CHAPTERI.DowntheRabbit-Hole
Alicewasbeginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthe
ngân hàng
bank,andofhavingnothingtodo:onceortwiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,“andwhatistheuseofabook,”thoughtAlice“withoutpicturesorconversations?”
Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelverysleepyandstupid),
liệu
whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbetrị
worththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whenđột nhiên
suddenlyaWhiteRabbitwithpinkeyesranclosebyher.Therewasnothingsoveryremarkableinthat;
cũng
nordidAlicethinkitsoverymuchoutofthewaytoheartheRabbitsaytoitself,“Ohdear!Ohdear!
Ishallbelate!”
(whenshethoughtitoverafterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohavewonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallseemedquitenatural);
butwhentheRabbitactuallytookawatchoutofitswaistcoat-pocket,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoher
chân
feet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseenarabbitwitheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andburningwithcuriosity,sheranqua
acrossthefieldafterit,andfortunatelywasjustintimetoseeitpopdownalớn
largerabbit-holeunderthehedge.InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.
Therabbit-holewent
thẳng
straightonlikeatunnelforsomeway,andthendippedđột ngột
suddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaverysâu
deepwell.Eitherthewellwasvery
sâu
deep,orshefellveryslowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtotự hỏi
wonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoo
tối
darktoseeanything;thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;
hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.
Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;
itwaslabelled“ORANGEMARMALADE”,buttohergreatdisappointmentitwasempty:
shedidnotliketo
thả
dropthejarforfearofkillingsomebodyunderneath,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.“Well!”
thoughtAlicetoherself,“aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs!
Howbravethey’llallthinkmeathome!
Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!”
(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down.
Wouldthefallnevercometoanend?
“I
tự hỏi
wonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?”shesaidaloud.
“Imustbegettingsomewhere
gần
nearthecentreoftheearth.Letmesee:
thatwouldbefour
ngàn
thousandmilesdown,Ithink—”(for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaverygoodopportunityforshowingoffherknowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)“—yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenI
tự hỏi
wonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?”(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)
Presentlyshebeganagain.
“I
tự hỏi
wonderifIshallfallrightthroughtheearth!Howfunnyit’llseemtocomeoutamongthepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheadsdownward!
TheAntipathies,Ithink—”
(shewas
khá
rathergladtherewasnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn’tsoundatalltherightword)“—butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.Please,Ma’am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?”
(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke—fancycurtseyingasyou’refallingthroughtheair!
Doyouthinkyoucouldmanageit?)
“Andwhatanignorantlittlegirlshe’llthinkmeforasking!
No,it’llneverdotoask:
perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere.”
Down,down,down.
Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoonbegantalkingagain.
“Dinah’llmissmeverymuchto-night,Ishouldthink!”
(Dinahwasthecat.)
“Ihopethey’llrememberhersaucerof
sữa
milkattea-time.Dinahmydear!
Iwishyouweredownherewithme!
Therearenomiceintheair,I’mafraid,butyoumightcatchabat,andthat’sverylikeamouse,youknow.
Butdocatseatbats,Iwonder?”
AndhereAlicebegantoget
khá
rathersleepy,andwentonsayingtoherself,inadreamysortofway,“Docatseatbats?Docatseatbats?”
andsometimes,“Dobatseatcats?”
for,yousee,asshecouldn’tanswereitherquestion,itdidn’tmuchmatterwhichwaysheputit.
Shefeltthatshewasdozingoff,andhadjustbeguntodreamthatshewaswalkinghandinhandwithDinah,andsayingtoherveryearnestly,“Now,Dinah,tellmethetruth:
didyouevereatabat?”
when
đột nhiên
suddenly,thump!thump!
downshecameuponaheapofsticksanddryleaves,andthefallwasover.
Alicewasnotabithurt,andshejumpedupontoher
chân
feetinamoment:shelookedup,butitwasall
tối
darkoverhead;beforeherwasanotherlongpassage,andtheWhiteRabbitwasstillinsight,hurryingdownit.
Therewasnotamomenttobelost:
awaywentAlicelikethe
gió
wind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturnedacorner,“Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit’sgetting!”Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthecorner,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen:
shefoundherselfinalong,
thấp
lowhall,whichwaslitupbyarowoflampshangingfromtheroof.Thereweredoorsall
quanh
roundthehall,buttheywerealllocked;andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthe
giữa
middle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.Đột nhiên
Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedbàn
table,allmadeofsolidthủy tinh
glass;therewasnothingonitexceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice’sfirstthoughtwasthatitmightbelongtooneofthedoorsofthehall;
but,alas!
eitherthelocksweretoo
lớn
large,orthekeywastoosmall,butatanyrateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.Tuy nhiên
However,onthesecondtimevòng
round,shecameuponalowcurtainshehadnotnoticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh:shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthelock,andtohergreatdelightitfitted!
Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatitledintoasmallpassage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole:
shekneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliestgardenyoueversaw.
Howshelongedtogetoutofthat
tối
darkhall,andwanderaboutamongthosebedsofbrightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthroughthedoorway;“andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,”thoughtpoorAlice,“itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.
Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikeatelescope!
IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknewhowtobegin.”
For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappenedlately,thatAlicehadbeguntothinkthatveryfewthingsindeedwerereallyimpossible.
Thereseemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothe
bàn
table,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratanyrateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes:thistimeshefoundalittle
chai
bottleonit,(“whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,”saidAlice,)andquanh
roundtheneckofthechai
bottlewasapaperlabel,withthewords“DRINKME,”beautifullyprintedonitinlớn
largeletters.Itwasallverywelltosay“Drinkme,”butthewiselittleAlicewasnotgoingtodothatinahurry.
“No,I’lllookfirst,”shesaid,“andseewhetherit’smarked‘poison’ornot”;
forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandotherunpleasantthings,allbecausetheywouldnotrememberthe
đơn giản
simplerulestheirfriendshadtaughtthem:suchas,thatared-hotpokerwillburnyouifyouholdittoolong;
andthatifyoucutyourfingerverydeeplywithaknife,it
thường
usuallybleeds;andshehadneverforgottenthat,ifyoudrinkmuchfroma
chai
bottlemarked“poison,”itisalmostcertaintodisagreewithyou,soonerorlater.Tuy nhiên
However,thisbottlewasnotmarked“poison,”soAliceventuredtotasteit,andfindingitverynice,(ithad,infact,asortofmixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,pine-apple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbutteredtoast,)sheverysoonfinisheditoff.“Whatacuriousfeeling!”
saidAlice;
“Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope.”
Andsoitwasindeed:
shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtherightsizeforgoingthroughthelittledoorintothat
yêu
lovelygarden.First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingtoshrinkany
thêm
further:shefeltalittle
lo lắng
nervousaboutthis;“foritmightend,youknow,”saidAlicetoherself,“inmygoingoutaltogether,likeacandle.
I
tự hỏi
wonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?”Andshetriedtofancywhattheflameofacandleislikeafterthecandleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.
Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,shedecidedongoingintothegardenatonce;
but,alasforpoorAlice!
whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehadforgottenthelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothe
bàn
tableforit,shefoundshecouldnotpossiblyđạt
reachit:shecouldseeitquiteplainlythroughthe
kính
glass,andshetriedherbesttoclimbuponeofthelegsofthebàn
table,butitwastooslippery;andwhenshehadtiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandcried.
“Come,there’snouseincryinglikethat!”
saidAlicetoherself,
khá
rathersharply;“Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!”
Shegenerallygaveherselfverygoodadvice,(thoughsheveryseldomfollowedit),andsometimesshescoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;
andoncesherememberedtryingto
hộp
boxherownearsforhavingcheatedherselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthiscuriouschildwasveryfondofpretendingtobetwopeople.“Butit’snousenow,”thoughtpoorAlice,“topretendtobetwopeople!
Why,there’shardlyenoughofmelefttomakeonerespectableperson!”
Soonher
mắt
eyefellonalittlethủy tinh
glassboxthatwaslyingunderthebàn
table:sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmallcake,onwhichthewords“EATME”werebeautifullymarkedincurrants.
“Well,I’lleatit,”saidAlice,“andifitmakesmegrowlarger,Ican
đạt
reachthekey;andifitmakesme
phát triển
growsmaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;soeitherwayI’llgetintothegarden,andIdon’tcarewhichhappens!”
Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,“Whichway?
Whichway?”,holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwasgrowing,andshewasquitesurprisedtofindthatsheremainedthesamesize:
tobesure,thisgenerallyhappenswhenoneeatscake,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayofexpectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitseemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.
CHAPTERII.ThePoolofTears
“Curiouserandcuriouser!”
criedAlice(shewassomuchsurprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);
“nowI’mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas!
Good-bye,feet!”
(forwhenshelookeddownather
chân
feet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff).“Oh,mypoorlittle
chân
feet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourgiày
shoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?I’msureIshan’tbeable!
Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:
youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan;—butImustbekindtothem,”thoughtAlice,“orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo!
