He was too old to work now, but he loved to sing, and used all of his free time to make up songs.

他已經老到沒辦法工作了，但他喜歡唱歌，閒著沒事就哼歌。

Hew-haw! Hew-haw! The roosters are in the chicken pen! Hew-haw!

依齁齁～嗚呼呼～～公雞都在雞舍裡呀～～依齁～～嗚呼呼呼呼

One morning, the old donkey overheard the farmer and his wife talking about him.

某天早上，老驢子偷聽到農夫夫婦正在談他的事，

That donkey is really getting old. I think we should sell him.

「那隻驢子真的老了，我們應該把他賣掉。」

You're right. He isn't much use here, and we could use the money for a new table.

「你說的對，他已經沒什麼用處了，我們可以拿換來的錢買新桌子。」

Hearing this, the donkey realized he couldn't stay any longer.

一聽到這個，驢子發現此地不宜久留，

He made up his mind and ran away from the farm that very day.

於是當天他就下定決心逃離農場。

As he trotted down the road, the donkey thought about what he would do now.

跑出來的路上，驢子想了想接下來該怎麼辦。

I am free to choose my own way now. I will go to Bremen and become a singer!

「現在我可以自由選擇去路了，我要去不來梅（德國城市），成為歌手！依齁齁～」

He came upon an old dog, sitting alone by the side of the road.

他撞見一隻老狗，獨自坐在路邊。

Hey, are you alright? Why are you so sad?

「嘿，你還好嗎？怎麼這麼鬱卒啊？」

My master has thrown me out. He thinks I am too old to be a guard dog.

「我的主人把我轟出來，他覺得我太老，不適合看家了。」

Oh...Well don't despair! Come with me to Bremen!

「這樣啊...別灰心，跟我一起去不來梅吧！」

Bremen?

「不來梅？」

That's right. We will form our own troupe and sing together!

「沒錯！我們一起組團唱歌！」

The dog liked the idea and joined the Donkey on his way to Bremen.

狗狗喜歡這個點子，就和驢子一同前往不來梅。

Soon, they became good friends and sang together.

沒多久，他們就成為一起歌唱的好朋友了。

The cow in the barn goes "Moo, Moo"...

「棚子裡的乳牛哞～哞～叫～」

Singing as they walked along they met a rooster and a cat.

他們邊走邊唱，路上又遇見公雞和小貓。

Where are you two headed? What are you doing here?

「你們兩個要去哪裡呀？在這裡做什麼？」

My master was cruel to me, so I had to run away from home.

「我的主人對我超壞，我只好離家出走。」

「Me too. We were just deciding where we should go.」

「我也是，我們剛剛在討論該何去何從。」

Excellent! Come with us, then!

「讚啦！那就加入我們吧！」

But where are you going?

「但你們要去哪呀？」

We are off to Bremen.

「我們要去不來梅。」

And so the four of them set off for Bremen singing together.

於是一行人就邊唱邊走，出發前往不來梅。

The cow in the barn goes "Moo, moo"!

「棚子裡的乳牛哞～哞～叫～」

By nightfall, they were almost in Bremen, but needed somewhere to stop for the night.

夜幕低垂，他們已經快到不來梅了，但仍得先找個地方住下過夜。

They saw a house with lights in the windows. Coming closer, they heard raised voices.

他們看見一間房子，燈火通明，往前靠近，聽見裡頭有聲音。

Oh, I can feel a delicious smell from inside. I am so hungry. Maybe we could ask them for some food?

「我聞到裡頭飄出來的香味了！我好餓，我們去要一點食物好不好？」

No, wait here. Let me take a look first, Ok?

「不，你們在這裡等，我先去看一下，好嗎？」

The donkey looked through the window and was surprised by what he saw.

驢子從窗戶看見令他驚訝的景象。

Ha ha ha! Look at that, we are rich now! You've done well today. Eat as much as you like.

「哼嘿嘿嘿！你看看，我們現在超有錢！你們今天做得很好，想吃多少就吃多少。」

Thank you, boss. Dig in!

「謝謝老闆，開動！」

The house actually served as headquarters for a band of thieves.

原來這個房子是一幫小偷的基地，

The animals talked the situation over and came up with a plan.

動物們討論完現況，想了一個辦法。

Draping themselves in a white sheet,

他們拿白布把自己罩起來，

the climbed one on top of another and stood outside the door making lots of noise.

爬到別人頭上疊羅漢，站在門外製造噪音。

Hew-haw; bow-wow; meow, meow; cock-a-doodle-doo!

「依齁～旺旺～喵喵～狗狗ㄍㄝ～～！」

The thieves were frightened and confused.

小偷們於是嚇個半死又覺得困惑，

Huh? What's all that racket?

「蛤？那些聲音是怎樣？」

Maybe it's a ghost!

