泰西50軼事(四之一)：征服者威廉的兒子 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軼事第四篇：征服者威廉的兒子
原文及翻譯如下：
The Sons of William the Conqueror
征服者威廉的兒子
THERE was once a great king of England who was called William the Conqueror, and he had three sons.
英國曾經有一個偉大的國王，他被叫做征服者威廉(圖1)。他有三個兒子。
圖1：征服者威廉
One day King William seemed to be thinking of something that made him feel very sad; and the [14] wise men who were about him asked him what was the matter.
一天，國王威廉似乎想著一些使他覺得很憂慮的事情;於是他身邊的那些聰明的臣子們就問他是什麼事。
"I am thinking," he said, "of what my sons may do after I am dead.
"我在想著，"他說，"在我去世後，我的兒子們能做些什麼。
For, unless they are wise and strong, they cannot keep the kingdom which I have won for them. Indeed, I am at a loss to know which one of the three ought to be the king when I am gone."
因為，除非他們是聰明和堅強，他們都不能保有我為他們所贏得的王國。事實上，我茫然不知在我去世後，他們三個之中那一個應當做國王。
"O king!" said the wise men, "if we only knew what things your sons admire the most, we might then be able to tell what kind of men they will be. Perhaps, by asking each one of them a few questions, we can find out which one of them will be best fitted to rule in your place."
"啊！國王，"二聰明的臣子們說，"只要我們知道你的兒子最贊美的是什麼事，我們就能夠告訴你他們將會成什麼樣的人物。也許，問他們每個人幾個問題，我們能找出他們之中誰會是最適合繼承你的王位，統治這個國家。
"The plan is well worth trying, at least," said the king. "Have the boys come before you, and then ask them what you please."
"這個計策至少很值得去試一下，"國王說，"讓孩子們到你們面前，然後隨你們喜軟什麼，就問他們什麼。
The wise men talked with one another for a little while, and then agreed that the young princes should be brought in, one at a time, and that the same questions should be put to each.
聰明的臣子們互相談論一會兒，就同意把年輕的王子們帶進來，一次只能一個，逐一的問他們同樣的問題。
The first who came into the room was Robert. He was a tall, willful lad, and was nicknamed Short Stocking.
第一個進入屋子的是羅伯特。他是一個高大，任性的小夥子，他的綽號為短長統襪(長度到膝和腳踝之間的襪子。)
"Fair sir," said one of the men, "answer me this question: If, instead of being a boy, it had pleased God that you should be a bird, what kind of a bird would you rather be?"
"好先生,"臣子中的一個說，"回答我這個問題，如果你不是一個孩子，
上帝喜歡把你變成一隻鳥，那麼你寧願做哪一種鳥呢?
"A hawk," answered Robert. "I would rather be a hawk, for no other bird reminds one so much of a bold and gallant knight."
"一隻鷹,"羅伯特答道。"我寧願做一隻鷹，因為沒有一隻別的鳥，使我想到騎士是多麼膽大和英勇。"
圖2：臣子中的一個說，"上帝喜歡把你變成一隻鳥，你寧願做哪一種鳥呢? "羅伯特答道。"我寧願做一隻鷹"
The next who came was young William, his father's namesake and pet. His face was jolly and round, and because he had red hair he was nicknamed Rufus, or the Red.
第二個進來的是小威廉，他與他父親同名而且受寵著，他的面容是愉快的，圓圓的，而且由於他有紅色的頭髮，他的綽號為盧福斯或紅色的。
"Fair sir," said the wise man, "answer me this question: If, instead of being a boy, it had pleased God that you should be a bird, what kind of a bird would you rather be?"
"好先生，"聰明的臣子說，"回答我這個問題：如果你不是一個孩子，上帝把喜歡把你變成一隻鳥，那麼你寧願做那一種鳥呢?」
"An eagle," answered William. "I would rather be an eagle, because it is strong and brave. It is feared by all other birds, and is therefore the king of them all."
"一隻鷲，"威廉答道。我寧願做一隻鷲，因為牠既強壯又勇敢。所有其他的鳥都懼怕牠。因此牠是所有鳥類中之王。」(圖3)
圖3：臣子中的一個說，"上帝喜歡把你變成一隻鳥，你寧願做哪一種鳥呢? "紅髮威廉答道。"我寧願做一隻鷲"
Lastly came the youngest brother, Henry, with quiet steps and a sober, thoughtful look. He had been taught to read and write, and for that reason he was nicknamed Beauclerc, or the Handsome Scholar.
