R. Kipling. Stalky and Co. CLP
Post on 01-Oct-2015
103 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Transcript
Edited by
Lidia Vianu
Rudyard Kipling
Press Release
11 February 2015
Bucharest
Rudyard Kipling
Stalky & Co
Parallel Texts: English (1899) and Romanian (1932)
Edited by Lidia Vianu
Rudyard Kipling was born 140 years ago. We
are now publishing his Stalky & Co, a book which is
itself 116 years old, but which is younger today than
it ever was.
It is no coincidence that this book is being
published on the birthday of Thomas Edison,
inventor of the electric bulb: 11 February (1847).
Is this a book about 19th Century English
boarding schools? About bullying? About clever
pranks played on teachers who never failed to be
taken in? About true friendship in adolescence?
La 140 de ani de la naterea scriitorului englez
Rudyard Kipling, publicm acum cartea lui, Stalky &
Co, scris cu 116 ani n urm dar mai actual astzi
ca niciodat.
Nu ntmpltor publicm aceast carte de ziua
de natere a lui Thomas Edison, inventatorul becului
electric: 11 februarie (1847).
Este oare aceasta o carte despre internatele
engleze n veacul al XIX-lea? Despre relaiile dintre
elevii mari i aceia mai mici dect ei? Despre otii
inteligente i profesori a cror inteligen este cu
About those who pass on the light of knowledge
and so much more? It may be about all these things
at once, but, before anything else, it is a book about
BOYS.
Kipling describes three bosom friends. Read
their ingenious adventures, worthy of a true
strategist. If you want to find out, though, why this
book is now more alive than ever, you will have to
read between the lines, and identify those characters
who manage to touch a students heart before
addressing his mind.
What exactly can one learn at Westward-Ho,
the boarding school in Devon described by Kipling
in his book? Mathematics, Latin, Natural Sciences,
English literature... Some of the people who teach
those subjects should never have become teachers in
the first place. We can easily understand why our
three friends never trust their teachings at all. Only
two of those teachers are bringers of light, possessing
generosity, and a sense of humour. One of those two
actually shows Kipling the way to becoming a writer.
puine excepii pclit? Despre prietenia
irepetabil din adolescen? Despre respect pentru
dasclul luminat? Poate c este cte ceva din toate
acestea, dar, n mod sigur, este n primul rnd o carte
despre BIEI.
Eroii lui Kipling sunt trei prieteni la cataram.
Ce fac ei vei vedea citindu-le isprvile de-a dreptul
ingenioase, demne de un adevrat strateg. Ca s
aflai, ns, ce anume ne spune aceast carte, i din ce
motiv este ea mai actual acum dect altdat, va
trebui s descoperii printre rnduri pe aceia care
ajung la mintea elevului prin sufletul lui.
Ce anume se pred n internatul descris de
Kipling, Westward-Ho din Devon? Matematici,
latin, tiinele naturii, literatur englez... Gsim
acolo educatori care i-au greit meseria. Nu e de
mirare c cei trei prieteni nu cred o iot din ce spun
acetia. Gsim ns i doi dascli nsufleii de
generozitate, sim al umorului i o bun nelegere a
vieii: adevrai aductori de lumin. Unul dintre ei
l conduce pe Kipling nsui spre meseria de scriitor.
Let us not forget that, in the year 1907, Rudyard
Kipling was the first English writer to be awarded
the Nobel Prize for Literature!
i, apoi, s nu uitm c, n anul 1907, Rudyard
Kipling a fost primul scriitor de limb englez care a
primit Premiul Nobel pentru Literatur!
Lidia Vianu
ISBN 978-606-8592-98-5
The University of Bucharest
Cover, Illustrations and overall Layout: Lidia Vianu
Subediting: Andrei Brsan Typing: Iulia Dodu, Ana Dumitrache, Ana-Maria one, Izabela Vae Proofreading: Violeta Baroan, Ira Beratlief, Mdlina Bnucu, Silviu Buzatu, Aureliana Grama, Ana-Maria one IT Expertise: Simona Smulescu Publicity: Violeta Baroan
Acknowledgements The Romanian translation, signed Viorel i Radu, was published under the title Stalky i tovarii in 1932, by Editura Casa coalelor, Bucureti. It was the second book by Kipling translated into Romanina, after Mircea Eliades Simple povestiri de pe coline, 1929.
Rudyard Kipling
Parallel Texts: English (1899) and Romanian (1932)
Edited by Lidia Vianu
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
1
Contents
In Ambush Capcana p. 9
Slaves of the Lamp. Part I. Sclavii Lmpii p. 66
An Unsavoury Interlude Un intermediu ru mirositor p. 106
The Impressionists Impresionitii p. 161
The Moral Reformers Reformatorii p. 209
A Little Prep. O meditaie agitat p. 254
The Flag of Their Country Steagul rii lor p. 300
The Last Term Ultimul trimestru p. 346
Slaves of the Lamp. Part II. Sclavii Lmpii (Partea a doua) p. 391
Prefaa traductorilor p. 431
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
2
Traducere din anul 1932. A doua carte de R. Kipling tradus n limba romn, dup traducerea lui
Mircea Eliade, Simple povestiri de pe coline (1929).
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
3
To Cormell Price
Headmaster, United Services College
Westward, ho! Bideford, North Devon
1874-1894
Aceast povestire a fost dedicat lui Cormell Price
Director Principal al Collegiului United Services
Westward Ho! Bideford, North Devon
1874-1894
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
4
Let us now praise famous men
Men of little showing
For their work continueth,
And their work continueth,
Broad and deep continueth,
Greater than their knowing!
i acum s ludm oamenii vrednici,
Modeti ale cror virtui nu s-arat
Cci munca lor azi peste tot nflorete
Munca lor pe pmnt peste tot nflorete
n lung i n lat pe pmnt nflorete
Mai departe dect ar fi crezut ei vreodat
Western wind and open surge
Took us from our mothers;
Flung us on a naked shore
(Twelve bleak houses by the shore!
Seven summers by the shore!)
Mid two hundred brothers.
Vntul ctre apus i valul din largul mrii
Ne-au luat de la snul mamii
i ne-au zvrlit pe neteda coast
(Dousprezece case sus pe coast!
apte veri pe neteda coast)
Printre dou sute de frai.
There we met with famous men
Set in office oer us;
And they beat on us with rods
Faithfully with many rods
Aici i-am ntlnit pe oamenii vrednici
Pui de autoriti s ne stpneasc
Ne-au strunit, i pe-ntrecute cu vrgi ne-au btut
Din toat inima cu vrgi ne-au btut
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
5
Daily beat us on with rods,
For the love they bore us.
Contiincios i fr preget cu vrgi ne-au
btut
Din dragostea ce ne-o purtau.
Out of Egypt unto Troy
Over Himalaya
Far and sure our bands have gone
Hy-Brasil or Babylon,
Islands of the Southern Run,
And cities of Cathaia!
Prin Egipt i pn-n Troia
Peste Himalaia
Cu hotrre s-au dus voinicii notri
n Brazilia i Babilonia
Prin insulele Mrilor de Sud
i-n orae din Cathaia
And we all praise famous men
Ancients of the College;
For they taught us common sense
Tried to teach us common sense
Truth and Gods Own Common Sense,
Which is more than knowledge!
i toi am ludat pe oamenii vrednici
Noi cei mai vechi dintre colari
Cci ne-au nvat, s judecm
S judecm ne-au nvat, drept i adevrat
Nepreuit dar al Domnului bogat
E judecata, mai scump ca orice nvtur!
Each degree of Latitude Fiecare bru de latitudine ce o-nconjoar,
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
6
Strung about Creation
Seeth one (or more) of us
(Of one muster all of us),
Diligent in that he does,
Keen in his vocation.
Cu care Dumnezeu a-ncins lumea,
Vede pe unul sau mai muli dintre noi
Cci de-o seam la lucru suntem cu toii noi
Vrednici n orice ne apucm s facem
Vrednici la lucru i vrednici la oaste.
This we learned from famous men,
Knowing not its uses,
When they showed, in daily work,
Man must finish off his work
Right or wrong, his daily work
And without excuses.
Toate de la nvtura lor a purces
A cror menire ei n-o tiau ntreag
Cnd ne spuneau n sfaturi de toate zilele
C omul trebuie s desvreasc orice face
De-ar fi bun ori rea munca pe care o face
Fr s-i dea siei rgaz de iertare.
Servants of the Staff and chain,
Mine and fuse and grapnel
Some before the face of Kings,
Stand before the face of Kings;
Bearing gifts to divers Kings
Gifts of case and shrapnel.
Servitori ai Statului Major i ai drumurilor
Ai minei, granatei i tvalugii
Alii sunt trimii ctre scaunele Regale
Ducnd daruri-naintea scaunelor Regale
Daruri i rapnele i muniii!
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
7
This we learned from famous men
Teaching in our borders,
Who declard it was best,
Safest, easiest, and best
Expeditious, wise, and best
To obey your orders.
Aceasta de la oamenii vrednici am nvat
Ce ne luminau pe noi n ar
Spunnd c cel mai sigur lucru pe lume
Cel mai uor i nimerit este
Mai iute i mai nelept este
S ascultm ordinele tale, ar!
Some beneath the further stars
Bear the greater burden:
Set to serve the lands they rule,
(Save he serve no man may rule),
Serve and love the lands they rule;
Seeking praise nor guerdon.
Alii care se gsesc sub stelele ndeprtate
Duc greuti mai mari
Sunt pui de serviciul rii s guverneze.
Dac nu a servit, un om nu tie guverna,
Spre a iubi i a servi rile ce guverneaz
Necutnd laud nici onoruri
This we learned from famous men,
Knowing not we learned it.
Only, as the years went by
Lonely, as the years went by
Acestea le-am nvat noi dela oamenii vrednici
Pe cnd noi nu tiam ce nvm
Dar pe msur ce anii se scurgeau
Mai singuri rmnnd cu anii ce treceau
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
8
Far from help as years went by,
Plainer we discerned it.
Departe, fr sprijin cnd anii tot treceau
Mai bine am priceput aceasta.
Wherefore praise we famous men
From whose bays we borrow
They that put aside To-day
All the joys of their To-day
And with toil of their To-day
Bought for us To-morrow!