Letmesee:
I’llgivethemanewpairofbootseveryChristmas.”
Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit.
“Theymustgobythecarrier,”shethought;
“andhowfunnyit’ll
vẻ
seem,sendingpresentstoone’sownchân
feet!Andhowoddthedirectionswilllook!
Ohdear,whatnonsenseI’mtalking!”
Justthenherheadstruckagainsttheroofofthehall:
infactshewasnowmorethan
chín
ninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.PoorAlice!
Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothegardenwithone
mắt
eye;buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever:
shesatdownandbeganto
khóc
cryagain.“Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,”saidAlice,“agreatgirllikeyou,”(shemightwellsaythis),“togooncryinginthisway!
Stopthismoment,Itellyou!”
Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasa
lớn
largepoolallroundher,aboutfourinchessâu
deepandreachinghalfdownthehall.Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastilydriedhereyestoseewhatwascoming.
ItwastheWhiteRabbitreturning,splendidlydressed,withapairofwhitekidglovesinonehandanda
lớn
largefanintheother:hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,“Oh!
theDuchess,theDuchess!
Oh!
won’tshebesavageifI’vekeptherwaiting!”
Alicefeltsodesperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;
so,whentheRabbitcame
gần
nearher,shebegan,inathấp
low,timidvoice,“Ifyouplease,sir—”TheRabbitstartedviolently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandthefan,andskurriedawayintothedarknessashardashecouldgo.
Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthehallwasveryhot,shekeptfanningherselfallthetimeshewentontalking:
“Dear,dear!
Howqueereverythingisto-day!
And
hôm
yesterdaythingswentonjustasusual.I
tự hỏi
wonderifI’vebeenchangedinthenight?Letmethink:
wasIthesamewhenIgotupthismorning?
IalmostthinkIcanrememberfeelingalittledifferent.
ButifI’mnotthesame,thenextquestionis,WhointheworldamI?
Ah,that’sthegreatpuzzle!”
Andshebeganthinkingoverallthechildrensheknewthatwereofthesame
tuổi
ageasherself,toseeifshecouldhavebeenchangedforanyofthem.“I’msureI’mnotAda,”shesaid,“forherhairgoesinsuchlongringlets,andminedoesn’tgoinringletsatall;
andI’msureIcan’tbeMabel,forIknowallsortsofthings,andshe,oh!
sheknowssuchaverylittle!
Bên cạnh đó
Besides,she’sshe,andI’mI,and—ohdear,howpuzzlingitallis!I’lltryifIknowallthethingsIusedtoknow.
Letmesee:
fourtimesfiveistwelve,andfourtimessixisthirteen,andfourtimes
bảy
sevenis—ohdear!Ishallnevergettotwentyatthatrate!
Tuy nhiên
However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:let’stryGeography.
LondonisthecapitalofParis,andParisisthecapitalofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’mcertain!
ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!
I’lltryandsay‘Howdoththelittle—’”andshecrossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andbegantorepeatit,buther
giọng nói
voicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:—.“HowdoththelittlecrocodileImprovehisshiningtail,AndpourthewatersoftheNileOneverygoldenscale!
“Howcheerfullyheseemstogrin,Howneatlyspreadhisclaws,AndwelcomelittlefishesinWithgentlysmilingjaws!”
“I’msurethosearenottherightwords,”saidpoorAlice,andhereyesfilledwithtearsagainasshewenton,“ImustbeMabelafterall,andIshallhavetogoandliveinthatpokylittlehouse,andhavenexttonotoystoplaywith,andoh!
eversomanylessonsto
học
learn!No,I’vemadeupmymindaboutit;
ifI’mMabel,I’llstaydownhere!
It’llbenousetheirputtingtheirheadsdownandsaying‘Comeupagain,dear!’Ishallonlylookupandsay‘WhoamIthen?
Tellmethatfirst,andthen,ifIlikebeingthatperson,I’llcomeup:
ifnot,I’llstaydownheretillI’msomebodyelse’—but,ohdear!”
criedAlice,withasuddenburstoftears,“Idowishtheywouldputtheirheadsdown!
Iamsoverytiredofbeingallalonehere!”
Asshesaidthisshelookeddownatherhands,andwassurprisedtoseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit’slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking.
“HowcanIhavedonethat?”
shethought.
“Imustbegrowingsmallagain.”
Shegotupandwenttothe
bàn
tabletomeasureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwofeet
feethigh,andwasgoingonshrinkingrapidly:shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthefanshewasholding,andshedroppedithastily,justintimetoavoidshrinkingawayaltogether.
“Thatwasanarrowescape!”