原标题：双语阅读·寓言故事：伊迪恩群岛

Day 1: The Sundering Seas

Welcome to The Pudding, my little ship hung with true blue sails. She is bravely buoyant upon the sundering sea as she bears me questing for proofs among the Isles of Idiom. Aboard there is a crew of only me and my beagle Salty. I steer the ship on the heaving waves and Salty listens to my meanderings, understanding my moods with his plaintive eyes. You are here too, though you understand much less and exist only in the corners of my reveries.

第1天: 波涛汹涌的海洋

欢迎来到布丁号，我的小船挂着纯蓝的风帆，勇敢地漂浮在波涛汹涌的海面上，载着我在伊迪恩群岛探寻证据。船上只有我和我的小猎犬萨迪。我在波涛汹涌的海面上驾驶着小船，萨迪满眼悲伤地听着我自言自语，它是理解我的。你也在这里，虽然你不太理解，虽然你只是存在于我的想象里。

I am charting these waters and the isles they swaddle. I am good with a pen and a compass, and hope to describe for you the contours of shorelines and the shapes of waves that caress them. If I should discover any proofs along the way—buried in the sand or wrecked upon the reefs or marooned in the island villages—I shall attempt to sketch them for you as well,

我在绘制这片水域和周围的岛屿。我善于用笔和指南针，希望为你描绘海岸的轮廓和周围的海浪。如果我在沿途发现任何证据——或埋在沙子里的，或沉在礁石上的，或流落在岛上的村庄的——我也会尽力为你描述。

though, as you have so often told me, I am not good with abstracts. Still, I will make the attempt, and perhaps in the effort you and I will come to some kind of agreement. Perhaps we will narrow the rift between us. Perhaps we will find each other again.

尽管你经常告诉我，我不擅长抽象的东西。不过，我还是会尽力而为，这个努力，或许会有助于你我之间的相互了解，或许会缩小我们之间的裂痕，或许我们会重新认识对方。

Day 8: Among the Hat Eaters

The island rises from the sea shaped much like a tall capotain with a flattened top and a reef encircling it like a brim. The Pudding tossed dreadfully as we crossed the reef, Salty was nearly dislodged from the deck, but I held the tiller steady and we landed safely enough on the shore.

第8天：吃帽子的人

这座岛屿从海中升起，形状很像一顶高顶帽，顶部扁平，一圈礁石像帽檐一样环绕着它。当我们穿越礁石时，布丁号翻滚得很厉害，萨迪差点从甲板上掉下去，但是我稳住了舵，安全靠岸了。

We were greeted by a gentleman with an impressive edifice upon his head, a towering cap made of objects I thought would be better kept in a drawer or on a shelf. I saw a coil of rope, a pair of scissors, a bowl filled with buttons and a birdhouse among a dozen other odds and ends all fastened to his hat. His neck bulged stiffly with the necessary muscles to carry such a load.

迎接我们的是一位男士，他头上戴着一顶奇特的帽子，高耸的帽子上挂着一堆杂七杂八的东西，我想这些东西最好放在抽屉里或者货架上。一卷绳子、一把剪刀、一个装满纽扣的碗，还有一个鸟巢似的装置，塞着其他十几件零碎物品，都被固定在他的帽子上。这些负重导致他的颈部肌肉将脖子直挺挺地鼓起来。

“If you make it back across the reef in that little dingy, I’ll eat my hat,” he said as he strode towards us.

“I’ll wait til the tide is high and going out,” I answered with a smile.

He harrumphed and walked away.

Salty and I shared a look of bemusement.

“如果你回去时能开着那只小船穿过礁石，我就吃掉我的帽子。”他边说边大步走向我们。

“我会等到涨潮时再出去，”我笑着回答。

他哼了一声，走了。

留下我和萨迪一脸茫然。

The island’s town had one outstanding feature—doors and roofs all built extraordinarily tall, as if a race of ten foot giants lived there. The inhabitants, however, were not of unusual height, except for the hats they never removed from their heads. Like the gentleman who greeted us, every man, woman and child wore an ornament of outlandish proportions atop their pate, each decorated with an astonishing variety of objects. Stranger still, these people seemed eager to wager eating it with every utterance they made.

岛上的建筑有一个鲜明的特点——门和屋顶都建得特别高，让人以为这里的居民都是3米高的巨人族，然而，除了他们那顶从未摘下的帽子，他们的身材并不是特别的高。就像我们上岸遇到的那位先生一样，所有男人，女人和小孩都顶着一顶超大比例的帽子，每顶帽子上的饰品令人惊诧。更奇怪的是，这些人似乎每次说话都少不了要跟人打赌吃帽子。

“If you’re not here for resupplying, I’ll eat my hat.”

