第二冊第8篇：托缽僧和四個賊

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Richard Doddridge Blackmore 理查德·D·布萊克默

A Dervise had once made a purchase of a fine fat sheep, intending to offer it up in sacrifice; and having tied a cord about its neck, was leading it to his home, when four thieves perceived him, and instantly made up their minds to steal the sheep. They knew the Dervise to be an honest, inoffensive man, and one who thought of no more harm in others than he had in himself. They dared not, however, take the sheep away from the Dervise by force, for they were too near the city; therefore they made use of this stratagem: they first parted company, and then accosted the Dervise, as if they had come from several distinct parts.

有一次，一個托缽僧買了一頭碩大的肥羊，打算用它作祭品。正當他用繩子縛住了羊的脖子，牽著它回家的時候，四個賊看見了他，就立刻決定要把這頭羊偷到手。他們知道這個托缽僧是一個老老實實、與世無爭的人，是一個自己心中從不想傷害別人而且認為別人也跟他-'樣沒有惡意的人。盡管如此，這四個賊還是不敢從他手中強奪這頭羊，因為當時他們離城太近了，因此，他們采用了這樣一個計策;首先，四人各自分散，然后走上前去與托缽僧搭訕，好象他們來自幾個不同的地方。

The first thief, who had contrived to meet him full- face, said, "My good old man, whither are you leading this dog ?"

第一個賊設(shè)法從他正面迎上去，跟他說："好心的老人，您牽著這條狗上哪兒去呀?"

At this instant the second robber, coming from another quarter, cried to him, "Venerable old man, I hope you have not so far forgot yourself as to have stolen this dog;" and immediately after him, the third coming up, asked him, "Whither are you going with that handsome greyhound ?"

這時候，第二個賊從另一個方向走過來，向他喊道："尊敬的老人，我希望您不至于糊涂到偷了這條狗吧!"緊接著，第三個賊走上前來，問道："您帶著這條漂亮的獵狗到哪兒去呀?"

The poor Dervise began to doubt whether the sheep which he had was a sheep or not. But the fourth robber put him quite beside himself(2) by approaching him and asking what the dog cost him.

可憐的托缽僧開始懷疑自己買的那頭羊是否真的是羊了。但是第四個賊走到他跟前問他花了多少錢買這條狗，這把他完全弄糊涂了。

The Dervise, absolutely persuaded(3) that four men, coming from four several directions, could not all be deceived, verily believed that the grazier who had sold him the sheep was a conjurer, and had bewitched his sight; inasmuch that, no longer giving credit to his Own eyes,(4) he began to be firmly convinced that the sheep he was leading was a dog. In full persuasion of this, the Dervise went back to the market to demand his money of the grazier(5), leaving the wether with the felons, who made off with(6) it.

托缽僧因為絕對相信四個來自不同方向的人不可能全都搞錯了，就確實認為那個賣這頭羊給他的牧人是個魔術(shù)師，迷了他的眼，于是，他不再相信自己的眼睛，確信自己所牽著的那頭羊是一條狗了。托缽僧完全信以為真，于是就回到市場去向牧人討錢，而把那頭閹羊交給了這些壞蛋，他們就牽著羊逃走了。

英文注釋：

(1)dervise：托缽僧。英語中應為dervish，這里的Dervise是借用土耳其浯中的讀音而拼成。

(2) put him quite beside himself: 把他完全弄糊涂了。 beside oneself：若狂，發(fā)狂。

(3)a bsolutely persuaded：絕對相信。persuaded在這里是過去分詞，相當于who Was persuaded(被說服而相信)，后面可以接of短語或that所引導的從句。

(4)no longer giving credit to his own eyes：不再相信他自己的眼睛。credit在這里解作"信任"。

(5)demand his money of the grazier：向牧人討回他的錢。demand...of.叫向……要求(索取)……。

(6)made off with…：攜……而逃。