prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第6章

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i　heard　a　dwarf…drum　in　the　mountains。　sometimes　at　night；　in　the　　woods；　i　thought　i　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　fauns　and　satyrs　dancing　a　long　way　off；　　but　when　i　came　to　the　place；　there　was　never　anything　there。　i　have　often　despaired；　　but　something　always　happens　to　start　me　hoping　again。　i　dont　know。　but　at　least　you　can　　try　to　be　a　king　like　the　high　king　peter　of　old；　and　not　like　your　uncle。鈥�

〃then　its　true　about　the　kings　and　queens　too；　and　about　the　white　witch？〃　　said　caspian。

〃certainly　it　is　true；〃　said　cornelius。　〃their　reign　was　the　golden　age　in　　narnia　and　the　land　has　never　forgotten　them。鈥�

〃did　they　live　in　this　castle；　doctor？鈥�

〃nay；　my　dear；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃this　castle　is　a　thing　of　yesterday。　　your　great…great…grandfather　built　it。　but　when　the　two　sons　of　adam　and　the　two　daughters　　of　eve　were　made　kings　and　queens　of　narnia　by　aslan　himself；　they　lived　in　the　castle　　of　cair　paravel。　no　man　alive　has　seen　that　blessed　place　and　perhaps　even　the　　ruins　of　it　have　now　vanished。　but　we　believe　it　was　far　from　here；　down　at　the　mouth　of　the　　great　river；　on　the　very　shore　of　the　sea。鈥�

〃ugh！〃　said　caspian　with　a　shudder。　〃do　you　mean　in　the　black　woods？　where　　all　the　…　the　…　you　know；　the　ghosts　live？鈥�

〃your　highness　speaks　as　you　have　been　taught；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃but　it　is　　all　lies。

there　are　no　ghosts　there。　that　is　a　story　invented　by　the　telmarines。　your　　kings　are　in　deadly　fear　of　the　sea　because　they　can　never　quite　forget　that　in　all　　stories　aslan　es　from　over　the　sea。　they　dont　want　to　go　near　it　and　they　dont　want　anyone　　else　to　go　near　it。　so　they　have　let　great　woods　grow　up　to　cut　their　people　off　from　　the　coast。　but　because　they　have　quarrelled　with　the　trees　they　are　afraid　of　the　woods。　　and　because　they　are　afraid　of　the　woods　they　imagine　that　they　are　full　of　ghosts。　and　　the　kings　and　great　men；　hating　both　the　sea　and　the　wood；　partly　believe　these　stories；　　and　partly　encourage　them。　they　feel　safer　if　no　one　in　narnia　dares　to　go　down　to　the　　coast　and　look　out　to　sea　towards　aslans　land　and　the　morning　and　the　eastern　end　of　　the　world。鈥�

there　was　a　deep　silence　between　them　for　a　few　minutes。　then　doctor　　cornelius　said；　〃e。　we　have　been　here　long　enough。　it　is　time　to　go　down　and　to　bed。鈥�

〃must　we？〃　said　caspian。　〃id　like　to　go　on　talking　about　these　things　for　　hours　and　hours　and　hours。鈥�

〃someone　might　begin　looking　for　us；　if　we　did　that；〃　said　doctor　　cornelius。

　　



CHAPTER　SIX

锛堝皬锛忥紡璇达紡锛弔锛忥紡xt锝�//澶�//鍫傦級
the　people　that　lived　in　hiding　　now　began　the　happiest　times　that　caspian　had　ever　known。　on　a　fine　summer　　morning　when　the　dew　lay　on　the　grass　he　set　off　with　the　badger　and　the　two　　dwarfs；　up　through　the　forest　to　a　high　saddle　in　the　mountains　and　down　on　to　their　sunny　　southern　slopes　where　one　looked　across　the　green　wolds　of　archenland。

〃we　will　go　first　to　the　three　bulgy　bears；〃　said　trumpkin。

they　came　in　a　glade　to　an　old　hollow　oak　tree　covered　with　moss；　and　　trufflehunter　tapped　with　his　paw　three　times　on　the　trunk　and　there　was　no　answer。　then　　he　tapped　again　and　a　woolly　sort　of　voice　from　inside　said；　〃go　away。　its　not　time　　to　get　up　yet。鈥�

but　when　he　tapped　the　third　time　there　was　a　noise　like　a　small　earthquake　　from　inside　and　a　sort　of　door　opened　and　out　came　three　brown　bears；　very　bulgy　indeed　　and　blinking　their　little　eyes。　and　when　everything　had　been　explained　to　them　　（which　took　a　long　time　because　they　were　so　sleepy）　they　said；　just　as　trufflehunter　had　　said；　that　a　son　of　adam　ought　to　be　king　of　narnia　and　all　kissed　caspian　…　very　wet；　　snuffly　kisses　they　were　…　and　offered　him　some　honey。　caspian　did　not　really　want　honey；　　without　bread；　at　that　time　in　the　morning；　but　he　thought　it　polite　to　accept。　it　　took　him　a　long　time　afterwards　to　get　unsticky。

