从前有一个猎人,名叫
海力布。他热心帮助别人,
Long time ago, there used to be a kindhearted hunter by the name of Hailibu.
每次打猎回来,总是把猎物分给大家,自己只留下很少的一份。
After every hunt, he would divide the meat to other villagers and keep only a small portion for himself.
大家都非常尊敬他。
His caring for others won him great respect in the village.
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有一天,海力布到深山去打猎,忽然听见天上有喊救命的声音。
One day, while hunting in the woods, Hailibu heard urgent cries from the sky.
他抬头一看,一只老鹰抓着一条小白蛇正从他头上飞过。
Looking up, he saw a small creature captured by a voracious vulture.
他急忙搭箭开弓,对准老鹰射去。
He quickly aimed his arrow at the predator.
老鹰受了伤,丢下小白蛇逃了。
Hurt by the arrow, the vulture let go of the prey.
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海力布对小白蛇说:“可怜的小东西,快回家去吧!”
Hailibu looked at this strange-looking creature that had a snake-like body, and said, “Poor little thing, go home quickly.”
小白蛇说:“敬爱的猎人,您是我的救命恩人,我要报答您。
Replied the creature, “Respectable hunter, you have saved my life, for which I am exceedingly grateful.
我是龙王的女儿,您跟我回去,我爸爸一定会好好酬谢您。
I am a daughter of the dragon king, and I am sure my father will thank you with great reward.
我爸爸的宝库里有许多珍宝,您要什么都可以。
He has great many treasures you can take.
如果您都不喜欢,可以要我爸爸含在嘴里的那颗宝石。
If none of these treasures would please you, you may ask him for a precious stone he holds in his mouth.
只要嘴里含着那颗宝石,就能听懂各种动物说的话。”
Whoever holds this stone in the mouth will be able to understand the languages of all animals.”
海力布想,珍宝我倒不在乎,能听懂动物的话,对一个猎人来说,实在是太好了。
Hunter Hailibu had no interest in any treasure, but being able to understand the languages of animals had great appeal to him.
他问小白蛇:“真有这样一-颗宝石吗?”
He asked the dragon’s daughter, “Is there really such a precious stone?”
小白蛇说:“真的。但是动物说什么话,您只能自己知道。如果对别人说了,您就会变成一块石头。”
She replied, “Yes. But whatever you hear from animals, you have to keep it to yourself. If you tell it to others, you will turn into a rock.”
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海力布点点头,跟着小白蛇到了
龙宫。
The young dragon took Hailibu to the ocean side.
老龙王对海力布十分感激,要重谢他。老龙王把他领进宝库,让他自已挑选珍宝,爱什么就拿什么。
The dragon king was happy to hear that Hailibu saved his daughter, and offered him to take any treasure he would like from his palace.
海力布什么珍宝也不要,他对龙王说:“如果您真想给我点儿东西作纪念,请把您嘴里含着的那颗宝石送给我吧。”
After a moment of silence, Hailibu replied, “If you want to give me something as a gift, may I ask for the precious stone in your mouth?”
龙王低头想了一-会儿,就把嘴里含的宝石吐出来,送给了海力布。
The dragon king lowered his head, thought for a moment. He then took out the stone from his mouth and handed it to Hailibu.
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海力布临走的时候,小白蛇跟了出来,再三叮嘱他说:“敬爱的猎人,您要记住,无论动物说了什么话,都不要对别人说。如果说了,您马上就会变成石头,永远不能复活了!”海力布谢过小白蛇,就回家了。
Upon parting, the dragon’s daughter repeated to Hailibu, “Respectable hunter, please remember not to tell anyone what the animals say. Otherwise, you will turn into a rock immediately.”
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海力布有了这颗宝石,打猎方便极了。他把宝石含在嘴里,
Having the precious stone in his mouth, Hailibu enjoyed his hunting in the woods even more.
能听懂飞禽走兽的语言,能知道哪座山上有哪些动物。从此以后,他每次打猎回来,分给大家的猎物更多了。
He could understand the languages of all the beasts and birds, and knew what animals to hunt in which part of the mountain. He was able to hunt more meat and give more to the villagers.
