The river bank (2)

The river bank (2)

'Hold up!' said an elderly rabbit at the gap.
'Sixpence for the　privilege of passing by
the private road!'

He was bowled over in an　instant by the
impatient and contemptuous Mole, who trotted
along the　side of the hedge chaffing the other
rabbits as they peeped hurriedly from their holes
to see what the row was about. 

'Onion-sauce!　Onion-sauce!' he remarked
jeeringly, and was gone before they could　think
of a thoroughly satisfactory reply.

Then they all started　grumbling at each other.

'How STUPID you are! Why didn't you tell　him----' 
'Well, why didn't YOU say----'
'You might have reminded　him----'
and so on, in the usual way.
But, of course, it was then much too late,
as is always the case.

It all seemed too good to be true.

Through the meadows he rambled busily, along
the hedgerows, across the copses, finding
everywhere birds building, flowers budding,
leaves thrusting--everything happy,
and progressive, and occupied.

And instead of having an uneasy conscience
pricking him and whispering 'whitewash!' he
somehow could only feel how jolly it was to be
the only idle dog among all these busy citizens.

After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps
not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all
the other fellows busy working.


He thought his happiness was complete when,
as he meandered aimlessly along,
suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river.



Never in his life had he seen a river before.

(2/20)
当方の想像以上に、難しい表現を一部含んでいまして、所々わかりにくいかと思いますが、次回以降、少しづつ、やさしくなる予定です。