查尔斯·路德维哥·道奇森 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson，19世纪英国作家，笔名路易斯·卡罗 Lewis Carroll，以《爱丽丝漫游仙境》、《爱丽丝镜中奇遇记》两本童话诗歌而名扬四海。爱丽丝的故事不断被翻拍成电影，吸引了无数成人和儿童。然而，如同许多童话故事一样，这些故事的内涵其实一点都不天真，而是充满了恐怖。
而卡罗本人和爱丽丝的原型人物爱丽丝·利黛尔 Alice Liddell 之间的友谊，要是放在今天的西方世界里，恐怕就不仅仅是招人眼球了。他给爱丽丝和她的两个姐姐拍的那些照片，要是在今天登在网上，国家儿童保护局的人恐怕会在第一时间去敲他的门。
Liddell三姐妹，右一为爱丽丝
《爱丽丝镜中奇遇记》里的一首寓言诗《海象与木匠》 The Walrus and the Carpenter，貌似天真，但仔细揣摩一下其中内容，小牡蛎们的好奇和轻信，对比海象和木匠的猥琐和贪婪，每次读都让我不寒而凓。联想到100年之后的今天，还是不断地读到一些有关家暴和童恋癖的“文学创作”，混淆概念，不分黑白，仍然没有超越卡罗所在那个年代的思维，难免让我有点喘不过气来。人类有很多美好的品德，但邪恶总是潜伏在离美好不远的地方伺机，有时候真的怀疑人类的 integrity是不是还可以被完整地再拾起来。
至于这首寓言诗给我带来的思索，很简单，其一：不要轻信任何人，特别是那些道貌岸然的伪君子，就像这首寓言里的海象；木匠虽然可憎，但他至少懒得去装好人。其二：不可以太好奇，因为太好奇了容易惹祸上身甚至送命。
再有就是，做父母的要灌输自己的孩子，不要让他们像小牡蛎这样好奇和轻信。
The Walrus and the Carpenter《海象与木匠》
by Lewis Carroll【英】路易·卡罗
by Lewis Carroll【英】路易·卡罗
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
太阳照在海面上，
用尽全力放光芒；
他这么卖力地照耀着，
光亮的海面起波澜 --
这话说来也真奇怪，
因为现在是午夜好时光。
用尽全力放光芒；
他这么卖力地照耀着，
光亮的海面起波澜 --
这话说来也真奇怪，
因为现在是午夜好时光。
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
闪亮的月亮绷着脸，
她认为太阳有点不识相，
因为他已经照了一整天。 月亮说：
“太阳真是太无理，
早该落山去睡大觉，
为啥还在晚上来捣乱！“
她认为太阳有点不识相，
因为他已经照了一整天。 月亮说：
“太阳真是太无理，
早该落山去睡大觉，
为啥还在晚上来捣乱！“
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
大海湿得不能再湿，
沙滩干得不能再干。
一片云彩也不见，
只因天上空荡荡；
也不见鸟儿来飞翔，
因为鸟儿全都进梦乡。
沙滩干得不能再干。
一片云彩也不见，
只因天上空荡荡；
也不见鸟儿来飞翔，
因为鸟儿全都进梦乡。
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
海象木匠手拉手
一起来把沙滩逛；
看到沙子堆成山
两人哭得泪汪汪。
“如果能把沙子来铲掉”
他们说, “那样应该有多妙！”
一起来把沙滩逛；
看到沙子堆成山
两人哭得泪汪汪。
“如果能把沙子来铲掉”
他们说, “那样应该有多妙！”
"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
海象开口把话讲：
“如果找来七个女佣，
拿上七把扫帚扫半年，
你觉得，能不能把沙子来扫光？”
木匠说：“我看你是在说梦话。”
一滴眼泪出眼眶。
“如果找来七个女佣，
拿上七把扫帚扫半年，
你觉得，能不能把沙子来扫光？”
木匠说：“我看你是在说梦话。”
一滴眼泪出眼眶。
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech. "
A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
The Walrus did beseech. "
A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
“哦，牡蛎们，和我们一起散步吧！”
海象假装诚恳样。
“沿着湿湿的沙滩，
愉快地散步和交谈。
我们两人四只手，
海象假装诚恳样。
“沿着湿湿的沙滩，
愉快地散步和交谈。
我们两人四只手，
一手一个也只能带俩。”
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
最老的那只老牡蛎，
沉默不言把他俩望，
眨巴眨巴一双眼，
摇摇脑袋不说话。
可他的意思很清楚：
要我离开你休想。
沉默不言把他俩望，