De aceea pe oamenii vrednici i ludm
Dintr-a cror lauri ne-am ncununat
Pe cei ce-au pus la o parte ziua lor de azi
Au renunat la bucuriile zilei lor de azi
i cu munca zilei lor de astzi
Au pltit ziua de mine pentru noi
Bless and praise we famous men
Men of little showing
For their work continueth,
And their work continueth,
Broad and deep continueth,
Great beyond their knowing!
i ludm pe ei i-i binecuvntm
Modeti a cror virtui nu se arat
Cci munca lor azi nflorete
Munca lor pe pmnt peste tot nflorete
n lung i n lat pe pmnt nflorete
Mai departe dect ar fi crezut ei vreodat.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
9
In Ambush
Capcana
In summer all right-minded boys built huts in the furze-
hill behind the Collegelittle lairs whittled out of the heart of
the prickly bushes, full of stumps, odd root-ends, and spikes,
but, since they were strictly forbidden, palaces of delight. And
for the fifth summer in succession, Stalky, MTurk, and Beetle
(this was before they reached the dignity of a study) had built,
like beavers, a place of retreat and meditation, where they
smoked.
Dealurile din dosul liceului erau acoperite cu un desi de
grozam. Vara, bieii ptrunznd n desimea stufiurilor
ghimpate i tind crcile mprejur, fceau un fel de goluri ce le
serveau de loc de retragere. n imaginaia lor, aceste ascunztori
aternute cu frunze uscate, vrfuri de rdcini i achii cptau
importana unor palate de feerie, tocmai pentru c le era strict
interzis s i le cldeasc i s le ocupe. Se mplineau acum cinci
veri de-a rndul de cnd Stalky, MTurk i Beetle (aceasta se
ntmpla nainte ca ei s fi cptat privilegiul unei sli de
meditaie pe seama lor) i construiau, ntocmai unor castori, un
loc de retragere unde s poat fi linitii, s mediteze i,
cteodat, s i fumeze.
Now there was nothing in their characters, as known to
Mr. Prout, their house-master, at all commanding respect; nor
Felul lor de a se purta nu prea avea darul s inspire
respect D-lui Prout, dirigintele seciei din care fceau parte, i
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
10
did Foxy, the subtle red-haired school Sergeant, trust them. His
business was to wear tennis-shoes, carry binoculars, and swoop
hawk-like upon evil boys. Had he taken the field alone, that hut
would have been raided, for Foxy knew the manners of his
quarry; but Providence moved Mr. Prout, whose school-name,
derived from the size of his feet, was Hoofer, to investigate on
his own account; and it was the cautious Stalky who found the
track of his pugs on the very floor of their lair one peaceful
afternoon when Stalky would fain have forgotten Prout and his
works in a volume of Surtees and a new briar-wood pipe.
Crusoe, at sight of the footprint, did not act more swiftly than
Stalky. He removed the pipes, swept up all loose match-ends,
and departed to warn Beetle and MTurk.
nici Vulpe, sergentul colii, nu prea avea ncredere n ei. Drept
ndeletnicire principal, acest Vulpe o avea pe aceea de a purta
pantofi de tenis, de a-i lua binoclul, a spiona zrile i a se
npusti mai pe urm, ca un erete, asupra bieilor care comiteau
vreo abatere de la regula colii.
Dac n aceast campanie el ar fi lucrat dup propria-i
inspiraie, vizuina ar fi fost repede descoperit, cci Vulpe tia
cu cine are de-a face; dar providena hotrse ca D-l Prout,
poreclit din cauza mrimilor picioarelor sale, Lab de Urs, s
fac investigaii pe cont propriu. i aa, prudentul Stalky gsi
urmele-i apsate chiar pe pragul vizuinei, ntr-o dup amiaz,
cnd, bucuros, cu ajutorul unui volum de Surtees i a unei pipe
noi de lemn de mce, ar fi uitat de Prout i de tot ce privea
coala. Cnd Robinson Crusoe gsi urmele slbaticilor n insul,
el nu-i desfur planul de aciune mai iute dect Stalky.
Prietenul nostru lu pipele, mtur chibriturile arse de pe jos i
plec s-i ntiineze pe Beetle i MTurk.
But it was characteristic of the boy that he did not
approach his allies till he had met and conferred with little
Cu sagacitatea care-i era caracteristic firii sale, nu se
duse s-i gseasc aliaii dect dup ce ntlni mai nti pe
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
11
Hartopp, President of the Natural History Society, an institution
which Stalky held in contempt. Hartopp was more than
surprised when the boy meekly, as he knew how, begged to
propose himself, Beetle, and MTurk as candidates; confessed to
a long-smothered interest in first-flowerings, early butterflies,
and new arrivals, and volunteered, if Mr. Hartopp saw fit, to
enter on the new life at once. Being a master, Hartopp was
suspicious; but he was also an enthusiast, and his gentle little
soul had been galled by chance-heard remarks from the three,
and specially Beetle. So he was gracious to that repentant sinner,
and entered the three names in his book.
mruntul D-l Hartopp, preedintele societii de tiine naturale,
instituie pentru care Stalky avea un mare dispre. Spre marea
mirare a D-lui Hartopp, Stalky, cu aerul blnd pe care tia aa de
bine s-l ia, se oferi s intre n acea societate; mrturisi c de
mult vreme nutrea un interes puternic pentru bobocii
primvratici, pentru fluturii precoci ct i pentru achiziiile noi
ale tiinei; propuse deci cu nvoiala D-lui Hartopp s-i nceap
activitatea pe moment. Fiind profesor, Hartopp era bnuitor; era
ns i un entuziast, i cum inima-i blnd fusese de multe ori
rnit de observaiile sarcastice ale acestor trei biei, ale lui
Beetle n special, el fu amabil cu acest pctos pocit i nscrise
cele trei nume n carnetul su.
Then, and not till then, did Stalky seek Beetle and MTurk
in their house form-room. They were stowing away books for a
quiet afternoon in the furze, which they called the wuzzy.
Atunci i numai atunci se duse Stalky s gseasc pe
Beetle i pe MTurk, n sala de meditaie. Amndoi i strngeau
crile ca s plece s petreac dup-amiaza n desiul, numit de
ei Jungla.
All up, said Stalky serenely. I spotted Heffys fairy feet
round our hut after dinner. Blessing theyre so big.
Ne-am ars, zise Stalky cu senintate. Am descoperit
acum, dup-mas, urmele lui Lab de Urs mprejurul
adpostului nostru. Tot e bine c sunt aa de mari.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
12
Con-found! Did you hide our pipes? said Beetle. Of, bat-l s-l bat! Ai ascuns pipele? ntreb Beetle.
Oh no. Left em in the middle of the hut, of course. What
a blind ass you are, Beetle! Dyou think nobody thinks but
yourself? Well, we cant use the hut any more. Hoofer will be
watchin it.
Nuuu!!! Le-am lsat acolo, n mijlocul vizuinii! Strmt
mai eti la cap, Beetle! Crezi c numai tu te gndeti i alii nu?
Acum nu mai putem merge acolo. Lab de Urs are s ne
pndeasc.
Bother! Likewise blow! said MTurk thoughtfully,
unpacking the volumes with which his chest was cased. The
boys carried their libraries between their belt and their collar.
Nice job! This means were under suspicion for the rest of the
term.
La naiba, zise MTurk ngndurat, i ncepu s descarce
volumele cu care i umpluse pieptul hainei. Bieii obinuiau
s-i poarte biblioteca n sn. Frumoas afacere! Asta nseamn
c va avea ochii aintii asupra noastr pn la sfritul
trimestrului.
Why? All that Heffy has found is a hut. He and Foxy will
watch it. Its nothing to do with us; only we mustnt be seen that
way for a bit.
De ce? Lab de Urs a gsit numai un adpost. El o s-i
dea trcoale mpreun cu Vulpe. Noi nu avem nimic de-a face
cu asta; numai c pe acolo nu trebuie s ne mai ducem, ca s nu
fim prini.
Yes, and where else are we to go? said Beetle. You chose
that place, tooanan I wanted to read this afternoon.
Bine, dar unde s ne ducem n alt parte? ntreb Beetle.
Tu singur alesesei locul sta ieu doream aa mult s citesc
astzi dup-amiaz.
Stalky sat on a desk drumming his heels on the form. Stalky se urcase pe pupitru, btnd cu clciele pe banc:
Youre a despondin brute, Beetle. Sometimes I think I Bine, dar eti un dobitoc, Beetle! Cteodat mi vine s
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
13
shall have to drop you altogether. Did you ever know your
Uncle Stalky forget you yet? His rebus infectisafter Id seen
Heffys man-tracks marchin round our hut, I found little
Hartoppdestricto ensewavin a butterfly-net. I conciliated
Hartopp. Told him that youd read papers to the Bug-hunters if
hed let you join, Beetle. Told him you liked butterflies, Turkey.
Anyhow, I soothed the Hartoffles, and were Bug-hunters now.
renun la tine pentru totdeauna; ai mai pomenit vreodat pe
unchiul Stalky s te uite? His rebus infectisdup ce descoperii
lbuele de urs fcnd nconjurul adpostului, l gsii pe D-l
Hartopp mnuind o plas pentru fluturi. L-am atras de partea
noastr promindu-i s-i faci tu, Beetle, conferine pentru
Vntorii de plonie.
Whats the good of that? said Beetle. La ce ne folosete asta? ntreb Beetle.
Oh, Turkey, kick him! Uf! Turkey, d-i un ghiont!
In the interests of science, bounds were largely relaxed for
the members of the Natural History Society. They could wander,
if they kept clear of all houses, practically where they chose; Mr.
Hartopp holding himself responsible for their good conduct.
Pentru luminarea cititorilor, trebuie s spunem c n
interesul tiinei, limitele ntre care puteau s se plimbe bieii
erau mult mai largi pentru cei care fceau parte din Societatea
de tiine Naturale. Cu condiia de a nu intra n case, puteau s
se plimbe aproape peste tot, D-l Hartopp declarndu-se
responsabil de purtarea lor.
Beetle began to see this as MTurk began the kicking. Beetle ncepu s priceap aceasta cnd MTurk i ddu
cteva ghionturi.
Im an ass, Stalky! he said, guarding the afflicted part.
Pax, Turkey. Im an ass.
Sunt un dobitoc, Stalky, zise el, pzindu-i partea
atacat. Destul, Turkey, am recunoscut c sunt un dobitoc.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
14
Dont stop, Turkey. Isnt your Uncle Stalky a great man? Nu te opri, Turkey! Este ori nu este unchiul vostru un
om mare?
Great man, said Beetle. Om mare... ngim Beetle.
All the same bug-huntins a filthy business, said
MTurk. How the deuce does one begin?
Orice ai spune, e stupid s alergi dup gngnii, zise
MTurk. Cum or fi fcnd ca s se apuce de aa ceva?
