尼诺和忠狗——菲诺拉公主与侏儒2

The dwarf started up the hill. It seemed to him that the hill was growing bigger and bigger. The dwarf found that the hill was a great big mountain.

　　After the dwarf traveled all day, he reached the top of the mountain where he could see the Island of the Western Sea below him.

　　He began to go down to the shore, but long before he reached it, the sun had set. The old horse was worn out by the long and painful journey and sank under him. The dwarf was so tired that he curled up on the horse's back and fell asleep.

　　When he awoke at dawn, he saw that he was almost at the water's edge. He looked in the direction of the sea and saw the island.

　　When he got up, he heard the sound of a harp. He saw the elf on the hill. The little man held a harp in one hand and was striking the strings with the other.

　　"Are you ready to pay the price?" he asked.

　　Suddenly a shower of water soaked the dwarf. He was trembling with cold. He felt so awful that he could not answer.

　　"Are you ready to pay the price?" asked the elf. Then he threw down the harp and turned to go away.

　　When the dwarf saw him going away, he thought of the little princess on the lonely moor. He regained his courage and answered.

　　"Yes, I am ready. What is the price?" asked the dwarf.

　　"Your right eye," said the elf. And before the dwarf could say a word, the elf poked out the eye with his finger, and put it into his pocket.

　　The dwarf felt terrible pain, but bore it for the sake of the little princess. Then the elf sat down on a rock at the edge of the sea and began to play the harp.

　　The sound crept along the water. When the dwarf led his horse to the edge of the sea, the elf said, "Now."

　　The dwarf hurried the horse into the water, and the old horse started off boldly for the island. In a short time he reached the island safely and the old horse neighed for joy as his hoofs touched solid ground.

　　The dwarf rode on and on. The old horse was so tired that he dropped down in the soft grass. When night fell, the dwarf and his horse slept on the grass.

　　The dwarf awoke with the song of the lark in the early morning.

　　He rode down toward the lake. When he was at its edge, he heard cries in the air. He saw three great birds flying over the lake.

　　The frightened dwarf drew back.

　　The birds went round over his head and flew close to the water. They rose to a great height, folded their wings and dropped headlong like three rocks towards the lake. They crashed into its surface and scattered a wine-red shower upon the hill.

　　Then the dwarf remembered what the elf had told him. If he tried to swim in the lake without paying the price, the three big black birds of the Mystic Lake would pick the flesh off his bones. He didn't know what to do. When he wanted to run away, he heard once more the sound of the harp and the little elf on the hill stood before him.

　　"A weak heart will never win a fair lady," said the little elf. "Are you ready to pay the price? The spear and the shield are on the other side of the lake, and Princess Finola is crying at this moment on the lonely moor."

　　The dwarf's heart grew strong when he heard Finola's name.

　　"Yes," he said. "I am ready. Live or die. What is the price?"

　　"Your left eye," answered the elf. And then he poked out the eye and put it into his pocket.

　　The poor blind dwarf became very weak.

　　"It's your last trial, so do what I tell you. Turn your horse with your right hand. I will lead him to the water. Don't fear. I gave you back your speech. When you reach the side of the bank, you will get back your memory and you will know who and what you are," said the elf, as he led the horse to the lake.

　　"I wish you good luck," said the elf.

　　The dwarf rode the horse. The horse jumped into the lake and they went down and down until the horse's legs struck the bottom. Then they began to rise. When they came near the surface of the water, the dwarf thought he saw a small light. When he rose above the water, he saw the bright sun shining on the green hill before him. He shouted for joy upon finding that his sight had returned.

　　Instead of the old horse, he was riding on a noble one. As the horse swam to the bank, the dwarf felt a change come over himself.

　　When the horse touched the shore, he ran up the hill. There was a silver shield on the top of the hill. The dwarf jumped off and ran toward the shield.

　　He was no longer a dwarf. He had become a brave knight. At that moment his memory came back to him. He remembered now that a witch who was in league with the bad king had cast a spell on him and changed him from a knight to a speechless dwarf.

　　After he shifted his shield to his left arm, he pulled out the spear from the ground and jumped onto his horse. He swam back across the lake with a light heart. When he reached the bank, he galloped down to the sea and crossed it.

　　It was not long before he got to the enchanted moor. As his horse's hoofs struck the ground, grass and flowers sprang up and great trees rose on every side.

　　At last the knight reached the little hut. Three times he struck the shield with the shaft. At the last blow the hut disappeared, and before him stood the little princess.

　　The knight took her in his arms and kissed her.

　　Then he lifted her onto the horse and turned toward the north, to the castle of the knight. As they rode on, the spell of silence over the lonely moor was broken forever.