“If you’re not from Square Island, I’ll eat my hat.”

“If your beagle there ain’t got scurvy, I’ll eat my hat.”

“如果你不是来补给的，我就吃掉我的帽子。”

“如果你不是来自广场岛，我就吃掉我的帽子。”

“如果你的小猎犬没有得坏血病，我就吃掉我的帽子。”

I wonder what you would have thought of these people. I am sorry to say I saw a bit of you among them—always so adamant that their opinion mattered most. On this island, being right was everything, and the size of the hat seemed to indicate the wearers confidence in his own judgment and his stubbornness against ever admitting he was wrong.

我在想你会如何看待这些人。抱歉地说，我在他们中间看到了一点你的影子——总是觉得自己的意见是最重要的。在这个岛上，正确就是一切，帽子的大小似乎就是显示出佩戴者对自己的判断力的自信程度，也显示出他或她从不承认自己错了的顽固程度。

Before I left the island, I saw a sight of tremendous sadness. Old and bent, a man was forced to eat his hat. He could not, of course, consume the colossus assembled over a lifetime, but he would not admit he was wrong. So he was sent off the island, alone, in a tiny barque. As he faded into the darkness towards the crashing reef, I thought of the sea between you and I, and the thought made my neck ache with stiffness.

在离开这个岛之前，我看到了一个无比悲伤的景象。一个驼背的老人被逼着吃掉他的帽子。他的帽子上积聚了一辈子，大量的装饰物，当然他不可能吃得掉，但是他不承认自己错了。所以他被赶出了岛，独自一人，一只小船。看着他驶向海浪拍打着的礁石，渐渐消失在黑暗中，我想到了横亘在你我之间的大海，瞬时感到脖子僵痛起来。

Day 23: Where All Things are Equal

Short Stick island is perfectly divided, everything in equal proportion. When I moored The Pudding at the pier, the dockman asked me to reposition so the distances between either end of the dock and either end of my ship were the same. Ashore, the trees are trimmed to equal height, the yards are fenced in equal plots, the pickets are spaced with perfectly even gaps and the people all are equally discontented.

第23天：万物平等的地方

公平岛被完美地分割开来，所有的一切都是一样大小。当我把布丁号停泊在码头上时，码头工人要求我重新停靠，必须让码头的两端和船的两端之间的距离相同。岸上，树木被修剪得一样高，院子里的栅栏也是一样的布局，栏板的间距完全一样，并且居民们也都一样地不满。

Their unhappiness springs from their shared mantra, posted in every public place and over every private door: “Never accept the short end.”

他们的不满源自他们共同的口号，张贴在所有公共场所和所有私宅的门上： “从不接受不公”。

In the marketplace, dickering voices make vigorous testament to the zeal with which the ideal is upheld. At every stall, proprietors and customers argue their side of the bargain is less equal, and at the closing of every deal both sides are displeased.

市场上讨价还价的声浪有力地证明了人们对坚持理念的热情。在每一个摊位上，摊主和顾客都在吵着自己这头不够公平，在每一笔交易结束后，双方都感到不满。

The professional district is lined with offices belonging to the likes of “Murphy and Sons,” “Grieves, Rogue and Blackman,” and a multitude of other practitioners of law. The thriving economy of litigiousness promises their clients “the long end,” and, judging by the marble facades and polished gold knockers, the owners of these offices frequently hold that part of the stick themselves.

专业区是一排排的办公室，铭牌上写着 “墨菲父子”、”格里菲斯、罗格和布莱克曼 “等，以及其他众多的法律从业者。繁荣的诉讼经济是生意源源不绝的保障，而且，从大理石墙面和抛光的金门锁来看，这些办公室的主人也经常受到不公待遇。

As Salty and I took our repast, I saw a small man and a large woman whose condition made me wonder. The innkeeper brought identical portions of stew, set before them in identical bowls. The thin man reached over his spoon and took a scoop from the woman’s dish.

我和萨迪吃饭时，看到一个瘦小的男人和一个高大的女人，他们的样貌让我觉得好奇。餐馆老板拿来两份相同份量的炖菜，倒进他们面前同样大小的碗里。瘦男人伸出他的勺子，从那个女人的碗里舀了一勺菜。

“Everyone knows we men use up our vittles faster, it’s only fair,” he said, depositing the scoop in his own bowl.

The woman reached out her spoon and took a double portion back. “I’m twice your size,” she said, “it’s only fair.”

