This staff, in fact, was the oddest-looking staff that Philemon had ever seen.
事实上，这根手杖是菲利蒙见过的样子最奇怪的手杖。
It was made of olive-wood, and had something like a pair of wings near the top.
它是用橄榄木做的，接近顶部的地方有一双像翅膀的东西。
Two snakes carved in the wood were twining themselves about the staff.
雕刻在木头上的两条蛇缠绕在手杖上。
Old Philemon almost thought them alive, and that he could see them wriggling and twisting.
老菲利蒙几乎认为它们是活的，而且他能看见它们正在蠕动盘绕。
"A curious piece of work, sure enough!" said he.
果真是一件奇怪的艺术品，他说。
"A staff with wings! It would be an excellent kind of stick for a little boy to ride astride of!"
长着翅膀的手杖！让一个小男孩骑在这根手杖上的话会很好！
By this time Philemon and his two guests had reached the cottage door.
这时，菲利蒙和他的两个客人已经到了小屋门口。
"Friends," said the old man, "sit down and rest yourselves here on this bench.
朋友们，老人说，坐在这个板凳上休息一下吧。
My good wife, Baucis, has gone to see what you can have for supper.
我善良的妻子柏西斯已经去看你们的晚饭有什么能吃的。
We are poor folks; but you shall be welcome to whatever we have in the cupboard."
我们是穷人；但是无论我们食橱里有什么，你们都可以随意吃。
The younger stranger threw himself carelessly on the bench, letting his staff fall as he did so.
那个年轻一点儿的陌生人径直坐在板凳上，同时把他的手杖也随意一放。
And here happened something rather marvelous.
这时发生了非常奇妙的事情。
The staff seemed to get up from the ground!
那根手杖好像从地上站起来了！
Spreading its little pair of wings, it half hopped, half flew, and leaned itself against the wall of the cottage.
它张开那双小翅膀，半跳半飞的靠在了小屋的墙上。
There it stood quite still, except that the snakes continued to wriggle.
它在那里非常安静的站着，除了那两条蛇在继续蠕动。
