3 A Price to Pay

CHAPTER 3

第三章

A Price to Pay "And how do you plan to mend your ways?" asked the king. A crooked smile swept over the witch's face as lightning flashed outside the throne room windows. "Why, I can put an end to all this rain," she said sweetly. Thunder boomed and rumbled around the castle. King Caleb looked at the witch suspiciously. "And what do you know about the rain?" he asked. "I know it's a curse," said the witch. The king leaned back in his throne. "And what do you want to do about it?" he asked.

“那你打算怎样改正你的行为呢？”国王问道。 闪电从正殿的窗户外掠过，女巫的脸上掠过一丝狡黠的微笑。 “嘿，我可以让雨停了，”她温柔地说。 城堡周围雷声隆隆。 迦勒国王怀疑地看着女巫。 “你知道雨的事吗？”他问。 “我知道这是个诅咒。”女巫说。 国王向后靠在宝座上。 “那你想怎么办呢？”他问。

The witch's glass eye bulged in its socket. "I don't want to do anything," she said. "I like the rain. But if never-ending rain isn't good for your kingdom, I may be able to help." The king desperately needed help. He had no idea how to stop the rain, and the witch knew it. He couldn't

女巫的玻璃眼在眼窝里鼓了起来。 “我什么都不想做，”她说。 “我喜欢雨。但如果连绵不断的雨对你的王国不利，我也许能帮上忙。” 国王急需帮助。 他不知道如何让雨停下来，而女巫知道。 他不能

allow the kingdom's crops to be ruined. "I suppose I will have to accept your offer," said the king. "Of course you will," said the witch, who now knew that she, not the king, had the power. "But there will be

让王国的庄稼被毁吧。 “我想我必须接受你的提议，”国王说。 “你当然会的，”女巫说，她现在知道她，而不是国王，有权力。 “但是会有的

a small price to pay." The king gripped the arms of his throne and leaned forward. "And what is your price?" "I only require three things," said the witch. Then she held up a bony finger for each. "A cauldron made of gold, your bejeweled family ring with the royal crest, and the queen's diamond-and-emerald scepter." The king's jaw dropped. "Such a high price!" he cried. "My ring and the queen's scepter are sacred symbols of our right to rule Wrenly. We cannot part with them." "Very well," said the witch. "Then your kingdom will drown and your people will suffer."

这是一个小小的代价。”国王紧紧抓住宝座的扶手，身体向前倾。 “你的价格是多少？”“我只要求三件事。”女巫说。 然后，她为每个人举起一根瘦骨嶙峋的手指。 “一只金制的大锅，你那镶着宝石的王室王冠戒指，还有女王的钻石绿宝石权杖。” 国王惊得目瞪口呆。“这么高的价格！”他叫道。 “我的戒指和女王的权杖是我们统治兰利的神圣象征。 我们不能离开他们。” “很好，”女巫说。 “这样，你的王国就会被淹没，你的人民也会遭殃。”

The king hung his head. He knew there was no other way to save his kingdom. He felt helpless. Then the queen gently laid her hand on her husband's knee. "I will pay the price," she said. The king looked at his wife. He gained courage from her words. "And I will give you my ring," said the king.

国王低下了头。他知道没有其他办法可以拯救他的王国。 他感到无助。然后王后轻轻地把手放在丈夫的膝盖上。 “我会付出代价的，”她说。 国王看着他的妻子。 他从她的话中获得了勇气。 “我把我的戒指给你，”国王说。