be invited?” asked the raven.

“全世界的人都可以來參加這場盛大的舞會，甚至人類，如果他們能在睡夢中說話，或者能像我們一樣做點什麼事的話。但對於宴會，賓客必須精心挑選；我們只能接納地位高貴的人；我自己就和精靈王爭論過，因為他認為我們不能接納鬼魂。首先必須邀請人魚和他的女兒，雖然讓他們在陸地上待那麼久可能不太樂意，但會給他們準備一塊潮溼的石頭讓他們坐，或者也許會有更好的安排；所以我覺得他們這次不會拒絕的。”

“All the world may e to the great ball, even human beings, if they can only talk in their sleep, or do something after our fashion. but for the feast the pany must be carefully selected; we can only admit persons of high rank; I have had a dispute myself with the elf king, as he thought we could not admit ghosts. the merman and his daughter must be invited first, although it may not be agreeable to them to remain so long on dry land, but they shall have a feel wet stone to sit on, or perhaps something better; so I think they will not refuse this time.

我們必須邀請所有一流的老惡魔，長著尾巴的那種，還有小妖精和小鬼；然後我覺得我們不該漏掉死神之馬，或者墳場之豬，甚至連教堂小矮人也不能落下，雖然他們隸屬於神職人員，不算在我們族類裡；但那只是他們的職務，他們和我們關係很近，還經常來拜訪我們呢。”

we must have all the old demons of the first class, with tails, and the hobgoblins and imps; and then I think we ought not to leave out the death-horse, or the grave-pig, or even the church dwarf, although they do belong to the clergy, and are not reckoned among our people; but that is merely their office, they are nearly related to us, and visit us very frequently.”

“呱，” 夜鴉叫了一聲，就帶著請柬飛走了。

“croak,” said the night-raven as he flew away with the invitations.

小精靈少女們已經在小精靈山丘上跳舞了，她們披著用月光和薄霧織成的披肩跳舞，對於喜歡這類東西的人來說，看上去非常漂亮。

the elfin maidens we’re a