「搞不好是鬼！」

What nonsense! There are no ghosts here.

「屁啦！這裡才沒有鬼勒。」

In fact, the Boss wasn't so sure himself.

其實，老闆也不是很確定。

You get out there and take a look!

「你去外面看一看！」

M..Me?

「我... 我我我...我？」

Just at that instant the animals burst into the house, still wrapped in their white sheet

就在此時，動物們闖進屋裡，他們依然裹著一塊白布，

and continued making noise.

持續製造噪音。

It's a monster!

「有怪獸！」

It's worse, it's a ghost!!! Yikes! Let's get out of this place!

「不，比這更慘，是鬼啊！矮一ㄜˊ！我們快離開這裡！」

The thieves rushed out of the house.

小偷們衝出房子。

As soon as the thieves cleared out, the animals removed their sheet

小偷跑光後，動物們把白布拿開，

and shared a good laugh.

歡笑連連。

That was so easy!

「他們真好搞定！」

Let's have a feast to celebrate!

「我們來大吃一頓慶祝吧！」

A brilliant idea! This house belongs to us now.

「好主意！房子現在歸我們了。」

Let's go, I'm starving!

「走吧，我超餓的！」

The animals were used to eating the scraps their masters left in the barn or on the floor for them.

動物們以前都是吃主人放在棚裡或地上的剩菜剩飯，

Now, they could have anything they wanted, and joyfully bit into all the delicious food.

現在，他們想吃什麼就吃什麼，美食當前，大啖一番。

After enjoying a hearty meal, the animals settled down to sleep.

飽餐一頓後，動物們準備就寢，

The Cat volunteered for guard duty, nervous that the thieves could come back unexpectedly.

貓貓自願夜守小屋，惟恐那幫小偷無預警回來。

Go to sleep, and don't worry. I'm not used to sleeping at night in any case.

「去睡吧，別擔心。再怎麼說我也是隻不習慣晚上睡覺的夜貓子。」

Comfortable and content, the animals went to sleep.

舒適又滿足，動物們一一睡去。

In the meantime, the thieves gathered together in a nearby forest to discuss what had happened.

於此同時，那幫小偷聚在鄰近的森林裡，討論剛剛發生的事。

I smell something fishy going on...

「我覺得事情有點不對勁...」

Yes, I was thinking the same, Boss!

「對，我也覺得耶老闆！」

What is it?

「是哪裡不對勁？」

I think the ghost was too white, or something.

「我覺得鬼太白了，之類的。」

That's nothing! I think I heard animal voices...

「有講跟沒講一樣！我覺得我有聽到動物聲。」

Oh....I think I did too.

「噢...我好像也有耶。」

Hey! Go back and take a look. There is definitely something very odd about this!

「欸！回去看看，一定事有蹊蹺！」

We will stay here and cover for you, and you come back with a report.

「我們在這幫你把風，你再回來報告。」

What, me?

「什麼，我嗎？」

Yes, you. Stop being a coward and do as I say!

「對，就是你。別再孬了，照我說的去做！」

The henchman lit a torch and began to creep up to the house.

這個小嘍囉點亮火把，緩慢走近那幢房子。

Suddenly, a gust of wind extinguished his light.

倏地，狂風吹滅火光。

Oh, no! Now what? If I turn back, the Boss will be angry with me.

「噢不！有事嗎？我如果回去，老闆會很氣我，」

I have to go on and see what's happening at the house.

「我得繼續前進，看看那房子怎麼了。」

Slowly, he snuck into the house.

他慢慢溜進屋子，

Squinting through the darkness, all he could see was a pair of bright red lights.

黑暗中瞇著眼，他只看見點點紅光。

Aaaaa! It's a monster!

「啊！是怪獸！」

He was too scared to realize that he was only seeing the eyes of the animals shining in the dark.

他被嚇壞了，沒能發現自己不過是看到動物們在黑暗中閃爍的眼眸罷了。

He tried to back out, but the animals all rushed straight at him.

他想要打退堂鼓，但動物們紛紛衝向他。

Ow! Oh, my leg! Help! Help!

「噢嗚，我的腿，救命阿！救命阿！」

The Donkey kicked hard at the thief with his strong hind legs and sent him flying.

驢子用強壯的後腿用力踢飛小偷，

The thief screamed as he flew through the air.

小偷在空中飛，一邊吶喊。

After that night, the thieves never came near that house again.

那晚過後，小偷就再也不靠近那間屋子了。

The animals took it for their own and called themselves The Bremen Town Musicians.

動物們把房子據為己有，稱自己是不來梅的城市樂手，

They all lived happily ever after.

從此過著快樂的日子。

Hew-haw; bow-wow; meow, meow; cock-a-doodle-doo!

「依齁～我是一隻狗～旺旺！喵喵～嘟嘟都斗～喵喵～啊嗚～～」