One morning Babar said to Cornelius: “Old Friend, you who have been my constant companion through good times and bad, listen now to my wonderful news. Celeste, my wife, has just told me that she is expecting a baby."

一天早上，巴巴跟科莱斯说：“我的老朋友，你始终都是我忠实的伙伴，我们向来都是同享福共患难。现在，我有一个好消息要告诉你，我的夫人，西莱斯特跟我说她怀孕了。"

Then, pointing to the footstool, he continued: “Here is a new hat for you and also a message I have just written to my subjects.Take it and read it to all the inhabitants of Celesteville."

接着，他指着一个小板凳对科莱斯说：“这是我送给你的新帽子，还有我刚写好的送给子民们的一封信，你去读给西莱斯特城的居民听。"

After having congratulated and thanked Babar, Cornelius puts on his full-dress uniform. Standing before the gateway of the Royal Palace, he tells his drummer to assemble the townspeople.

科莱斯先是给巴巴道喜，接着又感谢了他。然后，他穿上自己的礼服，走到王宫的大门口站定，命令鼓手把大象王国的居民们都召集过来。

Slowly he unfurls the King's proclamation, puts on his spectacles, and reads in a loud voice. The elephants, gathered together in large numbers, listen respectfully.

他将国王给他的信缓缓打开，戴上眼镜，大声读了起来。众多大象聚集过来，他们都认真地、恭敬地听着。

Dear and loyal subjects

When you hear a salute fired from a cannon, do not be alarmed.It will not mean that another war has begun, but simply that a little baby has been born to your King and Queen in the Royal Palace.In this way you will all learn the glorious tidings at the same time.Long live the future mother,your Queen Celeste!

Babar

亲爱的忠实子民们：

当你们听到炮楼上响起的礼炮声时，不要慌乱。因为这并不是代表战争又开始了，而是表示国王和王后的孩子在王宫诞生了。点响礼炮，是为了让你们可以和我一起得知这令人快乐的消息。

愿即将成为妈妈的西莱斯特——你们的王后万岁！

巴巴

Here, reproduced exactly, is Babar's message, which Cornelius read.

这就是巴巴让科莱斯读给子民们的信里面的内容。

Babar is trying to read, but finds it difficult to concentrate;his thoughts are elsewhere. He tries to write, but again his thoughts wander. He is thinking of his wife and the little baby soon to be born. Will it be handsome and strong? Oh, how hard it is to wait for one's heart's desire!

巴巴想读会儿书，却总是无法集中精神。他的心思不知飘哪儿去了；他想写会儿东西，却同样还是不能集中注意力。他一门心思地想着他的妻子和将要出生的孩子。他会不会长得很帅、很健壮？哦！等待自己的心肝宝贝出生的日子真是太难熬了！

Celeste urges him to go for a ride on his bicycle, to take his mind off the big event, and Babar finally consents.

西莱斯特劝他出去转转，骑自行车去散散心，暂且放下一切，巴巴最终答应了。

After having pedalled several miles, he finds a pleasant spot and decides to rest. Seated on the grass, he admires the surrounding countryside, Celesteville and Fort Saint John. “It is from there that the cannon will be fired," he says to himself.

骑了几英里，巴巴看见了一个很不错的地方，决定停下来休息一下。坐在宽阔的草地上，他欣赏着四周的风景，有乡村小镇、西莱特斯城及圣约翰城堡。他自言自语地说：“礼炮将在那里响起。"

At this very moment: Boom! Babar hears the salute. “There it goes!What a shame that I wasn't at home!" thinks Babar. He immediately mounts his bicycle and rides home as fast as he can pedal.

就在这时，炮声“轰隆"一声响起，传到了巴巴的耳朵里。“孩子出生了！这个时候我居然没在家，太遗憾了！"巴巴心想。他立即骑上自行车，以最快的速度全力往家赶。

There, up on the turret,the Artillery Captain of the King's Guard carries out the orders he has just received by telephone. He gives the command. One blank shot is fired, then another and finally a third.

炮楼上，国王护卫队的炮兵队长接到电话指令后，就立即执行，下达了点炮的命令。命令一下，传出第一声炮响，接着是第二声，最后第三声响起。

The elephants gather in groups on the promenade and begin to wonder and ask questions. King Babar had only mentioned one shot. Why did the gunners fire off three? Cornelius himself cannot understand it.

人行道上，大象们成群结队地聚集到了一起，感到十分疑惑，纷纷议论究竟是怎么回事儿。国王巴巴当初说只响一声啊！为什么会有三声炮响？就连科莱斯自己也有些糊涂了。

Babar reaches home quite breathless from his fast ride. He also had heard three shots. He dashes headlong up the stairs,joyfully rushes into Celeste's bedchamber and embraces his wife tenderly.

巴巴到家的时候，由于路上骑得太快，已经累得气喘吁吁了。那三声炮响他也听见了。他什么都顾不上了，径直冲向楼上，欣喜若狂地跑进西莱斯特的寝宫，温柔地和妻子相拥在一起。

She smiles and proudly shows him three little baby elephants. That explains everything. One salute for each child;three babies equals three salutes.But what a surprise to find three babies when you only expected one!

她高兴地笑了，自豪地将三个小象宝宝指给他看。原来是这样，礼炮响一下代表一个孩子，那三个孩子，当然是要响三下了！不过，你原本以为只有一个孩子时，却一下子来了三个，这可真是个天大的惊喜呀！

The Old Lady has one in her arms, and the nurse holds the other two. Arthur and Zephir are terribly excited. Babar has given them permission to come and see the babies. They walk in quietly.“Oh! How tiny!" says Zephir. “Oh!How cute!" adds Arthur, as he admires the baby lying in the cradle.

老夫人抱着一个，另外两个则由保姆抱着。亚瑟和泽飞尔也是开心极了。得到巴巴的允许后，他们蹑手蹑脚地走进房间，去看小宝宝。泽飞尔说：“哦！他们好小啊！"“哦！他们真是太可爱了！"亚瑟看着躺在摇篮里小宝宝说道。

Celeste had prepared only one cradle; so the nurse quickly makes another one out of a wash basket, a towel and an umbrella. It is crude, but the babies are warm and sheltered.

西莱斯特只预备了一个摇篮。不过，保姆很快拿来一个洗衣用的篮子，然后又用一条毛巾和一把雨伞制作成一个摇篮。虽然样子看起来不太精致，但是宝宝躺在里面却很暖和，也有地方可以睡了。 DZnJWu0nqF9JVhThWN7VAB8gK5U7gsQbLBCFO8diSDDptR1SxOibzRTvNdjBDmsn