the guinea–pigs cheered, and was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings: into this they slipped the guinea–pig, head first, and then sat upon it.)
這時,一只豚鼠突然喝起彩來,但立即被法庭上的官員制止了。(所謂制止,實在很難說,我只能向你說說是怎么回事。他們用一只大帆布袋,把那只膽鼠頭朝里塞進去,用繩扎上了袋口,然后他們坐在袋上。)
'I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice. 'I've so often read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, "There was some attempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court," and I never understood what it meant till now.'
愛麗絲心里想:“我很高興能看到了這回事。我常常在報上看到,說審判結(jié)束時“出現(xiàn)了喝彩聲,當即被法庭上的官員所制止。’直到現(xiàn)在我才明白是怎么回事。”
'If that's all you know about it, you may stand down,' continued the King.
“如果你再沒有別的補充,你可以退下去了。”國王宣布說。
'I can't go no lower,' said the Hatter: 'I'm on the floor, as it is.'
“我已經(jīng)沒法再退了,我已經(jīng)是站在地板上的了。”帽匠說。
'Then you may SIT down,' the King replied.
“那么你可以坐下。”國王說。
Here the other guinea–pig cheered, and was suppressed.
這時,又一只豚鼠喝起彩來,又被制止了。
'Come, that finished the guinea–pigs!' thought Alice. 'Now we shall get on better.'
愛麗絲心里想:“噯,他們這樣收拾豚鼠!實在應(yīng)該文明一些。”
'I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious look at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers.
“我還得喝完這杯茶。”帽匠說著,不安地看著王后,而王后正在看唱歌人的名單。
'You may go,' said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the court, without even waiting to put his shoes on.
“你可以走了。”國王一說,帽匠立即跑出法庭。甚至顧不上去穿他的鞋。
'—and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to one of the officers: but the Hatter was out of sight before the officer could get to the door.
這進,王后吩咐一位官員說:“立即將那帽匠在庭外斬首。”可是官員追到大門口,帽匠已經(jīng)無影無蹤了。
'Call the next witness!' said the King.
“傳下一個作證人!”國王吩咐。
The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the pepper–box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before she got into the court, by the way the people near the door began sneezing all at once.
下一個作證人是公爵夫人的廚師。她手里帶著胡椒盒,一走進法庭,就使靠近她的人不停地打噴嚏,這使愛麗絲一下就猜出是誰了。
'Give your evidence,' said the King.
“提供你的證據(jù)。”國王吩咐。
'Shan't,' said the cook.
“我不能提供。”廚師回答。
The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a low voice, 'Your Majesty must cross–examine THIS witness.'
國王著急地看了看白兔,白兔低聲說:“陛下必須反復(fù)質(zhì)詢這個證人。”
'Well, if I must, I must,' the King said, with a melancholy air, and, after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till his eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a deep voice, 'What are tarts made of?'
“好,如果必須這樣,我必定這樣做。”國王帶著優(yōu)郁的神態(tài)說。然后他交叉著雙臂,對廚師蹙著眉,直到視野模糊了,才用深沉的聲音說:“餡餅是用什么做的?”
'Pepper, mostly,' said the cook.
“大部分是胡椒,”廚師說,
'Treacle,' said a sleepy voice behind her.
“糖漿。”一個困倦的聲音從廚師后面?zhèn)鱽怼?/p>
'Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out. 'Behead that Dormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch him! Off with his whiskers!'
“掐住那個睡鼠的脖子,”王后尖叫起來,“把它斬首,把它攆出法庭,制止它,掐死它,拔掉它的絡(luò)腮胡子!”
For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the Dormouse turned out, and, by the time they had settled down again, the cook had disappeared.
整個法庭完全混亂了好幾分鐘。把睡鼠趕出去以后,大家才再次坐下來,這時廚師失蹤了。
'Never mind!' said the King, with an air of great relief. 'Call the next witness.' And he added in an undertone to the Queen, 'Really, my dear, YOU must cross–examine the next witness. It quite makes my forehead ache!'
