“Very well， then，” answered Caspian， “we relieve you of your office. My Lord Bern， come here.” And before Gumpas quite realized what was happening， Bern was kneeling with his hands between the Kings hands and taking the oath to govern the Lone Islands in accordance with the old customs， rights， usages and laws of Narnia. And Caspian said， “I think we have had enough of governors，” and made Bern a Duke， the Duke of the Lone Islands.

“As for you， my Lord，” he said to Gumpas， “I forgive you your debt for the tribute. But before noon tomorrow you and yours must be out of the castle， which is now the Dukes residence.”

“Look here， this is all very well，” said one of Gumpass secretaries， “but suppose all you gentlemen stop playacting and we do a little business. The question before us really is—”

“The question is，” said the Duke， “whether you and the rest of the rabble will leave without a flogging or with one. You may choose which you prefer.”

When all this had been pleasantly settled， Caspian ordered horses， of which there were a few in the castle， though very ill-groomed and he， with Bern and Drinian and a few others， rode out into the town and made for the slave market. It was a long low building near the harbour and the scene which they found going on inside was very much like any other auction; that is to say， there was a great crowd and Pug， on a platform， was roaring out in a raucous voice：

“哦，是嗎？那很好?！眲P斯賓說，“這樣我就馬上免你的職。我的波恩爵士，請上前來?！睄徟了惯€沒有回過神來搞明白發(fā)生了什么，波恩爵士就已經(jīng)面向國王凱斯賓跪在地上。他的雙手被凱斯賓握在手中，然后他向凱斯賓發(fā)誓：遵守納尼亞的全部傳統(tǒng)和習(xí)俗，承認納尼亞的主權(quán)以及法律，以此作為在孤島群島實施統(tǒng)治的基礎(chǔ)。之后，凱斯賓說：“孤島群島有你這一個總督就足夠了。”凱斯賓還授予波恩總督公爵頭銜，就是孤島群島的公爵。

“至于你，我的大人，”凱斯賓轉(zhuǎn)向崗帕斯，“我赦免你應(yīng)當(dāng)繳納的貢賦。但在明天中午以前，你和你的人必須從這座城堡里離開。因為這里現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)成為波恩公爵的屬邑了。”

“噢，看看這兒，這倒真是不錯?！睄徟了沟囊粋€秘書接嘴說道，“可是各位尊敬的先生，要是你們?nèi)纪Ｖ棺鰬?，讓我們認真地做點實在的事情，那么擺在我們面前的真正的問題在于……”

“真正的問題在于，”波恩公爵打斷了他的話，說道，“你和你們這群烏合之眾是想挨了鞭子再離開呢，還是現(xiàn)在就趕緊走？你想選擇哪個，悉聽尊便。”

當(dāng)所有這些安排最終一一完成之后，大家都覺得歡欣鼓舞。凱斯賓吩咐備馬?？偠匠潜だ镉幸恍R兒，只不過沒得到好好地照料。凱斯賓、波恩公爵、德瑞尼亞，還有幾名衛(wèi)兵，一起騎馬來到城堡外面。他們的目的地是奴隸市場——這是臨近碼頭的一座低矮建筑，里面的空間很大。其內(nèi)部的情形與任何一個拍賣會都相差無幾。這也就是說，里面人聲嘈雜，帕格這個奴隸販子的頭，正站在一個臺子上，用沙啞的聲音高聲招攬著生意：

“Now， gentlemen， lot twenty-three. Fine Terebinthian agricultural labourer， suitable for the mines or the galleys. Under twenty-five years of age. Not a bad tooth in his head. Good， brawny fellow. Take off his shirt， Tacks， and let the gentlemen see. Theres muscle for you！ Look at the chest on him. Ten crescents from the gentleman in the corner. You must be joking， sir. Fifteen！ Eighteen！ Eighteen is bidden for lot twenty-three. Any advance on eighteen？ Twenty-one. Thank you， sir. Twenty-one is bidden—”

“先生們，先生們！下一個拍賣品，第二十三號。啊，這是特里賓希亞的農(nóng)夫，身體強壯，非常適合下礦或者上船干活兒。還不到二十五歲呢。再看看他的牙口，看起來不壞吧？真有一把好力氣啊。塔克斯，把他的上衣脫掉，讓各位先生看看他的身板兒。這一身肌肉能給您賣不少力氣呢！看看他胸脯上的腱子肉。好，那邊角落里的先生出價了，十個新月幣。唉，先生，您是在開玩笑吧？好，十五！十八！第二十三號出價十八個新月幣。還有人出更高的價嗎？哦，二十一！謝謝您，先生！第二十三號出價二十一個新……”

But Pug stopped and gaped when he saw the mail-clad figures who had clanked up to the platform.