The man reclaimed his scoop and took another from her bowl. “I hauled two cords of firewood this morning. Its only fair.”

The woman’s face grew red. “I’ve done laundry for most of the town today, it’s only fair.” She dumped half his bowl into her own.

“大家都知道，我们男人吃饭更快，这样才公平。”他说着，把那勺菜放进自己的碗里。

那个女人伸出她的勺子，舀回了两勺。”我的身材是你的两倍，”她说，”这样才公平。”

男人舀回那两勺，又从她的碗里舀了一勺。”我今天早上拖了两捆柴火。这样才公平。”

女人涨红了脸。”我今天为镇上大部分的人洗衣服，这样才公平。” 她把他碗里的一半炖菜倒进自己的碗里。

“I thatched the roof just yesterday.”

“I birthed your children.”

“I worked my fingers to the bone.”

The stew flew back and forth across the table, and neither man nor woman ate their fill. Finally, both stomped out to find a lawyer to help them argue their case.

“我昨天才给屋顶盖了茅草。”

“我为你生了孩子。”

“我把我的手指头都磨破了。”

炖菜在桌子上来回飞舞，男人和女人都没有吃饱。最后，两人跺着脚跑去找律师给他们说理去了。

I looked down at Salty, who was licking the last from his bowl. “Here,” I said, “have some of mine.”

The innkeeper then asked me to leave, declaring with disgust that “short enders” weren’t allowed in his establishment.

As I walked down the docks, I thought of you. Your eyes that flash when you are angry and your tears that you try to hide. I wonder if there is truly such a thing as “fairness.” If there is, I suspect now it isn’t worth at all what I thought it was.

我低头看了看萨迪，它吃完了，在舔碗。”来，”我说，”吃点我的。”

旅馆老板跑过来要我离开，他厌恶地表示，”不公者 “不允许出现在他的地盘。

在走向码头的路上，我想起了你，你愤怒时闪烁的双眼和你试图掩饰的泪水。我想知道是否真的有 “公平 “这种东西，如果有的话，我现在怀疑它根本没有我曾经认为的那么重要。

Day 67: Twisters and Turners

Though Plotter’s Island is quite small, it has two villages, one on either side—an easy walk’s distance. The residents of each intermingle everyday as they go about their business and I have never seen such friendly greetings and doffing of hats and “pleased to see yous” among any bunch of neighbors. At evening time however, they separate. Twisters brood together in little cliques in one town, Turners seat themselves pensively at tables in the other.

第67天： 特韦斯特人和图恩尔人

虽然普罗特尔岛很小，但它有两个村庄，两边各有一个，步行即可到达。两个村庄的居民每天的日常生活都是混在一起的，我从未见过任何邻里之间如此友好的问候、脱帽和 “很高兴见到你”，然而到了晚上，他们就分开了。特维斯特人在一个村里一伙一伙地聚集在一起说话着，而图恩尔人则在另一个村里各自在桌旁静静地坐着，想着事情。

Salty and I sought company among the Twisters. We found them most accommodating during the day, offering help to strangers and exclaiming how fortunate they were to have visitors to their humble land. After sunset, the mood turned different. I tried to join a group of conversationalists, but my presence dampened the dialogue and I saw sidelong looks that made me feel I wasn’t welcome. So I sat with Salty some way off and listened to snatches on the wind. Nowhere have I ever heard such unabashed gossip.

我和萨迪在特韦斯特人中找人搭讪。我们看到他们在白天特别乐于助人，为陌生人提供帮助，他们感叹着“能有访客来到我们这个‘小地方’是多么幸运啊”。但是日落之后，气氛变了。我试图加入一伙正在聊天的人群，但是我一加入他们就不说话了，看着他们撇着脸的样子让我意识到我是不受欢迎的，于是我和萨迪坐到了远处。风中传来了他们说话的只言片语，我从来没有在任何地方听到过如此不加掩饰的闲话。

“The stranger, what have you heard about him?”

“He’s running from the law. Killed a man on Square Island.”

I looked aghast at Salty and rose to my feet to correct this falsehood. Salty cocked his head and whined that I should wait.

“那个陌生人，你听说过他的什么情况？”

“他是个逃犯。在广场岛杀了一个人。”

我惊愕地看着萨迪，站起来想反驳这个恶意中伤。萨迪翘起头，呜咽着我应该等待。

“Oh posh, don’t be so gruesome. He’s only a politician. Scandal, corruption and all of that but he never killed a soul.”

“That’s much worse in my opinion. A good wholesome murder in fit of passion is better than scumbag tax embezzling.”

“I heard he’s done both.”

