Hello
大家好
I am here with a story about a cat. I can’t say that he was all that cute and cuddly, but he was certainly quite a character. He was a Russian cat, and his story is based partly on real life, and partly on traditional folklore.
今天要讲一个关于猫的故事。我不能说这只猫有多可爱、让人想抱抱，但它绝对是个有个性的家伙。它是一只俄罗斯猫，它的故事一部分基于现实生活，一部分源于传统民间传说。
Vlad was a black and white cat who lived in the city of Moscow. His apartment was on the ground floor of a large house. There were bars on the windows to stop burglars climbing into the flat, but he could squeeze through and come and go as he pleased, at least when the weather was fine. In winter, when the windows were closed and the flat was fuggy with central heating, he had to scratch at the door and meow to be let out. He did not like that much, as he preferred to do things his own way.
弗拉德是一只黑白相间的猫，住在莫斯科市。它住的公寓在一所大房子的底层。窗户上装着防盗栏，以防窃贼爬进屋内，但它却能从缝隙中挤出去，天气好的时候，想来就来，想走就走。到了冬天，窗户紧闭，屋里因集中供暖而闷热，它就只能挠门喵喵叫，让人放它出去。它可不太喜欢这样，因为它更喜欢按自己的方式行事。
His owner was a young man who had a good job in the city. He had bought Vlad when he was a little ball of fluff, as a present for his girlfriend. The girlfriend had left, but Vlad had stayed. The young man rented the apartment but he did not really mind that Vlad sharpened his claws on the furniture. He was not short of money, and he fed him on the best cuts of steak. Vlad grew up to be handsome and strong. For most of the day, the cat was left on his own in charge of the apartment. That was alright, because he was fully independent. He could open the fridge door himself, pull out an egg with his paw, break it on the floor, and lap it up. He did not need a litter tray because he could sit on the toilet like a human. He was strong all right. He seemed to jump almost effortlessly. In fact, when he leaped onto the kitchen table, he just took off vertically from the floor. He was not the most cuddly or affectionate of creatures, however, and if he sat on your lap, you had better beware as he might stick his claws into you.
它的主人是个在城里有份好工作的年轻人。弗拉德还是个毛茸茸的小毛球时，年轻人把它买来送给女友当礼物。女友后来离开了，但弗拉德留了下来。年轻人租下这套公寓，他并不介意弗拉德在家具上磨爪子。他不缺钱，还会用最好的牛排部位喂弗拉德。弗拉德长大后英俊又强壮。一天中的大部分时间，这只猫都独自守着公寓。这对它来说倒也无妨，因为它非常独立。它能自己打开冰箱门，用爪子掏出一个鸡蛋，在地上打碎，然后舔食蛋液。它不需要猫砂盆，因为它能像人一样坐在马桶上。它确实很强壮，跳起来似乎毫不费力。实际上，它跳上厨房餐桌时，简直就像直接从地板垂直起跳。然而，它并不是那种可爱讨喜、爱与人亲昵的动物，要是它坐到你腿上，你可得小心，因为它可能会用爪子抓你。
Plenty of stray cats slept in the boiler room beneath the apartment block, and at night, they came creeping out of the air vents into the garden. For the most part, they caught mice or they ate rubbish. You can imagine how scraggy and mangy they were. When they saw Vlad patrolling the garden in the moonlight, with his shiny coat, proud tail, and rippling muscles, they were all afraid of him.
有不少流浪猫睡在公寓楼底下的锅炉房里。到了晚上，它们会从通风口悄悄溜进花园。大多数时候，它们抓老鼠吃，或者翻捡垃圾。你可以想象它们有多瘦弱邋遢。当它们看到弗拉德在月光下巡视花园，皮毛油亮、尾巴高傲地竖着，肌肉随着走动起伏时，都对它心生畏惧。
“What kind of cat is that?” asked one stray.
“那是什么猫啊？” 一只流浪猫问道。
“He is an Egyptian God,” said a second.
“它是埃及的神明。” 另一只说道。
“No, he is the Tsar, come back to life,” said the third.
“不，它是复活的沙皇。” 第三只说道。
If the cats were afraid of Vlad, the dogs who lived in the house were even more scared. Once a German Shepherd tried to chase Vlad up a tree. But instead of fleeing, Vlad stood his ground and gave the hound such a lashing and scratching with his claws that he was never bothered by any local dog ever again.
