圣诞之父"圣尼古拉斯"背后的故事

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[00:02.96]19 The Father of Christmas	圣诞之父
[00:07.67](By Daniel Errico)	（译/张玲）
[00:10.86]Long ago there lived an explorer named Nicholas. 很久以前，有一位名叫尼古拉斯的探险家，
[00:16.70]He traveled around the world in search of new lands, new animals, and new relics to discover. 他走遍世界各地，寻找尚未被人类发现的地方、动物和文化古迹。
[00:23.96]And in every place he visited, Nicholas found a special gift to bring back to his son Christian.	尼古拉斯每到一处，都会找一份特别的礼物，带回家送给他的儿子克里斯蒂安。
[00:31.73]In his most perilous journey, Nicholas traveled to the Arctic to find the North Pole. 为了寻找北天极，尼古拉斯深入北极，这是他最危险的一次探险。
[00:38.96]After weeks of tireless dogsled trekking , Nicholas reached the northern Arctic Circle where very little life could survive.	尼古拉斯坐在由几只狗拉的雪橇上，经过数周不知疲倦的跋涉，到达了北极圈的北部。这里几乎没有什么生命能够存活。
[00:49.10]Nicholas relied on the direction of his compass. 尼古拉斯依靠他的指南针指引方向。
[00:53.15]As the weeks turned to months, Nicholas could still not find the North Pole and his food supply was getting low. 几个星期过去了，几个月又过去了，可尼古拉斯仍然找不到北天极，而他带的食物越来越少，
[01:01.37]His compass began constantly spinning and it could no longer help him find his way. 指南针也开始转个不停，没法再帮他指路。
[01:08.11]So Nicholas decided to head back home to civilization and admit defeat. 于是，尼古拉斯决定掉头回家，回到他的文明社会，承认这次探险失败。
[01:14.18]But it seemed that no matter what direction he walked in, he kept finding himself stranded deeper and deeper in the vast wilderness.	可是，似乎无论他往哪个方向走，却总是发现自己越来越深入广阔无垠的茫茫荒野。
[01:23.19]By this time, Nicholas' beard had grown long and it was constantly covered with snow and ice. 此时，尼古拉斯的胡子已经长长了，上面总是沾满了冰雪。
[01:31.13]It was at his most desperate moment, when he had all but given up, that Nicholas saw small footprints in the snow. 就在他最绝望的时刻，在他几乎要放弃的时刻，他看到雪地上有一些很小的脚印。
[01:40.30]Hungry and freezing, Nicholas followed the footprints to a small village. 饥寒交迫的尼古拉斯沿着这些脚印来到了一个小村庄。
[01:45.79]He could not believe that anyone could live in such a frigid place, but there were dozens of small huts around him.	他无法相信有人能在这么寒冷的地方生活，但他四周有许多小木屋。
[01:54.59]Nicholas unleashed his dogs and went exploring as he did best. 尼古拉斯解开套在狗身上的皮带，开始驾轻就熟地四处探索。
[02:01.70]In the center of the village there sat a small tree, the only one within miles and miles. 村庄的中心有一棵小树，这是方圆几公里内唯一的一棵树。
[02:08.41]But what caught Nicholas' eye was a hat sitting atop the tree. 但让尼古拉斯眼前一亮的却是树梢上挂着的一顶帽子。
[02:13.99]It was reddish brown in color and had a ball on top. 这是一顶红棕色的帽子，帽顶有一个小球。 
[02:18.43]Nicholas fought through the wind to reach the small tree and grabbed the hat.  尼古拉斯顶着寒风，走到小树前，摘下了帽子。
[02:23.93]Not only did it look warm, but also he thought that it would also make a perfect gift for Christian - 这顶帽子不仅看上去暖和，而且他觉得把它送给克里斯蒂安当礼物再合适不过了--
[02:32.50]if he ever made it out of the Arctic and back home.要是他能成功走出北极、返回家中的话。
[02:35.66]The moment Nicholas placed the hat on his head, everything changed. 就在尼古拉斯把帽子戴到头上的一刹那，一切都变了。
[02:41.36]The villagers left their huts and came out to surround him. 村民们走出小屋，将他团团围住。
[02:45.70]He noticed that each of them was roughly three feet tall. 他发现这里的村民都有约三英尺高。
[02:50.10]The dogs became frightened and ran away at the sight of the crowd. 看到这么多人，几只狗被吓跑了。
[02:55.40]Nicholas was too startled to chase after them.	尼古拉斯大吃一惊，都忘了去把它们追回来。
[02:59.32]Knowing how to deal with peoples of all different cultures, Nicholas asked to speak with their leader or chief.	尼古拉斯很清楚该怎样和各种不同文化背景的人打交道，于是他提出要和村长或酋长对话。
[03:07.63]"We do not have one, "replied a woman with a smile, "all of us are equal. “我们这儿没有村长或酋长，”一位妇人微笑着回答道，“每个人都是平等的。
