束樛

原标题：Order of Merlin

The Order of Merlin (sometimes abbreviated to O.M.) is awarded by the Wizengamot, an organisation that predates the Ministry of Magic and nowadays functions as a combination of court and parliament. The Order comprises a handsome golden medal on a green ribbon (First Class), purple ribbon (Second Class) or white ribbon (Third Class).

梅林勋章（有时缩写为O.M.）由威森加摩（即最高巫师法庭，兼具议会与法庭的职能）颁布。勋章由一枚漂亮的金质奖章与绶带构成；其中，绿色绶带为一级梅林勋章，紫色绶带为二级梅林勋章，白色绶带为三级梅林勋章。

The Order of Merlin, commemorating the most famous wizard of his time, has been given since the fifteenth century. Legend says that the green ribbon, on which the First Class Order hangs, is to reflect Merlin's Hogwarts house.

梅林勋章是在十五世纪时，为了纪念最具名望的巫师梅林而颁布的。有传言说，一级梅林勋章上的绿色绶带象征着梅林在霍格沃茨时所待的学院——斯莱特林。

The First Class Order is awarded ‘for acts of outstanding bravery or distinction’ in magic, the Second Class is awarded for ‘achievement or endeavour beyond the ordinary’ and the Third Class is given to those who ‘have made a contribution to our store of knowledge or entertainment.’

一级梅林勋章通常被颁发给那些“做出了杰出的魔法贡献或英勇行为”的巫师，二级梅林勋章被颁发给“实现了非凡的成就或做出了常人不敢于挑战的尝试”的巫师，三级梅林勋章则被授予那些“在知识或娱乐领域做出过卓越贡献”的巫师。

As often happens with such highly coveted awards, Ministry of Magic favourites seem to receive the Order of Merlin, especially the higher classes, more often than one might expect. While nobody argued when Albus Dumbledore received his O.M. (First Class) for defeating the Dark wizard Grindelwald, there was a good deal of muttering in the wizarding community when Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, awarded himself an O.M. (First Class) for a career that many considered less than distinguished. Other less worthy recipients of the highest class of Order include Arcturus Black, Sirius Black's grandfather, who was widely believed to have bought it by loaning the Ministry a large amount of gold.

正如其他令人向往的最高荣誉一样，与魔法部关系密切的人似乎更容易获得此项勋章——尤其是魔法部高层。当阿布斯·邓布利多因击败黑巫师格林德沃受勋时，没人对此表达异议；但当魔法部长康奈利·福吉为自己“卓越”的工作贡献（很少有人认可这一点）授予一级梅林勋章时，人们都在私下议论他的以权谋私。其他被认为不合理的勋章获得者中，包括了阿克图卢斯·布莱克——小天狼星·布莱克的祖父，人们普遍认为他是因为借给了魔法部巨额金加隆才获得了此项殊荣。