This way, said Stalky, turning to some fags lockers
behind him. Fags are dabs at Natural History. Heres young
Braybrookes botany-case. He flung out a tangle of decayed
roots and adjusted the slide. Gives one no end of a professional
air, I think. Heres Clay Minors geological hammer. Beetle can
carry that. Turkey, youd better covet a butterfly-net from
somewhere.
Iaca aa, zise Stalky, cutnd prin pupitrele elevilor
mai mici din spatele lui. Elevi din cursul inferior sunt toi adepi
entuziati ai tiinelor Naturale.
Iac ierbarul tnrului Braybrooke. Azvrlind
dintr-nsul o mn de rdcini uscate, i lungi cureaua pe msura
lui. Am impresia c aceasta mi d un aer demn, de specialist.
Iat ciocanul de geologie al lui Clay cel mic. Ia-l tu, Beetle, dac
vrei. Tu, Turkey, mai bine i-ai cuta o plas de fluturi pe
undeva.
Im blowed if I do, said MTurk simply, with immense
feeling. Beetle, give me the hammer.
Ba s fiu al naibii dac fac aa ceva, zise MTurk scurt
i sentenios.
Beetle s-mi dai mie ciocanul.
All right. Im not proud. Chuck us down that net on top
of the lockers, Stalky.
Na-i-l, mi; eu nu sunt mndru. Mie d-mi plasa aceea
de pe dulapuri, Stalky.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
15
Thats all right. Its a collapsible jamboree, too. Beastly
luxurious dogs these fags are. Built like a fishin-rod. Pon my
sainted Sam, but we look the complete Bug-hunters! Now, listen
to your Uncle Stalky! Were goin along the cliffs after butterflies.
Very few chaps come there. Were goin to leg it, too. Youd
better leave your book behind.
tii c se deurubeaz perfect coada asta? Ce oameni
luxoi mai sunt i picii tia. Pe onoarea mea, avem aerul unor
adevrai vntori de plonie! Acum, ascultai pe unchiul
vostru Stalky: s ne ducem pe stnci dup fluturi, pentru c pe
acolo vin foarte puini biei. Cum o s-o lum la picior, ai face
bine s v lsai crile acas.
Not much! said Beetle firmly. Im not goin to be done
out of my fun for a lot of filthy butterflies.
Ba deloc, zise Beetle cu nsufleire. N-am de gnd
s-mi pierd toat dup amiaza pentru cteva scrbe de fluturi.
Then youll sweat horrid. Youd better carry my Jorrocks.
Twont make you any hotter.
O s te treac nduelile. Atunci ia-l i pe Jorrocks
pentru mine. Cu el sau fr el, tot aa de cald o s-i fie.
They all sweated; for Stalky led them at a smart trot west
away along the cliffs under the furze-hills, crossing combe after
gorsy combe. They took no heed to flying rabbits or fluttering
fritillaries, and all that Turkey said of geology was utterly
unquotable.
De nfierbntat se nfierbntar toi, cci Stalky, trecnd
una dup alta vlcelele necate n flori de cruzatee, i duse n pas
alergtor de-a lungul stncilor ce se aflau sub dealurile acoperite
cu grozam. Nu luau n seam nici iepuraii pui pe fug, nici
freamtul petalelor delicate ale liliacului, iar tot ce spuse Turkey
n materie de geologie este absolut imposibil de repetat.
Are we going to Clovelly? he puffed at last, and they
flung themselves down on the short, springy turf between the
drone of the sea below and the light summer wind among the
Ne ducem la Clovelly? ntreb el n sfrit, cnd se
azvrlir n iarba deas i elastic.
Erau la egal distan de marea care vuia la dreapta lor i
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
16
inland trees. They were looking into a combe half full of old,
high furze in gay bloom that ran up to a fringe of brambles and
a dense wood of mixed timber and hollies. It was as though one-
half the combe were filled with golden fire to the cliffs edge. The
side nearest to them was open grass, and fairly bristled with
notice-boards.
de creasta acoperit cu pomi n care susura vntul de var; de
acolo priveau ntr-o vlcea pe jumtate umplut cu arbuti de
grozam, viguroi, stufoi i strlucind de flori. Vlceaua se urc
uor pn unde se mrginea cu o pdure deas, desprit fiind
de aceasta printr-un gard de mrcini. Pdurea era alctuit din
diferite soiuri de copaci, printre care se aflau i sngeri. Prea
vlceaua umplut pe jumtate cu o flacr aurie ce se ntindea
astfel pn la rpa dinspre mare. Dealul pe care se aflau era
acoperit cu iarb i avea nfipi n el pari care purtau tblie
amenintoare.
Fee-rocious old cove, this, said Stalky, reading the
nearest. Prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law. G. M.
Dabney, Col., J.P., an all the rest of it. Dont seem to me that any
chap in his senses would trespass here, does it?
Va fi urmrit conform legilor celor mai severe... G.M. Dabney,
colonel n retragere, judector de pace etc.. Nu-mi vine s cred c
unui om sntos la minte i-ar da prin cap s se plimbe vreodat
pe aici, ce zicei?
Youve got to prove damage fore you can prosecute for
anything! Cant prosecute for trespass, said MTurk, whose
father held many acres in Ireland. Thats all rot!
Ca s te dea n judecat, trebuie s dovedeasc paguba
pe care i-ai pricinuit-o, zise MTurk, al crui tat stpnea un
domeniu ntins n Irlanda.Nu poate s te urmreasc aa,
numai pentru c ai intrat fr voie. Toate astea sunt vax!
Glad of that, cause this looks like what we wanted. Not mi pare bine! Locul se arat a fi bunicel. Nu o lua pe
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
17
straight across, Beetle, you blind lunatic! Anyone could spot us
half a mile off. This way; and furl up your beastly butterfly-net.
acolo, Beetle, pe partea aceea te poate zri cineva de la trei pote;
i mai strnge-i prdalnica aceea de plas.
Beetle disconnected the ring, thrust the net into a pocket,
shut up the handle to a two-foot stave, and slid the cane-ring
round his waist. Stalky led inland to the wood, which was,
perhaps, a quarter of a mile from the sea, and reached the fringe
of the brambles.
Beetle desfcu inelul, bg plasa n buzunar, din mner
fcu un baston de doi coi i i trecu inelul ca cingtoare. Stalky
i duse nspre pdureaceasta se afla la vreo 300 de metri de
mare i curnd ajunser n dreptul hiului.
Now we can get straight down through the furze, and
never show up at all, said the tactician. Beetle, go ahead and
explore. Snf! Snf! Beastly stink of fox somewhere!
Acum putem s-o lum prin desi i s nu fim vzui
deloc, urm strategul: Beetle, pornete-o nainte, n
recunoatere. Hm! Hm! Urt mai miroase a vulpe pe aici!
On all fours, save when he clung to his spectacles, Beetle
wormed into the gorse, and presently announced between
grunts of pain that he had found a very fair fox-track. This was
well for Beetle, since Stalky pinched him a tergo. Down that
tunnel they crawled. It was evidently a highway for the
inhabitants of the combe; and, to their inexpressible joy, ended,
at the very edge of the cliff, in a few square feet of dry turf walled
and roofed with impenetrable gorse.
Mergnd n patru labe tot timpul, ridicndu-se numai
pentru a-i potrivi ochelarii din cnd n cnd, Beetle i fcea
drum printre arbutii epoi, i curnd anun, printre gemete,
c dduse de urma unei vulpi. Era o fericire pentru el, cci Stalky
l ciupea a tergo. Se coborr pe brnci prin acest tunel, care
probabil c servea de drum de preumblare animalelor din vlcea
i i avea sfritullucru care le procur o bucurie nespus
ntr-un ptrat liber, acoperit numai cu iarb, nconjurat de
arbuti care se mpreunau pe deasupra; poienia se afla tocmai
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
18
la marginea rpei.
By gum! There isnt a single thing to do except lie down,
said Stalky, returning a knife to his pocket. Look here!
Splendid loc! Aici nu avem nimic de fcut dect s ne
punem pe odihn, zise Stalky, bgnd cuitul n buzunar. Ia
privii!
He parted the tough stems before him, and it was as a
window opened on a far view of Lundy, and the deep sea
sluggishly nosing the pebbles a couple of hundred feet below.
They could hear young jackdaws squawking on the ledges, the
hiss and jabber of a nest of hawks somewhere out of sight; and,
with great deliberation, Stalky spat on to the back of a young
rabbit sunning himself far down where only a cliff-rabbit could
have found foot-hold. Great gray and black gulls screamed
against the jackdaws; the heavy-scented acres of bloom round
them were alive with low-nesting birds, singing or silent as the
shadow of the wheeling hawks passed and returned; and on the
naked turf across the combe rabbits thumped and frolicked.
El ddu la o parte crengile aspre i, prin fereastra ce se
deschidea astfel, se vzu, n chipul unei panorame, insula Lundy
i marea nesfrit ce se prvlea pe pietriul mrunt, la o sut
de metri mai jos. De unde se aflau, puteau auzi croncnitul
ciorilor nfipte pe coluri de stnc i piuituri dintr-un cuib de
erete care nu se vedea, dar se afla undeva pe acolo. Atent i cu
mare precizie, Stalky scuip drept pe spinarea unui iepura care
se nclzea la soare pe un locuor unde numai un iepure putea
gsi mijloc s stea.
Pescruii mari, cenuii i negri ipau mai tare dect
ciorile. Toat ntinderea de arbuti mirositori dimprejurul lor era
nsufleit de cuiburi de psrele care ciripeau sau tceau, dup
cum umbra rotitoare a uliilor se deprta sau se apropia. Pe
pajite, mai sus de vlcea, iepuraii sreau i zburdau.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
19
Whew! What a place! Talk of natural history; this is it,
said Stalky, filling himself a pipe. Isnt it scrumptious? Good old
sea! He spat again approvingly, and was silent.
Aferim! Frumos loc! Vrei tiine Naturale? Poftii, zise
Stalky, umplndu-i pipa. Nu e grozav? Superb e marea! Mai
scuip odat cu admiraie i pe urm tcu.
MTurk and Beetle had taken out their books and were
lying on their stomachs, chin in hand. The sea snored and
gurgled; the birds, scattered for the moment by these new
animals, returned to their businesses, and the boys read on in
the rich, warm sleepy silence.
MTurk i cu Beetle i scoseser crile i stteau ntini
cu faa n jos i cu brbia n palme. Marea mugea i fia;
psrile, un moment mprtiate de sosirea acestor noi animale,
se ntorceau pe la locurile lor, iar bieii citeau nainte n tcerea
minunat, cald, adormitoare.