[03:14.49]But Michael is 2,000 years old, and that makes him the eldest."	不过迈克尔两千岁了，他是我们这儿年纪最大的。”
[03:19.59]"How can that be?" asked Nicholas.	“这怎么可能呢？”尼古拉斯问。
[03:23.12]Michael stepped forward and spoke. "The hat you are wearing was removed from the top of our tree. 迈克尔走上前来说：“你现在头上戴的这顶帽子是从我们的树顶上拿的。
[03:30.41]That tree is the North Pole, where there is no day and no night. 那棵树是北天极，在这里没有昼夜之分。
[03:35.99]As long as the hat stays here, we are unaffected by time. 只要这顶帽子在这里，我们就不会受时间影响。
[03:40.60]Now that you wear the hat, you, too will not age."	既然你戴上了这顶帽子，你也不会变老。”
[03:44.90]"Me?" asked Nicholas as he tried to take off the hat. “我？”尼古拉斯边问边试着把帽子摘掉。
[03:49.78]"It cannot be removed, "said Michael, "I am sorry."	“它是摘不下来的，”迈克尔说，“很抱歉。”
[03:54.47]"but I must get home,"said Nicholas, "please tell me how to find my way back south to my village."	“但我必须要回家啊，”尼古拉斯说，“请告诉我怎么走才能回到南方我生活的那个村庄。”
[04:01.69]"You cannot leave us, "pleaded the woman.	“您不能离开我们。”那位妇人乞求道。
[04:05.77]"It's true," said Michael, "if you were to leave with the hat, we would not be able to survive."	“是真的，”迈克尔说，“如果你戴着帽子离开这里，我们就活不了了。”
[04:12.80]Nicholas was devastated . 尼古拉斯极度震惊。
[04:15.54]He sat down on his sled and cried. 他坐在自己的雪橇上，放声大哭。
[04:18.87]He needed to get back to his son.	他必须回到儿子身边。
[04:21.66]"I can never leave?" asked Nicholas.	“我永远不能离开了吗？”尼古拉斯问。
[04:24.96]"You may leave for one day a year," said Michael. 	“你一年可以离开一天，”迈克尔说，“
[04:28.93]"Such a short time away would not harm us." 离开这么短的时间不会对我们造成伤害。”
[04:32.29]"Then I choose to leave in three days," said Nicholas, "on the day of my son's birthday."	“那我选择三天后离开这里，”尼古拉斯说，“那天是我儿子的生日。”
[04:39.71]But after a moment of thinking, Nicholas grew sad once more. 但思索片刻之后，他又变得沮丧起来。
[04:44.34]"I cannot go anywhere in one day's time. “可是只有一天的时间，我哪儿也去不了。
[04:48.19]My dogs have left, and it would take weeks to get back home, even with your help.	我的狗都跑了，即便有你们帮我，我回家也得好几个星期。”
[04:54.30]"We have eight caribou in the hut over yonder .“那边的房子里有八只驯鹿。 
[04:58.55]You may use them for your sled if you like. 如果你愿意，可以用它们来拉雪橇。
[05:01.59]I think you will find the trip much shorter while you wear the hat," said Michael.	我想你会发现，你戴着那顶帽子回家会快很多。”迈克尔说。
[05:06.75]Nicholas did not know what Michael meant, but he was pleased to be leaving in a few days all the same. 尼古拉斯没明白迈克尔的意思，不过他很高兴，因为不管怎样， 几天后他就可以离开了。
[05:14.63]Part of him was thinking that once he left, he might never return.	他内心隐约有这样的想法：一旦走了，他就可以永远不回来了。
[05:19.85]The villagers took very good care of Nicholas. 村民们对尼古拉斯照顾有加。
[05:23.43]They fed him well and gave him the largest and grandest hut they had. 他们给他最好的食物，还让他住村子里最大、最漂亮的房子。
[05:29.70]Nicholas spent the next two days building gifts for his son. 接下来的两天里，尼古拉斯都在给儿子做礼物。
[05:33.20]Nicholas was an excellent carpenter , as that was the first trade he had ever learned. 尼古拉斯是一位很出色的木匠，因为他学的第一门手艺就是木工活。
[05:39.71]By the day of his departure, December 25th, Nicholas had built his son dozens of wonderful gifts out of wood. 到他离开的那一天，也就是12月25日，尼古拉斯已经用木头为儿子做了许多礼物。
[05:48.75]The villagers helped him pack the presents into a reddish-brown sack and helped him load the sled.	村民们帮他把礼物装进一个红棕色的大布袋里， 还帮他把袋子搬上雪橇。
[05:56.70]"Good luck," said Michael. “祝你好运！”迈克尔说。
[05:58.35]"Goodbye, "said Nicholas.	“再见！”尼古拉斯说。
[06:01.10]No sooner had Nicholas grabbed the reigns, than the caribou took off sprinting. 尼古拉斯刚抓住缰绳，驯鹿就开始全速奔跑起来。
[06:06.88]So fast, in fact, that Nicholas thought his sled might actually be floating above the ground. 实际上，它们跑得太快了，让尼古拉斯以为他的雪橇可能实际上是悬浮在地面上前行。