“沒關(guān)系!”國王坦然地說,“傳下一個作證人。”然后他對王后耳語說:“真的,親愛的,下一個作證人必須你來審訊了,我已經(jīng)頭疼得無法忍受了。”
The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them—all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the other. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that it made Alice quite hungry to look at them—'I wish they'd get the trial done,' she thought, 'and hand round the refreshments!' But there seemed to be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about her, to pass away the time.
Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read about them in books, and she was quite pleased to find that she knew the name of nearly everything there. 'That's the judge,' she said to herself, 'because of his great wig.'
The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he did it,) he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly not becoming.
'And that's the jury–box,' thought Alice, 'and those twelve creatures,' (she was obliged to say 'creatures,' you see, because some of them were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose they are the jurors.' She said this last word two or three times over to herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and rightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the meaning of it at all. However, 'jury–men' would have done just as well.
The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates. 'What are they doing?' Alice whispered to the Gryphon. 'They can't have anything to put down yet, before the trial's begun.'
'They're putting down their names,' the Gryphon whispered in reply, 'for fear they should forget them before the end of the trial.'
'Stupid things!' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but she stopped hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out, 'Silence in the court!' and the King put on his spectacles and looked anxiously round, to make out who was talking.
Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down 'stupid things!' on their slates, and she could even make out that one of them didn't know how to spell 'stupid,' and that he had to ask his neighbour to tell him. 'A nice muddle their slates'll be in before the trial's over!' thought Alice.
One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked. This of course, Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it away. She did it so quickly that the poor little juror (it was Bill, the Lizard) could not make out at all what had become of it; so, after hunting all about for it, he was obliged to write with one finger for the rest of the day; and this was of very little use, as it left no mark on the slate.
'Herald, read the accusation!' said the King.
On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:—
'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts,
And took them quite away!'
'Consider your verdict,' the King said to the jury.
'Not yet, not yet!' the Rabbit hastily interrupted. 'There's a great deal to come before that!'
'Call the first witness,' said the King; and the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out, 'First witness!'
The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread–and–butter in the other. 'I beg pardon, your Majesty,' he began, 'for bringing these in: but I hadn't quite finished my tea when I was sent for.'
'You ought to have finished,' said the King. 'When did you begin?'
The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm–in–arm with the Dormouse. 'Fourteenth of March, I think it was,' he said.
'Fifteenth,' said the March Hare.
'Sixteenth,' added the Dormouse.
'Write that down,' the King said to the jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then added them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence.
'Take off your hat,' the King said to the Hatter.
'It isn't mine,' said the Hatter.
'Stolen!' the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who instantly made a memorandum of the fact.
'I keep them to sell,' the Hatter added as an explanation; 'I've none of my own. I'm a hatter.'
Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted.
'Give your evidence,' said the King; 'and don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed on the spot.'
This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept shifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread–and–butter.
Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as long as there was room for her.
'I wish you wouldn't squeeze so.' said the Dormouse, who was sitting next to her. 'I can hardly breathe.'
'I can't help it,' said Alice very meekly: 'I'm growing.'
'You've no right to grow here,' said the Dormouse.
'Don't talk nonsense,' said Alice more boldly: 'you know you're growing too.'
'Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,' said the Dormouse: 'not in that ridiculous fashion.' And he got up very sulkily and crossed over to the other side of the court.
All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter, and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers of the court, 'Bring me the list of the singers in the last concert!' on which the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off.
'Give your evidence,' the King repeated angrily, 'or I'll have you executed, whether you're nervous or not.'
'I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' the Hatter began, in a trembling voice, '—and I hadn't begun my tea—not above a week or so—and what with the bread–and–butter getting so thin—and the twinkling of the tea—'
'The twinkling of the what?' said the King.
'It began with the tea,' the Hatter replied.
'Of course twinkling begins with a T!' said the King sharply. 'Do you take me for a dunce? Go on!'
'I'm a poor man,' the Hatter went on, 'and most things twinkled after that—only the March Hare said—'
'I didn't!' the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry.