眨巴眨巴一双眼，
摇摇脑袋不说话。
可他的意思很清楚：
要我离开你休想。
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed,
their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed,
their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
但有四只小牡蛎，
急急忙忙往前赶；
衣着光鲜脸儿亮，
鞋帽整齐洗刷刷。
这话说来也真奇怪，
急急忙忙往前赶；
衣着光鲜脸儿亮，
鞋帽整齐洗刷刷。
这话说来也真奇怪，
因为牡蛎没脚丫。
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
又有四只跟上来，
四只四只一连串；
一群一群往上走，
争先恐后一大帮；
跳出海浪和泡沫，
你争我抢把岸上。
四只四只一连串；
一群一群往上走，
争先恐后一大帮；
跳出海浪和泡沫，
你争我抢把岸上。
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
海象和木匠心痒痒，
一口气走了一里地，
来到一块岩石旁。
岩石的高度有点低，
好像餐桌一个样，
小牡蛎们排排站。
一口气走了一里地，
来到一块岩石旁。
岩石的高度有点低，
好像餐桌一个样，
小牡蛎们排排站。
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
海象说到：“时候不早啦，
我们好好聊聊吧。
说说鞋子、船、和封蜡；
白菜、国王，嗯，还有
为何大海滚热浪，
猪儿是否长翅膀。”
我们好好聊聊吧。
说说鞋子、船、和封蜡；
白菜、国王，嗯，还有
为何大海滚热浪，
猪儿是否长翅膀。”
"But wait a bit," the Oysterscried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
小牡蛎们回答说：
“让我们先歇口气你再讲，
我们走得好累啊，
因为我们都超胖！”
“不急不急！”木匠说，
小牡蛎们感谢他。
“让我们先歇口气你再讲，
我们走得好累啊，
因为我们都超胖！”
“不急不急！”木匠说，
小牡蛎们感谢他。
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
“一个面包”，海象说：
“是我们现在的需要，
胡椒香醋有更好，
这样一来味更妙。
小牡蛎们亲爱哒，你们准备好了吗？
准备好了的话，我们就可以开吃啦。”
“是我们现在的需要，
胡椒香醋有更好，
这样一来味更妙。
小牡蛎们亲爱哒，你们准备好了吗？
准备好了的话，我们就可以开吃啦。”
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
小牡蛎们哭喊着：“别吃我们啊”
吓得脸色发青心儿跳。
“你们对我们这么好，
现在又要吃我们为什么！”
海象回答说：“夜色如此之美妙，
你们觉不觉得风景很美好？”
吓得脸色发青心儿跳。
“你们对我们这么好，
现在又要吃我们为什么！”
海象回答说：“夜色如此之美妙，
你们觉不觉得风景很美好？”
"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
“多谢你们跟着来，
你们的味道这么好！”
木匠没心情多啰嗦， 只说：
“再切一块面包好不好？
别假装自己听不到，
害我连续说两遭！”
你们的味道这么好！”
木匠没心情多啰嗦， 只说：
“再切一块面包好不好？
别假装自己听不到，
害我连续说两遭！”
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
海象说：“我觉得有点小惭愧，
这么欺骗这帮小家伙，
这么欺骗这帮小家伙，
跟我们跑了这么远，
结果还被我们来吃掉！”
木匠没好气地说了声：
“你把黄油涂得太厚了！”
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
海象说: “我为你们哭泣，
也为你们难过。”
一把鼻涕一把泪，
他把牡蛎壳从大到小排排好。
接着拿出手绢来，
猫哭耗子泪涟涟。
也为你们难过。”
一把鼻涕一把泪，
他把牡蛎壳从大到小排排好。
接着拿出手绢来，
猫哭耗子泪涟涟。
"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.
“哦，牡蛎啊,” 木匠说，
“你们今天玩得很不错！
现在是不是也该回家了？”
但是小牡蛎们已经无声响；
这话说来也不奇怪，
因为它们全被吃光光！
“你们今天玩得很不错！
现在是不是也该回家了？”
但是小牡蛎们已经无声响；
这话说来也不奇怪，
因为它们全被吃光光！
******
You will agree with me, this is indeed a horrifying story!
