When they had reached the middle of the forest, the father said, "now, children, pile up some wood, and I will light a fire that you may not be cold."

當他們抵達森林中間時,父親說:“孩子們,堆起木頭,我來點燃火堆,這樣你們就不覺得冷了。”

Hansel and Gretel gathered brushwood together, as high as a little hill.

韓賽爾和格蕾特一起收集木柴,堆得像小山一樣高。

The brushwood was lighted, and when the flames were burning very high, the woman said, "now, children, lay yourselves down by the fire and rest, we will go into the forest and cut some wood. When we have done, we will come back and fetch you away."

柴堆點燃后,火焰燒得很旺,繼母說:“孩子們,躺在火堆旁休息一下,我們要去森林里再砍些柴。等砍完柴就回來接你們。”

Hansel and Gretel sat by the fire, and when noon came, each ate a little piece of bread, and as they heard the strokes of the wood-axe they believed that their father was near.

韓賽爾和格蕾特坐在火堆旁,中午每人只吃了一小塊面包。他們聽著斧子砍柴的聲音,以為父親就在附近。

It was not the axe, however, but a branch which he had fastened to a withered tree which the wind was blowing backwards and forwards.

然而那并不是斧子發(fā)出的聲音,而是父親事先綁的一根樹枝,樹枝掛在枯樹上,被風吹動著來回撞擊枯樹發(fā)出了這種聲音。

And as they had been sitting such a long time, their eyes closed with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep.

他們就這樣坐了很長時間,終于忍受不了困倦,沉沉地睡過去了。

When at last they awoke, it was already dark night. Gretel began to cry and said, "how are we to get out of the forest now?" But Hansel comforted her and said, "just wait a little, until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the way."

等他們醒來已是晚上,周圍漆黑一片。格蕾特哭了起來:“我們怎么走出森林?”韓賽爾安慰她說:“等一會兒月亮升起,我們就能找到出路了。”

And when the full moon had risen, Hansel took his little sister by the hand, and followed the pebbles which shone like newly-coined silver pieces, and showed them the way.

一輪滿月升起,韓賽爾牽著妹妹的手,順著發(fā)光的鵝卵石往回走。這些鵝卵石就像新鑄造的銀幣閃閃發(fā)亮,為他們指明了回家的路。

…… to be continued.

未完待續(xù)