'You did!' said the Hatter.
'I deny it!' said the March Hare.
'He denies it,' said the King: 'leave out that part.'
'Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said—' the Hatter went on, looking anxiously round to see if he would deny it too: but the Dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep.
'After that,' continued the Hatter, 'I cut some more bread–and–butter—'
'But what did the Dormouse say?' one of the jury asked.
'That I can't remember,' said the Hatter.
'You MUST remember,' remarked the King, 'or I'll have you executed.'
The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread–and–butter, and went down on one knee. 'I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' he began.
'You're a very poor speaker,' said the King.
Here one of the guinea–pigs cheered, and was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings: into this they slipped the guinea–pig, head first, and then sat upon it.)
'I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice. 'I've so often read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, "There was some attempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court," and I never understood what it meant till now.'
'If that's all you know about it, you may stand down,' continued the King.
'I can't go no lower,' said the Hatter: 'I'm on the floor, as it is.'
'Then you may SIT down,' the King replied.
Here the other guinea–pig cheered, and was suppressed.
'Come, that finished the guinea–pigs!' thought Alice. 'Now we shall get on better.'
'I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious look at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers.
'You may go,' said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the court, without even waiting to put his shoes on.
'—and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to one of the officers: but the Hatter was out of sight before the officer could get to the door.
'Call the next witness!' said the King.
The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the pepper–box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before she got into the court, by the way the people near the door began sneezing all at once.
'Give your evidence,' said the King.
'Shan't,' said the cook.
The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a low voice, 'Your Majesty must cross–examine THIS witness.'
'Well, if I must, I must,' the King said, with a melancholy air, and, after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till his eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a deep voice, 'What are tarts made of?'
'Pepper, mostly,' said the cook.
'Treacle,' said a sleepy voice behind her.
'Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out. 'Behead that Dormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch him! Off with his whiskers!'
For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the Dormouse turned out, and, by the time they had settled down again, the cook had disappeared.
'Never mind!' said the King, with an air of great relief. 'Call the next witness.' And he added in an undertone to the Queen, 'Really, my dear, YOU must cross–examine the next witness. It quite makes my forehead ache!'
?當他們到達時,紅心國王和紅心王后正坐在王座上,還有一大群各種小鳥獸圍著他們,就像一整套紙牌。那個武士站在他們面前,用鏈條鎖著,兩邊各有一名士兵看守著。國王旁邊站著白兔,一手拿著喇叭,一手拿著一卷羊皮紙。法庭正中有一張桌子,上面放著一大盤餡餅。餡餅十分精美,愛麗絲見了頓時覺得餓得慌。愛麗絲想:“希望審判能快些結(jié)束,然后讓大家吃點心。”但是,看來并沒有這種跡象。于是,她只好環(huán)視周圍的一切來消磨時光。
愛麗絲還沒有到過法庭,只在書上讀到過。她很高興的是對這里的一切都能說得上。“那是法官,”她對自己說,“因為他有假發(fā)。”
該說一下,那位法官就是國王。由于他在假發(fā)上又戴上王冠,看起來很不順眼,而且肯定也不會舒服的。
“那是陪審員席,”愛麗絲心想,“那十二個動物”(她不得不稱之為“動物”,因為有的是獸類,有的是鳥類),“該是陪審員了。”這最后一句,她對自己說了兩三遍,覺得挺自豪的。因為她想,幾乎沒有像她那樣年齡的女孩,會懂得這么多的。即使說“法律審查員”她們也不會懂的。
十二位陪審員全都在紙板上忙著寫什么。“他們在干什么?”愛麗絲對鷹頭獅低聲說,“在審判開始前,他們不會有任何事情要記錄的,”
鷹頭獅低聲回答:“他們在記下姓名,怕在審判結(jié)束前忘掉。”
“蠢家伙!”愛麗絲不滿地高聲說,但她立刻就不說話了,因為白兔喊著:“法庭肅靜。”這時,國王戴上了眼鏡,迅速地掃視了四周,想找出誰在說瓜。
愛麗絲就像趴在陪審員肩頭上看到的那樣清楚,看到所有的陪審員都在紙板上寫下了“蠢家伙”。她甚至還看到有個陪審員不會寫“蠢”字,要求鄰座的告訴他。“不到審判結(jié)束,他們的紙板準會寫得一塌糊涂!”愛麗絲想。
有一名陪審員在書寫時發(fā)出刺耳的市音,愛麗絲當然經(jīng)受不住了,于是,她在法庭里轉(zhuǎn)了一圈,到他的背后,找了個機會—下子奪走了那支鉛筆。她干得很利索,那個可憐的小陪審員(它就是壁虎比爾)根本不知道發(fā)生了什么事。當它到處找不到自己的鉛筆后,就只能用手指頭來書寫了。這當然毫無用處,因為手指在紙板上留不下任何痕跡。
“傳令官,宣讀起訴書。”國王宣布說。
白兔在喇叭上吹了三下,然后攤開那卷羊皮紙,宣讀如下:
“紅心王后做了餡餅,
夏日的白天竟發(fā)生這樣的事情:
紅心武士偷走了餡餅,
全都帶走匆忙離境!”