Hullo, heres a keeper, said Stalky, shutting Handley
Cross cautiously, and peering through the jungle. A man with a
gun appeared on the sky-line to the east. Confound him, hes
going to sit down!
Ei! Iat un pzitor, zise Stalky, nchiznd Handley Cross
cu bgare de seam i privind prin desi. Un om cu o puc
apru pe linia orizontului, ctre est.Bat-l s-l bat, are de gnd
s se aeze.
Hed swear we were poachin too, said Beetle. Whats
the good of pheasants eggs? Theyre always addled.
Dac ne prinde, o s jure c am venit s furm ou, zise
Beetle. Parc sunt bune la ceva oulele de fazan! Sunt
ntotdeauna stricate.
Might as well get up to the wood, I think, said Stalky.
We dont want G. M. Dabney, Col., J.P., to be bothered about us
so soon. Up the wuzzy and keep quiet! He may have followed
us, you know.
Ar putea, mai bine, s se duc n pdure, zise Stalky.
Nu vrem ca G. M. Dabney, colonel i judector de pace, s aud
aa de curnd despre noi. ndrt n desi, tcere! Cine tie, poate
ne-a urmrit.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
20
Beetle was already far up the tunnel. They heard him
gasp indescribably: there was the crash of a heavy body leaping
through the furze.
Beetle pornise prin tunel. Auzir o exclamaie de mirare
i crengile trosnir ca i cum ar fi fost rupte de trecerea unui corp
greu.
Aie! yeou little red rascal. I see yeou! The keeper threw
the gun to his shoulder, and fired both barrels in their direction.
The pellets dusted the dry stems round them as a big fox
plunged between Stalkys legs and ran over the cliff-edge.
Ah! iii! Mi rocovane! Te-am vzut.
Paznicul puse puca la ochi i slobozi cele dou focuri
nspre ei. Alicele prir prin tulpini, fcnd c cad cojile
uscate; i o vulpe mare trecu printre picioarele lui Stalky,
disprnd peste marginea rpei.
They said nothing till they reached the wood, torn,
dishevelled, hot, but unseen.
Nu spuser nicio vorb pn nu ajunser n pdure; erau
nduii, cu prul vlvoi, cu hainele rupte, dar nu fuseser
vzui de nimeni.
Narrow squeak, said Stalky. Ill swear some of the
pellets went through my hair.
Am scpat ca prin urechile acului, zise Stalky. A
putea s jur c mi-au trecut alicele prin pr.
Did you see him? said Beetle. I almost put my hand on
him. Wasnt he a wopper! Didnt he stink! Hullo, Turkey, whats
the matter? Are you hit?
L-ai vzut? zise Beetle. A fi putut s pun mna pe el.
Ct mai vulpoiul! i ce urt mirosea! Ce e cu Tine
Turkey? Ce i s-a ntmplat? Te-a lovit?
MTurks lean face had turned pearly white; his mouth,
generally half open, was tight shut, and his eyes blazed. They
had never seen him like this save once, in a sad time of civil war.
Faa lung a lui Turkey era alb ca varul; buzele lui, de
obicei strnse, erau ntredeschise i ochii i fulgerau. Nu-l
vzuser aa dect odat, pe o trist vreme de rzboi civil.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
21
Do you know that that was just as bad as murder? he
said, in a grating voice, as he brushed prickles from his head.
tii c aceasta este un asasinat? zise el pe o voce
sacadat, pe cnd i scutura ghimpii din pr.
Well, he didnt hit us, said Stalky. I think it was rather
a lark. Here, where are you going?
Ei, nu-i nimic. Bine c nu te-a izbit, zise Stalky. Am
avut mare noroc. Ia ascult. Unde te duci?
Im going up to the house, if there is one, said MTurk,
pushing through the hollies. I am going to tell this Colonel
Dabney.
M duc la conac, dac e vreunul pe aici. M duc s spun
asta colonelului Dabney.
Are you crazy? Hell swear it served us jolly well right.
Hell report us. Itll be a public lickin. Oh, Turkey, dont be an
ass! Think of us!
Ce? Ai nnebunit? Are s jure c bine ne-a fcut i apoi o
s ne reclame. Pe urm, ce ne mai ateapt altceva dect btaia
n public? Turkey, nu fi mgar. Gndete-te la noi!
You fool! said MTurk, turning savagely. Dyou
suppose Im thinkin of us? Its the keeper.
Zpcitule, tu crezi c la noi m gndesc? De paznic e
vorba, m!
Hes cracked, said Beetle miserably, as they followed.
Indeed, this was a new Turkeya haughty, angular, nose-lifted
Turkeywhom they accompanied through a shrubbery on to a
lawn, where a white-whiskered old gentleman with a cleek was
alternately putting and blaspheming vigorously.
E icnit, zise Beetle disperat, pe cnd l urmau.
ntr-adevr, acesta era un nou Turkey, bos, arogant, cu
nasul n aer, pe care l ntovrir de-a lungul unei grdini de
coaczi, pn la o pajite unde un gentleman btrn vorbea cu
un secretar, plimbndu-se ncoace i ncolo i ocrnd energic.
Are you Colonel Dabney? MTurk began in this new
creaking voice of his.
Dumneata eti D-l colonel Dabney? ntreb MTurk cu
vocea nou, strident, pe care o luase de curnd.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
22
II am, andhis eyes travelled up and down the boy
whowhat the devil dyou want? Yeve been disturbing my
pheasants. Dont attempt to deny it. Ye neednt laugh at it.
[MTurks not too lovely features had twisted themselves into a
horrible sneer at the word pheasant.] Youve been birds-
nesting. You neednt hide your hat. I can see that you belong to
the College. Dont attempt to deny it. Ye do! Your name and
number at once, sir. Ye want to speak to meEh? You saw my
notice-boards? Must have. Dont attempt to deny it. Ye did!
Damnable! Oh damnable!
Eueu sunt, ei i dac sunt?ochii si l msurau pe
biat de sus pn joscece dracu venii s facei pe aici? Mi-
ai speriat fazanii. Nu ncerca s tgduieti! Ce gseti de rs?
Trsturile lui MTurk, nu prea gingae de obicei, se
contractaser ntr-o strmbtur teribil cnd auzi vorba de
fazan.
V-am prins umblnd prin cuiburi. Nu-i mai ascunde
apca, nu te vd c eti de la liceu? Nu ncerca s tgduieti! De
acolo eti! Numele i numrul D-tale, domnule! Vrei s-mi
vorbetida? Mi-ai vzut tbliele? Desigur c le-ai vzut. Ce
ticloie! Domnule! Ce ticloie!
He choked with emotion. MTurks heel tapped the lawn
and he stuttered a littletwo sure signs that he was losing his
temper. But why should he, the offender, be angry?
Se nec de emoie. MTurk btea uurel cu piciorul pe
iarb i se blbia puinacestea erau dou semne sigure c i
pierduse rbdarea. Dar de ce avea el, vinovatul, aerul indignat?
Lo-look here, sir. Dodo you shoot foxes? Because, if
you dont, your keeper does. Weve seen him! I do-dont care
what you call usbut its an awful thing. Its the ruin of good
feelin among neighbours. A ma-man ought to say once and for
all how he stands about preservin. Its worse than murder,
Aascult, D-le. S te ntreb ceva. Dudumneata
obinuieti s-i mputi vulpile? Pi dac nu o faci D-ta, o face
paznicul D-tale. L-am vzut noi! Eu nunu tiu D-ta drept ce ne
ieidar aceasta e un lucru nemaivzut! Este sfritul oricrui
sentiment de ncredere ntre vecini. Uun om trebuie s spun,
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
23
because theres no legal remedy. MTurk was quoting
confusedly from his father, while the old gentleman made noises
in his throat.
odat pentru totdeauna, dac este sau ba pentru respectul i
paza vntorii. E mai ru, mai ru dect un asasinat, pentru c
nu exist recurs legal. MTurk repeta, una dup alta, fraze
auzite la tatl su, pe cnd btrnului boier i horcia rsuflarea
n gt.
Do you know who I am? he gurgled at last; Stalky and
Beetle quaking.
tii, D-ta, cine sunt eu? ngim, n sfrit, colonelul, pe
cnd Stalky i Beetle tremurau.
No, sorr, nor do I care if ye belonged to the Castle itself.
Answer me now, as one gentleman to another. Do ye shoot foxes
or do ye not?
Nu, D-le. i dac ai fi guvernatorul n persoan, nc nu
mi-ar psa. Te rog, rspunde-mi ca un gentleman unui alt
gentleman. D-ta i mputi vulpile, da sau nu?
And four years before Stalky and Beetle had carefully
kicked MTurk out of his Irish dialect! Assuredly he had gone
mad or taken a sunstroke, and as assuredly he would be slain
once by the old gentleman and once by the Head. A public
licking for the three was the least they could expect. Yetif their
eyes and ears were to be trustedthe old gentleman had
collapsed. It might be a lull before the storm, but
Cnd te gndeti c, acum vreo patru ani de zile, Stalky i
Beetle l corectaser contiincios pe MTurk, ca s-l fac s-i
piard accentul adus din Irlanda! Cu siguran c nnebunise
sau cptase vreo insolaie, i tot att de sigur era c avea s fie
omort n btaiede btrnul boier nti i de director a doua
oar. O btaie public pentru toi trei era nc pedeapsa cea mai
uoar la care se puteau atepta. Totuiputeau oare s-i
cread ochilor i urechilor?btrnul gentleman se domolise.
Poate era numai un moment de calm naintea vijeliei, dar
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
24
I do not. He was still gurgling. Nu, n-am acest obicei. Tot mai horcia.
Then you must sack your keeper. Hes not fit to live in
the same county with a God-fearin fox. An a vixen, tooat this
time o year!
Atuncid-i afar paznicul, D-le, nu merit s triasc
alturi de o vulpe cu frica lui Dumnezeu. i nc o vulpoaic
la vremea asta a anului!
Did ye come up on purpose to tell me this? Ai venit la mine anume ca s-mi spui asta?
Of course I did, ye silly man, with a stamp of the foot.
Would you not have done as much for me if youd seen that
thing happen on my land, now?
Sigur c de aceea, omule, i ddu din picior. D-ta nu
ai fi fcut tot aa dac ai fi vzut acest lucru petrecndu-se pe
moia mea?
Forgottenforgotten was the College and the decency
due to elders! MTurk was treading again the barren purple
mountains of the rainy West coast, where in his holidays he was
viceroy of four thousand naked acres, only son of a three-
hundred-year-old house, lord of a crazy fishing-boat, and the
idol of his fathers shiftless tenantry. It was the landed man
speaking to his equaldeep calling to deepand the old
gentleman acknowledged the cry.
