霍比特人：来自内部的消息 Inside Information （上）

INSIDE INFORMATION

来自内部的消息

For a long time the dwarves stood in the dark before the door and debated, until at last Thorin spoke:

矮人们在洞口的黑暗中站了很久，争辩不休，最后索林开了口：

“Now is the time for our esteemed Mr. Baggins, who has proved himself a good companion on our long road, and a hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size, and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance—now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our Company; now is the time for him to earn his Reward.”

“现在，该是我们受人尊敬的巴金斯先生，他在我们的漫长旅程中已经证明了自己是我们的好伙伴，是一个充满着与他的身量不相称的勇气与智慧的霍比特人，而且，如果我可以这么说的话，他还拥有远远超出常人的好运——现在，该是他执行他的使命的时候了，他正是为了这一使命才加入我们队伍的，现在该是他赚取他应得报酬的时候了。”

You are familiar with Thorin’s style on important occasions, so I will not give you any more of it, though he went on a good deal longer than this. It certainly was an important occasion, but Bilbo felt impatient. By now he was quite familiar with Thorin too, and he knew what he was driving at.

你们都很明白索林在重要时刻的讲话风格，所以我就不再详细告诉大家他说话的内容了，虽然他又啰里吧嗦说了一大通。这当然是一个很重要的时刻，但比尔博已经有点不耐烦了。经过这段时间的相处，他也已经对索林很熟悉了，所以他知道这家伙真正想说的是什么。

“If you mean you think it is my job to go into the secret passage first, O Thorin Thrain’s son Oakenshield, may your beard grow ever longer,” he said crossly, “say so at once and have done! I might refuse. I have got you out of two messes already, which were hardly in the original bargain, so that I am, I think, already owed some reward. But ‘third time pays for all’ as my father used to say, and somehow I don’t think I shall refuse. Perhaps I have begun to trust my luck more than I used to in the old days”—he meant last spring before he left his own house, but it seemed centuries ago—“but anyway I think I will go and have a peep at once and get it over. Now who is coming with me?”

“哦，瑟莱因之子索林·橡木盾，如果你是想说，你觉得第一个走进这条密道是我该做的事，”他不客气地打断道，“那就请你马上直说!我可以拒绝。我已经两次把你们从麻烦中解救出来了，这可不在原先谈妥的条件之内，所以我想，我已经有一些应得的报酬了。不过，我老爸常说。凡事三次才圆满。而且我也不觉得我会拒绝。或许，我对于自己的好运已经比过去要更信任了些。”——他指的是在刚刚过去的春天他离开自己的住所之前，但这给人的感觉却仿佛已经是好几世纪以前的事情了——“反正我想我会马上去看一看，把事情作个了断的。好了，有谁要和我一起去?”

He did not expect a chorus of volunteers, so he was not disappointed. Fili and Kili looked uncomfortable and stood on one leg, but the others made no pretence of offering—except old Balin, the lookout man, who was rather fond of the hobbit. He said he would come inside at least and perhaps a bit of the way too, ready to call for help if necessary.

他本来就不指望会有很多人异口同声地抢着要去，所以对于大家的冷漠反应并不感到有多失望。菲力和奇力看起来还有些不好意思，身体随着重心从一条腿换到另一条腿而轻微摇晃着，但其他人连装装样子都不愿意——惟一的例外是负责站岗的巴林，他对比尔博相当有好感。说他至少愿意和比尔博一起进门，或许还能陪着走上一小段距离，如果有必要的话，他可以出来求援。

The most that can be said for the dwarves is this: they intended to pay Bilbo really handsomely for his services; they had brought him to do a nasty job for them, and they did not mind the poor little fellow doing it if he would; but they would all have done their best to get him out of trouble, if he got into it, as they did in the case of the trolls at the beginning of their adventures before they had any particular reasons for being grateful to him. There it is: dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don’t expect too much.

矮人们的心态其实是这样的：他们准备为了比尔博的服务而付给他可观的报酬;他们让他为他们完成一桩特别危险的活儿，如果这个可怜的小家伙愿意干的话，他们并不介意让他去干;但如果他遇到了什么麻烦的话，他们会竭尽全力帮他脱离险境，就像他们在冒险刚开始的时候遇到食人妖那次出手相救那样，而当时他们还并没有什么特别的理由要对比尔博感恩图报。事实就是：矮人们并不是什么英雄，而是善于算计的、把钱看得很重的家伙。矮人一族中有些人是精明狡猾的奸恶之徒，而索林和他的伙伴们则不是，只要你对他们不要期望太高的话，他们也完全可以算得上是正派人。

The stars were coming out behind him in a pale sky barred with black when the hobbit crept through the enchanted door and stole into the Mountain. It was far easier going than he expected. This was no goblin entrance, or rough wood-elves’ cave. It was a passage made by dwarves, at the height of their wealth and skill: straight as a ruler, smooth-floored and smooth-sided, going with a gentle never-varying slope direct—to some distant end in the blackness below.

