第17章 最不可思議的事 The Most Incredible Thing(第4/9 頁)

ackened him.

這些君王帶來了香料和珍貴的禮物。當鐘聲敲響四下時，四季依次出現。

these kings brought incense and precious gifts. when the stroke of four sounded, the seasons advanced in their order.

春天拿著一根發芽的山毛櫸樹枝，樹枝上有一隻布穀鳥在歌唱。

Spring carried a budding bough of beech, on which a cuckoo sang.

夏天的標誌是一隻站在成熟麥穗上的蚱蜢。秋天只有一個空的鸛巢，因為鳥兒都飛走了。

Summer had for her sign a grasshopper on a ripening ear of wheat. Autumn had only an empty stork’s nest, for the birds had flown away.

冬天溫順的烏鴉棲息在火爐的角落，講述著往昔的古老故事。

winter’s tame crow perched on the corner of the stove, and told old tales of bygone days.

五點鐘的時候，五官列隊走過。視覺由一個製作眼鏡的人代表。聽覺是一個喧鬧的銅匠。

At five o’clock there was a procession of the five senses. Sight was represented by a man who made spectacles. hearing was a noisy coppersmith.

嗅覺是一個賣紫羅蘭的賣花女。味覺打扮成廚師的模樣。觸覺是一個哀悼者，黑紗一直垂到腳跟。

Smell was a flower girl with violets for sale. taste came dressed as a cook. Feeling was a mourner, with crape down to his heels.

時鐘敲響六下時，有一個賭徒坐在那裡，擲出最大的點數，結果骰子朝上的面都是六點。

As the clock struck six, there sat a gambler, throwing dice for the highest cast of all, and they fell with the sixes up.

然後是一週的七天出現了，或者也可能是七宗罪。

then came the seven days of the week, or they might be the seven deadly sins.

人們無法確定它們到底是什麼，因為它們不容易區分。接著來了一群僧侶唱詩班，來唱八點鐘的晚禱歌。

people could not be sure which they were, for they were not easy to distinguish. Next came a choir of monks, to sing the eight o’clock evensong.

時鐘敲