Erau date uitrii i liceul, i respectul datorat celor
vrstnici! MTurk clca acum pe munii purpurii i goi de pe
coasta ploioas a Irlandei, unde, pe timp de vacan, idolul
clcailor lenei ai tatlui su domnea motenitor al unei case
vechi de trei sute de ai i stpnea necontestat peste patru mii de
pogoane i o barc veche de pescuit. Dispruse elevul, rmsese
moierul, care vorbea ca un egal, vocea inimii chemnd un
sentiment asemntori btrnul gentleman pricepu.
I apologize, said he. I apologize unreservedlyto you,
and to the Old Country. Now, will you be good enough to tell
me your story?
i aduc toate scuzele mele, din toat inima, domnule,
att dumitale ct i btrnei noastre ri. Acum, te rog, vrei s fii
bun s-mi spui cum s-a petrecut toat chestiunea?
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
25
We were in your combe, MTurk began, and he told his
tale alternately as a schoolboy, and, when the iniquity of the
thing overcame him, as an indignant squire; concluding: So you
see he must be in the habit of it. Iweone never wants to
accuse a neighbours man; but I took the liberty in this case
Ne aflam n vlceaua care e pe proprietatea D-tale,
ncepu MTurk, i-i spuse povestea, cnd pe tonul unui colar,
cndmai ales, atunci cnd era covrit de monstruozitatea
faptuluipe acela al unui proprietar indignat; i ncheie
spunnd: Dup cum vezi, asta trebuie s fi fost n obiceiurile
lui. Nou nu ne place s acuzm oamenii vecinilor notri; dar n
cazul acesta am luat libertatea...
I see. Quite so. For a reason ye had. Infamousoh,
infamous! The two had fallen into step beside each other on the
lawn, and Colonel Dabney was talking as one man to another.
This comes of promoting a fishermana fishermanfrom his
lobster-pots. Its enough to ruin the reputation of an archangel.
Dont attempt to deny it. It is! Your father has brought you up
well. He has. Id much like the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Very much, indeed. And these young gentlemen? English they
are. Dont attempt to deny it. They came up with you, too?
Extraordinary! Extraordinary, now! In the present state of
education I shouldnt have thought any three boys would be
well enough grounded. ... But out of the mouths ofNono!
Vd. Perfect. Aveai toat dreptatea. E pur i simplu
infam! Amndoi mergeau pe iarb alturi unul de altul, i
Colonelul Dabney i vorbea ca i cum ar fi fost un om n toat
firea: Iat ce peti cnd scoi pe un pescarcci nu era dect
un biet pescarde la nvodul lui. D-le, dar este destul ca s
strice reputaia unui sfnt. Nu ncerca s tgduieti! Desigur,
tatl D-tale i-a dat o bun educaie. S tii asta! Mi-ar plcea
s-l cunosc! ntr-adevr, mi-ar face plcere. Dar aceti tineri?
Sunt englezi. Nu ncerca s tgduieti! Ei au venit cu D-ta.
Extraordinar! n felul cum se cresc copiii astzi, nu a fi crezut c
s-ar gsi trei biei destul de bine crescui ca s... gura pcto...
pardon, nu asta am vrut s spun. Nu suntei deloc aa, dar deloc.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
26
Not that by any odds. Dont attempt to deny it. Yere not! Sherry
always catches me under the liver, butbeer, now? Eh? What
dyou say to beer, and something to eat? Its long since I was a
boyabominable nuisances; but exceptions prove the rule. And
a vixen, too!
Nu ncerca s tgduieti! Buturile tari mie mi fac ru, dar de
un pahar de bere ce ai zice? Un pahar de bere i o mic gustare,
ceva uor. E mult de cnd am fost i eu biat ca voiafurisite
dihnii sunt de obiceida, dar excepia confirm regula. i nc
o vulpoaic, ptiuuu!!!
They were fed on the terrace by a gray-haired
housekeeper. Stalky and Beetle merely ate, but MTurk with
bright eyes continued a free and lofty discourse; and ever the old
gentleman treated him as a brother.
Fur servii pe teras de ctre o menajer cu prul crunt.
Stalky i Beetle se mulumir numai s mnnce, dar MTurk, cu
ochii scnteietori, continua un discurs grandilocvent i btrnul
gentleman se purta cu el ca i cu un frate.
My dear man, of course ye can come again. Did I not say
exceptions prove the rule? The lower combe? Man, dear,
anywhere ye please, so long as you do not disturb my pheasants.
The two are not incompatible. Dont attempt to deny it. Theyre
not! Ill never allow another gun, though. Come and go as ye
please. Ill not see you, and ye neednt see me. Yeve been well
brought up. Another glass of beer, now? I tell you a fisherman
he was and a fisherman he shall be to-night again. He shall!
Wish I could drown him. Ill convoy you to the Lodge. My
people are not preciselyahbroke to boy, but theyll know
Sigur, omule, c poi s mai vii. Nu i-am spus c
excepia confirm regula. n vlceaua de jos? Vino unde vrei, att
timp ct nu-mi sperii fazanii. Amndou lucrurile nu sunt
incompatibile; nu, nu ncerca s tgduieti. Nu sunt. N-am s le
mai dau nicio puc. Venii, v ducei, cum v place. Eu nu am
s v vd i nu avei nevoie s m vedei. Ai fost prea bine
educai. Mai vrei un pahar de bere? Ce zicei? V spun c pescar
era i pescar va deveni de ast sear ncolo. Aa va fi. Dac a
putea, l-a neca. Vin cu voi s v recomand portarului. Oamenii
mei nu prea sunt obinuii cu bieii, dar pe voi au s v
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
27
you again. recunoasc.
He dismissed them with many compliments by the high
Lodge gate in the split-oak park palings and they stood still;
even Stalky, who had played second, not to say a dumb, fiddle,
regarding MTurk as one from another world. The two glasses
of strong home-brewed had brought a melancholy upon the boy,
for, slowly strolling with his hands in his pockets, he crooned:
Le dete drumul, dup multe vorbe bune, prin poarta
mare, care ntrerupea ulucile de stejar frumos cioplit; acolo, se
oprir. n tot timpul ct se desfurase aceast dram, Stalky
jucase un rol secundar, ca s nu zicem nul, pe lng MTurk, i
acum l privea ca pe un om venit din alt lume. Cele dou pahare
de bere neagr i tare i adusese acestuia o uoar melancolie i
biatul ncepu s cnte:
Oh, Paddy dear, and did ye hear the news thats goin round? O, Paddy, ai auzit ce se spune?
Under other circumstances Stalky and Beetle would have
fallen upon him, for that song was barred utterlyanathema
the sin of witchcraft. But seeing what he had wrought, they
danced round him in silence, waiting till it pleased him to touch
earth.
n alte mprejurri, Stalky i Beetle ar fi tbrt pe el,
cntecul acesta fiind interzisexcomunicatcu totul oprit. Dar
vznd ce fusese n stare s svreasc colegul lor, ei se
nvrteau tcui n jurul lui, ateptnd s vie ndrt pe pmnt.
The tea-bell rang when they were still half a mile from
College. MTurk shivered and came out of dreams. The glory of
his holiday estate had left him. He was a Colleger of the College,
Clopotul suna pentru ceai, pe cnd ei se aflau la vreo opt
sute de metri de liceu. MTurk tresri i se detept din visurile
n care era cufundat. Aureola moiilor sale l prsise,
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
28
speaking English once more. redevenise un licean i vorbea corect englezete.
Turkey, it was immense! said Stalky generously. I
didnt know you had it in you. Youve got us a hut for the rest
of the term, where we simply cant be collared. Fids! Fids! Oh,
fids! I gloat! Hear me gloat!
Turkey, ai fost extraordinar, zise Stalky admirativ.
Nici nu tiam ce poi da din tine. Ne-ai gsit, pentru tot restul
trimestrului un adpost de unde nu ne mai scoate nimeni. O,
fericire! O s chiui de bucurie! Ascultai-m chiuind!
They spun wildly on their heels, jodelling after the
accepted manner of a gloat, which is not unremotely allied to
the primitive mans song of triumph, and dropped down the hill
by the path from the gasometer just in time to meet their house-
master, who had spent the afternoon watching their abandoned
hut in the wuzzy.
Pornir ntr-o vltoare, nvrtindu-se pe clcie i
modulnd, dup toate tradiiile colii, un chiuit prelung, care era
de aproape nrudit cu strigtul de triumf al omului primitiv. i
astfel coborr la vale poteca gazometrului, tocmai bine ca s se
ntlneasc cu directorul lor de internat, care se ntorcea din
jungl, unde se postase s observe vechiul lor adpost.
Unluckily, all Mr. Prouts imagination leaned to the
darker side of life, and he looked on those young-eyed
cherubims most sourly. Boys that he understood attended
house-matches and could be accounted for at any moment. But
he had heard MTurk openly deride cricketeven house-
matches; Beetles views on the honour of the house he knew
were incendiary; and he could never tell when the soft and
smiling Stalky was laughing at him. Consequentlysince
Din nenorocire, toat imaginaia D-lui Prout se proiecta
asupra prii celei mai ntunecate a vieii, aa c el i privi foarte
acru pe aceti heruvimi cu ochii veseli. El nu-i nelegea dect pe
bieii care asist la meciuri i pe care tii oricnd de unde s-i
iei. Pe MTurk l auzise lund n rs cricketul, chiar cnd era
vorba de meciuri serioase; despre opiniile lui Beetle cu privire
prestigiul diviziei tia c sunt incendiare; ct despre blndul i
surztorul Stalky, nu era niciodat sigur dac acesta rdea sau
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
29
human nature is what it isthose boys had been doing wrong
somewhere. He hoped it was nothing very serious, but...
nu de dnsul. n consecinduplogica sa special i
experiena pe care o avea despre natura omeneascaceti
biei trebuiau s fi fcut o pozn pe undeva. Spera c lucrul nu
era prea grav, dar...
Ti-ra-la-la-i-tu! I gloat! Hear me! Stalky, still on his heels,
whirled like a dancing dervish to the dining-hall.
Ti-ra-la-la-itu! Hai s chiuim! Hi-hu, nvrtindu-se ca
un dervi, Stalky trecu ca un vrtej spre sala de mese.
Ti-ra-la-la-i-tu! I gloat! Hear me! Beetle spun behind him
with outstretched arms.