当霍比特人慢慢进入施了魔法的密门，偷偷迈向大山的腹地时，在他身后，涂抹上了黑色的黯淡天空中已经开始出现了星辰。进山洞的过程远比他想像的要容易。这不是半兽人的洞穴，也不是森林精灵的简陋隧道，而是在矮人的财富和技艺都达到鼎盛的时期建造的通道：笔直得像把尺，地面和两边都很平整光滑，沿着一个平缓而又不变的坡度向前延伸——伸向下面的黑暗中某个遥远的尽头。

After a while Balin bade Bilbo “Good luck!” and stopped where he could still see the faint outline of the door, and by a trick of the echoes of the tunnel hear the rustle of the whispering voices of the others just outside. Then the hobbit slipped on his ring, and warned by the echoes to take more than hobbit’s care to make no sound, he crept noiselessly down, down, down into the dark. He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim. Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag-End long ago. He had not had a pocket-handkerchief for ages. He loosened his dagger in its sheath, tightened his belt, and went on.

过了一会儿之后，巴林对比尔博说了句“祝好运!”就停住了脚步，这里还可以看见大门的依稀轮廓，而且凭借着洞穴的回音作用，还可以模模糊糊地听见门外其他矮人低声说话的声音。巴林走了之后，霍比特人戴上戒指，由于知道了洞穴会有回音效果，他加倍小心地不弄出任何声音，无声无息地一直向下、向下、向下，朝着无尽的黑暗走去。他害怕得浑身发抖，但小脸上的表情则是凝重而又坚毅的。此时的他和许久前刚上路时慌得忘记带手帕的那个霍比特人早已判若两人，而且他也已经很久没用过手帕了。他松开腰间的短剑，勒紧腰带，继续前进。

“Now you are in for it at last, Bilbo Baggins,” he said to himself. “You went and put your foot right in it that night of the party, and now you have got to pull it out and pay for it! Dear me, what a fool I was and am!” said the least Tookish part of him. “I have absolutely no use for dragon-guarded treasures, and the whole lot could stay here for ever, if only I could wake up and find this beastly tunnel was my own front-hall at home!”

“比尔博·巴金斯，现在你可终于要吃苦头了。那天晚上聚会的时候，你自己一脚踏入这趟浑水，现在就只能自己想办法把脚拔出来啦!天哪!我那会儿和现在都是多么大的大傻瓜啊!”他在自言自语，而说这些话的是他身体里面图克血统最稀薄的那部分，“恶龙守护的宝藏对我来说一点用都没有，管它宝藏有多少，就让它永远留在这里好了，我只求这会儿能突然醒过来，发现这可怕的隧道就是自己家的客厅，那该有多好啊!”

He did not wake up of course, but went still on and on, till all sign of the door behind had faded away. He was altogether alone. Soon he thought it was beginning to feel warm. “Is that a kind of a glow I seem to see coming right ahead down there?” he thought.

他当然没有醒过来，还是继续往前走啊走，直到身后的石门连一点影子都看不到了。他现在完全是孤身一人了。很快他就开始觉得这里越来越暖了。“我在前面正下方隐约看见的难道是什么东西在发光吗?”他想。

It was. As he went forward it grew and grew, till there was no doubt about it. It was a red light steadily getting redder and redder. Also it was now undoubtedly hot in the tunnel. Wisps of vapour floated up and past him and he began to sweat. A sound, too, began to throb in his ears, a sort of bubbling like the noise of a large pot galloping on the fire, mixed with a rumble as of a gigantic tom-cat purring. This grew to the unmistakable gurgling noise of some vast animal snoring in its sleep down there in the red glow in front of him.

