挪威故事：艾斯蓝与巨人

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挪威故事：艾斯蓝与巨人(Ashlad and the troll -- a Norwegian tale)

Once there lived a woodcutter（樵夫）who had three sons. The eldest two lads were big and strong, but the third boy was different. His name was Ashlad, and he loved to sit in front of the hearth and read and dream. The elder boys often teased him.

"What good is reading?" they would ask.

When the woodcutter grew old and his debts began to mount, he called his two eldest sons to his side.

"I'm too old for this work," he said, "you'll have to chop wood to pay our debts."

The two sons went into the forest.

Just as they prepared to chop down a tree, a hideous troll（北欧传说中的山怪）called out, "Chop my wood and I'll kill you."

Terrified, the sons ran home. "The troll will kill us if we chop his wood," they told their father.

Now the father was distraught（心烦意乱的）. "Who will help me pay our debts? We're doomed!" he lamented.

But Ashlad said, "I'll chop the wood."

The others laughed, but Ashlad did not care. He had read about trolls, and so he packed a big round cheese in his bag, and then tucked（塞）the bag inside his shirt. Then he walked into the woods.

Just as Ashlad raised his ax, a voice thundered, "Chop my wood and I'll kill you!"

Ashlad did not run. He turned, reached into his bag, and pulled out the big round cheese.

"What's that?" asked the troll.

Ashlad smiled. "A big rock," he said, and then he squeezed（挤）the cheese until water dripped out of it.

The troll was stunned（错愕）. "You squeezed water out of that rock!" he exclaimed.

"I did," Ashlad said, "and I'll do the same to you unless you help me chop this wood and carry it home."

"Very well," said the troll.

The two worked until it was almost sunset.

The troll did not want to lose his wood, so he said, "Let's go to my place and eat before we take this wood to your home."

"Good idea," Ashlad said.

The two prepared a stew.

"How much would you like?" asked the troll.

Ashlad grinned. "More than you, I'm sure," he said.

The troll howled with laughter. "No man can eat as much as I."

"We'll see," said Ashlad, and the two sat down. Ashlad began to spoon up（舀）stew, and whenever the troll wasn't looking, he slipped a spoonful into the bag hidden beneath his shirt.

This went on until the troll was full. "You're not full?" asked the troll, staring in wonder at this little man.

"I'm getting there," Ashlad said, "so I think I'll make more room." Ashlad took his knife and made a slit in his shirt, into the hidden bag.

"Doesn't that hurt（疼痛）?" the troll asked.

"A little," answered Ashlad, "But it gives me more room," and he resumed（再度；继续）eating. "Why don't you try it?" he asked the troll.

So the troll lifted up his knife and did just what Ashlad had done, and he died.

Ashlad then carried the troll's jewels and gold home, pleased to be able to help his family. He always knew that his reading and learning would pay off!