“On your knees， every man of you， to the King of Narnia，” said the Duke. Everyone heard the horses jingling and stamping outside and many had heard some rumour of the landing and the events at the castle. Most obeyed. Those who did not were pulled down by their neighbours. Some cheered.

“Your life is forfeit， Pug， for laying hands on our royal person yesterday，” said Caspian. “But your ignorance is pardoned. The slave trade was forbidden in all our dominions quarter of an hour ago. I declare every slave in this market free.”

He held up his hand to check the cheering of the slaves and went on， “Where are my friends？”

“That dear little gel and the nice young gentleman？” said Pug with an ingratiating smile. “Why， they were snapped up at once—”

帕格突然住嘴了。他目瞪口呆地看著幾個全副武裝、渾身披掛的人沖上了臺子。

“這里的所有人，向納尼亞國王行跪拜禮?！辈ǘ鞴舸舐曊f道。每個人都聽到了外面馬匹搖晃鈴鐺和踱步的聲音，還有很多人也都風(fēng)聞了納尼亞國王到了島上的消息，更不用說剛剛發(fā)生在總督城堡里的變故。大多數(shù)人都照波恩公爵的話做了。還有些遲疑的人則被他們身邊的同伴給拉著跪下，有些人則開始歡呼起來。

凱斯賓說：“你完蛋了，帕格。因為你昨天膽敢向皇家的人下手。我姑念你并不知道我們的身份，因此赦免你這一次。一個小時以前，奴隸貿(mào)易在我領(lǐng)地的任何一個地方都已經(jīng)明令禁止了?，F(xiàn)在我宣布，這個市場里的所有奴隸全部自由了?！?/p>

在場的所有奴隸爆發(fā)出震天的歡呼聲。凱斯賓舉起雙手示意他們安靜下來。等歡呼聲停下來后，凱斯賓繼續(xù)問道：“我的朋友們在哪里？”

“您是說那位可愛的小姐和另一位年輕的紳士嗎？”帕格帶著諂媚的笑容說道，“他們剛一上市就被人搶購走了……”

“Were here， were here， Caspian，” cried Lucy and Edmund together and， “At your service， Sire，” piped Reepicheep from another corner. They had all been sold but the men who had bought them were staying to bid for other slaves and so they had not yet been taken away. The crowd parted to let the three of them out and there was great handclasp and greeting between them and Caspian. Two merchants of Calormen at once approached. The Calormen have dark faces and long beards. They wear flowing robes and orange-coloured turbans， and they are a wise， wealthy， courteous， cruel and ancient people. They bowed most politely to Caspian and paid him long compliments， all about the fountains of prosperity irrigating the gardens of prudence and virtue—and things like that—but of course what they wanted was the money they had paid.

“凱斯賓，我們在這兒，我們在這兒！”露茜和愛德蒙一起喊道。市場內(nèi)的另一個角落里還傳來另一個聲音：“我的陛下，聽您差遣?！卑?，這是雷佩契普。他們確實已經(jīng)被人買走了，只不過買他們的人還想買更多的奴隸，所以他們還沒有被帶走。民眾讓開一條路，讓三人走上前來。他們的手和凱斯賓緊緊地握在一起，相互致意。而兩名卡羅門商人趁機走了過來?？_門人有著黑黑的臉龐，喜歡留長長的胡子。他們總是穿著飄逸的長袍，頭上裹一塊橘紅色的頭巾。這是一個古老的民族，他們兼有智慧和財富，為人彬彬有禮，同時也殘酷無情。他們向凱斯賓深深地鞠躬行禮，口中長篇大套地說著一篇頌揚國王洪恩的祝詞。其內(nèi)容無非就是把國王的恩澤比喻為財富的源泉，澆灌著審慎與美德的花園一類的。但其實他們真心希望的，是想要回他們購買露茜等人所花的錢。

“That is only fair， sirs，” said Caspian. “Every man who has bought a slave today must have his money back. Pug， bring out your takings to the last minim.” （A minim is the fortieth part of a crescent.）

“Does your good Majesty mean to beggar me？” whined Pug.