要是说猫咪们惧怕弗拉德，那住在这栋房子里的狗对它更是怕得厉害。有一次，一只德国牧羊犬试图把弗拉德追到树上。但弗拉德没有逃窜，而是坚守原地，用爪子对那只猎犬又抓又挠，一顿猛攻，自那以后，当地的狗再也不敢招惹它了。
After that famous battle, all the stray cats wanted to show Vlad their respect. If they caught an especially fat mouse, they would bring it to their boss-cat as an offering. Vlad was not usually hungry, but he felt he should accept their gifts, because the respect they showed him, was in the right order of things.
那场著名的战斗之后，所有流浪猫都想向弗拉德表达敬意。要是它们抓到一只特别肥的老鼠，就会把它带给这位“猫老大” 当作贡品。弗拉德通常并不饿，但他觉得自己应该收下这些礼物，因为它们表达的敬意，本就是理所当然的。
You might think of Russia as a cold place, but in the summer months Moscow becomes unbearably hot and humid. Even the air feels dirty and sweaty. Anyone who can, escapes from the city. One particular year, the young man decided to go with a group of his friends to Thailand. Vlad saw him packing his bags and was not the least bit concerned. He knew he could survive perfectly well on his own. His owner was not so irresponsible as to leave a cat without somebody to look after him, however.
你可能觉得俄罗斯是个寒冷的地方，但在夏季，莫斯科会变得酷热难耐，潮湿不堪。就连空气都感觉脏兮兮的，带着汗味。但凡有办法，人们都会逃离这座城市。有一年，那个年轻人决定和一群朋友去泰国。弗拉德看到他在收拾行李，一点也不担心。它知道自己完全可以独自生存。然而，它的主人还没不负责任到留猫咪没人照顾的地步。
Although it was a hot day, he put on a long leather coat and gloves to make it harder for Vlad to bite and scratch him. There was quite a commotion, as he chased Vlad around the flat trying to catch him. Eventually he had to call a neighbour, a big practical, no nonsense sort of man, and together they managed to grab Vlad and squeeze him into a cat box. He did not appreciate that at all. Nor did he care for the car journey that followed. It made him feel sick.
尽管天气炎热，他还是穿上了一件长款皮外套，戴上手套，好让弗拉德更难咬到和抓到他。他在公寓里追着弗拉德跑，试图抓住它，一时间闹得不可开交。最后，他不得不叫来一位邻居，那是个身强力壮、务实且干脆的男人，两人合力才抓住弗拉德，把它塞进猫笼里。弗拉德对此极其不满。接下来的车程它也很不喜欢，这让它感到恶心。
The young man drove about forty kilometres out of Moscow with Vlad meowing and screeching blue murder all the way. He drove beyond the tower blocks and the ringroad, and into the countryside, which quickly became vast and wild. His grandmother had a little wooden house called a dacha, where she lived in summer. Many Russians like to return to their country roots in those hot and sweltering months. These days, some dachas are large fancy houses, with walls and security guards. Hers was just an old-fashioned hut, with a traditional stove, and a well for water. It was one of a row of similar dachas that stood on the edge of a thick forest. The young man hated staying there because the mosquitoes were quite ferocious, and left him covered in red bumps that itched for two weeks afterwards. He was glad to give Vlad to his grandmother, whom he called Babushka. He drank one cup of black tea, got back in his car and headed straight for the airport.
年轻人带着一路喵喵惨叫的弗拉德，驾车驶出莫斯科约四十公里。他们开过高楼大厦和环城公路，进入了广袤的乡村。他的祖母有一座名为“达恰” 的小木屋，她夏天就住在那儿。在那些炎热难耐的月份里，许多俄罗斯人都喜欢回归乡村生活。如今，有些 “达恰” 是配有围墙和保安的豪华大房子。而祖母的只是一座老式小屋，有传统的炉灶，还有一口水井。它位于一片茂密森林边缘，与一排类似的 “达恰” 相邻。年轻人讨厌待在这儿，因为蚊子异常凶猛，叮得他浑身是红疙瘩，痒了两周。他很高兴能把弗拉德交给祖母，他叫她 “巴布希卡” 。他喝了一杯红茶，就回到车上，直奔机场而去。
Babushka had owned several cats in her life, but never one as important as Vlad. It did not occur to her that he should be fed on the best steak. She herself lived on sorrel soup, black bread, and milk and cheese from the farm. Why would she feed a cat food fit for a tsar? She gave him porridge and one tinned sardine. When he meowed in disgust at such poor fare, she said, “Fi! If you are hungry, go and catch mice.”