的确如此。随着他继续朝前走，光芒变得越来越强，直到最后变得确凿无疑为止。那是一种越来越红的光芒，而且隧道里面也不仅是温暖，而是肯定称得上热了。一缕一缕的蒸汽从他身边飘过，让他开始冒汗。一个声音也开始钻进他的耳中跃动，听起来像是架在火上的一口大锅里在沸腾冒泡，还夹杂着一种类似超级大猫发出的咕噜声。再听下去，这声音渐渐明确地变成了某种巨大的动物在睡觉时的鼾声，它就睡在前方下面那红色的闪光里。

It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait. At any rate after a short halt go on he did; and you can picture him coming to the end of the tunnel, an opening of much the same size and shape as the door above. Through it peeps the hobbit’s little head. Before him lies the great bottom-most cellar or dungeon-hall of the ancient dwarves right at the Mountain’s root. It is almost dark so that its vastness can only be dimly guessed, but rising from the near side of the rocky floor there is a great glow. The glow of Smaug!

比尔博就在这个时候停了下来。继续走下去成了他这辈子做过的最勇敢的事情。之后发生的任何惊天动地的事情都无法与之相比。真正的战斗，是他孤身一人在隧道中，甚至还没见到等待着他的巨大危险的时候所发生的。不管怎样，他在经过一段短暂的停顿后又继续走了下去，你们可以想像他来到隧道尽头时的紧张心情。那里是一个和入口差不多大小的开口处，霍比特人把小脑袋伸了出去，在他眼前是古代矮人在山中所挖掘洞穴的最底部，以前这里要么是用作酒窖，要么是用作地牢。这里几乎是一片漆黑，比尔博只能粗略估计这里空间的宽阔，但是在岩石地面靠近他的这一端升起了一团炽热的红光——那正是恶龙史矛革所发出的光芒!

There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light.

一条金红色的巨龙就躺在那里熟睡着，从他的下颌和鼻孔中传出呼噜噜的声音，冒出一缕缕的黑烟，但他在睡眠时喷出的火焰并不很旺盛。在他的四肢和盘起来的巨大尾巴之下，以及身体周围整个看不清的洞穴地面上，到处都是一堆堆珍贵的宝物，铸造过和尚未铸造过的黄金、宝石和珠宝，以及被恶龙发出的红光染成了红色的白银。

Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat, turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed. Behind him where the walls were nearest could dimly be seen coats of mail, helms and axes, swords and spears hanging; and there in rows stood great jars and vessels filled with a wealth that could not be guessed.

史矛革的双翼收拢着，像是一只极其巨大的蝙蝠一样躺在地上，身体微微偏向一侧，因此霍比特人得以看见它那颀长而又苍白的肚子，因为长时间躺在价值连城的珍宝之床上，它的肚子上粘了许多宝石和金块。在史矛革身后的墙壁上，依稀可以看见挂着盔甲、头盔、斧头、剑和长矛等东西。墙边还立着一排排的大瓮，里面满装着的宝物价值难以估量。

To say that Bilbo’s breath was taken away is no description at all. There are no words left to express his staggerment, since Men changed the language that they learned of elves in the days when all the world was wonderful. Bilbo had heard tell and sing of dragon-hoards before, but the splendour, the lust, the glory of such treasure had never yet come home to him. His heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of dwarves; and he gazed motionless, almost forgetting the frightful guardian, at the gold beyond price and count.

如果说比尔博看见宝物忘记了呼吸，真不算是过分的形容。人类的语言相对贫乏，所以没有什么词可以用來形容比尔当时目眩神迷的心灵震撼。人类的语言本来就是从精灵那里学来的，而精灵的语言跟他们当时所处的世界一样，是绚丽多彩的，人类学来后作了改变，因此表达就越来越贫乏了。比尔博以前听人们或说或唱过关于恶龙的财宝，却从未面对面领略过财富如此辉煌的景象、如此强烈的欲望和如此璀燦的荣耀。他怔怔地望着这些价值无法估量的金银财宝，几乎完全忘记了那恐怖的守卫，心中满是迷乱，并深深感受到了矮人们所怀的渴望。

He gazed for what seemed an age, before drawn almost against his will, he stole from the shadow of the doorway, across the floor to the nearest edge of the mounds of treasure. Above him the sleeping dragon lay, a dire menace even in his sleep. He grasped a great two-handled cup, as heavy as he could carry, and cast one fearful eye upwards. Smaug stirred a wing, opened a claw, the rumble of his snoring changed its note.

