贝德格勒特[中英对照]

　　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.

　　贝德格勒特(威尔士)

　　很久以前，在威尔士北部的高原上，生活着一只黑色的大猎犬，名叫贝德格勒特。贝德格勒特同他的主人一块儿居住在一个小镇边上的一座傍河的农舍里。小镇坐落在一个为森林和多岩石的的山峦所环绕的美丽山谷里。每天，贝德格勒特都和他的主人到森林里或者山上去打猎。每天傍晚上回家时,他们都会带回来一只野鹿、一头野猪，或者更经常的——带回来野兔、野鸡或者松鸡。

    让大家感到惊异的不仅是他们的狩猎成果，还有存在于贝德格勒特和他主人之间的那种独特的友谊。这两个朋友之间的纽带关系无疑是牢固的。贝德格勒特凶猛而富于攻击性，有着强有力的四肢和结实而锋利、足以撕开任何一种动物皮肉的利齿。然而，他对主人表现出深厚的感情和忠诚。事实上，贝德格勒特对主人亦步亦趋。主人坐下时，他也坐下；主人行走时，他也行走。两个朋友形影不离。

    随着时光的流逝，贝德格勒特的主人恋爱了，与一个漂亮的姑娘结了婚。不幸的是，一年之后，女主人在生孩子时死了，她的丈夫极其伤心。孩子是个漂亮的小男婴，尽管出生时发生了悲剧，他还是给贝德格勒特及其主人的生活带来了许多的快乐。

    有一天，小镇上传开了一个消息，说当地有一匹饿狼在活动。田地里发现了被咬死的羊，人们都很害怕。贝德格勒特的主人很担心自己幼子的安全，所以临出门去打猎时，他让贝德格勒特留在家里保护孩子。每天，当孩子在自己的摇篮里开心地玩耍时，贝德格勒特便守护着农舍的门，小心提防着那匹狼。

    一个温暖的夏日午后，狼终于来了。就在孩子躺在摇篮里睡觉的时候，狼从窗户跳了进来，眼睛紧盯着熟睡的男孩。贝德格勒特闪电般地跳起来，扑到狼的面前挡住孩子。两只动物撕杀起来，彼此毫不留情地撕咬着对方的肉。狼一心想要抓住孩子，而贝德格勒特一心要阻止它达到目的。经过一场长时间的残酷搏斗，狼终于退却了，它舔着伤口，瘸着腿，无力地走了。贝德格勒特精疲力尽地趴到孩子的摇篮上。他受了重伤，十分的虚弱。

    主人回家时，小男孩睡得正香。而贝德格勒特却已经奄奄一息，但他还是使劲摇了摇尾巴，抬起头来迎接自己的主人。看到房间里面到处是血，摇篮里有，贝德格勒特的嘴里也有，主人认为是贝德格勒特出于嫉妒，一时冲动咬死了他的儿子。

    主人哭喊着，“贝德格勒特，我忠诚的朋友，你怎么能这样背叛我呢？”他伤心如狂，举起枪就把贝德格勒特打死了。然后他跌跌撞撞地走出农舍，跪倒在地，放声大哭。突然间，他听到了儿子低低的哭声。他跳起身来，冲回屋子，惊喜地发现自己的儿子平安无事，身上连一点小小的擦伤都没有。

    主人一下醒悟到自己所犯的可怕错误。他意识到自己刚才所看到的是那只狼和他忠诚的狗贝德格勒特的血迹，但为时已晚。他无限痛悔地把贝德格勒特抱到花园里，掩埋在橡树底下。贝德格勒特至今留在那里。为了纪念他，人们立起了一块漂亮的石碑，并把有关他的忠诚和勇敢的故事刻在碑上，让大家都能读到。在这个如今被称做贝德格勒特的小镇的边上，有一条水声淙淙的小河，小河旁有一株巨大的橡树。贝德格勒特长眠在这株橡树的树荫下。(柯平 葛竞译，转载请注明出处。本文收入译林出版社《北欧民间故事集》)

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