The Sheep and the Pig who Set Up House

"Once on a time there was a sheep who stood in the pen to be fattened; so he lived well, and was stuffed and crammed with everything that was good. So it went on, till, one day, the dairymaid came and gave him still more food, and then she said,

“从前有只绵羊，养在圈里等着育肥；日子过得倒也不错，各种好吃的东西都往它嘴里塞。就这样过了些日子，有一天，挤奶女工来了，给它添了更多的饲料，随后说道：

"'Eat away, sheep; you won't be much longer here; we are going to kill you to-morrow.'

“‘尽管吃吧，绵羊，你在这儿也待不了多久了，我们明天就要宰了你。’

"It is an old saying, that women's counsel is always worth having, and that there is a cure and physic for everything but death. 'But, after all,' said the sheep to himself, 'there may be a cure even for death this time.'

“老话说得好，女人的主意总是值得听一听的，说是万事皆有解药和法子，唯独死亡没有。‘不过，话说回来，’绵羊自言自语道，‘说不定这一回，连死亡也有解药呢。’

"So he ate till he was ready to burst; and when he was crammed full, he butted out the door of the pen, and took his way to the neighbouring farm. There he went to the pigsty to a pig whom he had known out on the common, and ever since had been the best friends with.

“于是它使劲吃，吃到快要撑破了肚皮；等它吃得饱饱的，便一头顶开圈门，朝邻近的农庄走去。它到了猪圈，去找一头猪，那猪是它从前在公共牧场上认识的，从那以后两个便成了最要好的朋友。

"'Good day!' said the sheep, 'and thanks for our last merry meeting.'

“‘你好啊！’绵羊说道，‘多谢上回咱们那场愉快的聚会。’

"'Good day!' answered the pig, 'and the same to you.'

“‘你好啊！’猪答道，‘我也要谢谢你呢。’

"'Do you know,' said the sheep, 'why it is you are so well off, and why it is they fatten you and take such pains with you?'

“‘你可知道，’绵羊说道，‘你为什么过得这么舒坦，为什么他们要这么费心把你养得肥肥的吗？’

"'No, I don't,' said the pig.

“‘不，我不知道，’猪说道。

"'Many a flask empties the cask; I suppose you know that,' said the sheep. 'They are going to kill and eat you.'

“‘一瓶接一瓶，酒桶终会空；我猜你该明白这个理儿，’绵羊说道。‘他们打算把你杀了吃掉呢。’

"'Are they?' said the pig; 'well, I hope they'll say grace after meat.'

“‘是吗？’猪说道，‘那好吧，但愿他们吃饭前会先做个祷告。’

"'If you will do as I do,' said the sheep, 'we'll go off to the wood, build us a house, and set up for ourselves. A home is a home be it ever so homely.'

“‘要是你肯照我说的做，’绵羊说道，‘咱们就去树林里，给自己盖座房子，自立门户过日子。家再简陋，也终究是个家啊。’

"Yes! the pig was willing enough. 'Good company is such a comfort,' he said, and so the two set off.

“好啊！猪十分乐意。‘有个好伙伴，日子才过得舒心，’它说道，于是两个便动身出发了。

"So, when they had gone a bit they met a goose.

“它们走了一段路，遇见了一只鹅。

"'Good day, good sirs, and thanks for our last merry meeting,' said the goose; 'whither away so fast to-day?'

“‘二位好啊，多谢上回咱们那场愉快的聚会，’鹅说道，‘今天这么急匆匆的，是要去哪儿呀？’

"'Good day, and the same to you,' said the sheep; 'you must know we were too well off at home, and so we are going to set up for ourselves in the wood, for you know every man's house is his castle.'

“‘你好啊，我也要谢谢你，’绵羊说道，‘实不相瞒，我们在家里过得太舒坦了，所以打算去树林里自立门户，你该知道，家家户户都是自己的城堡呀。’

"'Well!' said the goose, 'it's much the same with me where I am. Can't I go with you too, for it's child's play when three share the day.'

“‘好啊！’鹅说道，‘我这儿的情形也差不多。我能不能也跟你们一块儿去呢，三个人分担，日子过得也轻松些嘛。’

"'With gossip and gabble is built neither house nor stable,' said the pig, 'let us know what you can do.'

“‘光靠闲话唠叨，盖不成房子也搭不起马厩，’猪说道，‘让我们瞧瞧你能干点什么。’

"'By cunning and skill a cripple can do what he will,' said the goose. 'I can pluck moss and stuff it into the seams of the planks, and your house will be tight and warm.'

“‘靠着机灵和本事，瘸子也能成事，’鹅说道。‘我能拔些苔藓，塞进木板的缝隙里，这样你们的房子才能又严实又暖和。’

"Yes! they would give him leave, for, above all things piggy wished to be warm and comfortable.

“好啊！它们便答应让它加入了，因为猪最盼望的莫过于住得暖和舒服了。

"So, when they had gone a bit farther—the goose had hard work to walk so fast—they met a hare, who came frisking out of the wood.