最後進來的是最小的弟弟學利。他帶著鎮靜的腳步"和一種清醒有思想的面貌。他已經被教會了閱讀和寫字了。而且為了這個緣故，他的綽號為學者，或美才子。
"Fair sir," said the wise man, "answer me this question: If, instead of being a boy, it had pleased God that you should be a bird, what kind of a bird would you rather be?"
"好先生，"聰明的臣子說，"回答我這個問題:如果你不是一個孩子，上帝喜歡把你變成一隻鳥，那麼你寧願做那一種鳥呢? "
"A starling," said Henry. "I would rather be a starling, because it is good-mannered and kind and a joy to every one who sees it, and it never tries to rob or abuse its neighbor."
"一隻燕八哥，"亨利說，"我寧願做一隻燕八哥，因為牠的態度文雅又溫和，每個人看到牠都會發生好感，並且牠永遠不會去搶奪或虐待牠的鄰居。"(圖4)
圖4：臣子中的一個說，"上帝喜歡把你變成一隻鳥，你寧願做哪一種鳥呢? "小亨利答道。"我寧願做一隻燕八哥"
Then the wise men talked with one another for a little while, and when they had agreed among themselves, they spoke to the king.
然後聰明的臣子們互相討論了一會兒，當他們之間互相同意後，他們就去向國王說。
"We find," said they, "that your eldest son, Robert, will be bold and gallant. He will do some great deeds, and make a name for himself; but in the end he will be overcome by his foes, and will die in prison.
"我們發現，"他們說，"你的大兒子羅伯特，將來是膽大、勇猛的。他會做出些大功績，並且為他自己立些功名;但是結果他會被他的仇敵所征服，而且將死在監獄之中。"
"The second son, William, will be as brave and strong as the eagle but he will be feared and hated for his cruel deeds. He will lead a wicked life, and will die a shameful death.
"第二個兒子威廉，將會像一隻鷲那樣的勇敢和堅強
;但是因為他的殘酷行為，人們將會害怕他且懷恨他。他會走上那邪惡的生活，而且羞辱而死。
"The youngest son, Henry, will be wise and prudent and peaceful. He will go to war only when he is forced to do so by his enemies. He will be loved at home, and respected abroad; and he will die in peace after having gained great possessions."
「最小的兒子亨利，將會是聰明而謹慎，而愛好和平的。他僅在被敵人逼迫時，才會走上戰爭之路。他在國內為人民所愛戴，在國外受人尊敬；在他擁有了極大的產業後，他會在和平中死去。
Years passed by, and the three boys had grown up to be men. King William lay upon his death-bed, and again he thought of what would become of his sons when he was gone. Then he remembered what the wise men had told him; and so he declared that Robert should have the lands which he held in France, that William should be the King of England, and that Henry should have no land at all, but only a chest of gold.
幾年以後。這三個孩子都長大成人了。當威廉王躺在他臨死的床上時。他又想到他去世後。他們的兒子們會變成什麼樣子。於是他想起聰明的臣子們告訴他的事;所以他宣佈羅伯將擁有他在法國的所有領土，威廉將做英國的國王，而亨利即寸土末封，而僅僅得到一箱的金子。
So it happened in the end very much as the wise men had foretold. Robert, the Short Stocking, was bold and reckless, like the hawk which he so much admired. He lost all the lands that his father had left him, and was at last shut up in prison, where he was kept until he died.
後來，他們的遭遇，正如聰明的侍臣們所預言的一樣。羅伯特，綽號短長種統襪的，大膽而莽撞，像他所贊賞的鷹一樣。他失去他父親傳給他的所有領土，最後被關閉在監獄中，直到他死後為止。
William Rufus was so overbearing and cruel that he was feared and hated by all his people. He led a wicked life, and was killed by one of his own men while hunting in the forest.
紅色威廉是如此的傲慢和殘酷，以致他的人民都懼怕他，痛恨他，他過著邪惡的生活，當他在森林中打獵時，被他自己的一個隨從殺死。
And Henry, the Handsome Scholar, had not only the chest of gold for his own, but he became by and by the King of England and the ruler of all the lands that his father had had in France.
至於亨利，邦個美才子，不僅保有他自己的一箱金子，並且逐漸的成為英國的國王，同時又成為他父親曾在法國所有領土的統治者。