“請考慮你們的評審意見。”國王對陪審員說。
“不行,還不行!”兔子趕快插話說,“還有好些過程呢!”
于是,國王說:“傳第一個作證人。”白兔在喇叭上吹了三下,喊道:“傳第一個證人!”
第一個證人就是那位帽匠。他進來時,一手拿著一只茶杯,一手拿著一片奶油面包。他說:“陛下,請原諒我?guī)н@些來,因為我還沒吃完茶點就被傳來了。”
“你應(yīng)該吃完的。你什么時候開始吃的?”國王間。
帽匠看了看三月兔——三月兔是同睡鼠手挽著手跟著他進來的——說:“我想是三月十四日開始吃的。”
“是十五日。”三月兔說。
“十六日。”睡鼠補充說。
“記下來。”國王對陪審員說,陪審員急忙在紙板上寫下了這三個日期,然后把它們加起來,再把半數(shù)折算成先令和便士。
“摘掉你的帽子!”國王對帽匠說。
“那不是我的。”帽匠說。
“偷的!”國王叫了起來,并看了看陪審員。陪審員立即記下,作為事實備忘錄。
“我拿帽子來賣的,我是個帽匠,沒有一頂帽子屬于我的。”帽匠解釋道。
這時,王后戴上了眼鏡,使勁兒盯著帽匠,只見帽匠臉色發(fā)白,局促不安。
“拿出證據(jù)來,”國王說,“并且不得緊張,否則,我就把你拿到場上處決。”
這些話根本沒有鼓勵作證人。他不斷地把兩腳交替著站,不自在地看著王后,而且由于心里慌亂,竟在茶杯上咬了一大口,而不是去吃奶油面包。
正在這時,愛麗絲有一種奇怪的感覺,她迷惑了好一會,后來才慢慢地搞清楚,原來她又在長大了,起初,她想站起來走出法庭,但轉(zhuǎn)眼間她又決定留下了,只要這里還有她容身的余地。
“我希望你不要擠我,我透不過氣來了。”坐在愛麗絲旁邊的睡鼠說。
“我作不了主呀,你看我還在長呢!”愛麗絲非常溫和地說。
“在這里你沒有權(quán)利長呀!”睡鼠說。
“別說廢話了,你自己也在長呀!”愛麗絲大膽地說。
“是的,但是我是合理地生長,不是長成可笑的樣子,”睡鼠說著,不高興地站了起來,轉(zhuǎn)到法庭的另一邊去了。
在愛麗絲和睡鼠說話的時候,王后的眼睛始終盯著帽匠,當睡鼠轉(zhuǎn)到法庭的那邊,她就對一位官員說:“把上次音樂會上唱歌人的名單給我,”聽到這話,這個可憐的帽匠嚇得發(fā)抖,甚至把兩只鞋子也抖了下來。
“拿出證據(jù)來,否則,我就處決你,不管你緊張不緊張!”國王憤怒地重復(fù)了一遍。
“我是個窮人,陛下,”帽匠顫抖著說,“我只是剛剛開始吃茶點……沒有超過一星期……再說為什么奶油面包變得這么薄呢……還有茶會閃光……”
“什么閃光?”國王問。
“我說茶。”帽匠回答。
“哦,擦,當然,擦火柴是閃光的。你以為我是笨蛋嗎?接著說!”國王尖銳地指出。
“我是個窮人,”帽匠繼續(xù)說,“從那以后,大部分東西都閃光了……只有三月兔說……”
