the two last venerable old snails.

它們自己都不知道自己有多大年紀了，但它們清楚地記得曾經有過很多同類；它們來自異國他鄉的一個家族，這片整片森林都是為它們以及它們的同類而種的。

they themselves knew not how old they were, but they could remember very well that there had been many more; that they were of a family from foreign lands, and that for them and theirs the whole forest was planted.

它們從來沒出過這片林子，但它們知道世界上還有別的東西，有一種叫莊園的地方，在那兒它們會被煮熟，然後變黑，接著被放在銀盤子裡；但再往後會發生什麼它們就不知道了；或者說，實際上被煮熟然後放在銀盤子裡到底是怎麼回事，它們根本想象不出來；但據說那是很美妙的，而且特別高雅。

they had never been outside it, but they knew that there was still something more in the world, which was called the manor-house, and that there they were boiled, and then they became black, and were then placed on a silver dish; but what happened further they knew not; or, in fact, what it was to be boiled, and to lie on a silver dish, they could not possibly imagine; but it was said to be delightful, and particularly genteel.

它們問過金龜子、蟾蜍和蚯蚓，可它們誰也沒法給它們提供任何資訊 —— 它們當中沒有一個被煮過或者被放在銀盤子裡過。

Neither the chafers, the toads, nor the earth-worms, whom they asked about it could give them any information, — none of them had been boiled or laid on a silver dish.

這兩隻老白蝸牛覺得自己是世界上第一批有身份的傢伙；這片森林是為它們種的，那個莊園存在也是為了能把它們煮熟然後放在銀盤子裡。

the old white snails were the first persons of distinction in the world, that they knew; the forest was planted for their sake, and the manor-house was there that they might be boiled and laid on a silver dish.

現在它們過著非常孤獨卻又幸福的生活；由於它們自己沒有孩子，就收養了一隻普通的小蝸牛，把它當作親生的來撫養；