“You have lived on broken hearts all your life，” said Caspian， “and if you are beggared， it is better to be a beggar than a slave. But where is my other friend？”

“Oh him？” said Pug. “Oh take him and welcome. Glad to have him off my hands. Ive never seen such a drug in the market in all my born days. Priced him at five crescents in the end and even so nobodyd have him. Threw him in free with other lots and still no one would have him. Wouldnt touch him. Wouldnt look at him. Packs， bring out Sulky.”

“先生們，這要求并不過分。”凱斯賓說，“今天這里任何一個購買了奴隸的人都可以把自己的錢拿回去。帕格，把你賺的錢拿出來，還給下面的買主，還到最后一滴滴為止?！保ㄒ坏蔚蔚扔?/40新月幣）

“陛下，您這意思難道是要我將來只能乞討過活了嗎？”帕格語帶哭腔地說。

凱斯賓斥責(zé)道：“你大半輩子過的都是喪盡天良的生活。如果你變成乞丐，總好過當(dāng)奴隸?？晌疫€有一個朋友在哪兒呢？”

“哦，那個家伙?！迸粮裾f，“快快把他領(lǐng)走，我謝謝您！很高興終于能夠甩掉他了。我做這行這么多年，還從來沒有見到過這么一個滯銷貨。我最后只給他標(biāo)價五個新月幣，可就是這樣都沒人愿意買他。后來我只好把他算作其他奴隸的添頭。誰要是買了別的奴隸，就可以把他帶走，白送不要錢，可這樣也沒人要他。沒人愿意碰他一下，沒人愿意看他一眼。塔克斯，把那家伙帶出來?！?/p>

Thus Eustace was produced， and sulky he certainly looked; for though no one would want to be sold as a slave， it is perhaps even more galling to be a sort of utility slave whom no one will buy. He walked up to Caspian and said， “I see. As usual. Been enjoying yourself somewhere while the rest of us were prisoners. I suppose you havent even found out about the British Consul. Of course not.”

尤斯塔斯被帶出來的時候一副氣急敗壞的樣子;沒有人愿意被賣為奴隸，可是如果知道自己是個沒人愿意買的奴隸，那感覺肯定更加糟糕。尤斯塔斯走到凱斯賓面前，一如既往地抱怨道：“我知道，你一定是到什么地方自顧自地逍遙快活去了，絲毫不理會我們幾個成為人家的階下囚。我猜你肯定沒有找到英國領(lǐng)事，毫無疑問！”

That night they had a great feast in the castle of Narrowhaven and then， “Tomorrow for the beginning of our real adventures！” said Reepicheep when he had made his bows to everyone and went to bed. But it could not really be tomorrow or anything like it. For now they were preparing to leave all known lands and seas behind them and the fullest preparations had to be made. The Dawn Treader was emptied and drawn on land by eight horses over rollers and every bit of her was gone over by the most skilled shipwrights. Then she was launched again and victualled and watered as full as she could hold—that is to say for twenty-eight days. Even this， as Edmund noticed with disappointment， only gave them a fortnights eastward sailing before they had to abandon their quest.

那天晚上，大家在窄港的總督城堡里舉行了一個盛大的宴會。雷佩契普在晚上就寢以前，對每一個人都彎腰鞠躬，口中念念有詞地說：“明天我們的探險將真正開始！”不過實際上，明天或者此后的幾天，恐怕他們還沒法立馬就再次上路。因為從孤島群島開始，他們將進入此前從未涉足過的陸地和海洋，對此他們得做好萬全的準(zhǔn)備才行。大家首先清空了黎明踏浪號裝載的全部物資。人們利用滑輪，用八匹馬把船給拖上了海岸。船身上的每一處傷痕都由最有經(jīng)驗的造船師傅給修補好了。之后再把船放回水里，裝上糧食和淡水。船上能放多少就放多少——或者更準(zhǔn)確地說，黎明踏浪號總的糧食和淡水儲備夠全船的人用上二十八天。即便如此，愛德蒙還是非常失望地意識到，這樣的補給儲備最多只能供他們向東航行兩周。兩周之后，他們就得放棄前行，掉頭返航。

