Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR In Search of a Spell They all left their umbrellas and raincoats behind, and went up into the Land of Enchantments. It wasn't a twilight land like the Land of Secrets; it was a land of strange colours and lights and shadows. Everything shone and shimmered and moved. Nothing stayed the same for more than a moment. It was beautiful and strange. There were curious little shops everywhere where witches, enchanters and goblins cried their wares. There was a shining palace that

第四章 寻找咒语 他们把雨伞和雨衣都留在身后，动身前往魔法之地。 这里不像秘境那样是暮光笼罩的国度； 这片土地上满是奇异的色彩、光影与暗影。 所有东西都闪闪发亮、微微晃动，变幻不停。 没有一样东西能保持原样超过片刻。 这里既美丽又诡异。 到处都是稀奇古怪的小铺子，女巫、魔法师和小妖精们都在大声叫卖自己的货品。 还有一座闪闪发光的宫殿，

looked as if it was made of glass, and towered up into the sky. The Enchanter Mighty-One lived there. He was head of the whole land. There were magic cloaks for sale, that could make anyone invisible at once. How Joe longed to buy one! There were silver wands full of magic. There were enchantments for everything! "Spell to turn your enemy into a spider," cried a goblin. "Spell to enchant a bird to your hand! Spell to understand the whispering of the trees!"

看上去像是玻璃做的，高高地耸入云霄。 大魔法师 mighty-one 就住在那里。 他是整片土地的首领。 还有魔法斗篷卖，穿上就能立刻隐身。 乔多想买一件啊！ 还有装满魔力的银魔杖。 什么魔法都有得卖！ “能把敌人变成蜘蛛的咒语哦！”一个小妖精吆喝道。 “能把小鸟吸引到你手上的咒语！ 能听懂树木低语的咒语！”

"Oh, look at all those fairies dancing in a ring and singing as they dance!" said Beth, turning her head as she saw a party of bright- winged fairies dancing in a ring together. She went over to watch them, and they smiled at her and held out their hands. "Come and dance too, little girl!" they cried.

“哎呀，快看那些小精灵围成圈跳舞，还边跳边唱歌呢！”贝丝转头看到一群翅膀亮闪闪的小精灵正围成圈跳舞，开口说道。 她走过去看他们跳舞，小精灵们都朝她笑，还朝她伸出手。 “小姑娘，也来一起跳呀！” 他们喊道。

Beth didn't see that they were all dancing inside a ring drawn on the ground in white chalk! In no time she was in the ring too, linking hands with the fairies and dancing round and round! The others watched, smiling. Then Joe gave a cry of horror, and pointed to the ground. "Beth's gone into a ring! Beth, come out, quick!"

贝丝没看见他们跳舞的圈子里，地面上有用白粉笔划出的圈！ 一转眼她也进了圈子，和小精灵们手拉着手，转着圈跳呀跳！ 其他人都笑着看他们。 接着乔惊恐地叫了一声，指着地面。 “贝丝进了魔法圈里了！ 贝丝，快出来！”

Beth looked alarmed. She dropped the hands of the fairies, and came to the edge of the ring. But oh dear, poor Beth couldn't jump over it! She was a prisoner in the magic ring. "Saucepan, get out the spell at once, the one your mother gave you!" cried Joe. "Quick, quick! Before anything happens to Beth. She may be getting enchanted." Saucepan took the lid off the kettle where he had put the spell. He put in his hand and groped around. He groped and he groped, a worried look coming on his face. "Saucepan, be quick!" said Joe. "The spell has gone!" said Saucepan miserably. "Look in the kettle, Joe- the spell isn't there. I can't get Beth out of the magic ring!"

贝丝露出惊慌的神色。 她松开小精灵们的手，走到圈子边缘。 可是哎呀，可怜的贝丝跳不出去！ 她被困在魔法圈里了。 “平底锅，快把你妈妈给你的那道咒语拿出来！”乔喊道。 “快，快！ 别等贝丝出事。 她说不定要被施魔法了。” 平底锅掀开他放咒语的那个水壶的盖子。 他伸手进去摸索着。 他摸啊摸啊，脸上露出了焦急的神情。 “平底锅，快点！”乔说。 “咒语不见了！”平底锅难过地说。 “乔，你看水壶里，咒语不在这儿。 我没法把贝丝从魔法圈里救出来了！”