斯莱特林致辞:(3)
But we’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.
但是我们并不邪恶。我们只是喜欢我们的象征物——蛇:圆滑,强大,却总是被误解。
For instance, we Slytherins look after our own – which is more than you can say for Ravenclaw. Apart from being the biggest bunch of swots you ever met, Ravenclaws are famous for clambering over each other to get good marks, whereas we Slytherins are brothers. The corridors of Hogwarts can throw up surprises for the unwary, and you’ll be glad you’ve got the Serpents on your side as you move around the school. As far as we’re concerned, once you’ve become a snake, you’re one of ours – one of the elite.
打个比方,我们斯莱特林只关心自己,这一点比拉文克劳有过之而无不及。拉文克劳不仅是你们遇见过的最刻苦的,而且以学生之间为得高分而互相攀比踩踏扬名。而我们斯莱特林不同,我们彼此间是兄弟姐妹。霍格沃茨的走廊里大意的学生总是被欺负,而你们会很高兴有斯莱特林的蛇们伴你安然穿越学校。对我们而言,一旦你进入了斯莱特林,你就是我们的一员,精英中的一员。
Because you know what Salazar Slytherin looked for in his chosen students? The seeds of greatness. You’ve been chosen by this house because you’ve got the potential to be great, in the true sense of the word. All right, you might see a couple of people hanging around the common room whom you might not think are destined for anything special. Well, keep that to yourself. If the Sorting Hat put them in here, there’s something great about them, and don’t you forget it.