第4章 格罗泰格的最后一战
格罗泰格是只勇猛猫，坐着驳船去旅行；
事实上，他还是野外漫游的最粗鲁的猫。
从格雷夫森德到牛津，[15]他追求罪恶的目的，
欢喜他“泰晤士之恐怖”的称号。
他的举止外观从不算计如何讨好；
外套撕裂而破旧，膝盖松松垮垮；
他的一只耳朵有点缺失，没必要告诉你为什么，
他从一只令人生畏的眼中横眉冷对敌意的世界。
罗瑟海斯的村民们知道他的名声，
住在哈默史密斯和普特尼的人战栗于他的名字。
他们会巩固鸡舍，并且锁紧傻鹅，
每当谣言沿岸奔跑的时候：格罗泰格跑出来了！
柔弱的金丝雀倒霉了，它在笼子里扑腾着翅膀；
受宠的哈巴狗倒霉了，它面临格罗泰格的怒火。
长硬毛的害鼠[16]倒霉了，它藏匿在一些外国船上，
任何与格罗泰格交手的猫倒霉了！
但对大多数外国种的猫他已立下报仇的誓言；
对既有外国名又是外国种的猫没地方让他们待着。
波斯猫和暹罗猫看到他就害怕——[17]
因为就是一只暹罗猫让他一只耳朵缺了一块。
这是一个宁静的夏夜，自然如在戏中，
温柔的月亮闪光，驳船泊在莫里斯港。
温暖的月光下，它躺在潮水之中摇晃——
格罗泰格，倾向于显示他多情的侧面。
他的恶棍伙计，格鲁巴斯金，早已消失，
只因在汉普顿钟声酒吧打湿了他的胡子；
他的水手长，图姆布莱布鲁图斯，已经偷走了——
在狮子[18]背后的院里窜来窜去找到的猎物。
格罗泰格在船的首舱里独自站着，
集中注意力望着格里德伯恩夫人。
粗俗的船员们睡在自己的桶里和铺上——
此刻暹罗猫乘坐舢舨和帆船匍匐来临。
格罗泰格眼耳除了格里德伯恩一无所有，
而夫人似乎被他充满男子气的中音吸引，
在松弛中惬意，在等待中无惊无奇——
而月光从一千只明亮的蓝眼中反射出来。
舢舨越来越近围成一个圆圈儿，
所有敌人都没被听到一点声音。
恋人唱起最后的二重唱，在生命的危险之中——
面对用烤叉和残酷的切肉刀武装起来的敌人。
吉尔伯特[19]给他凶猛的蒙古人发出信号；
伴随一阵可怕的烟花，他们一拥而上。
放弃他们的舢舨，他们的划艇和帆船，
他们封闭舱口，堵住睡在铺位上的船员。
格里德伯恩发出一声尖叫，因为她太害怕了，
承认这点非常遗憾，但她很快就没影了。
她可能轻易地逃了，我确定她没有淹死——
但格罗泰格被一个闪烁而紧密的钢环套住。
无情的敌人向前冲，倔强地排成排；
格罗泰格惊骇万状，被迫走上木板。
曾有一百个受害者就是被他赶着跳下大海的，
结束他的罪行，他被迫跳下，扑通，扑通。
哦，当消息传遍大地，沃平多么欢乐；
梅登黑德和亨利的人们在海滩上跳舞。
大鼠[20]被整个烧烤，在布伦特福德，在维多利亚码头，
还有在曼谷，全都组织了一整天的庆祝。
Growltiger's Last Stand
GROWLTIGER was a Bravo Cat, who travelled on a barge:
In fact he was the roughest cat that ever roamed at large.
From Gravesend up to Oxford he pursued his evil aims,
Rejoicing in his title of “The Terror of the Thames”.
His manners and appearance did not calculate to please;
His coat was torn and seedy, he was baggy at the knees;
One ear was somewhat missing, no need to tell you why,
And he scowled upon a hostile world from one forbidding eye.
The cottagers of Rotherhithe knew something of his fame;
At Hammersmith and Putney people shuddered at his name.
They would fortify the hen-house, lock up the silly goose,
When the rumour ran along the shore: GROWLTIGER'S ON THE LOOSE！
Woe to the weak canary, that fluttered from its cage;
Woe to the pampered Pekinese, that faced Growltiger's rage;
Woe to the bristly Bandicoot, that lurks on foreign ships,
And woe to any Cat with whom Growltiger came to grips！
But most to Cats of foreign race his hatred had been vowed;
To Cats of foreign name and race no quarter was allowed.
The Persian and the Siamese regarded him with fear—
Because it was a Siamese had mauled his missing ear.
Now on a peaceful summer night, all nature seemed at play,
The tender moon was shining bright, the barge at Molesey lay.
All in the balmy moonlight it lay rocking on the tide —
And Growltiger was disposed to show his sentimental side.
His bucko mate, GRUMBUSKIN, long since had disappeared,
For to the Bell at Hampton he had gone to wet his beard;
And his bosun, TUMBLEBRUTUS, he too had stol'n away—
In the yard behind the Lion he was prowling for his prey.
In the forepeak of the vessel Growltiger sate alone,
Concentrating his attention on the Lady GRIDDLEBONE.
And his raffsh crew were sleeping in their barrels and their bunks—
As the Siamese came creeping in their sampans and their junks.
Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught but Griddlebone,
And the Lady seemed enraptured by his manly baritone,
Disposed to relaxation, and awaiting no surprise—
But the moonlight shone reflected from a hundred bright blue eyes.
And closer still and closer the sampans circled round,
And yet from all the enemy there was not heard a sound.
The lovers sang their last duet‚ in danger of their lives—
For the foe was armed with toasting forks and cruel carving knives.
Then GILBERT gave the signal to his fierce Mongolian horde;
With a frightful burst of fireworks the Chinks they swarmed aboard.
Abandoning their sampans, and their pullaways and junks,
They battened down the hatches on the crew within their bunks.
Then Griddlebone she gave a screech, for she was badly skeered;
I am sorry to admit it, but she quickly disappeared.
She probably escaped with ease, I'm sure she was not drowned—
But a serried ring of flashing steel Growltiger did surround.
The ruthless foe pressed forward, in stubborn rank on rank;
Growltiger to his vast surprise was forced to walk the plank.
He who a hundred victims had driven to that drop,
At the end of all his crimes was forced to go ker-flip, ker-flop.
Oh there was joy in Wapping when the news flew through the land;
At Maidenhead and Henley there was dancing on the strand.
Rats were roasted whole at Brentford, and at Victoria Dock‚
And a day of celebration was commanded in Bangkok.