Mouse and Cat in Partnership

英漢對照

A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together.

But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger, said the cat, and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day.

The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said, I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there.

We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it.

So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse, I want to tell you something, little mouse, my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and has asked me to be godmother, he is white with brown spots, and I am to hold him over the font at the christening.

Let me go out to-day, and you look after the house by yourself.

Yes, yes, answered the mouse, by all means go, and if you get anything very good to eat, think of me, I should like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself. All this, however, was untrue, the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother.

She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and licked the top of the fat off.

Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it was evening did she return home.

Well, here you are again, said the mouse, no doubt you have had a merry day.

All went off well, answered the cat.

What name did they give the child. Top off, said the cat quite coolly.

Top off, cried the mouse, that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in your family.

What does that matter, said the cat, it is no worse than crumb-stealer, as your God-children are called.

Before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning.

She said to the mouse, you must do me a favor, and once more manage the house for a day alone.

I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse. The good mouse consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured half the pot of fat.

Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself, said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work.

When she went hom

 

e the mouse inquired, and what was this child christened.

Half-done, answered the cat.

Half-done.

What are you saying.

I never heard the name in my life, I'll wager anything it is not in the calendar.



The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking.

All good things go in threes, said she, I am asked to stand godmother again.

The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body, this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, won't you.

Top-off.

Half-done, answered the mouse, they are such odd names, they make me very thoughtful.

You sit at home, said the cat, in your dark-gray fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that's because you do not go out in the daytime. During the cat's absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat.

When everything is eaten up one has some peace, said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return home till night.

The mouse at once asked what name had been given to the third child. It will not please you more than the others, said the cat.

He is called all-gone.

All-gone, cried the mouse, that is the most suspicious name of all.

I have never seen it in print.

All-gone, what can that mean, and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep.



From this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother, but when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse thought of their provision, and said, come cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves - we shall enjoy that.

Yes, answered the cat, you will enjoy it as much as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window.

They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty.

Alas, said the mouse, now I see what has happened, now it comes to light.

You are a true friend.

You have devoured all when you were standing godmother.

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First top off then half done, then -.

Will you hold your tongue, cried the cat, one word more and I will eat you too.

All gone was already on the poor mouse's lips, scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down.

Verily, that is the way of the world.



有一只貓認識了一只老鼠，便對它大談特談自己是多么喜歡老鼠，原意和它交朋友，弄得老鼠終于同意和貓住在一起，共同生活。“我們得準備過冬的東西了，不然我們到冬天會挨餓的，”貓說，“至于你嘛，我的小老鼠，哪里也不要去，我真怕你會被什么老鼠夾子夾住。”老鼠接受了貓的好建議，于是它們買來了一罐豬油，然而兩個人都不知道該把豬油放在什么地方。它們左思考右思考，最后貓說：“我覺得這豬油放在教堂里是再合適不過的了，因為誰也不敢偷教堂里的東西。我們把豬油藏在祭壇下，不到萬不得已的時候決不動它。”豬油罐就這樣被放到了安全的地方。可是沒過多久，貓開始想吃豬油了，便對老鼠

 

 

說：“小老鼠，我想跟你說點事。我的表姐剛剛生了一個小寶寶，還請我當小寶貝的教母。那小寶貝全身雪白，帶著一些褐色的斑點。我要抱著它去接受洗禮，所以今天要出去一下，你一個人在家看家，好嗎？”“好的，好的，”老鼠說，“你盡管去吧。要是有什么好吃的東西，千萬要記著我。我很想嘗一點洗禮時用的紅葡萄酒。”這一切當然都不是真的，因為貓并沒有表姐，也沒有被請去當教母。它直接去了教堂，偷偷爬到豬油罐那里，開始舔呀舔，把頂上一層豬油舔得精光。然后，它在城里的屋頂上散了散步，想碰碰別的運氣；接著便躺下來曬太陽。每當想起那罐豬油，它都情不自禁地舔舔自己的嘴唇。它一直等到天黑才回家。“啊，你終于回來了，”老鼠說，“這一天肯定過得很開心吧？”“一切順利。”貓答道。“你們給那孩子起了什么名字？”“沒了頂層！”貓冷淡地說。“沒了頂層！”老鼠叫了起來，“這個古怪的名字可不多見。你們家常取這樣的名字嗎？”“那有什么？”貓說,“不比你的那些教子叫什么'偷面包屑的'更糟吧？”

沒過多久，貓又想吃豬油了。它對老鼠說：“你得幫我一個忙，再一個人看一次家。又有人請我當教母了，而且這個孩子的脖子上有一道白圈，我實在無法推辭。”好心的老鼠同意了。貓從城墻后面溜進教堂，一口氣吃掉了半罐豬油。“什么東西也沒有比吃到自己的嘴里更好，”它說，心里對這一天的收獲感到很滿意。等它到家時，老鼠問道：“這個孩子起的什么名字呀？”“吃了一半，”貓回答。“吃了一半！你在說什么呀？我長這么大了還從來沒有聽說過這樣的名字。我敢打賭，就是年歷上也不會有這樣的名字！”

不久，貓的嘴巴又開始流口水了，想再去舔一舔豬油。“好事成三嘛，”它說，“又有人請我去當教母了。這個孩子除了爪子是白色的，渾身黑黝黝的，連一根白毛都沒有。這是好幾年才會碰上的事情，你當然會同意我去的，是嗎？”“沒了頂層！吃了一半！”老鼠回答，“這些名字真怪！我實在弄不明白。”“你白天又不出門，”貓說，“整天穿著深灰色的皮襖，拖著長長的尾巴，坐在家里胡思亂想，當然弄不明白啦！”趁著貓不在家，老鼠把屋子打掃了一下，把東西放得整整齊齊。可是那只饞貓把剩下的豬油吃得干干凈凈。“人只有把東西吃得干干凈凈才能放心，”它自言自語地說。它吃得飽飽的，直到天黑了才挺著圓圓的肚子回家。老鼠看到它回來，立刻問它這第三個孩子起的什么名字。“你也不會喜歡這個名字，”貓說，“它叫'吃得精光'。”“吃得精光！”老鼠叫了起來，“這個名字太令人費解了！我從來沒有在書上見過。吃得精光！這是什么意思呢？”它搖搖頭，蜷縮起身子，躺下睡著了。

從此，貓再也沒有被邀請去當教母。可是冬天來到了，外面再也找不到任何吃的東西。老鼠想到了它們準備的過冬的東西，便說：“走吧，貓！我們去取儲存的豬油吧。我們可以美美吃上一頓。”“是的，”貓回答，“那準會把你美得就像把你那尖尖的舌頭伸到窗外去喝西北風一樣。”它們動身去教堂，可它們到達那里后，看到豬油罐倒是還在那里，里面卻是空的。“天哪！”老鼠說，“我現在終于明白是怎么回事了！你可真是個好朋友！你在去當什么教母的時候，把這豬油全吃光了！先是吃了頂上一層，然后吃了一半，最后……”“你給我住嘴！”貓嚷道，“你要是再羅嗦，我連你也吃了！”“……吃得精光，”可憐的老鼠脫口而出。它剛把話說完，貓就撲到了它的身上，抓住它，把它吞進了肚子。這世界就是這樣！

　

New Words and Expressions 生詞和詞組

1. acquaintance n. 認識

2. provision n. 準備，供應品

3. yearning n. 渴望，懷念

4. consent v. 同意，許可



5. calendar n. 日歷，日程表

6. suspicious a. 可疑的，令人費解的

7. curl up

卷起

8. dainty a. 優美的，講究的

9. verily ad. 真正的，真實的

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