泰西50軼事(二)：阿爾弗雷德國王和乞丐 江銘輝 五夢網
泰西50軼事(Fifty Famous Stories Retold )，是永恆的短篇故事，它收集的故事：包括浩瀚歷史的著名英雄和他們的羅曼史，故事內容有勇氣、毅力和情感。故事人物包括拿破崙、羅賓漢，喬治華盛頓、成吉思汗等人。這些故事都是老少鹹宜的故事，我將它逐篇翻譯，並配合圖畫，供大家欣賞。
泰西50軼事第二篇：阿爾弗雷德國王和和乞丐
原文及翻譯如下：
KING ALFRED AND THE BEGGAR
阿爾弗雷德國王和乞丐
At one time the Danes drove King Alfred from his kingdom, and he had to lie hidden for a long time on a little island in a. river.
有一次丹麥人把阿爾弗雷德國王趕離他的王國外，他不得不長期的躲藏在位於河中的一個小島上。
One day, all who were on the island, except the king and queen and one servant, went out to fish. It was a very lonely place, and no one could get to it except by a boat. About noon a ragged beggar came to the king's door, and asked for food.
一天，除了國王、王后和一個僕人以外，所有在這島上的人都出去捕魚。這島是一個很孤寂的地方，而且除了乘船以外，沒有人能到達這島上，大約在中午的時候，一個衣衫襤褸的乞丐來到國王的門口，耍討些食物吃。
The king called the servant, and asked,"How much food have we in the house ? "
"My lord," said the servant, " we have only "one loaf" and a little wine."
國王就叫僕人來問道，"我們房子裡還有多少食物?"
"我的主人"那僕人答道，"我們僅有一塊麵包和一點兒酒了。"
Then the king gave "thanks to God, and said," Give half of the loaf and half of the wine to this poor man."
The servant did as he was bidden". The beggar thanked the king for his kindness, and went on his way.
然後國王向上帝感謝，說道，"拿半塊麵包和一半的酒給這可憐的人"(圖1)
僕人遵照他的吩咐去做。乞丐感謝國王的仁慈，就又繼續他的路程。
圖1：國王拿半塊麵包和一半的酒給這可憐的人。
In the afternoon the men who had gone out to fish came back. They had three boats full of fish, and they said, " We have caught more fish today.than in all the other days that we have been on this island."
到下午出去捕魚的人全部回來了，他們滿載了三條船的魚，並且說道，"我們在這島上以來，今天所捕的魚比以往任何一天都來得多。"
The king was glad, and he and his people were more hopeful than they had ever been before.
國王非常高興，他和他的人民都感到他們比以前更較有希望了。
When night came, the king lay awake for a long time, and thought about the things that had happened that day. At last he fancied that he saw a great light like the sun; and in the. midst of the light there stood an old man with black hair, holding an open book in his hand.
當晚上來臨時，國王躺在床上，好久都睡不著覺，而想著這天所發生的事情。最後，他隱約看到一道像太陽那樣極大的光線，而在光線的當中站立著一位黑髮老人，手中握著一本攤開的書。(圖2)
圖2：國王隱約看到一道像太陽那樣極大的光線，而在光線的當中站立著一位黑髮老人，手中握著一本攤開的書。
It may all have been a dream, and yet to the king it seemed very real indeed. He looked and wondered?, but was not afraid.
這可能是一場夢，但是對於國王，這事似乎千真萬確的，他望著且非常驚奇？但是並不害怕。
" Who are you? " he asked of the old man.
" Alfred, my son, be brave," said the man ; " for I am the one to whom you gave "this day the half of all the food that you had. Be strong and joyful of heart, and listen to what I. say. Rise up early in the morning and blow your horn three times", so loudly that the Danes may hear it. By nine o'clock, five hundred men will be around you ready to be led into battle. " Go forth bravely, and within seven days your enemies shall be beaten, and you shall go back to your kingdom to reign in peace."
"你是那一位呢? "他問那老人。
"阿爾弗雷德，我的孩手，勇敢些! "老人說道，「我就是今天你給我所有食物的一半的那個人。要堅強，同時心情愉快，傾聽我所說的話，在清晨一早就起床，用你的號角吹三次，吹得很響亮，使得丹麥人都能聽到。到九點鍾時有五百個人將會圍繞著你，準備讓你領著去打戰。
"勇敢地向前去，在七天之內你的敵人將會被擊敗，你將可回到你的王國，太平的治理國事。"
Then the light went out, and the man was seen no mores.
然後那道光線消失了，那個人再也看不見了。
In the morning the king arose early, and crossed over to the mainland,. Then he blew his horn three times very loudly; and when his friends heard it they were glad, but the Danes were filled with fear.
第二天早晨，國王很早就起來，並從小島橫渡到大陸，然後他吹起響亮地的號角三次;當他的朋友們聽到了都很高與，但是遠方的丹麥人卻充滿了恐懼。
At nine o'clock, five hundred of his bravest soldiers stood around him ready for battle. He spoke, and, told them what he had seen and heard in his dream; and when he had finished, they all cheered loudly, and said that they would follow him and fight for him so long as they had strength.
在九點鐘時，五百個最勇敢的兵士圍繞著他站立著，準備打仗。他說話，並告訴他們說在夢中他所看到的和聽見的，當他說完時，兵士們都高聲的歡呼著，並且說他們願意永遠跟隨著他，為他盡力作戰。
So they went out bravely to battle; and they beat the Danes, and drove them back into their own place. And King Alfred ruled wisely and well over all his people for the rest of his days.
如此，他們勇敢地出征作戰，他們打敗了丹麥人，而且把他們趕回到他們自己的地方。於是阿爾弗雷德國王在他的餘年，很英明地統治著他的人民。