[翻译大赛NO.3] Lazy Jack / 懒汉杰克

Lazy Jack 
                                                                                                 懒汉杰克
Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with his mother on a common. They were very poor, and the old woman got her living by spinning, but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth in the winter-time. So they called him Lazy Jack. His mother could not get him to do anything for her, and at last told him, one Monday, that if he did not begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to get his living as he could.
从前，有一个叫杰克的男孩，他和妈妈住在一块公有地上。他们很穷，杰克的妈妈以纺纱为生，但杰克很懒，什么事也不做，夏天就在外面晒太阳，冬天就坐在炉边烤火。大家都叫他“懒汉杰克”。妈妈没法让他做任何事，最后有一天，那是一个星期一，妈妈对他说，如果他还不开始干活挣钱，就要把他赶出家门了，因为他可以自食其力。

This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a neighbouring farmer for a penny; but as he was coming home, never having had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook. “You stupid boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket." “I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.
这番话刺激了杰克，于是第二天他就外出了，他在附近的一个农场主那里干了一天活，挣到一便士。当他回家时，却又没钱了，原来他在跨越小溪时把钱弄丢了。“傻小子，”他妈妈说，“你应该把钱放在口袋里。”“下次我知道了，”杰克回答。

On Wednesday, Jack went out again and hired himself to a cow-keeper, who gave him a jar of milk for his day’s work. Jack took the jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all, long before he got home. “Dear me!” said the old woman; “you should have carried it on your head.” “I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.
星期三那天，杰克又外出了，他为一个养牛人干了一天活，养牛人给他一罐牛奶作为报酬。杰克接过牛奶罐，把它放进上衣的大口袋里，但在离家很远的地方，就把牛奶全泼出来了。“我的天哪！” 他妈妈说，“你应该把罐子顶在头上啊。”“下次我知道了，”杰克说。

So on Thursday, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed to give him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening Jack took the cheese, and went home with it on his head. By the time he got home the cheese was all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with his hair. “You stupid lout,” said his mother, “you should have carried it very carefully in your hands.” “I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.
星期四那天，杰克又去一个农场主那里帮工，农场主答应给他一块奶酪作为报酬。傍晚时分，杰克拿到了奶酪，顶在头上回家了。等他到家时，奶酪全都搞坏了，一部分掉在路上了，一部分粘在头发上了。“你这个笨蛋，”他妈妈说，“你应该把奶酪小心地捧在手里啊。”“下次我知道了，”杰克回答。

On Friday, Lazy Jack again went out, and hired himself to a baker, who would give him nothing for his work but a large tom-cat. Jack took the cat, and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in a short time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go. When he got home, his mother said to him, “You silly fellow, you should have tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you." “I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.
星期五那天，懒汉杰克又外出了，他给一个面包师打工，面包师只给了他一只大公猫作为报酬。杰克接过大猫，小心翼翼地捧在手里，但很快大猫就把他的手抓伤了，他只得放它跑掉了。当他到家时，妈妈对他说，“你这个傻瓜，你应该用绳子系住猫，然后一路牵着走啊。”“下次我知道了，”杰克说。

So on Saturday, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt, so that by the time he had got home the meat was completely spoilt. His mother was this time quite out of patience with him, for the next day was Sunday, and she was obliged to make do with cabbage for her dinner. “You ninney-hammer,” said she to her son; “you should have carried it on your shoulder.” “I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.
星期六那天，杰克为一个屠夫打工，屠夫给了他一块羊肩肉作为丰厚的回报。杰克接过羊肉，用绳子系好，然后在泥土地上一路拖着回家。等他到家时，羊肉全都不能吃了。这一次，他妈妈也失去耐心了。第二天是个星期天，妈妈只好让他弄点白菜来吃。“你这个呆子，”她对儿子说，“你应该把羊肉扛在肩上啊。”“下次我知道了，”杰克回答。

On the next Monday, Lazy Jack went once more, and hired himself to a cattle-keeper, who gave him a donkey for his trouble. Jack found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders, but at last he did it, and began walking slowly home with his prize. Now it happened that in the course of his journey there lived a rich man with his only daughter, a beautiful girl, but deaf and dumb. Now she had never laughed in her life, and the doctors said she would never speak till somebody made her laugh. This young lady happened to be looking out of the window when Jack was passing with the donkey on his shoulders, with the legs sticking up in the air, and the sight was so comical and strange that she burst out into a great fit of laughter, and immediately recovered her speech and hearing. Her father was overjoyed, and fulfilled his promise by marrying her to Lazy Jack, who was thus made a rich gentleman. They lived in a large house, and Jack’s mother lived with them in great happiness until she died.
到了下个星期一，懒汉杰克又出门了，他为一个养牲畜的人打工，那人给了他一头驴作为回报。杰克发现把驴举到肩上很难，但最后他还是做到了，扛着他的战利品慢慢地走回家。在回家的路上，经过一处，那里住着一个有钱人和他的独生女，姑娘很漂亮，但又聋又哑。她出生以来还没笑过，医生们说，直到有谁让她笑了，她才能讲话。姑娘这时碰巧往窗外看，正好看到杰克扛着驴从她家门前经过，驴的四蹄向上高高翘起，这个景象太滑稽、太有趣了，姑娘不禁哈哈大笑起来，瞬间能够说话了，耳朵也能听见了。她的父亲欣喜若狂，马上兑现诺言把女儿嫁给了懒汉杰克，杰克因此成了一个有钱的绅士。他们住在一所大房子里，杰克的妈妈和他们一起幸福地生活，一直到老。