“哦，你算了吧，别这么吓人。他只是一个政客。丑闻、腐败、诸如此类的，但是他从没杀过人。”

“依我看，那样更坏。一个有德行的人一时激动杀人比一个贪污税款的卑鄙小人要好。”

“我听说这两样他都做过。”

I couldn’t help but snort at such outrageous accusations. The huddled group of Twisters glanced furtively in my direction and shuffled away with lowered voices.

Salty and I walked briskly to the Turners’ side.

我不禁对这种骇人听闻的指责嗤之以鼻。那群挤在一起的特韦斯特人鬼鬼祟祟地瞄向我这边，然后压低声音走了。

我和萨迪赶紧走到图恩尔人的这边。

I took an open seat at a table where half a dozen others furrowed their brows and stroked their chins. The table was shaped exactly like the island, and wooden carved figurines stood across its surface.

“What’s the game?” I asked.

“Game?” grunted the mustache next to me, “this is no game here my man. This is ‘just deserts.’”

He lifted a push stick and used it to shuffle a group of figurines across the board.

“Are those Twisters?” I wondered, looking at the pieces.

我在一张桌子上找了个空位坐下，桌上其他半数人都皱着眉头，摸着下巴。桌子的形状和这个岛一模一样，上面摆着一些木头雕的小人偶。

“这是什么游戏？” 我问道。

“游戏？”旁边的小胡子哼了一声，”这不是游戏，伙计。这是正义的惩罚。”

他举起一根推杆，在桌上挪了挪一组小人偶。

“这些是特韦斯特人吗？” 我看着这些小木人，好奇道。

“Aye, they are. They’re the ones that told that tale about me and Mrs. Brinkman’s cabbage patch. I don’t even like cabbages. But Im plotting something real good here.” He scratched his chin, then pushed another piece across the board and chuckled darkly, “they’ll never see this coming.”

“They fabricated the most horrible things about me, those Twisters did.” I said.

“That’s what they do,” a gray haired lady across the table muttered, “always suspicious, imagining the worst. But we got them beat here. We turn it all right back on them.”

“对，是他们。就是他们说的，说我和布林克曼夫人，在卷心菜园子里的事。我甚至不喜欢卷心菜。我在这里策划一件大事。” 他挠了挠下巴，把另一个小木人推过桌子，阴笑着说：”他们永远不会知道。”

“他们给我编造了这世上最骇人听闻的事情，那些特韦斯特人干的。” 我说。

“他们就是这样，”桌子对面一位灰发女士嘟囔着，”总是疑神疑鬼，凭空想象最恶毒的事情。但是我们在这里反击他们，我们把一切都转回给他们。”

“Well, I can see how that would be quite satisfying.” I chirped, “I’d like to repay them for their unkind thoughts myself. Have you got an extra push stick around?”

Salty whined from down between my feet. His sad brown eyes reminded me of you, and suddenly this game felt too familiar.

“嗯，我想这会令人相当满意。” 我轻松地说：”我想亲自返还他们的恶毒想法。你有多余的推杆吗？”

萨迪在我的双脚间发出呜呜声。它那双悲伤的棕色眼睛让我想起了你，突然间这个游戏感觉太熟悉了。

I scuffed the sand as I walked back to my ship. Twist and turns, thickening plots. I have trouble now remembering where it even started between us and how it ever got this far. I hope you think of me, wherever you are, however far across the sea. I am thinking of you and I promise all my plans are different now.

我踩着沙子走回我的船。歪曲和报复，愈陷愈深的算计。我现在很难记起我们之间的怀疑是怎么开始的，又是怎么走到现在这一步的。我希望你会想我，无论你在哪里，无论你在多远的海那边。我想你，我保证我所有的想法现在都不同了。

Day 108: The Simple Things

I could see the tall spires of Hardly Island long before I reached its shores. It’s a marvel of spiraling towers and crystal palaces soaring in the sky and sparkling in the sun. The docks are of a floating metal that lifts and falls with the tide and everywhere I look there is another invention, a wonder of ingenuity crafted with exquisite skill I cannot comprehend. I would’ve asked how they were made, but I could not find a single moving creature. The streets were dark, cobwebs filled the unlit lamps atop their posts and silence alone enjoyed the many miracles.