Ti-ra-la-la-itu! Hai s chiuim! Hi-hu, Beetle trecu dup
el cu braele ntinse
Ti-ra-la-la-i-tu! I gloat! Hear me! MTurks voice cracked. Ti-ra-la-la-itu! Hai s chiuim! Hi-hu. Vocea lui MTurk
se neca n gtlej.
Now was there or was there not a distinct flavour of beer
as they shot past Mr. Prout?
Acum, lsar ei sau nu lsar un miros pronunat de bere
n urma lor, cnd trecur ca vntul spre D-l Prout?
He was unlucky in that his conscience as a house-master
impelled him to consult his associates. Had he taken his pipe and
his troubles to Little Hartopps rooms he would, perhaps, have
been saved confusion, for Hartopp believed in boys, and knew
something about them. His fate led him to King, a fellow house-
master, no friend of his, but a zealous hater of Stalky & Co.
Spre nenorocul lui, contiina responsabilitii l ndemna
s se consulte cteodat cu colegii. i nc, dac ar fi pornit cu
pipa s-i spun psurile mruntului D-l Hartopp, multe
ncurcturi i-ar fi fost evitate, probabil, cci Hartopp avea o
oarecare ncredere n biei i tia s-i cntreasc. Soarta rea
ns l duse la D-l King, cu care nu era prieten i care avea o
oarecare pic pe Stalky & Co.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
30
Ah-haa! said King, rubbing his hands when the tale was
told. Curious! Now my house never dream of doing these
things.
Aha!zise King, frecndu-i minile cnd Prout i nir
toat povestea. Ce curios! Acum, cei din secia mea nici nu ar
visa s se apuce de asemenea lucruri.
But you see Ive no proof, exactly. Dar, de fapt, vezi, n-am nicio prob.
Proof? With the egregious Beetle! As if one wanted it! I
suppose it is not impossible for the Sergeant to supply it? Foxy
is considered at least a match for any evasive boy in my house.
Of course they were smoking and drinking somewhere. That
type of boy always does. They think it manly.
Probe? Parc mai trebuie probe cnd este vorba de
nentrecutul Beetle. Crezi c nu o s poat sergentul s-i
gseasc probe? Vulpe e de talie s se msoare cu bieii cei mai
irei din divizia mea. Bineneles c au fost s fumeze sau s bea
pe undeva; acest soi de biei fac ntotdeauna astfel de lucruri.
Li se pare prin acesta c dau dovad de brbie.
But theyve no following in the school, and they are
distinctlyerbrutal to their juniors, said Prout, who had from
a distance seen Beetle return, with interest, his butterfly-net to a
tearful fag.
Dar vezi c nu prea au partizani printre colari, i cu
bieii mai mici ca ei sunt chiar cam brutali, zise Prout, care-l
vzuse de la distan pe Beetle dnd ndrt, cu o anume
dobnd, plasa de fluturi unui pici nlcrimat.
Ah! They consider themselves superior to ordinary
delights. Self-sufficient little animals! Theres something in
MTurks Hibernian sneer that would make me a little annoyed.
And they are so careful to avoid all overt acts, too. Its sheer
calculated insolence. I am strongly opposed, as you know, to
Aha! Se cred prea grozavi pentru distraciile obinuite.
Nite mici animale ncrezute! Este ceva n rnjetul hibernian al
lui MTurk, care pe mine m exaspereaz. i sunt att de precaui
nct nu-i dau n petec prin niciun act public. Totul din partea
lor este obrznicie calculat. Este absolut contrariu obiceiului
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
31
interfering with another mans house; but they need a lesson,
Prout. They need a sharp lesson, if only to bring down their
over-weening self-conceit. Were I you, I should devote myself
for a week to their little performances. Boys of that orderand I
may flatter myself, but I think I know boysdont join the Bug-
hunters for love. Tell the Sergeant to keep his eye open; and, of
course, in my peregrinations I may casually keep mine open,
too.
meu s m amestec n afacerile unui coleg. Dar au nevoie de o
lecie, Prout, au nevoie de o lecie stranic dac ar fi numai ca
s le scad puin nfumurarea. S fiu n locul D-tale, a sacrifica
o sptmn n care m-a ocupa exclusiv de micile lor afaceri.
Bieii de felul acestapoate m laud, dar mi sunt destul de
cunoscui bieiinu se afiliaz la Vntorii de plonie numai
de florile mrului. Spune sergentului s aib ochii deschii i,
bineneles c n peregrinrile mele o s caut s fac i eu acelai
lucru.
Ti-ra-la-la-i-tu! I gloat! Hear me! far down the corridor. Ti-ra-la-la-itu! Hai s chiuim! Hi-hu, rsun undeva,
jos, pe coridor.
Disgusting! said King. Where do they pick up these
obscene noises? One sharp lesson is what they want.
Dezgusttor! zise King. De unde inventeaz ei aceste
strigte obscene? De asta au nevoie. De o lecie stranic.
The boys did not concern themselves with lessons for the
next few days. They had all Colonel Dabneys estate to play
with, and they explored it with the stealth of Red Indians and
the accuracy of burglars. They could enter either by the Lodge-
gates on the upper roadthey were careful to ingratiate
themselves with the Lodge-keeper and his wifedrop down
Bieii nu se prea trecur cu firea nvnd n zilele ce
urmar. Toat proprietatea colonelului Dabney era la dispoziia
lor i ei o explorau cu o ndemnare de briganzi, pe furi, ca nite
piei roii. Puteau s intre pe poarta frumoas de pe oseaua
mareavuseser grij s-i asigure bunvoina portarului i a
nevestei salepentru ca, pe urm, cobornd prin vlcea, s se
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
32
into the combe, and return along the cliffs; or they could begin
at the combe and climb up into the road.
ntoarc de-a lungul stncilor. Sau s nceap prin vlcea, ca pe
urm s se urce n sus pn la drum.
They were careful not to cross the Colonels pathhe had
served his turn, and they would not out-wear their welcome
nor did they show up on the sky-line when they could move in
cover. The shelter of the gorse by the cliff-edge was their chosen
retreat. Beetle christened it the Pleasant Isle of Aves, for the
peace and the shelter of it; and here, pipes and tobacco once
cachd in a convenient ledge an arms length down the cliff, their
position was legally unassailable.
i ddeau toate silinele s nu treac pe locurile pe unde
obinuia s se plimbe colonelul. Fcuse pentru ei tot ce se putea
face i nu vroiau s abuzeze de bunvoina sa; iar nici pe locurile
prea deschise nu se artau cnd puteau face altfel. Poienia din
desi, la marginea prpastiei, era locul lor favorit de reculegere.
Beetle o numea Petera fermecat, din cauza linitii perfecte
care domnea acolo. Odat ce i ascunseser pipele i tutunul
ntr-o sprtur a stncii, unde le puteau foarte uor ajunge cu
mna, poziia lor era cu totul inatacabil; se aflau n legalitate.
For, observe, Colonel Dabney had not invited them to
enter his house. Therefore, they did not need to ask specific leave
to go visiting; and school rules were strict on that point. He had
merely thrown open his grounds to them; and, since they were
lawful Bug-hunters, their extended bounds ran up to his notice-
boards in the combe and his Lodge-gates on the hill.
Cci observai, v rog, ct de bine se potriveau lucrurile:
D-l colonel Dabney, nepoftindu-i s intre la el n cas, i scutise
de obligaia de a cere directorului liceului permis de vizit. Iar
asupra acestui punct, regulamentul colii era foarte strict. El le
dduse numai voie s intre pe proprietatea sa. Iar ca membrii ai
Societii de tiine Naturale nu nclcau niciun regulament,
ntruct acetia aveau fixate limitele lor de preumblare pn la
tbliele din vlcea i la csua portarului din deal.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
33
They were amazed at their own virtue. Se minunau ei singuri de propria lor virtute.
And even if it wasnt, said Stalky, flat on his back,
staring into the blue. Even suppose we were miles out of
bounds, no one could get at us through this wuzzy, unless he
knew the tunnel. Isnt this better than lyin up just behind the
Coll.in a blue funk every time we had a smoke? Isnt your
Uncle Stalky?
Chiar dac nu am avea dreptul s facem ceea ce facem,
zise Stalky, culcat pe spate, cu privirea n adncul senin; dar
chiar dac am putea fi la kilometri de limitele lor, tot nu ar putea
s ne ajung nimeni prin desi, pentru c nimeni nu cunoate
existena tunelului. Nu-i mai bine aa, dect s stai culcat n
dosul liceului i s nverzeti de fric de cte ori vrei s fumezi?
Nu e unchiul vostru Stalky?
No, said Beetlehe was stretched at the edge of the cliff
thoughtfully spitting. Weve got to thank Turkey for this.
Turkey is the Great Man. Turkey, dear, youre distressing
Heffles.
Nu, zise Beetle. Era ntins pe marginea rpei i scuipa
n gol. Lui Turkey trebuie s-i mulumim pentru aceasta.
Turkey drag, l scoi din fire pe Lab de Urs.
Gloomy old ass! said MTurk, deep in a book. Ce ursuz mai e i la! zise Turkey, cufundat ntr-o
poveste.
Theyve got us under suspicion, said Stalky.
Hoophats is so suspicious somehow; and Foxy always makes
every stalk he does a sort ofsort of
Ne bnuiesc, zise Stalky. Lab de Urs are un aer
suspect i Vulpe, cnd i pune n cap s descopere ceva,
seamn cu un
Scalp, said Beetle. Foxys a giddy Chingangook. Un indian care vrea s jupoaie o scfrlie, zise Beetle.
Vulpe este un adevrat Chin-gan-gook.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
34
Poor Foxy, said Stalky. Hes goin to catch us one of
these days. Said to me in the Gym last night, Ive got my eye
on you, Mister Corkran. Im only warning you for your good.
Then I said, Well, you jolly well take it off again, or youll get
into trouble. Im only warnin you for your good. Foxy was
wrath.
Srmanul Vulpe, zise Stalky, O s ne gseasc el
ntr-una din zilele astea. Mi-a spus deunzi, n sala de
gimnastic: S tii c am ochii pe D-ta, D-le Corkran. n
interesul D-tale i-o spun. Atunci i-am rspuns: Ai face mai
bine s-i ai n alt parte; i eu tot n interesul D-tale i-o spun.
Vulpe era furios.
Yes, but its only fair sport for Foxy, said Beetle. Its
Hefflelinga that has the evil mind. Shouldnt wonder if he
thought we got tight.
Da, dar Vulpe nu face dect s-i ndeplineasc datoria,
spuse Beetle. Lab de Urs l pune la cale. Nu m-ar mira dac a
afla cum c el crede c ne mbtm.