三月兔趕快插嘴:“我沒說過。”
“你說了。”徹匠說。
“我沒說。”三月兔說。
“它既然不承認,就談點別的吧!”國王說。
“好,無論如何,那就睡鼠來說……”說到這否認。然而睡鼠什么也沒說,它睡得正香呢。
“從那以后,我切了更多的奶油面包……”帽匠繼續(xù)說。
“但是睡鼠說了什么?”一位陪審員問。
“這個我記不得了。”帽匠說。
“你必須記得,否則我就處決你。”國王說。
那個可憐的帽匠丟掉了茶杯、奶油面包,單膝跪下說,“我是個可憐人,陛下。”
“你是個可憐的狡辯者。”國王說。
這時,一只豚鼠突然喝起彩來,但立即被法庭上的官員制止了。(所謂制止,實在很難說,我只能向你說說是怎么回事。他們用一只大帆布袋,把那只膽鼠頭朝里塞進去,用繩扎上了袋口,然后他們坐在袋上。)
愛麗絲心里想:“我很高興能看到了這回事。我常常在報上看到,說審判結(jié)束時“出現(xiàn)了喝彩聲,當即被法庭上的官員所制止。’直到現(xiàn)在我才明白是怎么回事。”
“如果你再沒有別的補充,你可以退下去了。”國王宣布說。
“我已經(jīng)沒法再退了,我已經(jīng)是站在地板上的了。”帽匠說。
“那么你可以坐下。”國王說。
這時,又一只豚鼠喝起彩來,又被制止了。
愛麗絲心里想:“噯,他們這樣收拾豚鼠!實在應(yīng)該文明一些。”
“我還得喝完這杯茶。”帽匠說著,不安地看著王后,而王后正在看唱歌人的名單。
“你可以走了。”國王一說,帽匠立即跑出法庭。甚至顧不上去穿他的鞋。
這進,王后吩咐一位官員說:“立即將那帽匠在庭外斬首。”可是官員追到大門口,帽匠已經(jīng)無影無蹤了。
“傳下一個作證人!”國王吩咐。
下一個作證人是公爵夫人的廚師。她手里帶著胡椒盒,一走進法庭,就使靠近她的人不停地打噴嚏,這使愛麗絲一下就猜出是誰了。
“提供你的證據(jù)。”國王吩咐。
“我不能提供。”廚師回答。
國王著急地看了看白兔,白兔低聲說:“陛下必須反復(fù)質(zhì)詢這個證人。”
“好,如果必須這樣,我必定這樣做。”國王帶著優(yōu)郁的神態(tài)說。然后他交叉著雙臂,對廚師蹙著眉,直到視野模糊了,才用深沉的聲音說:“餡餅是用什么做的?”
“大部分是胡椒,”廚師說,
“糖漿。”一個困倦的聲音從廚師后面?zhèn)鱽怼?/p>
“掐住那個睡鼠的脖子,”王后尖叫起來,“把它斬首,把它攆出法庭,制止它,掐死它,拔掉它的絡(luò)腮胡子!”
整個法庭完全混亂了好幾分鐘。把睡鼠趕出去以后,大家才再次坐下來,這時廚師失蹤了。
“沒關(guān)系!”國王坦然地說,“傳下一個作證人。”然后他對王后耳語說:“真的,親愛的,下一個作證人必須你來審訊了,我已經(jīng)頭疼得無法忍受了。”