巴布希卡这辈子养过几只猫，但从没养过像弗拉德这么“大牌” 的。她压根没想到要给它喂最好的牛排。她自己就靠酸模汤、黑面包，还有农场的牛奶和奶酪过活。她怎么会拿给沙皇吃的食物喂猫呢？她给弗拉德喂粥，还有一罐沙丁鱼。弗拉德对这寒酸的食物厌恶地喵喵叫时，她说道：“呸！要是饿了，就自己去抓老鼠。”
He glared at her with his green eyes. “Alright then,” he said, “I will.”
弗拉德用绿色的眼睛瞪着她。“那好吧，” 它说，“我会的。”
And in one leap, he sprang through the open window, even though it was on the other side of the room from where he had been standing. In all her years, the old lady had not seen a cat who could do that before. She was quite shaken.
说着，它纵身一跃，从敞开的窗户跳了出去，尽管窗户在房间另一头，离它站的地方不近。老太太活了这么多年，还从没见过能这么跳的猫。她着实吃了一惊。
“I swear he spoke,” she said to herself, “and then he flew. He must have the devil inside him. I won’t tell this to anyone, they will say old Annya has been drinking samagon,” which is a kind of homemade vodka.
“我发誓它说话了，” 她自言自语道，“然后还飞出去了。它肯定是被恶魔附身了。这事我可不能跟任何人说，不然他们会说老安妮娅喝萨马贡喝多了。” 萨马贡是一种家酿的伏特加。
Vlad prowled proudly through the forest. “I ruled the garden in Moscow,” he said to himself, “and I shall make this place my own too.” He walked along as if he was the president of Russia himself.
弗拉德骄傲地在森林里徘徊。“我统治着莫斯科的花园，” 它暗自思忖，“我也要让这片地方归我掌控。” 它走起路来，那架势就好像自己是俄罗斯总统一样。
As he was walking, he came across a young fox, a pretty little redheaded vixen, with flashing eyes. She thought to herself, “How interesting! What a handsome creature. I have never seen the likes of him in the forest before.”
走着走着，它遇见了一只小狐狸，一只漂亮的红毛雌狐，眼睛闪闪发亮。她心想：“真有意思！多么英俊的家伙。我在森林里从没见过这样的。”
She came up to him, bowed her head, and said, “Tell me stranger, who are you?”
她走到弗拉德跟前，低下头说道：“告诉我，陌生人，你是谁？”
“Murr,” said Vlad with a note of importance in his voice, “I have been sent from Moscow by the government to take charge of this forest and to collect taxes from everyone who lives here.”
“喵呜，” 弗拉德声音里透着一股威严，“我是政府从莫斯科派来掌管这片森林的，还要向住在这里的每一个人收税。”
“Oh,” said the pretty young fox, clearly impressed, and she bowed again. "I did not know. You are most welcome to our forest, your Excellency. My name is Lisabetta. Would you do me the honour of paying a visit to my humble home?"
“哦，” 漂亮的小狐狸显然被震慑住了，又鞠了一躬，“我之前不知道。非常欢迎您来到我们的森林，大人。我叫莉萨贝塔。不知您能否赏脸，光临我简陋的家？”
“Well, why not?” Vlad said, with a certain amount of cheerful charm. He was pleased to have made a conquest.
“嗯，为什么不呢？” 弗拉德带着几分愉悦的魅力说道。能赢得好感，它很是得意。
They went together to Lisabetta’s lair. The cat made himself comfortable and she brought him a tasty dish of rabbit. When he had finished eating, she said to him coyly, “Tell me, your Excellency, are you married or single?”
它们一起去了莉萨贝塔的巢穴。猫舒舒服服地安顿下来，她给它端来一盘美味的兔肉。等它吃完，她娇羞地对它说：“告诉我，大人，您是已婚还是单身呢？”
“I am still unmarried,” he replied.