I never got squiffy but oncethat was in the holidays,
said Stalky reflectively; an it made me horrid sick. Pon my
sacred Sam, though, its enough to drive a man to drink, havin
an animal like Hoof for house-master.
M-am afumat numai o dat n viaa mea, ntr-o vacan,
zise Stalky indignat. Grozav de ru mi-a fost. Dar v-o spun pe
plria mea, un diriginte ca Lab de Urs ar merita s te apuci de
asemenea lucruri.
If we attended the matches an yelled, Well hit, sir, an
stood on one leg an grinned every time Heffy said, So ho, my
sons. Is it thus? an said, Yes, sir, an No, sir, an Oh, sir,
an Please, sir, like a lot o filthy fa-ags, Heffy ud think no end
of us, said MTurk with a sneer.
Dac am lua parte la meciuri i am striga, ai nimerit,
D-le, am sta pe un picior i ne-am rnji cu gura pn la urechi
de cte ori ar spune Lab de Urs, ce zicei, biei, nimerit-am de
ast dat? Dac am rspunde tot timpul: Da, D-le i Nu,
domnule i O, domnule, ca toi nesplaii de pici, Lab de Urs
ne-ar avea n mare stim, zise MTurk cu o strmbtur.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
35
Too late to begin that. Cam trziu la vrsta noastr s ne mai apucm de aa
ceva.
Its all right. The Hefflelinga means well. But he is an
ass. And we show him that we think hes an ass. An so Heffy
dont love us. Told me last night after prayers that he was in loco
parentis, Beetle grunted.
Las c nu-i nimic. Lab de Urs are cele mai bune intenii,
pcat c are ns concepii cam nguste i noi l facem s simt
asta. De aceea nu ne iubete. Mi-a spus asear dup rugciune
c se afl in loco parentis, mri Beetle.
The deuce he did! cried Stalky. That means hes
maturin something unusual dam mean. Last time he told me
that he gave me three hundred lines for dancin the cachuca in
Number Ten dormitory. Loco parentis, by gum! But whats the
odds, as long as youre appy? Were all right.
Nu zu? zise Stalky; asta nseamn c ne pregtete o
pozn mai stranic dect de obicei. Ultima dat cnd mi-a
spus-o, mi-a dat trei sute de linii pentru c dansasem cachuca n
dormitorul No. 10. Loco Parentis, zici? Ce ne pas, cnd noi am
nimerit aa de bine. i cu dreptatea de partea noastr.
They were, and their very rightness puzzled Prout, King,
and the Sergeant. Boys with bad consciences show it. They slink
out past the Fives Court in haste, and smile nervously when
questioned. They return, disordered, in bare time to save a call-
over. They nod and wink and giggle one to the other, scattering
at the approach of a master. But Stalky and his allies had long
out-lived these manifestations of youth. They strolled forth
unconcernedly, and returned, in excellent shape, after a light
ntr-adevr, precum spunea Stalky, ei erau cu totul n
dreptul lor, i tocmai acest fapt i exaspera pe King, pe Prout i
pe Vulpe. Bieii care au contiina ncrcat, se trdeaz. Ei trec
prin curtea mare n grab i surd forat cnd sunt ntrebai. Se
ntorc tocmai n ultimul moment pentru apel, i fac semne, se
neleg din ochi i se mprtie repede cnd se apropie vreun
profesor. Dar Stalky i aliaii si trecuser de vrsta acestor
manifestaii copilreti. Ei porneau linitit s se plimbe, i se
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
36
refreshment of strawberries and cream at the Lodge. ntorceau foarte bine dispui dup ce luaser o uoar gustare
de fragi cu smntn la csua portarului.
The Lodge-keeper had been promoted to keeper, vice the
murderous fisherman, and his wife made much of the boys. The
man, too, gave them a squirrel, which they presented to the
Natural History Society; thereby checkmating little Hartopp,
who wished to know what they were doing for Science. Foxy
faithfully worked some deep Devon lanes behind a lonely cross-
roads inn; and it was curious that Prout and King, members of
Common-room seldom friendly, walked together in the same
directionthat is to say, north-east. Now, the Pleasant Isle of
Aves lay due south-west.
Portarul fusese instalat paznic n locul pescarului asasin,
i nevast-sa inea mult la bieaii notri. Omul le dduse o
veveri, pe care o prezentar societii de tiine Naturale,
satisfcnd astfel toate exigenele lui Hartopp, care i ntrebase
ce fceau n interesul tiinei.
Vulpe explora cteva poteci umbrite la o ntretiere de
drumuri; i, ceea ce e mai curios, Prout i King, care arareori se
nelegeau, fur vzui ntr-o zi pe acelai drum mpreun, adic
la Nord-Est; pe cnd Petera Fermecat era situat tocmai n
direcia Sud-Est.
Theyre deepday-vilish deep, said Stalky. Why are
they drawin those covers?
Sunt mecheri, zise Stalky. mecheri, domle, nu
glum. De ce or fi dnd trcoale pe acolo?
Me, said Beetle sweetly. I asked Foxy if he had ever
tasted the beer there. That was enough for Foxy, and it cheered
him up a little. He and Heffy were sniffin round our old hut so
long I thought theyd like a change.
Eu sunt de vin, zise Beetle cu blndee. Am ntrebat
pe Vulpe, dac a gustat vreodat berea care se vinde prin partea
locului. Asta a fost destul ca s-l mai nveseleasc puin. El i cu
Lab de Urs s-au tot nvrtit mprejurul vechiului adpost i
mi-am nchipuit c au nevoie de vreo schimbare.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
37
Well, it cant last for ever, said Stalky. Heffys bankin
up like a thunder-cloud, an King goes rubbin his beastly hands,
an grinnin like a hyena. Its shockin demoralisin for King.
Hell burst some day.
Bine, dar aa nu se poate s ie ct lumea, zise Stalky.
Norii se strng pe fruntea lui Lab de Urs, i King se plimb
frecndu-i minile i rnjind ca o hien. E foarte demoralizant
treaba pentru King. O s explodeze ntr-o zi.
That day came a little sooner than they expectedcame
when the Sergeant, whose duty it was to collect defaulters, did
not attend an afternoon call-over.
Momentul acela sosi mai curnd dect se ateptau
ntr-o dup amiaz, cnd sergentul lipsea de la apel.
Tired of pubs, eh? Hes gone up to the top of the hill with
his binoculars to spot us, said Stalky. Wonder he didnt think
of that before. Did you see old Heffy cock his eye at us when we
answered our names? Heffys in it, too. Ti-ra-la-la-i-tu! I gloat!
Hear me! Come on!
S-a sturat s se mai plimbe prin crciumi, probabil;
acum, s-a urcat n vrful dealului, ca s ne spioneze. M mir cum
nu s-au gndit la asta mai devreme. L-ai vzut pe Lab de Urs
cum s-a uitat chior la noi cnd am strigat prezent? Lab de Urs
e i el n combinaie. Ti-ra-la-la-itu! Hai s chiuim! Hi-hu!
Aves? said Beetle. Mergem la peter? ntreb Beetle.
Of course, but Im not smokin aujourdhui. Parceque
je jolly well pense that well be suivi. Well go along the cliffs,
slow, an give Foxy lots of time to parallel us up above.
Desigur; dar astzi nu fumez. M cam bate gndul c o
s fim urmrii. Noi vom merge de-a lungul stncilor ncet i i
vom da lui Vulpe timp ca s ne ajung pe sus.
They strolled towards the swimming-baths, and
presently overtook King.
Se ndreptar alene ctre coala de not, unde ddur de
King.
Oh, dont let me interrupt you, he said. Engaged in Oh, nu v deranjai din cauza mea. Ai pornit ntr-o
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
38
scientific pursuits, of course? I trust you will enjoy yourselves,
my young friends.
plimbare cu scop tiinific, nu-i aa? Sper s v distrai bine,
prietenii mei?
You see! said Stalky, when they were out of ear-shot.
He cant keep a secret. Hes followin to cut off our line of
retreat. Hell wait at the baths till Heffy comes along. Theyve
tried every blessed place except along the cliffs, and now they
think theyve bottled us. No need to hurry.
Vedei, zise Stalky, dup ce trecur, aa ca s nu fie
auzii. Nu e n stare s pstreze un secret. Ne urmrete ca s
ne taie linia de retragere. O s ne atepte la coala de not pn
ce o veni Lab de Urs s-l ntlneasc. Au fost n toate prile
afar de stnci, i acum sunt convini c ne-au prins. Nu v
grbii, c nu e nevoie.
They walked leisurely over the combes till they reached
the line of notice-boards.
Trecur linitii peste vlcele pn ce ajunser la linia cu
tblie.
Listen a shake. Foxys up wind comin down hill like
beans. When you hear him move in the bushes, go straight
across to Aves. They want to catch us flagrante delicto.
Ia ascultai puin. Vulpe e pe partea dincotro vine vntul
i se coboar n goan. Cnd l auzii, micndu-se prin desi,
mergei de-a dreptul la peter. Vor s ne prind asupra
faptului.
They dived into the gorse at right angles to the tunnel,
openly crossing the grass, and lay still in Aves.
Pornir printre arborii nflorii i, n loc s o apuce prin
tunel, o luar de-a dreptul prin iarb, mergnd linitii s se
aeze n poieni.
What did I tell you? Stalky carefully put away the pipes
and tobacco. The Sergeant, out of breath, was leaning against the
Ce v-am spus eu? zise Stalky, ascunznd pipele i
tutunul. Sergentul, cu sufletul la gur, se rezem de gard,
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
39
fence, raking the furze with his binoculars, but he might as well
have tried to see through a sand-bag. Anon, Prout and King
appeared behind him. They conferred.
explornd stufiurile cu binoclul, ca s dea de ei; dar stufiurile
erau mai de neptruns dect un sac de nisip. Prout i cu King
aprur i ei i se sftuir cu toii mpreun.
Aha! Foxy dont like the notice-boards, and he dont like
the prickles either. Now well cut up the tunnel and go to the
Lodge. Hullo! Theyve sent Foxy into cover.
Aha! Lui Vulpe nu-i plac tbliele i nu-i plac spinii.
Acum haidei prin tunel n pdure i de acolo haidei la csua
portarului. Hei! L-au trimis pe Vulpe n desi.
The Sergeant was waist-deep in crackling, swaying furze,
his ears filled with the noise of his own progress. The boys
reached the shelter of the wood and looked down through a belt
of hollies.