他盯着财宝看了仿佛整整一个世纪，然后，他不由自主地从门口的阴影中偷偷走了出来，来到了最靠近他的宝山边沿。恶龙依旧沉睡着，但即便是睡着的恶龙也是一种巨大的威胁。他拿起了一个很大的双耳金杯，重得几乎是他所能负担的极限，同时满怀恐惧地朝上瞄了一眼。史矛革的翅膀动了一下，张开了一只爪子，鼾声的音调也跟着改变了。

Then Bilbo fled. But the dragon did not wake—not yet—but shifted into other dreams of greed and violence, lying there in his stolen hall while the little hobbit toiled back up the long tunnel. His heart was beating and a more fevered shaking was in his legs than when he was going down, but still he clutched the cup, and his chief thought was: “I’ve done it! This will show them. ‘More like a grocer than a burglar’ indeed! Well, we’ll hear no more of that.”

比尔博朝外逃去，但恶龙并没有醒来——还不到醒的时候——它依旧躺在这个从矮人们手里偷来的大厅里，只是转换到了另一个充满贪婪和暴力的梦境而已。霍比特人则紧张万分地沿着狭长的隧道往回跑着。他的心扑通扑通直跳，双腿比刚才下来的时候更加激动地颤抖着，但他依旧紧紧抓着金杯不放，脑子里只有一个念头：“我做到了!这个金杯就是证明。说我不像飞贼，倒更像杂货店老板，哼!看以后谁还敢说出这种话来!”

Nor did he. Balin was overjoyed to see the hobbit again, and as delighted as he was surprised. He picked Bilbo up and carried him out into the open air. It was midnight and clouds had covered the stars, but Bilbo lay with his eyes shut, gasping and taking pleasure in the feel of the fresh air again, and hardly noticing the excitement of the dwarves, or how they praised him and patted him on the back and put themselves and all their families for generations to come at his service.

他的确再也没有听到这种说法了。巴林看到霍比特人安全地回来，不禁欣喜若狂，同时也感到非常惊讶。他一把抱起比尔博来到外面的空地上。这时还是半夜，云朵遮住了星星，可比尔博闭着眼躺在地上，大口地喘着气，感受着新鲜空气带来的快感。他几乎没有注意到矮人们的兴奋反应，或是他们如何称赞自己，拍打他的肩膀，还答应不仅矮人们自己，而且还有他们全家、全族的好几代都愿意为他效劳。

The dwarves were still passing the cup from hand to hand and talking delightedly of the recovery of their treasure, when suddenly a vast rumbling woke in the mountain underneath as if it was an old volcano that had made up its mind to start eruptions once again. The door behind them was pulled nearly to, and blocked from closing with a stone, but up the long tunnel came the dreadful echoes, from far down in the depths, of a bellowing and a trampling that made the ground beneath them tremble.

矮人们还在轮流传看着金杯，兴高采烈地讨论着重新找到了他们的财宝，突然间山中深处传来了一阵巨大的隆隆声，仿佛有哪座古老的火山决定要再度喷发一般。他们身后的密门几乎要全关上了，矮人们用一块石头卡在那里不让它关上。但是，从长长的隧道里传来了可怕的回声，回声来自遥远的地底，是低吼和粗重的脚步声，令他们脚下的大地也为之震动。

Then the dwarves forgot their joy and their confident boasts of a moment before and cowered down in fright. Smaug was still to be reckoned with. It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him. Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession; and Smaug was no exception. He had passed from an uneasy dream (in which a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage, figured most unpleasantly) to a doze, and from a doze to wide waking. There was a breath of strange air in his cave. Could there be a draught from that little hole? He had never felt quite happy about it, though it was so small, and now he glared at it in suspicion and wondered why he had never blocked it up. Of late he had half fancied he had caught the dim echoes of a knocking sound from far above that came down through it to his lair. He stirred and stretched forth his neck to sniff. Then he missed the cup!

这时，矮人们完全忘记了不久之前他们还在兴高采烈，还在自信满满地说着大话，纷纷害怕得趴倒在地上。史矛革还等着他们去对付呢。如果你住在一头活蹦乱跳的恶龙附近，却忘记把他估算在计划内，这可实在有点不像话。恶龙们或许不太能把宝藏派上真正的用场，但一般说来，它们对宝藏的数量是非常清楚的，甚至能精确到一盎司，这一点在占据这些宝藏多年后就更是如此，史矛革也不例外。他刚刚从一个噩梦(梦里有个战士，虽然身材一点都不起眼，却有一把锋利的宝剑和满腔的勇气，让他看了觉得十分不舒服)中醒来，正处于半梦半醒之间，然后又完全醒了过来。洞里有一股奇怪的味道，那难道是从那个小洞吹来的风吗?他对那个小洞一直觉得很不舒服，尽管那个洞是那么小。现在他满腹怀疑地瞪着小洞的方向，心中在想自己为什么一直没有把这个洞堵上呢?近来，他经常觉得从小洞那里传来隐隐约约的敲打声，声音从遥远的上方一路直传进他的巢穴。他惊醒起来，伸长脖子，用力地嗅了嗅。这时，他终于发现金杯不见了!