[06:13.58]Moments later there was no longer a question in his mind - the caribou, the sled and Nicholas were flying! 不一会儿，尼古拉斯的心里就不再有任何疑问了――驯鹿、雪橇和他在飞！
[06:22.21]He looked down to see the smiling face of Michael as he waved him goodbye.	他低头看见迈克尔正微笑着和他挥手告别。
[06:27.58]Nicholas and his sled flew through the sky, faster than he could imagine. 尼古拉斯和他的雪橇在天空中穿行，速度远远超出他的想象。
[06:33.56]Soon he was back home in his village and parking the sled outside his own home. 很快，他回到了自己村子的家里，把雪橇停放在自家门口。
[06:40.52]He could not believe that he was finally home after his long journey.	他不敢相信，经过了这么一段漫长的旅途，现在终于到家了。
[06:45.91]He tried to open the front door, but it was locked and his key no longer worked. 他试着打开前门，可门锁着，他的钥匙不管用了。
[06:52.42]Wanting to surprise Christian with his gifts, Nicholas used a trick his own father had shown him years earlier when he wanted to play a prank on his younger sister. 为了让克里斯蒂安看到礼物时能有一个惊喜，尼古拉斯想到了许多年前他想作弄妹妹时，父亲教他的一个恶作剧。
[07:03.30]Nicholas climbed up to the roof and slid down the chimney. 尼古拉斯爬上屋顶，顺着烟囱滑进了屋里。
[07:07.98]Being in his home gave him a comfort he hadn't felt in a long time, but there was no one in sight.	待在自己的家里让他感觉到一种久违的慰藉，不过，他一个人也没有看见。
[07:15.82]Nicholas searched the house, but Christian was no longer there. 尼古拉斯把房子找了个遍，可是克里斯蒂安却不在这儿，
[07:20.64]None of his belongings were there either. 他的东西也都不在这儿，
[07:23.35]Everything was gone. 屋子里什么也没有了。
[07:25.19]Nicholas lit a candle and sat down in his empty home for hours and hours. 尼古拉斯点上一支蜡烛，坐在空荡荡的房子里好几个小时。
[07:31.89]He did not know where his son could be, and it was his son's birthday. 他不知道儿子可能会去哪里，可今天是儿子的生日啊！
[07:37.51]Nicholas decided that if his son no longer lived there, perhaps he was somewhere else in the same village.	尼古拉斯断定如果儿子不再住在这栋房子里，那他可能在村子里的其他地方。
[07:45.44]He wanted his son to know that he loved him. 他想让儿子知道他爱他。
[07:48.88]He wanted his son to have a gift from him on his birthday. 他想让儿子在生日这天收到自己送给他的礼物。
[07:52.95]So Nicholas went to every house in the village and dropped a single toy down each chimney, hoping that one of the toys would reach his beloved Christian.	于是尼古拉斯走遍了村子里的每一栋房子，并往所有房子的烟囱里都扔了一个玩具，希望其中一个能到达他亲爱的克里斯蒂安手中。
[08:03.98]The heartbreak of not finding his son had reminded Nicholas of those waiting for his return up north. 没有找到儿子的尼古拉斯伤心欲绝，这让他想起了那些在北方期盼着他回去的村民们。
[08:11.79]He could not let them down, no matter how much he wanted to stay. 他不能令他们失望，无论他多么想留下来。
[08:16.79]So with every gift gone, Nicholas hopped on his sled and flew back to the North Pole.	于是，发完所有礼物后，尼古拉斯跳上雪橇，飞回了北天极。
[08:23.16]That night the tiny villagers consoled Nicholas. 那天晚上，小小的村民们都跑来安慰尼古拉斯。
[08:27.43]And on that very same night, Nicholas made a deal with the villagers. 也正是在那天晚上，尼古拉斯和村民们达成了一个协议：
[08:32.32]In exchange for his loyalty and his promise to stay in the North Pole with the hat, the villagers would help him make toys.	只要尼古拉斯忠于他们，并承诺他和那顶帽子不离开北天极，村民们就帮他做玩具。
[08:41.31]He would teach them how to build and carve and assemble, and they would make toys all year round. 他会教村民们如何搭建、雕刻和装配，而他们一整年都会为他制作玩具。
[08:48.75]And every year on December 25th, his one day of freedom, 每年的12月25日是尼古拉斯的自由日，
[08:53.71]Nicholas would deliver the toys to all the homes of all the children in the world, knowing that one of them would surely reach his son.	他会在这一天把所有玩具送到世界上每一个孩子的家里，因为他知道其中有一件能到达他儿子的手中。
[09:02.79]This went on, year after year. 就这样过了一年又一年。
[09:05.74]And each year, the story of Nicholas grew. 每一年，尼古拉斯的故事为越来越多的人津津乐道。
[09:08.89]He soon became known as St.Nicholas for the joy that he spread.	很快，人们开始称他为“圣尼古拉斯”，因为他把欢乐散播到了四面八方。

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圣诞之父"圣尼古拉斯"背后的故事