04 Books of Wonder

Chapter 4 Books of Wonder The monastery had a stone wall all around it. Brother Patrick took Jack and Annie through the gate. Beyond the gate was a small church with a hanging bell. There was also a vegetable garden and six stone huts shaped like giant beehives. We grow all our own food, said Brother Patrick. Carrots, turnips, spinach, wheat, and beans. He led them to the entrance of the first

第四章 魔法之书 修道院四周环绕着石墙，帕特里克修士带着杰克和安妮穿过了大门。 大门后面是一座挂着钟的小教堂。 还有一片菜园，以及六座外形像巨型蜂巢的石头小屋。 “我们吃的食物全是自己种的，”帕特里克修士说，“有胡萝卜、芜菁、菠菜、小麦还有豆子。” 他领着他们走到第一间小屋的入口。

tut. Jack and Annie peeked inside. A monk was pulling flat bread from a low stone oven. This is our bakery, Brother Patrick said. It smells good, said Annie. Come along, Brother Patrick said. He pointed to each hut as they passed. There are our sleeping quarters, he said, and that's where we spin our cloth. In here we cobble our sandals. There we carve our wooden tools. In each of the huts Jack and Annie could see monks. They were busy spinning or cobbling or carving. Finally, Brother Patrick came to the largest beehive -like hut. I have saved the best for last, he said.

小屋。杰克和安妮往里面偷看，一位修士正从低矮的石炉里取出扁面包。 “这是我们的面包房，”帕特里克修士说。“闻起来好香呀，”安妮说。“跟我来，” 帕特里克修士说。他们路过每间小屋时，他都指着一一介绍。 “那是我们的住处，”他说，“那间是我们纺布的地方，这里是我们修补凉鞋的地方。” “那间是我们雕刻木制工具的地方。”杰克和安妮在每间小屋里都能看到修士的身影。 他们要么忙着纺布、补鞋，要么忙着做木工。最后，帕特里克修士走到最大的那间 蜂巢状小屋前。“我把最好的留到最后啦，”他说。

This is where we do our most important work. He stepped inside. Jack and Annie followed. The hut was warm and peaceful, yet very alive. It glowed with the golden light of many candles. Monks sat at wooden tables. Some were reading, others played chess. Best of all, some were writing and painting and books. This is our library, said Brother Patrick. Here we study math, history and poetry. We play chess and we make books. Jack, said Annie. I think this is it. What, said Jack? Civilization, said Annie. Brother Patrick laughed. Yes, this is where civilization hides. He said,

“我们最重要的工作就是在这里完成的。”他走了进去，杰克和安妮跟在后面。 小屋里温暖又宁静，却又充满生气，许多蜡烛散发出的金色光芒照亮了整间屋子。 修士们坐在木桌旁。 有的在看书，有的在下棋。 最棒的是，还有些人在写书、给书画精美的插画。 “这是我们的藏书室，”帕特里克修士说，“我们在这里学习数学、历史和诗歌。” 我们会下棋，还会亲手制作书籍。 “杰克，”安妮说，“我觉得就是这里了。”“什么？”杰克问道。 “是文明呀，”安妮说。 帕特里克修士笑了。“没错，这就是文明藏身的地方，”他说，

on top of our lonely island in the sea. Oh man, said Jack, I love this place. What kind of books do you make here? asked Annie. Books of wonder, said Brother Patrick. We record Christian stories as well as the old myths of Ireland. Myths, said Jack. Yes, said Brother Patrick. They were gathered from our storytellers, the old women who sing the tales of long ago when people believed in magic. Wow, said Annie. Come, said Brother Patrick. Look at the book of Brother Michael. He has worked on it his whole life. Brother Patrick led Jack and Annie over to an old monk. The monk was painting.

就在我们这座大海中的孤岛上。 “哇哦，”杰克说，“我太喜欢这个地方了。” “你们在这里做什么样的书呀？” 安妮问道。 “充满魔力的书呀，”帕特里克修士说。 我们会记录基督教的故事，还有爱尔兰的古老神话。 “神话？”杰克疑惑道。 “是的，”帕特里克修士说。 这些故事都是从我们的说书人那里收集来的， 就是那些会唱古老传说的老奶奶，从前的人们都相信魔法真的存在呢。 “哇，”安妮惊叹道。 “过来，”帕特里克修士说。 看看迈克尔修士做的书。 他这辈子都在做这本书。 帕特里克修士领着杰克和安妮走到一位老修士面前。 这位修士正在画画。

blue border around one of the pages in a book. Michael, these two master librarians from far away would like to see your work, said Brother Patrick. The old monk looked up at Jack and Annie. His wrinkled face broke into a smile. Welcome, said Brother Michael in a thin, shaky voice. Hi, said Annie.

给一本书的其中一页画蓝色边框。 “迈克尔，这两位从远方来的藏书大师想要看看你的作品，” 帕特里克修士说。老修士抬头看向杰克和安妮。 他满是皱纹的脸上露出了笑容。“欢迎呀，” 迈克尔修士用细细的、颤抖的声音说道。 “你好呀，”安妮打招呼道。

Brother Michael showed them the cover of his book. It was decorated with gleaming red and blue jewels Then he turned the pages each was covered with fancy writing and delicate paintings in green gold and blue

迈克尔修士给他们看他那本书的封面，封面上装饰着闪闪发亮的红蓝宝石。 接着他翻起书页，每一页都写着精美的文字，还有绿、金、蓝三色的精致插画。