Thieves! Fire! Murder! Such a thing had not happened since first he came to the Mountain! His rage passes description—the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted. His fire belched forth, the hall smoked, he shook the mountain-roots. He thrust his head in vain at the little hole, and then coiling his length together, roaring like thunder underground, he sped from his deep lair through its great door, out into the huge passages of the mountain-palace and up towards the Front Gate.

失窃!失火!杀人!自从他来到这座大山之后，这种事情还从来没发生过!他的狂怒难以形容——就好比某个有钱人，他拥有的财富超出了能实际享受的程度，突然间他发现少了一样宝物，这样东西他以前从来没用到过，也没有想到过要用，但他还是会愤怒无比。恶龙吐出高温的火焰，整个大厅浓烟滚滚，令大山从根底处都摇动起来。他想要把脑袋朝小洞那里伸，却根本伸不进去;然后他把身体蜷起来，在地底发出雷鸣般的暴吼，接着从他那幽深的巢穴中腾身而起，飞出大门，飞进山中宫殿的宽敞隧道，朝着大山的前门飞去。

To hunt the whole mountain till he had caught the thief and had torn and trampled him was his one thought. He issued from the Gate, the waters rose in fierce whistling steam, and up he soared blazing into the air and settled on the mountain-top in a spout of green and scarlet flame. The dwarves heard the awful rumour of his flight, and they crouched against the walls of the grassy terrace cringing under boulders, hoping somehow to escape the frightful eyes of the hunting dragon.

这时恶龙脑中惟一的念头只有搜遍整座山，把这个该死的小贼找出来，撕碎，踩烂!他从大门冲出，流水瞬间呼啸着腾起蒸汽，他振翅跃上空中，翱翔了一会儿后落到山顶，周身被包裹在一团糅合了红绿两种颜色的火焰中。矮人们早就听到过恶龙如何飞翔的可怕传言，全都紧贴着草地边沿的石壁，缩在大石头下面，希望多少能逃过四处搜索的巨龙那可怕的眼睛。

There they would have all been killed, if it had not been for Bilbo once again. “Quick! Quick!” he gasped. “The door! The tunnel! It’s no good here.”

如果不是再次多亏了比尔博的话，他们可能全都要难逃这一劫了。“快!快!”他上气不接下气地喊道，“进门!搜隧道!躲这儿没用!”

Roused by these words they were just about to creep inside the tunnel when Bifur gave a cry: “My cousins! Bombur and Bofur—we have forgotten them, they are down in the valley!”

听见这些话，他们才如梦方醒，开始悄悄朝隧道中转移。这时，比弗惊呼起来：“还有我的表兄弟们呢!邦伯和伯弗——我们把他们给忘了，他们还在下面的山谷里!”

“They will be slain, and all our ponies too, and all our stores lost,” moaned the others. “We can do nothing.”

“他们会被杀的，还有我们所有的小马，那些补给品也全都完了。”其他的人哀嚎道，“我们什么忙也帮不上了。”

“Nonsense!” said Thorin, recovering his dignity. “We cannot leave them. Get inside Mr. Baggins and Balin, and you two Fili and Kili—the dragon shan’t have all of us. Now you others, where are the ropes? Be quick!”

“胡说!”棱林于恢复了尊严，“我们不能抛下他们。巴金斯先生和巴林先进去，还有奇力、菲力你们俩——不能让恶龙把我们一锅端了!其他人，绳子在哪儿?快!”

Those were perhaps the worst moments they had been through yet. The horrible sounds of Smaug’s anger were echoing in the stony hollows far above; at any moment he might come blazing down or fly whirling round and find them there, near the perilous cliff’s edge hauling madly on the ropes. Up came Bofur, and still all was safe. Up came Bombur, puffing and blowing while the ropes creaked, and still all was safe. Up came some tools and bundles of stores, and then danger was upon them.

这可能是他们迄今为止遇到过的最严峻的时刻。史矛革愤怒的吼声在远方高处的山谷中回响，他随时都有可能吐着烈焰冲下来，或是在天空盘旋时找到他们，发现他们死死攀着绳子，挂在危险的悬崖边缘。波弗爬上来了，总算还平安无事。邦伯也爬上来了，呼哧呼哧地喘着粗气，把绳子坠得吱吱直响，也还平安无事。接着又拉上来了一些工具和几捆行李，也就在这时，危险降临了。

A whirring noise was heard. A red light touched the points of standing rocks. The dragon came.