While all this was being done Caspian missed no chance of questioning all the oldest sea captains whom he could find in Narrowhaven to learn if they had any knowledge or even any rumours of land further to the east. He poured out many a flagon of the castle ale to weather-beaten men with short grey beards and clear blue eyes， and many a tall yarn he heard in return. But those who seemed the most truthful could tell of no lands beyond the Lone Islands， and many thought that if you sailed too far east you would come into the surges of a sea without lands that swirled perpetually round the rim of the world—“And that， I reckon， is where your Majestys friends went to the bottom.” The rest had only wild stories of islands inhabited by headless men， floating islands， waterspouts， and a fire that burned along the water. Only one， to Reepicheeps delight， said， “And beyond that， Aslan country. But thats beyond the end of the world and you cant get there.” But when they questioned him， he could only say that hed heard it from his father.

在做這些準(zhǔn)備的時候，凱斯賓抓住一切機會走訪他在窄港能找到的有經(jīng)驗的老船長，問問他們可否知道從這里往東，是否還有陸地。他想知道任何關(guān)于孤島群島以東的情況，哪怕僅僅是些傳聞也行。總督城堡里的麥芽酒被凱斯賓一壺一壺地拿出來請客，請那些飽經(jīng)風(fēng)霜的老海員喝。這些老人有著短短的灰胡子和清澈的藍眼睛。老人們喝了酒以后，就告訴凱斯賓許許多多奇聞怪談。其中那些看上去最值得信賴的人告訴凱斯賓，在孤島群島以東，沒有任何陸地。還有很多人相信，如果你往東航行得太遠太遠，最終也只有一片海域。那兒沒有任何陸地，巨浪在世界的邊緣永久地翻滾，形成一個巨大的漩渦?！拔艺J為，陛下您的朋友就會被卷進那個巨浪，沉到底?！逼溆嗟娜酥v的，則完全是些荒誕不經(jīng)的故事了，比如無頭人居住的小島、飄蕩在空中的小島、海龍卷，還有在海水的邊緣燃燒不熄的火焰。不過有一個老水手的故事非常對雷佩契普的胃口?！霸跂|邊的東邊，是阿斯蘭的國家。不過那是在整個世界的范圍之外，你沒法到達那里。”可是當(dāng)大家再問他有關(guān)這個傳聞的詳細情況時，他也只是說這個故事是從他父親那里聽來的。

Bern could only tell them that he had seen his six companions sail away eastward and that nothing had， ever been heard of them again. He said this when he and Caspian were standing on the highest point of Avra looking down on the eastern ocean. “Ive often been up here of a morning，” said the Duke， “and seen the sun come up out of the sea， and sometimes it looked as if it were only a couple of miles away. And Ive wondered about my friends and wondered what there really is behind that horizon. Nothing， most likely， yet I am always half ashamed that I stayed behind. But I wish your Majesty wouldnt go. We may need your help here. This closing of the slave market might make a new world; war with Calormen is what I foresee. My liege， think again.”

“I have an oath， my lord Duke，” said Caspian. “And anyway， what could I say to Reepicheep？”

波恩公爵能說出來的東西也不多。他只是說親眼看到他其余的六個爵士伙伴繼續(xù)向東而去，但是從那之后，就再也沒有聽到任何關(guān)于他們的消息了。他說這話的時候，是同凱斯賓一起站在艾弗拉島的最高端，眺望著東邊的大海?！拔以缟辖?jīng)常在天亮以前起床來到這里，”波恩公爵說，“眺望著太陽從海中升起。有時候太陽看上去很近很近，仿佛就在幾英里之外。這時候我總是會想起我的那些朋友，想著在天際線的后面到底還有什么。很有可能，什么也沒有，然而我還是會為我自己沒能繼續(xù)前行感到一絲絲的羞愧?？墒潜M管如此，我還是希望陛下您不要繼續(xù)前行了。我們這里一樣需要您。關(guān)閉這里的奴隸市場一定會惹出一些麻煩，我預(yù)感到我們和卡羅門人之間會爆發(fā)一場戰(zhàn)爭。我的陛下，望您三思?！?/p>

凱斯賓說：“我的好爵爺，這次出航我是發(fā)了誓的。再說，我該如何說服雷佩契普留下來？”