2 The Unusual Request

The Unusual Request A wonderful life can turn someone into a terrible person. It makes you forget that there are people in the world who have problems, and this can stop you from really caring or worrying about others. So you can understand how Ebenezer Tweezer came to be one of the most selfish men who ever lived. After spending nearly 512 years without difficulty, Ebenezer had never really learned about pain or sadness. He found it impossible to imagine what these things must feel like, and so he didn't feel guilty about feeding Patrick to the beast.

不寻常的要求美好的生活可以把一个人变成一个可怕的人。 它让你忘记世界上有人有问题，这会阻止你真正关心或担心别人。 所以你可以理解埃比尼泽·特威泽是如何成为有史以来最自私的人之一的。 埃比尼泽无忧无虑地度过了将近512年，但他从未真正了解痛苦和悲伤。 他发现无法想象这些事情的感觉，所以他对把帕特里克喂给野兽并不感到内疚。

He thought it was a shame that he would never hear Patrick sing another song, but he didn't waste any time thinking about how horrid it must have been for the poor little parrot. Instead, Ebenezer went downstairs—all fifteen flights of them. He opened one of his many fridges and began to make himself a beef and mustard sandwich. The bread was made with the finest seeds, taken from the very tops of the Himalayan mountains. The beef and the butter came from Dolly, a charming Welsh cow who had won World's Loveliest Udders for three years on the trot. Meanwhile, the mustard had been made using expensive white wine and rare black truffles.

他觉得他再也听不到帕特里克唱歌了，这太可惜了，但他没有浪费时间去想这对这只可怜的小鹦鹉来说有多可怕。 相反，埃比尼泽走下了楼——总共15层楼。 他打开众多冰箱中的一个，开始给自己做一个牛肉芥末三明治。 这种面包是用最好的种子做的，这些种子取自喜马拉雅山脉的山顶。 牛肉和黄油来自于多莉，这是一头迷人的威尔士奶牛，连续三年赢得“世界最可爱乳房奖”。 同时，芥末是用昂贵的白葡萄酒和稀有的黑松露制成的。

It promised to be a delicious sandwich. However, before Ebenezer could take a bite, the beast rang its bell. Reluctantly, Ebenezer set down his sandwich and made the journey back upstairs. The beast was waiting in the damp, cabbagey room. It was humming a song to itself—the same song that Patrick had sung. As Ebenezer walked in, the beast let out another happy burp. A shower of purple feathers came floating out with it. "Good evening," said Ebenezer, offering a polite nod. "And good evening, Ebenezer! What a very fine evening it is, don't you think?" asked the beast. Ebenezer was thinking about his sandwich, and about how much he was looking forward

它保证会是一个美味的三明治。 然而，埃比尼泽还没来得及咬一口，野兽就摇了铃。 埃比尼泽不情愿地放下三明治，回到楼上。 那畜生在湿漉漉的卷心菜房里等着。 它自己哼着歌——就是帕特里克唱过的那首歌。 当埃比尼泽走进来的时候，这头野兽又高兴地打了个嗝。 一阵紫色的羽毛随着它飘了出来。 “晚上好，”埃比尼泽礼貌地点点头说。 “晚上好，埃比尼泽！”多么美好的夜晚啊，你不觉得吗？”野兽问。 埃比尼泽想着他的三明治，想着他是多么期待

to eating it. He hadn't given much thought to the evening and whether or not it was a fine one. "I said it's a very fine evening, Ebenezer," said the beast in its slithery voice. "Do you agree with me?" "Oh yes, it's a very mustardy evening," answered Ebenezer. "Mustardy! What do you mean by mustardy?!" "Sorry, I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to say mustardy, what I meant to say was… was…" "It doesn't matter, Ebenezer," said the beast crossly. "All that matters is that it's a very fine evening. Very fine indeed!" "Yes, of course."

去吃它。他并没有过多地考虑今晚的情况，也没有过多地考虑今晚是否愉快。 “我说过今天晚上天气很好，埃比尼泽。”那畜生用它那滑溜溜的声音说。 “你同意我的看法吗？”“哦，是的，这是一个非常阴暗的夜晚，”埃比尼泽回答。 “芥末的!你说芥末是什么意思？！”“对不起，我不知道自己怎么了。 我不是想说芥末，我想说的是……是……”“没关系，埃比尼泽，”野兽生气地说。 “重要的是这是一个非常晴朗的夜晚。 确实很好！”“是的，当然。”

The room was silent for a moment. Ebenezer was too hungry to think of anything to say, while the beast was deciding whether it wanted to be in a good mood or not. After a moment or two, the decision was made. "Oh, I can't stay cross with you, Ebenezer. Especially after you served me such a delicious dinner," said the beast. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," said Ebenezer. "It's so nice to eat something with personality," said the beast. "The rusty taste of the cage was also a nice touch." "Sounds like a unique flavor," said Ebenezer. "It really was. Now what would you like as your reward?" This was how it worked. Ebenezer would bring the beast various things to eat, and in

房间里沉默了一会儿。 埃比尼泽太饿了，想不出要说什么，而野兽正在决定它是否想要心情愉快。 过了一会儿，他们做出了决定。 “哦，我不能生你的气了，埃比尼泽。 尤其是在你招待了我这么美味的晚餐之后。”野兽说。 “我很高兴你喜欢它，”埃比尼泽说。 “能吃到有个性的东西真是太好了，”野兽说。 “笼子里生锈的味道也是一种不错的感觉。” “听起来像是一种独特的味道，”埃比尼泽说。 “确实是。现在你想要什么报酬呢？”这就是它的运作方式。 埃比尼泽会拿各种各样的东西给野兽吃，然后进去

return the beast would provide presents. Diamond chandeliers, a witch's broom, giant stuffed teddy bears—there was no object that the beast couldn't conjure up for Ebenezer. "I would like a piano," said Ebenezer. "And please could I have one of those baby grands —a pretty little one, which I can carry down the stairs. Ideally, one that will grow into a handsome, adult grand." "Well, well, well, Ebenezer. I never thought I'd see the day when you would take such an interest in music. Would you like some piano- lesson books with that as well?" "Goodness no!" said Ebenezer, disgusted by the suggestion. "I am not going to play it. I only want to put it in the front living room so the neighbors can see."

返回野兽会提供礼物。 钻石枝形吊灯、女巫的扫帚、巨大的毛绒玩具熊——没有什么东西是这只野兽不能为埃比尼泽召唤出来的。 “我想要一架钢琴，”埃比尼泽说。 “请给我一个小三角钢琴——一个漂亮的小钢琴，我可以把它抱下楼。 理想情况下，它会长成一只英俊的成年大羚羊。” “好吧，好吧，好吧，埃比尼泽。 我从没想过有一天你会对音乐这么感兴趣。 你还想要一些钢琴课本吗？”“天哪，不！”埃比尼泽说，对这个建议感到厌恶。 “我不打算玩它。 我只想把它放在前客厅，这样邻居们就能看到了。”