耳畔传来一阵呼呼的翅翼扇动的声音，一红光射到他们站着的岩石上。恶龙来了!

They had barely time to fly back to the tunnel, pulling and dragging in their bundles, when Smaug came hurtling from the North, licking the mountain-sides with flame, beating his great wings with a noise like a roaring wind. His hot breath shrivelled the grass before the door, and drove in through the crack they had left and scorched them as they lay hid. Flickering fires leaped up and black rock-shadows danced. Then darkness fell as he passed again. The ponies screamed with terror, burst their ropes and galloped wildly off. The dragon swooped and turned to pursue them, and was gone.

他们刚刚飞奔着跑进隧道，把行李也又拖又拽地弄进去，史矛革就从北面扇动着翅膀杀到了，他口中喷出的火苗舔过山坡，拍动大翅膀的声音如狂风呼啸。他那灼热的呼吸烤焦了门前的草地，并从他们留着的门缝里钻了进来，令躲在门后的人觉得灼热不堪。只见火苗上下跳动闪烁，岩石的黑影在火光映衬下舞蹈。接着，当他再次飞过的时候，周围被完全笼罩在了黑暗里。小马惊恐地撕鸣，挣脱了绳索，四下乱跑。恶龙俯冲下来，又掉过头追猎它们，然后就飞走了。

“That’ll be the end of our poor beasts!” said Thorin. “Nothing can escape Smaug once he sees it. Here we are and here we shall have to stay, unless any one fancies tramping the long open miles back to the river with Smaug on the watch!”

“我们那些可怜的小马肯定完蛋了!”索林说，“只要被史矛革看见了，就休想逃掉。我们现在躲在这里，也只能躲在这里，除非有人想在史矛革的眼皮底下走过长长的开阔地回到河边去!”

It was not a pleasant thought! They crept further down the tunnel, and there they lay and shivered though it was warm and stuffy, until dawn came pale through the crack of the door. Every now and again through the night they could hear the roar of the flying dragon grow and then pass and fade, as he hunted round and round the mountain-sides.

这个主意听听就让人害怕!他们又沿着隧道往下走了一点，然后躺下来，浑身发着抖，虽然这里已经温暖乃至闷热了。最后，苍白的曙光从门缝中照了进来。在刚刚过去的这个夜晚，他们时不时地听见飞翔的恶龙的吼声渐渐靠近，掠过，又渐渐远去，史矛革显然正围着这边的山坡在打着转转搜寻。

He guessed from the ponies, and from the traces of the camps he had discovered, that men had come up from the river and the lake and had scaled the mountain-side from the valley where the ponies had been standing; but the door withstood his searching eye, and the little high-walled bay had kept out his fiercest flames. Long he had hunted in vain till the dawn chilled his wrath and he went back to his golden couch to sleep—and to gather new strength. He would not forget or forgive the theft, not if a thousand years turned him to smouldering stone, but he could afford to wait. Slow and silent he crept back to his lair and half closed his eyes.

他从那些小马和它发现的扎营痕迹中推测，这些人是，从河到湖一路过来的，然后又从小马驻足的那个山谷爬上了这一侧的山坡，但他的眼睛找了半天也没有找到密门的所在，那片被岩壁围住的小山坳也没有受到烈火的攻击。他白费力气地搜寻了很久，直到黎明冷却了他的怒火，他才回他的黄金睡榻去睡觉，好恢复力气。他绝不会忘记，更不会原谅偷窃的行为，即使一千年的时光令对方变成了余烬中的石头，他也不会轻饶了他。但是他可以等，也等得起。于是他慢慢地、静静地爬回洞中，半闭上了眼睛。

When morning came the terror of the dwarves grew less. They realized that dangers of this kind were inevitable in dealing with such a guardian, and that it was no good giving up their quest yet.

天亮了之后，矮人们的恐惧渐渐减少了，他们明白到，要对付这样一个宝藏守卫者，此类危险是不可避免的，就算现在放弃冒险也为时已晚。

Nor could they get away just now, as Thorin had pointed out. Their ponies were lost or killed, and they would have to wait some time before Smaug relaxed his watch sufficiently for them to dare the long way on foot. Luckily they had saved enough of their stores to last them still for some time.

