不来梅的城市乐手

从前，有个诚实的农夫养了一头驴，它多年来一直忠心耿耿地为他效劳，但如今已渐渐老去，干活也一天不如一天了。

An honest farmer had once an ass that had been a faithful servant to him a great many years, but was now growing old and every day more and more unfit for work.

因此，主人厌倦了供养它，开始盘算着要结束它的性命；驴察觉到情况不妙，便悄悄溜走，踏上了前往那座大城市的旅程，它心想：“到了那里，我或许可以去当个乐手。”

His master therefore was tired of keeping him and began to think of putting an end to him; but the ass, who saw that some mischief was in the wind, took himself slyly off, and began his journey towards the great city, ‘For there,’ thought he, ‘I may turn musician.’

它走了一段路后，瞧见一只狗躺在路边，喘着粗气，看起来累坏了。“朋友，你为什么喘得这么厉害？”驴问道。“哎呀！”

After he had travelled a little way, he spied a dog lying by the roadside and panting as if he were tired. ‘What makes you pant so, my friend?’ said the ass. ‘Alas!’

狗说道，“主人打算把我打死，因为我老了，身体虚弱，再也不能帮他打猎了；所以我逃了出来；可我能做些什么来维持生计呢？”“听着！”

said the dog, ‘my master was going to knock me on the head, because I am old and weak, and can no longer make myself useful to him in hunting; so I ran away; but what can I do to earn my livelihood?’ ‘Hark ye!’

驴说，“我正要去那座大城市当乐手：不如你跟我一起去，试试看能不能也干这一行？”狗表示愿意，于是它们便结伴同行。

said the ass, ‘I am going to the great city to turn musician: suppose you go with me, and try what you can do in the same way?’ The dog said he was willing, and they jogged on together.

它们没走多远，就看见一只猫坐在路中间，一脸愁容。“请问，这位好女士，”驴说，“你怎么了？你看上去一点精神都没有！”“哎呀！”

They had not gone far before they saw a cat sitting in the middle of the road and making a most rueful face. ‘Pray, my good lady,’ said the ass, ‘what’s the matter with you? You look quite out of spirits!’ ‘Ah, me!’

猫说道，“当生命受到威胁时，谁还能精神得起来呢？

said the cat, ‘how can one be in good spirits when one’s life is in danger?

因为我开始变老了，比起在屋子里跑来跑去抓老鼠，我更喜欢躺在火炉边休息，女主人便抓住我，要把我淹死；虽然我侥幸逃了出来，但我不知道以后该靠什么生活。”

Because I am beginning to grow old, and had rather lie at my ease by the fire than run about the house after the mice, my mistress laid hold of me, and was going to drown me; and though I have been lucky enough to get away from her, I do not know what I am to live upon.’

“哦，”驴说，“无论如何，跟我们一起去那座大城市吧；你擅长夜间歌唱，或许能靠当乐手发家致富。”猫觉得这个主意不错，便加入了队伍。

‘Oh,’ said the ass, ‘by all means go with us to the great city; you are a good night singer, and may make your fortune as a musician.’ The cat was pleased with the thought, and joined the party.

不久之后，当它们经过一个农家院时，看见一只公鸡站在大门上，正竭尽全力地尖叫着。“好极了！”驴说，“说真的，你叫得可真响亮；请问这是怎么回事？”

Soon afterwards, as they were passing by a farmyard, they saw a cock perched upon a gate, and screaming out with all his might and main. ‘Bravo!’ said the ass; ‘upon my word, you make a famous noise; pray what is all this about?’

“唉，”公鸡说，“我刚才还在报告说，洗衣服那天会是个好天气，可女主人和厨娘却不领情，反而威胁说明天要砍下我的头，在周日招待客人时把我炖成汤！”

‘Why,’ said the cock, ‘I was just now saying that we should have fine weather for our washing-day, and yet my mistress and the cook don’t thank me for my pains, but threaten to cut off my head tomorrow, and make broth of me for the guests that are coming on Sunday!’

“天哪，那可不行！”驴说，“跟我们走吧，钱蒂克利尔先生；无论如何，总比留在这里被砍头要好！再说，谁知道呢？

‘Heaven forbid!’ said the ass, ‘come with us Master Chanticleer; it will be better, at any rate, than staying here to have your head cut off! Besides, who knows?

如果我们能合唱得和谐，或许能搞出一场音乐会来；所以跟我们走吧。”“我非常愿意，”公鸡说：于是它们四个高高兴兴地一起上路了。

If we care to sing in tune, we may get up some kind of a concert; so come along with us.’ ‘With all my heart,’ said the cock: so they all four went on jollily together.

然而，它们第一天没能到达那座大城市；所以夜幕降临时，它们走进一片森林准备睡觉。

They could not, however, reach the great city the first day; so when night came on, they went into a wood to sleep.