The Lover's Errand
恋人的使命
So the strong will prevailed, and Alden went on his errand,
于是强大的一方获胜
Out of the street of the village, and into the paths of the forest,
走出村里的街道，走进树林里的小路，
Into the tranquil woods, where bluebirds and robins were building
走在幽静的林间，蓝鸟和知更鸟在树丛中建造着
Towns in the populous trees, with hanging gardens of verdure,
熙熙攘攘的城镇，悬吊着翠绿的园林，
Peaceful, aerial cities of joy and affection and freedom.
安详轻盈的城市，充满快乐友爱和自由。
All around him was calm, but within him commotion and conflict,
他的周遭一切平静，而他的内心矛盾激荡，
Love contending with friendship, and self with each generous impulse.
爱情与友谊斗争，私心与每一次慷慨的冲动较量。
To and fro in his breast his thoughts were heaving and dashing,
胸中往复的是他的思绪起伏冲撞，
As in a foundering ship, with every roll of the vessel,
就像一艘漏船，船身的每一次摇晃，
Washes the bitter sea, the merciless surge of the ocean!
都冲进苦涩的海水，这无情的海浪!
"Must I relinquish it all," he cried with a wild lamentation,
“我必须放弃一切吗，”他悲痛地呼叫，－－
"Must I relinquish it all, the joy, the hope, the illusion?
“我必须放弃一切吗，快乐，希望，幻想?
Was it for this I have loved, and waited, and worshipped in silence?
难道就是为了这个结局，我一直爱着，等着，默默地崇拜着?
Was it for this I have followed the flying feet and the shadow
难道就是为了这个结局，我追随自己的飞足和影子
Over the wintry sea, to the desolate shores of New England?
穿越寒冬的大洋，来到新英格兰荒凉的海岸?
Truly the heart is deceitful, and out of its depths of corruption
我的心真会骗人，在堕落的深处
Rise, like an exhalation, the misty phantoms of passion;
似呼出一口气，升起迷雾幻影般的热情；
Angels of light they seem, but are only delusions of Satan.
它们看似光明的天使，其实只是撒旦惑人的假象。
All is clear to me now; I feel it, I see it distinctly!
现在一切都清楚了；我真切地触摸到，看到了!
This is the hand of the Lord; it is laid upon me in anger,
这是主的手；愤怒地降于我身，
For I have followed too much the heart's desires and devices,
因为我太过听从私心的欲求，
Worshipping Astaroth blindly, and impious idols of Baal.
盲目崇拜恶魔亚斯她录，和巴力神的异教徒。
This is the cross I must bear; the sin and the swift retribution."
这是我必须背负的十字架恶魔在身边图片，罪孽和即刻应验的惩罚。”
So through the Plymouth woods John Alden went on his errand;
穿过普利茅斯的树林，约翰 奥尔登去行他的使命。
Crossing the brook at the ford, where it brawled over pebble and shallow,
跨过浅滩上的溪流，溪水在卵石和浅沟间喧哗，
Gathering still, as he went, the May-flowers blooming around him,
而一路上，五月花在他身边盛开，
Fragrant, filling the air with a strange and wonderful sweetness,
馥郁，将空气注满奇异美妙的甘甜，
Children lost in the woods, and covered with leaves in their slumber.
失落在树林里的孩子们，盖着树叶沉沉睡去。
"Puritan flowers," he said, "and the type of Puritan maidens,
“清教徒之花，”他说，“是清教徒少女的标志，
Modest and simple and sweet, the very type of Priscilla!
谦逊朴素而甜美，正是普丽西拉的标志!
So I will take them to her; to Priscilla the Mayflower of Plymouth,
那我要把这些花带给她，带给普利茅斯的五月花普丽西拉，
Modest and simple and sweet, as a parting gift will I take them;
谦逊朴素而甜美，我要把它们作为分手的礼物；
Breathing their silent farewells, as they fade and wither and perish,
它们褪色凋谢死亡，就是在致以无声的告别，
Soon to be thrown away as is the heart of the giver."
