从前，有四只小兔子，他们分别是弗洛普西、默普西、棉球尾和比得。他们和兔妈妈住在一棵高大的冷杉树下的树洞里。

Once upon a time, there were four little rabbits. Their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter. They lived in a cave under a high fir-tree with their Mummy.

一天早上，兔妈妈要出去买菜，她对小兔子们说：“孩子们，妈妈要出去一下，你们可以到田野里玩儿，也可以沿着小路跑。但是，千万别跑到麦格先生家的菜园去。”

One morning, Mummy Rabbit was going to buy some vegetables. She said to the little rabbits: “Now my dears, I am going outside, you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden.”

“你们的爸爸就是在那里被麦格先生抓住了，最后被麦格太太做成了馅饼。”

“Your dad was there caught by Mr. McGregor and was finally put in a pie by Mrs.McGregor.”

“好了，你们去玩儿吧，一定要记住我说的话。”

“Now run along,and remember what I have said.”

兔妈妈挎着篮子，拿着雨伞，穿过树林，来到了菜市 场。

Then Mummy Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella,and went through the wood to the market.

弗洛普西、默普西和棉球尾都是听话的小兔子，他们沿着小路采起了黑莓。

Flopsy, Mopsy,Cotton-tail, who were good little rabbits, went down the lane to gather blackberries.

比得很淘气，他跑到了麦格先生的菜园，从栅栏的缝隙钻了进去。

But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr.McGregor's garden, and squeezed between the gap of the fences!

比得先吃了一些青菜，然后又啃起了胡萝卜。

First Peter ate some vegetables;and then he ate some carrots.

吃完后，他感觉还是没有吃饱，于是决定再找点儿莴苣吃。

Afterwards, he still felt hungry, and then he decided to find some lettuce to eat.

可是，当他绕过黄瓜架的尽头时，非常不幸，他竟然撞上了麦格先生。

But round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!

麦格先生正跪在地上挖卷心菜，但是当他看见了比得后，立刻跳起来追赶。他挥舞着手中的耙子，边追边喊：“站住，你这个小偷！”

Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter when he saw him, waving a rake and calling out, “Stop thief !”

比得害怕极了，他拼命在菜园里四处乱窜，因为他不记得出去的路了。慌乱中，他的一只鞋子跑丢了。

在经过土豆地时，他的另外一只鞋子也跑丢了。

Peter was very frightened; he rushed all over the garden,for he had forgotten the way back to the gate. He lost one of his shoes when he ran out.

And the other shoe amongst the potatoes.

鞋子丢了后，比得的小腿儿跑得更快了，眼看他就可以溜掉了，却被可恶的树枝勾住了上衣的纽扣。

After losing shoes, he ran faster, so that he thought he might have got away altogether, but the branches got caught by the buttons on his jacket.

比得觉得自己肯定完了，他伤心得哭了起来。几只热心的麻雀听到了，“叽叽喳喳”地飞过来，他们鼓励比得赶快跑。

Peter thought he must be dead! He was so sad and shed big tears. Just then, some friendly sparrows, flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to escape fast.

麦格先生拿着个大筛子走了过来，他想用筛子罩住比得。比得猛地一跳，挣脱了。可是，由于挣脱时太用力了，他的上衣被留在身后。比得只好光着身子逃走了。

Mr. McGregor came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter went out by jumping vigorously just in time, leaving his jacket behind him. He could only run out with his naked body.

慌乱中，比得冲进了工具房，跳进一个喷壶里。但是喷壶里有很多水。

Peter rushed into a tool-shed, and jumped into a watering can. But it had much water in it.

麦格先生追到工具房，他小心翼翼地翻开花盆，一个接一个地查看。

Mr. McGregor chased to the toolshed, he began to turn the flower pot over carefully,looking under each.

麦格先生发现了比得，立刻跑了过来。比得从打开的窗户跳了出去，还弄翻了几盆花。麦格先生追累了，不想再追了，于是就回去干活儿了。

Mr. McGregor found Peter and ran to him. Peter jumped out from a opening window, knocking over some flower pots. Mr. McGregor was so tired to run after Peter. He went back to his work.

比得坐在地上，吓得浑身发抖，上气不接下气地喘着粗气，浑身都湿透了。

Peter sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and soaked all over.

比得四处游荡，他看到一扇门，不过，门是锁着的。

Peter began to wander about. He found a door,but it was locked.

这时，有一只老鼠从门口经过。比得说：“请问菜园的大门在哪里呢？”老鼠的嘴里塞着一颗很大的豆子，他没办法回答，只好摇了摇头。比得伤心得哭了起来。

A mouse was running passed the door. Peter asked:“Where is the gate of the garden, please?” But the mouse had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter was so sad and he began to cry.

比得来到麦格先生打水的池塘边，有一只白猫盯着池塘中的金鱼。比得没有和他说话。

Peter came to a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water-cans, a white cat was staring at some gold-fishes. Peter didn't speak with him.

比得只好返回工具房。这时他突然听到“咔嚓、咔嚓”的声音，吓得赶紧钻到灌木丛下面。

Peter went back towards the tool-shed, but suddenly,quite close to him, he heard the noise of a hoe-scr-rritch, scratch, scratch, scritch.Peter scuttered underneath the bushes.

过了一会儿，比得又钻出来，爬上一辆独轮手推车。比得还看到了麦格先生，还好他背对着比得，正在挖洋葱，而不远处就是大门！

Afte rwards, he came out, and climbed upon a wheelbarrow.Peter saw Mr. McGregor was hoeing onions. His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate!

比得轻轻地跳下手推车，沿着小路，拼命地向菜园跑去。等到麦格先生发现时，比得已经来到了门边上，他“嗖”地一下从大门底下钻了出去，回到了菜园外的树林里。

Peter got down very quietly off the wheelbarrow; and started running as fast as he could go, along a straight walk to the garden. When Mr. McGregor caught sight of him, he already arrived by the gate, and he slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.

比得丢下的衣服和鞋子，被麦格先生挂了起来，用来吓唬偷吃的小鸟。

Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.

比得一口气跑回了大树下的家。

P eter never stopp ed running till he got home under the big fir-tree.

比得累坏了，他一进门就倒在了松软的沙地上休息。兔妈妈正在做晚饭，她顺势看了一眼比得，发现比得的衣服又不见了。

Peter was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor to have a rest. His mother was busy cooking; she caught a glimpse of Peter and wondered why he lost his clothes again.

可怜的比得生病了。兔妈妈把他抱上了床，还给他煮了甘菊茶。

Peter was sick. His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea for him.

弗洛普西、默普西、棉球尾享用了丰盛的晚餐，有牛奶、面包，还有好吃的黑莓。

But Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper. j1jTdocZ5iiX0kFAeSEWB9yRg/Hklb7GZnYy60uQYrtRUPM1SuKOWIcrhdgrsxp5