Then everyone cheered or bayed (吠叫) or neighed (马嘶) or trumpeted (吹喇叭) or clapped (拍打) its wings and the royal pair stood looking solemn (庄严的) and a little shy, but all the nobler for their shyness.
And while Digory was still cheering he heard the deep voice of Aslan beside him, saying:
"Look!"
Everyone in that crowd turned its head, and then everyone drew a long breath of wonder and delight. A little way off, towering over their heads, they saw a tree which had certainly not been there before.
It must have grown up silently, yet swiftly (敏捷) as a flag rises when you pull it up on a flagstaff, while they were all busied about the coronation (加冕).
Its spreading branches seemed to cast a light rather than a shade, and silver apples peeped out like stars from under every leaf.
But it was the smell which came from it, even more than the sight, that had made everyone draw in their breath. For a moment one could hardly think about anything else.
"Son of Adam," said Aslan, "you have sown (播种) well. And you, Narnians, let it be your first care to guard this Tree, for it is your Shield.
The Witch of whom I told you has fled far away into the North of the world; she will live on there, growing stronger in dark Magic.
But while that Tree flourishes (茂盛) she will never come down into Narnia. She dare not come within a hundred miles of the Tree, for its smell, which is joy and life and health to you, is death and horror and despair to her."
Everyone was staring solemnly at the Tree when Aslan suddenly swung (摇摆) round his head (scattering golden gleams (闪光) of light from his mane (鬃毛) as he did so) and fixed his large eyes on the children.
"What is it, children?" he said, for he caught them in the very act of whispering and nudging (轻轻推) one another.
"Oh - Aslan, sir," said Digory, turning red, "I forgot to tell you. The Witch has already eaten one of those apples, one of the same kind that Tree grew from."
He hadn't really said all he was thinking, but Polly at once said it for him (Digory was always much more afraid than she of looking a fool.)
"So we thought, Aslan," she said, "that there must be some mistake, and she can't really mind the smell of those apples."
"Why do you think that, Daughter of Eve?" asked the Lion. '
"Well, she ate one."
"Child," he replied, "that is why all the rest are now a horror to her. That is what happens to those who pluck (摘) and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good, but they loathe (厌恶) it ever after."
"Oh I see," said Polly. "And I suppose because she took it in the wrong way it won't work for her. I mean it won't make her always young and all that?"
"Alas," said Aslan, shaking his head. "It will. Things always work according to their nature. She has won her heart's desire; she has unwearying (永不枯竭的) strength and endless days like a goddess.
But length of days with an evil heart is only length of misery and already she begins to know it. All get what they want; they do not always like it."
"I - I nearly ate one myself, Aslan," said Digory. "Would I -"
"You would, child," said Aslan. "For the fruit always works - it must work - but it does not work happily for any who pluck it at their own will.
If any Narnian, unbidden (未受邀请的), had stolen an apple and planted it here to protect Narnia, it would have protected Narnia.
But it would have done so by making Narnia into another strong and cruel empire like Charn, not the kindly land I mean it to be. And the Witch tempted (诱惑) you to do another thing, my son, did she not?"
"Yes, Aslan. She wanted me to take an apple home to Mother."
"Understand, then, that it would have healed her; but not to your joy or hers. The day would have come when both you and she would have looked back and said it would have been better to die in that illness."
And Digory could say nothing, for tears choked him and he gave up all hopes of saving his Mother's life; but at the same time he knew that the Lion knew what would have happened, and that there might be things more terrible even than losing someone you love by death. But now Aslan was speaking again, almost in a whisper:
"That is what would have happened, child, with a stolen apple. It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy. It will not, in your world, give endless life, but it will heal. Go. Pluck her an apple from the Tree."
For a second Digory could hardly understand. It was as if the whole world had turned inside out and upside down.
And then, like someone in a dream, he was walking across to the Tree, and the King and Queen were cheering him and all the creatures were cheering too. He plucked the apple and put it in his pocket. Then he came back to Aslan.
"Please," he said, "may we go home now?" He had forgotten to say "Thank you", but he meant it, and Aslan understood.