索林指出，他们现在逃不出去了，他们的小马不是逃掉，就是被杀掉了。他们必须要等上一段时间，等史矛革放松戒心到一定程度，他们才敢以长途步行的方式逃出去。幸运的是，他们抢救出来的物资还够他们撑上一阵子的。

They debated long on what was to be done, but they could think of no way of getting rid of Smaug—which had always been a weak point in their plans, as Bilbo felt inclined to point out. Then as is the nature of folk that are thoroughly perplexed, they began to grumble at the hobbit, blaming him for what had at first so pleased them: for bringing away a cup and stirring up Smaug’s wrath so soon.

对于接下来该做什么，他们争论了很久，却完全想不出要怎样才能除掉史矛革——比尔博一直有点想跟他们指出，这自始至终就是他们计划的一大弱点。然后，由于他们头脑一片混乱，因此矮人们出于天性就开始抱怨起比尔博来，当初他们对比尔博偷来金杯大感兴奋，赞许有加，现在却怪他过早暴露了目标，引发了恶龙的暴怒。

“What else do you suppose a burglar is to do?” asked Bilbo angrily. “I was not engaged to kill dragons, that is warrior’s work, but to steal treasure. I made the best beginning I could. Did you expect me to trot back with the whole hoard of Thror on my back? If there is any grumbling to be done, I think I might have a say. You ought to have brought five hundred burglars not one. I am sure it reflects great credit on your grandfather, but you cannot pretend that you ever made the vast extent of his wealth clear to me. I should want hundreds of years to bring it all up, if I was fifty times as big, and Smaug as tame as a rabbit.”

“你们觉得飞贼不偷东西该干什么?”比尔博生气地反问，“我可不是来干杀死恶龙这种事的，那是战士的工作，我的责任只是偷走宝物，我开了个我能开的最好的头。难道你们还指望我把所有瑟罗尔的宝物都背上然后走回来吗?如果要抱怨的话，我也有可以抱怨的。你们应该带来五百个飞贼，而不是只有我一个!我知道这些宝藏反映了你们祖父的功绩，但你们别装得好像跟我说过这笔财富有多大似的。就算我的个头是现在的五十倍，而史矛革又驯顺得像只小兔子一样，那些财宝我也得花上好几百年才能搬完。”

After that of course the dwarves begged his pardon. “What then do you propose we should do, Mr. Baggins?” asked Thorin politely.

他一说这些话，矮人们自然只能请求他原谅。“巴金斯先生，那你看我们该怎么办呢?”索林彬彬有礼地请教道。

“I have no idea at the moment—if you mean about removing the treasure. That obviously depends entirely on some new turn of luck and the getting rid of Smaug. Getting rid of dragons is not at all in my line, but I will do my best to think about it. Personally I have no hopes at all, and wish I was safe back at home.”

“如果你是指怎样运走宝物，那我暂时还没想到办法。很明显，这必须要靠一点新的运气才行，而且史矛革必须得除掉。除掉恶龙绝对不是我所擅长的，不过我会尽力想想办法的。就个人而言，我对此并不存奢望，只想能平安回家就行了。”

“Never mind that for the moment! What are we to do now, to-day?”

“现在先别管那么多了!那么今天，就是眼前，我们该做什么呢?”

“Well, if you really want my advice, I should say we can do nothing but stay where we are. By day we can no doubt creep out safely enough to take the air. Perhaps before long one or two could be chosen to go back to the store by the river and replenish our supplies. But in the meanwhile everyone ought to be well inside the tunnel by night.

“好吧，如果你们真心想听我的建议，我认为我们除了待在这里别无选择。白天的时候，我们毫无疑问能在保证安全的前提下偷偷溜出去呼吸点新鲜空气，或许过不了多久，就可以挑一两个人回到河边放物资的地方去补充给养了。不过，在这段时间中，每个人到了晚上都应该乖乖地待在洞里。

“Now I will make you an offer. I have got my ring and will creep down this very noon—then if ever Smaug ought to be napping—and see what he is up to. Perhaps something will turn up. ‘Every worm has his weak spot,’ as my father used to say, though I am sure it was not from personal experience.”

“我可以主动答应你们一件事。今天中午我会戴上戒指，偷偷溜下去看看史矛革在干吗——估计应该是在打吨儿。也许可以发现些什么。我父亲常说：‘每只虫都有他的弱点。’不过，我很肯定这不是他的亲身体验。”

Naturally the dwarves accepted the offer eagerly. Already they had come to respect little Bilbo. Now he had become the real leader in their adventure. He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own. When midday came he got ready for another journey down into the Mountain. He did not like it of course, but it was not so bad now he knew, more or less, what was in front of him. Had he known more about dragons and their wily ways, he might have been more frightened and less hopeful of catching this one napping.