不久即被抛弃，就像馈赠者的心。”
So through the Plymouth woods John Alden went on his errand;
穿过普利茅斯的树林，约翰 奥尔登去行他的使命；
Came to an open space, and saw the disk of the ocean,
来到一片空地，看见浑圆的海面，
Sailless, sombre and cold with the comfortless breath of the east-wind;
没有一片帆，阴郁寒冷，东风吹得让人难受；
Saw the new-built house, and people at work in a meadow;
看见新盖的房舍，人们在草地上劳作；
Heard, as he drew near the door, the musical voice of Priscilla
听见了，当他靠近房门，普丽西拉美妙动听的声音
Singing the hundredth Psalm, the grand old Puritan anthem,
在唱着第一百篇赞美诗，那宏大古老的清教圣歌，
Music that Luther sang to the sacred words of the Psalmist,
是路德以赞美诗作者神圣的词句唱出的音乐，
Full of the breath of the Lord, consoling and comforting many.
充满主的气息，安抚慰藉着众人。
Then, as he opened the door, he beheld the form of the maiden
然后，他推开房门，他看到少女的人
Seated beside her wheel, and the carded wool like a snow-drift
就坐在纺线轮旁，缠好的羊毛线团像雪堆一样
Piled at her knee, white hands feeding the ravenous spindle,
叠在她的腿边恶魔在身边主题曲，洁白的双手牵动饥渴的纺锤，
While with her foot on the treadle she guided the wheel in its motion.
脚踩踏板，操纵着纺轮的转动。
Open wide on her lap lay the well-worn psalm-book of Ainsworth,
她的腿上平铺着著名的安斯沃思赞美诗，
Printed in Amsterdam, the words and the music together,
阿姆斯特丹印刷，歌词与音乐一起，
Rough-hewn, angular notes, like stones in the wall of a churchyard,
粗犷，生硬的音符，像墓地围墙上的石头般，
Darkened and overhung by the running vine of the verses.
晦暗，覆盖着倒悬的诗句的藤蔓。
Such was the book from whose pages she sang the old Puritan anthem,
就是从这样的书页上，她唱着古老的清教圣歌，
She, the Puritan girl, in the solitude of the forest,
她，清教徒女孩，独自一人在树林里，
Making the humble house and the modest apparel of homespun
住着简陋的房子，做着手织的朴素衣装
Beautiful with her beauty, and rich with the wealth of her being!
因她的美而美，以她的人而贵!
Over him rushed, like a wind that is keen and cold and relentless,
像一阵风袭过，锐利冰冷残酷，
Thoughts of what might have been, and the weight and woe of his errand:
他想到原本的种种可能，还有所负使命的沉痛：
All the dreams that had faded, and all the hopes that had vanished,
所有的梦想都退去，所有的希望都消散，
All his life henceforth a dreary and tenant-less mansion,
从今以后他的生命如同一所无人居住的凄凉大宅，
Haunted by vain regrets, and pallid, sorrowful faces.
只有徒然的悔恨，和苍白忧伤的鬼脸出没。
Still he said to himself, and almost fiercely he said it,
但他仍然告诫自己，几乎是狂躁地说，
"Let not him that putteth his hand to the plough look backwards;
“不要让那手扶耕犁的人回头张望；
Though the ploughshare cut through the flowers of life to its fountains,
就算犁头割倒生命之花切断生命之源，
Though it pass o'er the graves of the dead and the hearths of the living,
就算犁过死者的墓碑和生者的灶台，
It is the will of the Lord; and his mercy endureth forever!"
这是主的意志，他的慈悲永存!”
So he entered the house: and the hum of the wheel and the singing
于是他走进房间：纺轮的嗡鸣与歌声
Suddenly ceased; for Priscilla, aroused by his step on the threshold,
陡然停止；普丽西拉，被他在门边的脚步声惊动，
Rose as he entered, and gave him her hand in signal of welcome,
站起身来恶魔在身边在线观看，向他伸出手以示欢迎，
Saying, "I knew it was you, when I heard your step in the passage;
说，“听见过道的脚步声，我就知道是你，
For I was thinking of you, as I sat there singing and spinning."