“它们又走了一段路——鹅走得辛苦，好不容易才跟上这么快的脚步——遇见了一只野兔，正从树林里蹦蹦跳跳地窜出来。

"'Good day, good sirs, and thanks for our last merry meeting,' she said, 'how far are you trotting to-day?'

“‘二位好啊，多谢上回咱们那场愉快的聚会，’它说道，‘今天要跑到哪儿去呀？’

"'Good day, and the same to you,' said the sheep; 'we were far too well off at home, and so we're going to the wood, to build us a house, and set up for ourselves, for you know, try all the world round, there's nothing like home.'

“‘你好啊，我也要谢谢你，’绵羊说道，‘我们在家里过得实在太舒坦了，所以打算去树林里盖座房子，自立门户，你该知道，走遍天下，也没有一个地方比得上家啊。’

"'As for that,' said the hare, 'I have a house in every bush—yes, a house in every bush; but, yet, I have often said, in winter, 'if I only live till summer, I'll build me a house;' and so I have half a mind to go with you and build one up, after all.'

“‘说到这个，’野兔说道，‘我可是每丛灌木里都有个家——是啊，每丛灌木里都有个家；不过，我也常在冬天里念叨，“要是能活到夏天，我就给自己盖座房子”；所以我倒也有几分心思，想跟你们一块儿去盖上一座呢。’

"'Yes!' said the pig, 'if we ever get into a scrape, we might use you to scare away the dogs, for you don't fancy you could help us in house building.'

“‘好啊！’猪说道，‘要是咱们哪天遇上麻烦，倒是可以让你去把狗吓跑，可你该不会以为你能帮上盖房子的忙吧。’

"'He who lives long enough always finds work enough to do,' said the hare. 'I have teeth to gnaw pegs, and paws to drive them into the wall, so I can very well set up to be a carpenter, for "good tools make good work," as the man said, when he flayed the mare with a gimlet.'

“‘活得够久的人，总能找到够多的活儿干，’野兔说道。‘我有牙齿能啃木钉，有爪子能把木钉钉进墙里，所以我尽可以当个木匠，正所谓“好工具出好活”，就像那人用锥子给母马剥皮时说的那句话一样。’

"Yes! he too got leave to go with them and build their house, there was nothing more to be said about it.

“好啊！它也得到了准许，可以跟着它们一块儿去盖房子，这事就这么定了，没什么好说的了。

"When they had gone a bit farther they met a cock.

“它们又走了一段路，遇见了一只公鸡。

"'Good day, good sirs,' said the cock, 'and thanks for our last merry meeting; whither are ye going to-day, gentlemen?'

“‘二位好啊，’公鸡说道，‘多谢上回咱们那场愉快的聚会，二位今天是要往哪儿去呀？’

"'Good day, and the same to you,' said the sheep. 'At home we were too well off, and so we are going off to the wood to build us a house, and set up for ourselves; for he who out of doors shall bake, loses at last both coal and cake.'

“‘你好啊，我也要谢谢你，’绵羊说道。‘我们在家里过得太舒坦了，所以打算去树林里盖座房子，自立门户；因为在外头烤面包的人，到头来煤炭和面包都得赔上啊。’

"'Well!' said the cock, 'that's just my case; but it's better to sit on one's own perch, for then one can never be left in the lurch, and, besides, all cocks crow loudest at home. Now, if I might have leave to join such a gallant company, I also would like to go to the wood and build a house.'

“‘好啊！’公鸡说道，‘我这情形也一模一样；不过，还是自个儿的栖木上坐着最踏实，这样才不会被人撇下不管，再说了，公鸡也总是在自己家里叫得最响亮。这会儿，若是能让我加入你们这队人马，我也想去树林里盖座房子呢。’

"'Ay! ay!' said the pig, 'flapping and crowing sets tongues a-going; but a jaw on a stick never yet laid a brick. How can you ever help us to build a house?'

“‘哎呀！哎呀！’猪说道，‘扑腾翅膀打鸣，倒是能让大伙儿说三道四；可光靠一张嘴，可砌不成一块砖。你到底能怎么帮咱们盖房子呢？’

"'Oh!' said the cock, 'that house will never have a clock, where there is neither dog nor cock. I am up early, and I wake every one.'

“‘哦！’公鸡说道，‘一座房子里要是既没有狗也没有公鸡，那可永远也不会有钟点可言。我起得早，能把大家都叫醒呢。’

"'Very true,' said the pig, 'the morning hour has a golden dower; let him come with us;' for, you must know, piggy was always the soundest sleeper. 'Sleep is the biggest thief,' he said; 'he thinks nothing of stealing half one's life.'

