《HP官方资料翻译集（物品篇）》霁随心

78、梅林爵士团勋章

　　【Pottermore中关于梅林爵士团勋章（Order of Merlin）的内容】
　　（翻译参考了哈利波特与魔法石吧《【Pottermore翻译】《哈利波特12个新故事》圣诞节新资料 罗琳》）

　　梅林爵士团勋章（有时被简写为O.M.）由威森加摩授予，威森加摩成立时间早于魔法部，现在作为法庭兼议会行使职能。这一勋章由一块优质的金奖章佩以相应颜色的缎带组成，缎带颜色有绿色（一级勋章）、紫色（二级勋章）或白色（三级勋章）。
　　梅林是他所处的年代最为著名的巫师，为了纪念他，人们从十五世纪开始颁发梅林爵士团勋章。传说，一级勋章上面的绿色缎带代表了梅林在霍格沃茨的所属学院。
　　一级勋章授予在魔法领域“展现出尤为出色的勇气或才华”的人，二级勋章授予具有“突出的成就或努力”的人，三级勋章授予“在学术或娱乐方面做出贡献”的人。
　　受魔法部欢迎的人，得到梅林爵士团勋章的次数，尤其是更高级别勋章的次数，远比一般人所想的要多，这对于这种令人梦寐以求的奖项来说是十分常见的现象。尽管没人会质疑阿不思·邓布利多因击败黑巫师格林德沃的贡献而得到他的O.M.（一级），但当魔法部长康奈利·福吉为自己授予O.M.（一级）时，巫师社会充满了抱怨，人们认为他在任时的表现并不出色到足以获此殊荣。另一些并不称职的最高级勋章获得者包括小天狼星·布莱克的祖父阿克图卢斯·布莱克，他被广泛认为是通过贷款给魔法部一大堆金子而买到了这个勋章。

　　Order of Merlin
By J.K. Rowling

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).
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.
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.’
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.