“我还未婚。” 它回答道。
“As for me,” said Lisabetta, “I have been waiting for the right man to come along. I could not marry anyone who was less smart than myself, and there has been no one whom I admired in the forest, until I met you this morning.”
“至于我，” 莉萨贝塔说，“我一直在等待那个对的人出现。我不会嫁给任何不如我聪明的家伙，在这片森林里，直到今天早上遇见你之前，我都没瞧得上谁。”
“In that case,” said Vlad, “let us be married.”
“既然如此，” 弗拉德说，“那我们就成婚吧。”
It was a wise decision, because Lisabetta was the cleverest fox in the forest. The next week, she went out walking, and happened across the grey wolf, who was one her former boyfriends.
这是个明智的决定，因为莉萨贝塔是森林里最聪明的狐狸。第二周，她出去散步，碰巧遇见了灰狼，他曾是她的追求者之一。
“Lisabetta, my pretty one, where have you been? I have not seen you around any of our old haunts.”
“莉萨贝塔，我的美人儿，你去哪儿啦？我在咱们常去的地方都没再见过你。”
“That’s because I have settled down and become a married lady,” said Lisabetta.
“那是因为我已经安定下来，嫁人啦。” 莉萨贝塔说。
“Oh, who’s the lucky fellow?”
“哦，哪个家伙这么幸运？”
“Vladimir Vladimiravitch,” she said proudly.
“弗拉基米尔・弗拉基米罗维奇。” 她骄傲地回答。
“Vladimir Vladimiravitch? I had not heard of him before.”
“弗拉基米尔・弗拉基米罗维奇？我以前从没听说过他。”
“Haven’t you?” Lisabetta asked. “Well you should have done by now. He is the new governor of this forest, sent by Moscow, and you must pay your taxes to him.”
“你没听说过？” 莉萨贝塔反问道，“你现在可该听说了。他是这片森林的新总督，从莫斯科派来的，你得向他交税。”
"Well I should like to set eyes on this important man," said the wolf, more curious than ever to see who Lisabetta had landed as a husband.
“嗯，我倒想见见这位大人物。” 灰狼说，对于莉萨贝塔嫁了个什么样的丈夫，他愈发好奇。
“It is not possible,” said Lisabetta. “He is busy with official duties. He will be angry if he is disturbed. You must make an appointment. I shall check his diary for his availability and let you know.”
“这可不行，” 莉萨贝塔说，“他公务繁忙。要是被打扰，他会生气的。你得预约。我去查查他的日程安排，看看他什么时候有空，再通知你。”
On she went through the woods, when a little later she met another of her old flames, the brown bear. “I see you are as pretty as ever,” said he.
她继续在树林里走着，没过多久，又碰到了她的另一个旧情人—— 棕熊。“我看你还是和以前一样漂亮啊。” 棕熊说道。
“Don’t go patronising me,” said Lisabetta, “I am now married to Vladimir Vladimiravitch who is the new governor of this forest. Everyone who lives here must pay their taxes to him.”
“别来讨好我，” 莉萨贝塔说，“我现在嫁给弗拉基米尔・弗拉基米罗维奇了，他是这片森林的新总督。住在这里的每个人都得向他交税。”
So she went on, leaving the brown bear quite curious as to who this important Vladimir Vladimiravitch was.
说完她便走了，留下棕熊满心好奇，这个弗拉基米尔・弗拉基米罗维奇到底是何方神圣。
Soon the news was all over the forest. Everyone was indeed curious about the important new arrival who had chosen Lisabetta for his wife. The grey wolf and the brown bear decided that they must be the first to meet him, for you can never be too friendly with those who are in power.
很快，这个消息就在森林里传开了。大家确实都很好奇这位新来的大人物，居然选了莉萨贝塔做妻子。灰狼和棕熊决定，他们一定要第一个见到他，毕竟跟掌权的人交好总没错。
The wolf stole a goose from the farm, and the bear caught a fish in the stream. They brought their offerings to Lisabetta’s lair.
灰狼从农场偷了一只鹅，棕熊在小溪里抓了一条鱼。他们带着礼物来到莉萨贝塔的巢穴。
When they were close, the wolf said, “What if Vladimir Vladimiravitch is angry with us for disturbing his important work on behalf of the government?”"