“‘这话不假，’猪说道，‘一日之计在于晨，早起是份宝贵的嫁妆；就让它跟咱们一块儿去吧’——要知道，猪一向是睡得最沉的。‘睡眠可是天底下最大的小偷，’它说道，‘偷起半辈子的光阴来，眼都不眨一下。’

"So they all set off to the wood, as a band and brotherhood, and built the house. The pig hewed the timber, and the sheep drew it home; the hare was carpenter, and gnawed pegs and bolts, and hammered them into the walls and roof; the goose plucked moss and stuffed it into the seams; the cock crew, and looked out that they did not oversleep themselves in the morning; and when the house was ready, and the roof lined with birch bark, and thatched with turf; there they lived by themselves, and were merry and well. ''Tis good to travel east and west,' said the sheep, 'but after all a home is best.'

“于是它们便结成一队，一同前往树林，把房子盖了起来。猪负责砍伐木材，绵羊负责把木材拖回来；野兔当木匠，负责啃木钉、削插销，把它们敲进墙壁和屋顶；鹅负责拔苔藓，塞进缝隙里；公鸡负责打鸣，留意着别让大伙儿早上睡过了头；等房子盖好了，屋顶铺上桦树皮，又盖上草皮，它们便自己住了下来，过得又快活又舒坦。‘走东走西固然不错，’绵羊说道，‘可到头来还是家里最好。’

"But you must know that a bit farther on in the wood was a wolf's den, and there lived two graylegs. So when they saw that a new house had risen up hard by, they wanted to know what sort of folk their neighbours were, for they thought to themselves that a good neighbour was better than a brother in a foreign land, and that it was better to live in a good neighbourhood than to know many people miles and miles off.

“可你得知道，树林再往里走一段，有个狼窝，住着两只灰腿狼。它们瞧见附近新盖起了一座房子，便想弄清楚这些新邻居到底是什么来路，因为它们心想，有个好邻居，可比在异乡有个兄弟还要强，与其认得千里之外的许多人，倒不如安安稳稳有个好街坊。

"So one of them made up an errand, and went into the new house and asked for a light for his pipe. But as soon as ever he got inside the door, the sheep gave him such a butt that he fell head foremost into the stove. Then the pig began to gore and bite him, the goose to nip and peck him, the cock upon the roost to crow and chatter; and as for the hare he was so frightened out of his wits, that he ran about aloft and on the floor, and scratched and scrambled in every corner of the house.

“于是其中一只便找了个由头，走进这座新房子，说是想借个火点烟斗。可它才刚一进门，绵羊便狠狠给了它一顶，把它顶得一头栽进了炉子里。接着猪便冲上去又戳又咬，鹅也上前又掐又啄，栖木上的公鸡放声打鸣、叽叽喳喳，至于那野兔呢，早已吓得魂飞魄散，在楼上楼下到处乱窜，把屋子的每个角落都抓得乱七八糟。

"So after a long time the wolf came out.

“过了好一阵子，那只狼终于出来了。

"'Well!' said the one who waited for him outside, 'neighbourhood makes brotherhood. You must have come into a perfect paradise on bare earth, since you stayed so long. But what became of the light, for you have neither pipe nor smoke.'

“‘怎么样！’在外面等着的那只说道，‘远亲不如近邻嘛。你在里头待了这么久，想必是到了人间天堂了吧。可你怎么烟斗也没点着，烟也没抽上一口呢？’

"'Yes, yes!' said the other; 'it was just a nice light and a pleasant company. Such manners I never saw in all my life. But then you know we can't pick and choose in this wicked world, and an unbidden guest gets bad treatment. As soon as I got inside the door, the shoe-maker let fly at me with his last, so that I fell head foremost into the stithy fire; and there sat two smiths who blew the bellows and made the sparks fly, and beat and punched me with red hot tongs and pincers, so that they tore whole pieces out of my body.

“‘是啊，是啊！’另一只说道，‘那的确是个不错的火光，还有一群挺热闹的伙伴。我这辈子都没见过那样的排场。不过话说回来，这乱糟糟的世道里，咱们也没法挑三拣四，不请自来的客人，待遇自然好不到哪儿去。我才一进门，那鞋匠就抡起他的楦头朝我砸过来，把我一头砸进了炉膛的火里；里头还坐着两个铁匠，正拉着风箱，火星四溅，拿烧得通红的钳子夹子又打又戳我，把我身上的肉都撕下了好几块。

"As for the hunter he went scrambling about looking for his gun, and it was good luck he did not find it. And all the while there was another who sat up under the roof, and slapped his arms and sang out,

“至于那猎人呢，他到处乱翻，找他的猎枪，幸亏他没找着。这当口，屋顶底下还坐着另一个家伙，拍着手臂，扯着嗓子唱道，

"'Put a hook into him, and drag him hither, drag him hither.' That was what he screamed, and if he had only got hold of me, I should never have come out alive."

“‘给它挂上钩子，把它拖过来，拖过来。’它这么扯着嗓子喊，要是真让它逮住了我，我这条命恐怕是活不成了。”