Sergentul era nfundat pn n gt n mrcinii nflorii, i
urechile-i erau asurzite de zgomotul propriilor lui micri.
Bieii ascuni n pdurice se uitau ndrt printr-o deschiztur
a sngerilor.
Hellish noise! said Stalky critically. Dont think
Colonel Dabney will like it. I move we go up to the Lodge and
get something to eat. We might as well see the fun out.
Ce zgomot infernal! zise Stalky. Nu cred c o s-i plac
colonelului Dabney. Propun s mergem la portar i s cptm
ceva de mncare, de acolo o s vedem cum se sfrete afacerea.
Suddenly the keeper passed them at a trot. Deodat, trecu paznicul pe lng ei, la trap.
Whom they to combe-bottom for Lards sake? Masterll
be crazy, he said.
Cine o fi prin fundul vlcelei? Pentru numele cerului!
Stpnul o s se supere foc, zise el.
Poachers simly, Stalky replied in the broad Devon that
was the boys langue de guerre.
Probabil ceva borfai, rspunse Stalky, n dialectul
regional de care se serveau n expediiile lor.
Ill poach em to raights! He dropped into the funnel-like Las c-i borfesc eu! Porni n plnia pe care o forma
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
40
combe, which presently began to fill with noises, notably Kings
voice crying: Go on, Sergeant! Leave him alone, you, sir. He is
executing my orders.
vlceaua acolo i care se umplu cu zgomote diferite, ntre care
rsri vocea lui King spunnd: nainte sergent! Las-l n pace,
D-le. El execut ordinele mele.
Whom yeou to give arders here, gingy whiskers? Yeou
come up to the master. Come out o that wuzzy! [This is to the
Sergeant.] Yiss, I reckon us knows the boys yeoum after.
Theyve tu long ears an vuzzy bellies, an you nippies they in
yeour pockets when theym dead. Come on up to master! Hell
boy yeou all youm a mind to. Yeou other folk bide your side
fence.
Cui i dai tu ordine aici, perciunatule? Venii numaidect
la boieru. Iei afar din stufi. (Aceasta ctre sergent.) Las c
tiu eu dup ce biei umblai voi. Biei din ia cu urechi lungi
i cu buri mblnite, i, dup ce i prindei, i vri prin
buzunare. Vino repede la stpnul. Las c v nva el s mai
umblai dup biei pe aicea. Ceilali s rmn pe partea
cealalt a ulucilor.
Explain to the proprietor. You can explain, Sergeant,
shouted King. Evidently the Sergeant had surrendered to the
major force.
Explic proprietarului, doar tii i D-ta s vorbeti,
sergent, strig King. Dup aparene, sergentul se predase
autoritii.
Beetle lay at full length on the turf behind the Lodge
literally biting the earth in spasms of joy.
Beetle se culc pe pajitea din dosul csuei portarului,
mucnd iarba n convulsii de bucurie.
Stalky kicked him upright. There was nothing of levity
about Stalky or MTurk save a stray muscle twitching on the
cheek.
Stalky i ddu ghioni ca s-l scoale. Nu se vedea nicio
urm de bucurie la Stalky i MTurk, dect poate tresrirea unui
muchi rzle.
They tapped at the Lodge door, where they were always Ciocnir la ua csuei unde erau ntotdeauna aa de
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
41
welcome. bine primii.
Come yeou right in an set down, my little dearrs, said
the woman. Theyll niver touch my man. Hell poach em to
rights. Iss fai! Fresh berries an cream. Us Dartymoor folk niver
forgit their friends. But them Bidevor poachers, theyve no hem
to their garments. Sugar? My man heve digged a badger for
yeou, my dearrs. Tis in the linhay in a box.
Venii nauntru i poftii de luai loc, dragii mei, zise
femeia. Pe omul meu nu-l rzbesc ei aa uor. O s le arate el ce
tie. Da, zu! Poftii aici fragi proaspei i ceva smntn. Noi,
atia din Dartymoor, nu ne uitm prietenii, dar borfaii ia din
Bideford n-au nici tiv la hain, de prlii ce sunt. Vrei zahr?
Omul meu v-a gsit un bursuc, dragii mei. Este aici, ntr-o cutie.
Usll take un with us when wem finished here. I reckon
yeoum busy. Well bide here antis washin day with yeou,
simly, said Stalky. Wem no company to make all vitty for.
Niver yeou mind us. Yiss. Theres plenty cream.
Las-c-l lum noi dup ce mncm. Noi o s stm aici,
zise Stalky, dar D-ta vei fi avnd treab. Dup cte vd, splai
rufe. Nu e nevoie s stai cu noi, c stm i singuri. Mulumesc,
avem destul smntn.
The woman withdrew, wiping her pink hands on her
apron, and left them in the parlour. There was a scuffle of feet
on the gravel outside the heavily-leaded diamond panes, and
then the voice of Colonel Dabney, something clearer than a
bugle.
Femeia se deprt tergndu-i minile nroite pe or; i
ls n odaia cea bun a csuei. Afar se auzi un zgomot de pai
pe pietriul dinaintea geamurilor translucide, i vocea
colonelului Dabney rsun ceva mai tare ca un corn de
vntoare.
Ye can read? Youve eyes in your head? Dont attempt to
deny it. Ye have!
tii s citii? Ochi n cap avei, ce naiba! Nu ncercai s
tgduii, avei.
Beetle snatched a crochet-work antimacassar from the Beetle apuc un tergar ce acoperea canapeaua de pr de
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
42
shiny horsehair sofa, stuffed it into his mouth, and rolled out of
sight.
cal, l bg n gur i se tvli de rs.
You saw my notice-boards. Your duty? Curse your
impudence, sir. Your duty was to keep off my grounds. Talk of
duty to me! Whywhywhy, ye misbegotten poacher, yell be
teaching me my A B C next! Roarin like a bull in the bushes
down there! Boys? Boys? Boys? Keep your boys at home, then!
Im not responsible for your boys! But I dont believe itI dont
believe a word of it. Yeve a furtive look in your eyea furtive,
sneakin, poachin look in your eye, that ud ruin the reputation
of an archangel! Dont attempt to deny it! Ye have! A sergeant?
More shame to you, then, an the worst bargain Her Majesty ever
made! A sergeant, to run about the country poachinon your
pension! Damnable! Oh, damnable! But Ill be considerate. Ill be
merciful. By gad, Ill be the very essence o humanity! Did ye, or
did ye not, see my notice-boards? Dont attempt to deny it! Ye
did. Silence, Sergeant!
Mi-ai vzut tbliele? Datoria D-tale? Eti un obraznic!
Datoria D-tale era s nu calci pe pmntul meu. Auzi! S-mi
vorbeasc mie de datorie. Auzi! Borfa prpdit ce eti, tu vrei
s m nvei datoria? Tu mugeai ca taurul pe acolo, prin
stufiuri? Elevii ti? Ce elevi? ine-i-i acas, D-le, pe elevii
D-tale. Dar nu cred o vorb din ce spui. Ai n ochi o cuttur
piezie, o privire hoeasc ce ar strica reputaia unui sfnt. Nu
ncerca s tgduieti! E tocmai aa cum spun eu. Eti sergent?
S fie adevrat? Ai fi cel mai prost servitor pe care l-a avut
vreodat Maiestatea Sa! Un sergent s se furieze de colo pn
colo, fcnd pe borfaul! Auzi ticloie! Dar am s fiu moderat.
Am s fiu ngduitor. Pe contiina mea c am s fiu chiar plin
de umanitate. Vreau s tiu numai dac ai vzut sau dac n-ai
vzut tbliele mele? Nu ncerca s tgduieti, le-ai vzut.
Acum tcere, sergent.
Twenty-one years in the army had left their mark on
Foxy. He obeyed.
Douzeci de ani petrecui n armat las urme adnci n
suflet. Vulpe se supuse.
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
43
Now. March! Stnga-mprejur... i nainte mar!
The high Lodge-gate shut with a clang. My duty! A
sergeant to tell me my duty! puffed Colonel Dabney. Good
Lard! more sergeants!
Poarta cea nalt se deschise trosnind. Datoria mea!
Doamne Dumnezeule! Ali sergeni, pufi colonelul Dabney.
Its King! Its King! gulped Stalky, his head on the
horsehair pillow. MTurk was eating the rag-carpet before the
speckless hearth, and the sofa heaved to the emotions of Beetle.
Through the thick glass the figures without showed blue,
distorted, and menacing.
E King! E King! opti Stalky, cu capul n perna umplut
cu pr de cal. MTurk i nfunda n gur covorul de dinaintea
cminului bine curat i Beetle ncredin canapelei hohotele
sale de rs. Vzute prin geam, figurile se agitau dislocate i
amenintoare.
II protest against this outrage. King had evidently
been running up hill. The man was entirely within his duty.
Letlet me give you my card.
Proprotestez contra acestei insulte. Dup toate
aparenele, King urcase dealul n fug. Omul acesta era cu totul
n dreptul su; nu-i fcea dect datoria, domnule. S v dau
cartea mea de vizit.
Hes in flannels! Stalky buried his head again. E n hainele din flanel! pufni Stalky i apoi vr iar
capul n perne.
Unfortunatelymost unfortunatelyI have not one with
me, but my name is King, sir, a house-master of the College, and
you will find me preparedfully preparedto answer for this
mans action. Weve seen three
Din nenorociredintr-o adevrat nenorocirenu am
niciuna la mine, dar m numesc King, domnule; sunt directorul
uneia din diviziile liceului, i sunt gata, cu totul gata s rspund
de faptele acestui om. Am vzut trei
Rudyard Kipling. 1899 Stalky & Co
44
Did ye see my notice-boards? Dar tbliele mele le-ai vzut?
I admit we did; but under the circumstances Recunosc c le-am vzut. Dar date fiind
circumstanele
I stand in loco parentis. Prouts deep voice was added to
the discussion. They could hear him pant.
Eu stau in loco parentis. Vocea adnc a lui Prout
interveni n discuie. i puteau auzi de acolo rsuflarea sacadat.
Fwhat? Colonel Dabney was growing more and more
Irish.
n loc de ce? Accentul colonelului Dabney devenea din
ce n ce mai irlandez.
Im responsible for the boys under my charge. Sunt rspunztor de faptele bieilor care mi sunt dai
n grij.
Ye are, are ye? Then all I can say is that ye set them a very
bad examplea dam bad example, if I may say so. I do not own
your boys. Ive not seen your boys, an I tell you that if there was
a boy grinnin in every bush on the place still yeve no shadow
of a right here, comin up from the combe that way, an
frightenin everything in it. Dont attempt to den
top related