快到的时候，灰狼说：“要是弗拉基米尔・弗拉基米罗维奇因为我们打扰了他为政府执行的重要工作而生气，怎么办？”
“Good point,” said the bear. “Let’s hide and see what kind of person he is, this Vladimir Vladimiravitch from Moscow.”
“说得有道理，” 棕熊说，“咱们先躲起来，看看这个从莫斯科来的弗拉基米尔・弗拉基米罗维奇到底是个什么样的人。”
They left their gifts near the entrance to the lair, and hid themselves well. The grey wolf crept into a hollow in the ground and covered himself with leaves and branches. The bear climbed up onto the branch of a tree.
他们把礼物放在巢穴入口附近，然后藏得严严实实。灰狼悄悄钻进一个地洞，用树叶和树枝把自己盖住。棕熊则爬上了一棵树的树枝。
It was not long before Vlad smelled the food that was waiting for him outside the door.
没过多久，弗拉德就闻到了放在门外等他享用的食物的香味。
“I must collect the taxes that the forest people have brought me,” he thought to himself. He slinked out and saw the goose and the fish and started to tuck in.
“我得去收取森林居民给我送来的税物。” 他心里想着，悄悄溜出去，看到了那只鹅和那条鱼，便开始大快朵颐。
“Murr, these taxes taste good,” he said.
“喵呜，这些税物味道真不错。” 他说道。
The wolf was more than curious; he just had to set eyes on the governor to see which dish he preferred – the goose or the fish. First his nose, and then his eyes came out of the leaves. There was a rustle. Vlad heard the sound and thought it was a mouse. He pounced, and oww-eee! His claws sunk into the wolf’s muzzle and he bit his ear. The wolf howled with pain and leaped out of his hiding place. Vlad was as surprised as he was, and he sprang straight up into the tree. The bear, who was quite startled by all this sudden action, jumped down, breaking branches on the way. Both he and the wolf ran for their lives.
灰狼的好奇心再也按捺不住，他非得亲眼看看这位总督更喜欢哪道菜—— 是鹅还是鱼。先是他的鼻子，接着他的眼睛从树叶间探了出来。一阵沙沙声响起。弗拉德听到动静，以为是只老鼠。他猛地扑了过去，哎哟喂！他的爪子深深嵌进了灰狼的口鼻，还咬住了它的耳朵。灰狼疼得嗥叫起来，从藏身之处跳了出来。弗拉德和它一样惊讶，直接蹿上了树。棕熊被这突如其来的举动吓了一跳，从树上跳下来，还折断了不少树枝。它俩拼命逃窜。
And from that day on, all the animals of the forest were duly frightened of the cat who was the big boss from Moscow, and they always treated him with great respect and paid their taxes. Vlad and Lisabetta dined on the best food and lived happily and in great comfort.
从那天起，森林里所有的动物都对这只来自莫斯科的“猫老大” 敬畏有加，总是毕恭毕敬地对待他，按时交税。弗拉德和莉萨贝塔享用着最美味的食物，幸福而惬意地生活着。
When the young man came back from his holiday, babushka told him that his cat had run away.
年轻人度假回来后，祖母告诉他，他的猫跑了。
“Oh Babushka,” he said, “I told you to feed him well.”
“哦，祖母，” 他说，“我告诉过您要好好喂它。”
“It’s a good thing he left,” said she. “That cat was the devil himself!”
“它走了反倒是件好事，” 她说，“那只猫简直就是恶魔！”
The young man drove home back to Moscow thinking how superstitious old people are.
年轻人开车回莫斯科，一路上想着老年人可真迷信。
So that was the story of the Moscow Cat who became boss of the forest. Bertie says that the story has more than a little bit of truth in it, about a cat that he once owned in Russia. But the part set in the forest is based on a Russian folk story which was include in Old Peter’s Russian Tales by Arthur Ransome, the author of Swallows and Amazons.
这就是那只成为森林霸主的莫斯科猫的故事。伯蒂说，这个故事在很大程度上是真实的，源于他曾经在俄罗斯养过的一只猫。但发生在森林里的那部分情节，改编自俄罗斯民间故事，这个故事收录在亚瑟・兰塞姆所著的《老彼得讲俄罗斯故事》中，兰塞姆也是《燕子号与亚马逊号》的作者。