矮人们自然高兴地接受了比尔博的提议，他们已经开始尊敬起小比尔博了。他现在已经真正成为了这次冒险的领队，开始有了自己的点子和计划。到了中午，他准备好了要再次下到山腹中去。当然，他并不喜欢这种冒险，不过，因为他已经知道了自己要面对的是什么，所以也就不再像以前一样害怕了。如果他对恶龙多一些了解，知道它们有多狡猾的话，他也许就会对自己如此冒冒失失地利用恶龙午睡的机会感到更多的害怕，不那么充满希望了。

The sun was shining when he started, but it was as dark as night in the tunnel. The light from the door, almost closed, soon faded as he went down. So silent was his going that smoke on a gentle wind could hardly have surpassed it, and he was inclined to feel a bit proud of himself as he drew near the lower door. There was only the very faintest glow to be seen.

出发的时候，外面阳光灿烂，隧道中却暗如黑夜。石门几乎是全关的，从缝里漏进来的那点光在他往下走不了几步后便马上消失殆尽了。他走得无声无息，简直都快赶上微风中飘荡的烟雾了。当他越来越靠近下面的那个门时，他也禁不住对自己有点感到自豪了。从那扇门里只透出一点非常微弱的光芒。

“Old Smaug is weary and asleep,” he thought. “He can’t see me and he won’t hear me. Cheer up Bilbo!” He had forgotten or had never heard about dragons’ sense of smell. It is also an awkward fact that they can keep half an eye open watching while they sleep, if they are suspicious.

“老史矛革一定累得睡着了。”他想，“他看不见我，也听不见我的声音。比尔博，打起精神来!”他已经忘记了或者索性根本没听说过恶龙的嗔觉很厉害。而且还有一个要命的事实是，当它们起疑心的时候，是可以半闭着眼睛睡觉的。

Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, almost dead and dark, with scarcely a snore more than a whiff of unseen steam, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out on to the floor when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the drooping lid of Smaug’s left eye. He was only pretending to sleep! He was watching the tunnel entrance! Hurriedly Bilbo stepped back and blessed the luck of his ring. Then Smaug spoke.

比尔博再次从入口往内张望的时候，史矛革的样子的确像是睡熟了，几乎一动不动，呼噜也很轻，只从鼻孔里喷出一点点难以察觉到的蒸汽。当他正准备迈步踏进去的时候，突然注意到史矛革左眼聋拉着的眼皮下射出一丝细细的红光——他是在装睡!他正在紧盯着隧道的入口!比尔博赶紧缩回了脚步，心想多亏自己戴着能隐身的戒指，还不至于被发现，没料到史矛革突然开口说话了。

“Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare!”

“听着，小偷!我闻到你了，而且感受到了你的气息。我听见了你的呼吸。过来吧!想拿就尽管拿吧，这儿有的是，分你点儿也无所谓!”

But Bilbo was not quite so unlearned in dragon-lore as all that, and if Smaug hoped to get him to come nearer so easily he was disappointed. “No thank you, O Smaug the Tremendous!” he replied.

但比尔博对恶龙的了解还不至于浅薄到会上这种当的地步，如果史矛革希望用这种方法就能骗得他走过来，那么他只能失望了。“不啦，谢谢，大块头史矛革先生!”

“I did not come for presents. I only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales say. I did not believe them.”

他回答道，“我不是冲着礼物来的，我只是想来看看你，看你有没有传说中的那么伟大。我不相信别人的说法。”

“Do you now?” said the dragon somewhat flattered, even though he did not believe a word of it.

“那你现在相信了吗?”恶龙听了这话多少有些受宠若惊，尽管他一个字儿也不相信比尔博的话。

“Truly songs and tales fall utterly short of the reality, O Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities,” replied Bilbo.

“噢，史矛革，你是所有能给人带来祸害的东西中最具威力的，那些歌曲和传说根本不及事实的万分之一啊!”比尔博回答道。

“You have nice manners for a thief and a liar,” said the dragon. “You seem familiar with my name, but I don’t seem to remember smelling you before. Who are you and where do you come from, may I ask?”

“对一个小偷和骗子来说，你倒还蛮有礼貌的!”恶龙说，“你似乎对我很熟悉啊，但我好像不记得以前闻到过你的味道。可以问问你是谁，又是从哪儿来的吗?”