这样过了几年。
Several years passed quickly.
有一天,他正在深山里打猎,忽然听见一群鸟在议论着什么。
One day, in the mountain, he heard a group of birds discussing something with urgency.
仔细一听,
He listened attentively.
那只带头的鸟说:“咱们赶快飞到别处去吧!
The lead bird said, “We need to move elsewhere quickly.
今天晚上,这里的大山要崩塌,大地要被洪水淹没,
Tonight, the mountain will collapse and flood will submerge this entire land.
不知道要淹死多少人呢! ”
Many people may die.”
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海力布听到这个消息,大吃一惊。
Hailibu was shocked at hearing this.
他急忙跑回家对大家说:“咱们赶快搬到别处去吧!
He hurriedly ran home and gushed these words to the villagers, “We have to move elsewhere immediately;
这个地方不能住了!”
we cannot stay here anymore!”
大家听了感到很奇怪,
All were surprised,
住得好好的,为什么要搬家呢?
“We are living well here; why move?”
尽管海力布焦急地催促大家,可是谁也不相信他。
Hailibu kept on repeating those words, but nobody listened.
海力布急得掉下了眼泪,说:“我可以发誓,我说的话千真万确。
In tears, he pleaded, “Please listen to me—I can swear what I said is true.
相信我的话吧,赶快搬走!
Believe me, we have to move now;
再晚就来不及了!”
otherwise it would be too late.”
有个老人对海力布说:“海力布,你是我们的好邻居,我们知道你从来不说谎话。
An elder tried to calm Hailibu, “You are a good man and you have never lied.
可是今天你让我们搬家,你总得说清楚哇。咱们在这山下住了好几代啦,老老小小这么多人,搬家可不容易呀!”
We have lived here for generations but now you ask us to move. You have to tell us why; moving is not an easy thing.”
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海力布知道着急也没有用,不把为什么要搬家说清楚,大家是不会相信的。再迟延,灾难就要夺去乡亲们的生命。要救乡亲们,只有牺牲自己。
Hailibu saw no other ways to save the villagers.
他想到这里,就镇定地对大家说:“今天晚上,这里的大山要崩塌,洪水要淹没大地。
He suddenly became very calm. Composing himself in earnest, he said to the villagers, “Tonight, the mountain will collapse and a great flood will drown this land.
你们看,鸟都飞走了。”
You see, birds have flown away.”
接着,他就把怎么得到宝石,怎么听见一群鸟议论避难,以及为什么不能把听来的消息告诉别人,都原原本本照实说了。
He then recounted how he obtained the precious stone, was able to understand all beasts and birds but had to keep what he heard a secret lest he would turn into a rock, and finally, the birds’ words about flying away from this land of impending disaster.
海力布刚说完,就变成了一块石头。
As he was recounting his story, his lower body, starting from the feet, started to turn into part of a rock. When he finished telling the whole story, he turned into a rock completely.
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大家看见海力布变成了石头,都非常后悔,非常悲痛。他们含着眼泪,念着海力布的名字,扶着老人,领着孩子,赶着牛羊,往很远的地方走去。
The villagers were left in shock and tears. They cried their sorrow, wishing they had listened to Hailibu earlier. Carrying their essentials and herding their livestock, the villagers, along with their elders and children, walked to a faraway land.
他们走在路上,忽然乌云密布,狂风怒号,接着就是倾盆大雨。半夜里,听见一声震天动地的巨响,大山崩塌了,地下涌出洪水,把他们住的村子淹没了。
They continued walking at night, when suddenly thick cloud covered the sky and wind started to howl. Soon rain poured like never before. In the direction of their village, they heard a thundering roar from the collapsing of the mountain…
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人们世世代代纪念海力布。据说现在还能找到那块叫“海力布”的石头呢。
Generations have now passed. It is said that descendents from that village still remember the kindhearted hunter Hailibu and talk of searching for that rock.
注: 英文部分是在互联网找到的, 应该是改编的,不是我们翻译的!