The Naming of Cats · 猫

Ensemble群演

The naming of cats Is a difficult matter

给猫取名，是件困难的事

It isn't just one of your holiday games

绝不是逢年过节的小游戏

You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter

起初你或许以为我疯得像个制帽匠

When I tell you a cat Must have three different names

因为我告诉你：一只猫必须有三个不同的名字

First of all there's the name That the family use daily

首先，是家人每天呼唤的名字

Such as Peter, Augustus Alonzo or James

例如彼得、奥古斯都、阿朗佐或詹姆斯

Such as Victor or Jonathan George or Bill Bailey

例如维克多、乔纳森、乔治或比尔·贝利

All of them Sensible, everyday names

这些都是端正平常的名字

There are fancier names If you think they sound sweeter

如果你觉得它们听起来更甜美，还有更奇特的名字

Some for the gentlemen Some for the dames

有的适合男士有的适合女士

Such as Plato, Admetus Electra, Demeter

如柏拉图、阿德墨忒斯、伊莱克特拉、德墨忒尔

But all of them sensible Everyday names

但全都是端正平常的名字

But I tell you, a cat Needs a name that's particular

但我要告诉你，猫还得有一个专属于自己的名字

A name that's peculiar And more dignified

一个独特而更有尊严的名字

Else how can he keep up His tail perpendicular

否则，它怎能让尾巴高高竖起

Or spread out his whiskers Or cherish his pride?

舒展开胡须，珍视自己的骄傲？

Of names of this kind I can give you a quorum

这样的名字，我能举出一大群

Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo Or Coricopat

比如蒙克斯崔普、夸克索或科里科帕特

Such as Bombalurina Or else, Jellylorum

比如邦巴露丽娜，或是杰利洛伦

Names that never belong To more than one cat

永远不属于一只以上的猫的名字

But above and beyond There's still one name left over

但在这一切之上，还剩最后一个名字

And that is the name That you never will guess

那就是你永远猜不到的名字

The name that no human research Can discover

任何人类研究都无法发现的名字

But the cat himself knows And will never confess

只有猫自己知道，却永不吐露

When you notice a cat In profound meditation

当你看见一只猫陷入深沉冥想

The reason, I tell you, Is always the same

我告诉你，原因总是相同

His mind is engaged In a rapt contemplation

它的心神正沉浸于忘我的凝望

Of the thought, of the thought

思索着，思索着

Of the thought of his name

思索着自己的名字

His ineffable

那不可言说的——

Effable

又可言说的——