after　that　they　went　on　till　they　came　among　tall　beech　trees　and　　trufflehunter　called　out；　〃pattertwig！　pattertwig！　pattertwig！〃　and　almost　at　once；　bounding　down　　from　branch　to　branch　till　he　was　just　above　their　heads；　came　the　most　magnificent　red　　squirrel　that　caspian　had　ever　seen。　he　was　far　bigger　than　the　ordinary　dumb　squirrels　　which　he　had　sometimes　seen　in　the　castle　gardens；　indeed　he　was　nearly　the　size　of　a　　terrier　and　the　moment　you　looked　in　his　face　you　saw　that　he　could　talk。　indeed　the　　difficulty　was　to　get　him　to　stop　talking；　for；　like　all　squirrels；　he　was　a　chatterer。　he　　weled　caspian　at　once　and　asked　if　he　would　like　a　nut　and　caspian　said　thanks；　he　would。　　but　as　pattertwig　went　bounding　away　to　fetch　it；　trufflehunter　whispered　in　　caspians　ear；　〃dont　look。　look　the　other　way。　its　very　bad　manners　among　squirrels　to　　watch　anyone　going　to　his　store　or　to　look　as　if　you　wanted　to　know　where　it　was。〃　then　　pattertwig　came　back　with　the　nut　and　caspian　ate　it　and　after　that　pattertwig　asked　　if　he　could　take　any　messages　to　other　friends。　〃for　i　can　go　nearly　everywhere　without　　setting　foot　to　ground；〃　he　said。　trufflehunter　and　the　dwarfs　thought　this　a　very　good　　idea　and　gave　pattertwig　messages　to　all　sorts　of　people　with　queer　names　telling　them　　all　to　e　to　a　　

feast　and　council　on　dancing　lawn　at　midnight　three　nights　ahead。　〃and　　youd　better　tell　the　three　bulgies　too；〃　added　trumpkin。　〃we　forgot　to　mention　it　to　them。鈥�

their　next　visit　was　to　the　seven　brothers　of　shuddering　wood。　trumpkin　led　　the　way　back　to　the　saddle　and　then　down　eastward　on　the　northern　slope　of　the　　mountains　till　they　came　to　a　very　solemn　place　among　rocks　and　fir　trees。　they　went　very　　quietly　and　presently　caspian　could　feel　the　ground　shake　under　his　feet　as　if　someone　　were　hammering　down　below。　trumpkin　went　to　a　flat　stone　about　the　size　of　the　　top　of　a　water…butt；　and　stamped　on　it　with　his　foot。　after　a　long　pause　it　was　　moved　away　by　someone　or　something　underneath；　and　there　was　a　dark；　round　hole　with　a　　good　deal　of　heat　and　steam　ing　out　of　it　and　in　the　middle　of　the　hole　the　head　of　a　　dwarf　very　like　trumpkin　himself。　there　was　a　long　talk　here　and　the　dwarf　seemed　more　　suspicious　than　the　squirrel　or　the　bulgy　bears　had　been；　but　in　the　end　the　whole　　party　were　invited　to　e　down。　caspian　found　himself　descending　a　dark　stairway　into　the　　earth；　but　when　he　came　to　the　bottom　he　saw　firelight。　it　was　the　light　of　a　furnace。　　the　whole　place　was　a　smithy。　a　subterranean　stream　ran　past　on　one　side　of　it。　two　　dwarfs　were　at　the　bellows；　another　was　holding　a　piece　of　red…hot　metal　on　the　anvil　with　　a　pair　of　tongs；　a　fourth　was　hammering　it；　and　two；　wiping　their　horny　little　hands　　on　a　greasy　cloth；　were　ing　forward　to　meet　the　visitors。　it　took　some　time　to　　satisfy　them　that　caspian　was　a　friend　and　not　an　enemy；　but　when　they　did；　they　all　cried；　　〃long　live　the　king；〃　and　their　gifts　were　noble　…　mail　shirts　and　helmets　and　swords　for　　caspian　and　trumpkin　and　nikabrik。　the　badger　could　have　had　the　same　if　he　had　liked；　　but　he　said　he　was　a　beast；　he　was；　and　if　his　claws　and　teeth　could　not　keep　his　skin　　whole；　it　wasnt　worth　keeping。　the　workmanship　of　the　arms　was　far　finer　than　any　caspian　　had　ever　seen；　and　he　gladly　accepted　the　dwarf…made　sword　instead　of　his　own；　which　　looked；　in　parison；　as　feeble　as　a　toy　and　as　clumsy　as　a　stick。　the　seven　brothers　　（who　were　all　red　dwarfs）　promised　to　e　to　the　feast　at　dancing　lawn。

a　little　farther　on；　in　a　dry；　rocky　ravine　they　reached　the　cave　of　five　　black　dwarfs。

they　looked　suspiciously　at　caspian；　but　in　the　end　the　eldest　of　them　　said；　〃if　he　is　against　miraz；　well　have　him　for　king。〃　and　the　next　oldest　said；　〃shall　　we　go　farther　up　for　you；　up　to　the　crags？　theres　an　ogre　or　two　and　a　hag　that　we　could　　introduce　you　to；　up　there。鈥�

〃certainly　not；〃　said　caspian。

〃i　should　think　not；　indeed；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃we　want　none　of　that　　sort　on　our　side。鈥�

nikabrik　disagreed　with　this；　but　trumpkin　and　the　badger　overruled　him。　it　　gave　caspian　a　shock　to　realize　that　the　horrible　creatures　out　of　the　old　　stories；　as　well　as　the　nice　ones；　had　some　descendants　in　narnia　still。

〃we　should　not　have　aslan　for　friend　if　we　brought　in　that　rabble；〃　said　　trufflehunter　as　they　came　away　from　the　cave　of　the　black　dwarfs。

〃oh；　aslan！〃　said　trumpkin；　cheerily　but　contemptuously。　〃what　matters　much　　more　is　that　you　wouldnt　have　me。鈥�

〃do　you　believe　in　aslan？〃　said　caspian　to　nikabrik。

〃ill　believe　in　anyone　or　anything；〃　said　nikabrik；　〃thatll　batter　these　　cursed　telmarine　barbarians　to　pieces　or　drive　them　out　of　narnia。　anyone　or　anything；　aslan　　or　the　white　witch；　do　you　understand？鈥�

〃silence；　silence；〃　said　trufflehunter。　〃you　do　not　know　what　you　are　　saying。　she　was　a　worse　enemy　than　miraz　and　all　his　race。鈥�

〃not　to　dwarfs；　she　wasnt；〃　said　nikabrik。

their　next　visit　was　a　pleasanter　one。　as　they　came　lower　down；　the　　mountains　opened　out　into　a　great　glen　or　wooded　gorge　with　a　swift　river　running　at　the　　bottom。　the　open　places　near　the　rivers　edge　were　a　mass　of　foxgloves　and　wild　roses　and　　the　air　was　buzzing　with　bees。　here　trufflehunter　called　again；　〃glenstorm！　glenstorm！〃　　and　after　a　pause　caspian　heard　the　sound　of　hoofs。　it　grew　louder　till　the　valley　　trembled　and　at　last；　breaking　and　trampling　the　thickets；　there　came　in　sight　the　noblest　　creatures　that　caspian　had　yet　seen；　the　great　centaur　glenstorm　and　his　three　sons。　his　flanks　　were　glossy　chestnut　and　the　beard　that　covered　his　broad　chest　was　goldenred。　he　was　a　　prophet　and　a　star…gazer　and　knew　what　they　had　e　about。

〃long　live　the　king；〃　he　cried。　〃i　and　my　sons　are　ready　for　war。　when　is　　the　battle　to　be　joined？鈥�

up　till　now　neither　caspian　nor　the　others　had　really　been　thinking　of　a　　war。　they　had　some　vague　idea；　perhaps；　of　an　occasional　raid　on　some　human　farmstead　or　　of　attacking　a　party　of　hunters；　if　it　ventured　too　far　into　these　southern　　wilds。　but；　in　the　main；　they　had　thought　only　of　living　to　themselves　in　woods　and　caves　and　　building　up　an　attempt　at　old　narnia　in　hiding。　as　soon　as　glenstorm　had　spoken　　everyone　felt　much　more　serious。

〃do　you　mean　a　real　war　to　drive　miraz　out　of　narnia？〃　asked　caspian。

〃what　else？〃　said　the　centaur。　〃why　else　does　your　majesty　go　clad　in　mail　　and　girt　with　sword？鈥�

〃is　it　possible；　glenstorm？〃　said　the　badger。

〃the　time　is　ripe；〃　said　glenstorm。　〃i　watch　the　skies；　badger；　for　it　is　　mine　to　watch；　as　it　is　yours　to　remember。　tarva　and　alambil　have　met　in　the　halls　of　high　　heaven；　and　on　earth　a　son　of　adam　has　once　more　arisen　to　rule　and　name　the　creatures。　　the　hour　has　struck。　our　council　at　the　dancing　lawn　must　be　a　council　of　war。〃　he　spoke　　in　such　a　voice　that　neither　caspian　nor　the　others　hesitated　for　a　moment：　it　now　　seemed　to　them　quite　possible　that　they　might　win　a　war　and　quite　certain　that　they　must　　wage　one。

as　it　was　now　past　the　middle　of　the　day；　they　rested　with　the　centaurs　and　　ate　such　food　as　the　centaurs　provided　cakes　of　oaten　meal；　and　apples；　and　herbs；　and　　wine；　and　cheese。

the　next　place　they　were　to　visit　was　quite　near　at　hand；　but　they　had　to　　go　a　long　way　round　in　order　to　avoid　a　region　in　which　men　lived。　it　was　well　into　the　　afternoo