第108天： 简单的事情

在到达哈德利岛的海岸之前，我就看到了岛上高耸的尖塔。这是一个由螺旋形塔楼和水晶宫殿组成的雄伟建筑，它高耸入云，在阳光下闪闪发光。码头是一种浮动的金属装置，随着潮水浮动升降，所有我看到的地方都有一种新奇发明，一种我无法理解的，精湛技艺制作的独创发明。我本想问问它们是如何制造的，但是我找不到一个活动的生物。街道上一片漆黑，蜘蛛网布满了柱子上未点亮的灯，只有沉默在独自享受着这众多奇迹。

At the edge of town on a humble porch that did not match the surrounding grandeur I met the only living soul upon the island. He was old and frail and his chin drooped against his chest as he rocked gently in his chair.

镇子的边缘，在一个与周围的宏伟环境不相称的简陋门廊上，我见到了岛上唯一的活人。他看上去很老，很虚弱，坐在椅子上轻轻摇晃，下巴耷拉在胸前。

“Your town here is magnificent,” I called loudly so he would hear.

“Eh? You like it? Gabby and I, we built it ourselves you know.” He rested a hand on the empty rocker next to him.

“Just two of you?”

“Eh? Well yes, just two of us. We’re geniuses you know. She’s a surgeon and a scientist with a mind for detail that never met a problem it couldn’t solve. Me, I’m an engineer, best there ever was. Together, we did all of this ourselves.” He patted the arm of the empty rocker.

“你们的镇子很宏伟，”我大声地叫着，好让他听到。

“呃，你喜欢它吗？我和加比，我们自己建造的，嗯…” 他把一只手搁在旁边的空摇椅上。

“就你们两个人？”

“嗯，是的，就我们两个人。我们是天才，嗯… 她是一个外科医生，也是一个科学家，对细节很有研究，从来没有她解决不了的问题。我… 我是一个工程师，是有史以来最棒的。我们一起，我们两个完成了这里的一切。” 他拍了拍空摇椅的扶手。

“You must be proud.”

“I suppose,” his jowls wobbled as his aged head tremored. “But you know, we spent our lives mapping out synapses and sending ships out into space. Wasn’t till the end we figured out it isnt brain surgery or rocket science that makes you happy, its the simple things.” He looked over at the empty chair and gave a roguish wink.

“你一定很自豪。”

“我想是的。”年迈的他，脑袋时不时地颤抖，牵动着他的下巴随之晃动。”但是…，我们一生都在绘制大脑神经图纸，或是把飞船送入太空。直到最后我们才发现，让你快乐的不是脑外科或火箭研究，而是简单的事情。” 他看了看那张空椅子，顽皮地眨了眨眼睛。

“The simple things?” I asked, not daring even a glance at the vacant chair.

“That’s right. Like hand holding and telling someone she’s pretty,” he winked again, “and stealing kisses and being glad you got each other no matter what. That’s better even than driving a horseless carriage through the sands of mars. I’d know.”

“简单的事情？” 我问道，甚至不敢看一眼空着的椅子。

“没错。比如手牵手，告诉她很漂亮，”他又眨了眨眼睛，”还有冷不防的亲吻，无论怎样，为能互相拥有对方而感到高兴。这甚至比在火星上驾驶汽车穿越沙漠还更棒。我敢肯定。”

“Is Gabby here? I’d like to meet such a fine lady.” I asked, foreboding in my heart.

“Why she’s right—” The old man started, staring at the empty rocker. He licked his lips. “Well, she must have stepped inside. She’ll be right out presently I’m sure, it’s not too late yet.”

“加比在吗？我想见见这样一位优秀的女士。” 我问道，心里有种不祥的预感。

“啥，她就在——”老人开始盯着那张空荡荡的摇椅。他舔了舔嘴唇。”好吧，她肯定是到屋里去了。她马上就会出来，我敢肯定，现在还不算太晚。”

Day 109: Course For Square Island

Salty knows we’re heading back. He rests his paws upon the bow and seems to taste the air of home ahead of him, his tongue lolling, his ears perked. I hope I’ll find you there. Perhaps you’re waiting on the bluff, your golden hair dancing on the wind, your empty arms yearning for me like I am yearning for you. I am not coming back the same. The Pudding’s holds are full of proofs. You’ll see them, if you let me show you. The wind is in our favor, the true blue sails are filled and Square Island has always promised new beginnings.

第109天： 前往广场岛的路线

萨迪知道我们要回去了，它趴在船头，竖着耳朵，舔着舌头，似乎在回味远方家的味道。我希望能在那里见到你。也许此时，你正在悬崖上等待，满头金发在风中舞动，张开双臂期待我的拥抱，正如此刻的我在渴望着拥抱你一样。归来的我不再是从前的我。布丁号的船舱里满载着各种证据。你会看到的，如果你愿意的话。风正对着家的方向，纯蓝的风帆已经升起，广场岛永远是新的开始。返回搜狐，查看更多

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