斯缇科西亚寓言集 Styxia Fables

自巨龙与海浪的城邦「斯缇科西亚」流传下来的寓言集，出自吟游女诗人阿尔基皮亚之手整理。 A collection of fables passed down from the City-State of Dragons and Waves "Styxia", compiled by the bardess Archepia.

*自巨龙与海浪的城邦「斯缇科西亚」流传下来的寓言集，出自吟游女诗人阿尔基皮亚之手整理。*

A collection of fables passed down from the City-State of Dragons and Waves "Styxia," compiled by the bardess Archepia.

*除巨龙吞吃公主的传说外，书中还收录了诸多诗歌体的寓言，撷取如下：*

In addition to the tale of the dragon devouring the princess, the book also includes many other poetic fables, an excerpt of which follows:

许愿时钟的故事

The Wishing Clock

在久远的过去，巨龙尚未来临。

Long before the dragon's arrival,

我们的高塔上，曾经悬挂一座无与伦比的时钟。

there hung an extraordinary clock in our high tower, unmatched by anything else.

它知道番红花何时飘香，潮水何时起而复落，

It knew the precise moment when saffron would bloom, when the tides would ebb and flow.

一天在何时开始，在何时结束，总之它知道世间一切问题的答案。

It knew when the day began and when it would end — truly, it knew the answers to all the world's questions.

因此形形色色的人们，常来高塔拜访它。

Hence, people from all walks of life would come to visit the tower.

此处来过一个苦闷于爱情中的年轻人，

One day, a young man, troubled by love, approached:

「时钟，时钟啊，我恋人的父亲刁难我们，

"Clock, clock, my lover's father is making things difficult for us,

要我把满满一仓混在一起的小麦和大麦分成两堆，

he's asked me to separate a granary full of mixed wheat and barley into two piles,

求求你教我怎么做到？」

Please, tell me how I can do it?"

「滴答，滴答，滴答，

"Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.

安心地做个好梦吧，今夜蚁岛上的蚂蚁群体出动，

Have a sweet dream. Tonight, the ants on the Ant Isle are moving out.

这些细小的生物会帮你搬运它们。」

These tiny creatures will help you move them."

又来过一个戴着弁帽，满手戒指的官爵，

Then came a nobleman, adorned with a cap and rings on every finger,

「快告诉我，时钟，

"Tell me quickly, clock!

我的财富够不够把你买下？

Do I have enough wealth to buy you?

要是不够，我就把你狠狠砸碎！」

If not, I'll shatter you into pieces!"

「滴答，滴答，滴答，

"Tick, tock, tick, tock,

国王若不俯首躬听，也会从宝座跌落悬崖。

Even kings who ignore their subjects' pleas shall tumble from their thrones into the depths.

今日趾高气扬者，明日便被他人踩过头顶。」

And those who stand tall today shall be trampled underfoot tomorrow."

最后来的一位看不出年纪，他的手指瘦削如鬼魅，

The final visitor was of indeterminate age, with fingers skeletal as ghosts,

面容活像刚爬出来的干尸。

his face resembling a mummy newly emerged from its grave.

「时钟，时钟啊，我求问你，

"Clock, oh precious clock, I implore you,

折磨我的病痛何时才能结束？死亡何时才能来临？」

when shall my tormenting illness cease? When will death at last embrace me?"

而时钟的步履依旧如常：

But the clock's rhythm stayed steady:

「滴答，滴答，滴答，

"Tick, tock, tick, tock,

幸运又不幸的斯缇科西亚人，唯独这个问题我无能为力，

o blessed yet cursed Styxian, this alone lies beyond my power,

你们的寿命还长着哪！」

for your lifespans extend far beyond measure!"

*阿尔基皮亚批注：哦？斯缇科西亚人曾经都是长生不死者？那么，这个城邦是怎么覆灭的呢？*

Archepia's Commentary: Fascinating! So the Styxians were once all immortal beings? What could have caused their city-state's downfall?

陶罐中的死神

The Reaper in the Dolium

从前有个吝啬鬼，没有亲朋，只与钱财作伴，

Once there lived a miser with no friends or family, only his wealth for company.

他的大钱箱源源不断地生出小钱箱，

His great money chest spawned smaller ones day after day,

烧过的蜡油又能融出一支新蜡。

and his burned candle wax could be melted anew.

后来吝啬鬼也到了花白胡子的年纪，

When the miser's beard turned white with age,

冥河的潮汛在耳边响起，他心知死神要来呼唤他去冥界了。

he heard the tides of the River of Souls calling, and knew the Reaper would soon summon him under.

吝啬鬼不肯撒手撇下满箱金银，心生了一个绝妙的主意。

Refusing to leave his precious wealth behind, the miser crafted an ingenious plan.

当死神来临时，他正躺在床榻上，奄奄一息，

When the Reaper arrived, he lay frail upon his bed,

面带着愁容，对死神诉说临终的心愿：

and with a troubled face, spoke his dying wish:

「那边的柜子上，摆着装满芬芳蜜酿的陶罐，

"On that cabinet rests a dolium of sweet honey brew,

可我的眼睛看到陶罐里溺死了一只蜜蜂。

but my eyes see a bee drowned within.

死神，我恳求你钻进陶罐，把贪嘴的蜜蜂挑出来，

O Reaper, I beseech you enter and fetch out the greedy bee,

莫要坏了我的一罐子佳酿。」

before it taints my precious brew."

死神同情他的心愿，遂化身一只精灵，

The Reaper took pity on his wish and transformed into a sprite,

钻进了陶罐里，探头探脑寻找死去的蜜蜂。

slipping into the dolium to search for the dead bee.

正当此时，吝啬鬼迅速地从床上一跃而起，合上了陶罐的盖子。

At that moment, the miser sprang from his bed and sealed the dolium's lid.

「可抓住你了，死神啊！

"Got you now, Reaper!

这下谁也别想把我从温暖的床榻上拽开。」

None shall drag me from my warm bed now."

提及这桩事，斯缇科西亚人至今也要为他鼓掌——

The Styxians still applaud this deed to this day —

在无休止的欢宴中日日享乐，是我们躲过了死神的奖赏！

Our endless feasting and revelry is our reward for outwitting the Reaper!

*阿尔基皮亚批注：有趣，斯缇科西亚人如此编排那位隐匿踪迹的死亡泰坦，看来在覆灭之前，他们可是过了好一段享乐的日子呀！*

Archepia's Commentary: Fascinating how the Styxians ridicule the concealed Death Titan. They must have reveled in plenty before their demise!