　　侏儒开始向山丘上爬去。这座山丘似乎越来越大。他发现这山丘原来是座高山。

　　侏儒走了一整天后，到达山顶，他可以看到西海之岛就在他下面。

　　他开始往下走向岸边，但在他走到之前，太阳老早就下山了。那匹老马因长途艰苦跋涉而疲累不堪，便倒了下去。侏儒也累了，就蜷伏在马背上睡了过去。

　　他在黎明醒来时，发现自己几乎到了岸边。他向海看去，看到了那座岛。

　　他起来时，听到竖琴的弹奏声，并在山丘上看到那个小仙人。小仙人一手拿着竖琴，另一手在拨弄着琴弦。

　　他问：『你准备要付出代价了吗？』

　　突然一阵海水浸湿了侏儒。他冷得直发抖。他难受得答不出话来。

　　小仙人又问：『你准备要付出代价了吗？』说完他就丢下竖琴转身要走。

　　侏儒看到他要走，想起了在寂寞荒野里的小公主。于是他重新鼓起勇气回答。

　　他问：『是的，我准备好了。代价是什幺呢？』

　　小仙人说：『你的右眼。』侏儒还没来得及回话前，小仙人已用手指挖出他的眼睛，放进他的口袋里。

　　侏儒感到一阵剧痛，但为了小公主他忍下来。这时小仙人坐在海边的岩石上开始弹起琴来。

　　琴声在水上缓缓移动。当侏儒牵马来到海边时，小仙人说：『现在就走。』

　　侏儒急忙策马进入水中，老马便开始勇敢地往岛的方向去。不久他就平安到达岛上，而当老马的蹄踏在坚硬的土地上时，它高兴地嘶叫了起来。

　　侏儒不停地策马前进。老马最后累得倒在柔软的草地上。夜晚来临时，侏儒和他的马双双席地而眠。

　　清晨时分，侏儒在云雀的歌声中醒来。

　　他骑上马朝湖走去。来到湖边时，他听到空中传来一阵叫声。他看到三只大鸟飞过湖的上空。

　　侏儒吓得往后倒退。

　　大鸟在他的头上盘旋，并飞近湖水。它们飞到高空后，便收起翅膀，像三颗岩石般头朝下地往湖水冲去。它们撞在湖面上，激起一阵酒红色的湖水落在山丘上。

　　然后侏儒想起小仙人告诉他的话。如果他企图在湖中游泳而没有付出代价的话，这三只神秘湖的大黑鸟将会啄下他的肉。他不知如何是好。当他想逃走时，他又听到竖琴的声音，山丘上的小仙人就站在他面前。

　　这小竖琴师说：『软弱的心是无法赢得美女的。你准备要付出代价了吗？矛和盾就在湖岸的另一边，而菲诺拉公主此时正在寂寞的荒野里哭呢。』

　　听到菲诺拉的名字，侏儒的心又再度坚强起来。

　　他说：『是的，我准备好了。不计生死；代价是什幺呢？』

　　小仙人回答说：『你的左眼。』然后伸出手指挖出他的左眼珠放在口袋中。

　　这可怜的盲侏儒变得非常虚弱。

　　小仙人牵着马到湖边时说：『这是你最后的考验了，所以照我说的去做。用你的右手牵着马。我会把它带到湖边。别害怕。我还给了你说话的能力。当你到达彼岸时，你会重新恢复你的记忆，到时你就会知道自己是谁，是做什幺的。』

　　小仙人说：『祝你好运。』

　　侏儒骑上马。马跳入水中后双双往下沉，直到这匹马的双脚碰到湖底。之后他们又开始往上浮起。靠近湖面时，侏儒觉得他看见一丝亮光。当他浮出水面时，看到阳光照耀在他前面的绿色山丘上。当他发现他的视力又恢复时，他高兴得大叫。

　　这时他骑的是一匹骏马，而不是原来那匹老马。当马游向岸边时，侏儒感到自己身上在起变化。

　　当马到达岸边时，他跑上山丘。银色的盾就在那山丘顶上。侏儒跳下马往盾的方向跑去。

　　他不再是个侏儒。他变成了一个勇敢的武士。就在此时，他的记忆完全恢复了。他此刻想起来是和坏国王勾结的那个女巫在他身上施法，把他从一位武士变成不能说话的侏儒。

　　把盾换到左臂后，他从地上拔起矛，便跳到马背上。他心情愉快地游过湖水。上岸后，他疾驰至海边越过了海水。

　　不久，他就到了那片被施法的荒野。当马蹄踏在地上时，花草很快地从地上长了出来，四处也都长出高大的树木。

　　最后武士终于来到小茅屋。他用矛柄击了银盾三下。最后一击时，小茅屋消失了，而小公主就站在他前面。

　　武士拥抱着她，并亲吻她。

　　然后他扶她上马，朝北方武士的城堡骑去。当他们骑马远去时，那死寂荒野的咒语也就永远被解除了。