因为我正想到你，边纺织边唱歌。”
Awkward and dumb with delight, that a thought of him had been mingled
喜悦却笨拙地说不出话来，对他的想念
Thus in the sacred psalm, that came from the heart of the maiden,
居然编织在神圣的赞美诗里，来自少女的心底，
Silent before her he stood, and gave her the flowers for an answer,
他站在她面前无语，把鲜花递给她作为回答，
Finding no words for his thought. He remembered that day in the winter,
找不到语言来表达想法。他记起冬日的那天，
After the first great snow, when he broke a path from the village,
第一场大雪过后，他从村子里开出一条道来，
Reeling and plunging along through the drifts that encumbered the doorway,
跌跌撞撞地蹒跚走过堵在门前的雪堆，
Stamping the snow from his feet as he entered the house, and Priscilla
边跺着脚上的雪，边跨进房门，普丽西拉
Laughed at his snowy locks, and gave him a seat by the fireside,
笑他雪花落了满头，让他坐在炉火近前，
Grateful and pleased to know he had thought of her in the snow-storm.
因他在暴风雪里想着她而感激而欢喜。
Had he but spoken then! perhaps not in vain had he spoken;
但愿他那时说出了自己的爱慕! 也许说出来不一定会失败；
Now it was all too late; the golden moment had vanished!
现在一切都迟了；那宝贵的一刻已经消逝!
So he stood there abashed, and gave her the flowers for an answer.
于是他窘迫地站着，把鲜花递给她作为回答。
Then they sat down and talked of the birds and the beautiful Spring-time,
接着他们坐下，谈着鸟儿和美丽的春光，
Talked of their friends at home, and the Mayflower that sailed on the morrow.
谈着故园的朋友，和第二天就要启航的五月花。
"I have been thinking all day," said gently the Puritan maiden,
“我想了一整天，”清教徒女孩轻声说，
"Dreaming all night, and thinking all day, of the hedge-rows of England,
“梦了一整夜，又想了一整天，英格兰的田篱，－－
They are in blossom now, and the country is all like a garden:
现在该开花了，整个田野像座花园：
Thinking of lanes and fields, and the song of the lark and the linnet,
想着道路和田地，百灵鸟和朱雀的歌唱，
Seeing the village street, and familiar faces of neighbors
看到村里的街道
 |
 |
 |
 |
Going about as of old, and stopping to gossip together,
像往日一样走过，停下闲聊几句，
And, at the end of the street, the village church, with the ivy
还有街道尽头，村里的教堂，常春藤
Climbing the old gray tower, and the quiet graves in the churchyard.
爬上老旧的灰塔，墓地里宁静的坟冢。
Kind are the people I live with, and dear to me my religion;
一起生活的人们多么善良，我又多么挚爱我的信仰；
Still my heart is so sad, that I wish myself back in Old England.
可我的心还是这么忧伤，真希望自己又回到老英格兰。
You will say it is wrong, but I cannot help it: I almost
你会说这不对，但我忍不住：我简直
Wish myself back in Old England, I feel so lonely and wretched."
希望自己又回到老英格兰，我是这样的孤单不幸。”
Thereupon answered the youth: "Indeed I do not condemn you;
年轻人答道：“真的我不责怪你；
Stouter hearts that a woman's have quailed in this terrible winter.
再坚强的女人，她的心也在这可怖的冬天面前畏缩。
Yours is tender and trusting, and needs a stronger to lean on;
你的心柔弱轻信，需要依靠强者；
So I have come to you now, with an offer and proffer of marriage
所以我现在来找你，带来一个人求婚的提议
Made by a good man and true, Miles Standish the Captain of Plymouth!"
他就是好心真诚的迈尔斯 斯坦迪什，普利茅斯的首领!”
Thus he delivered his message, the dexterous writer of letters,
就这样他传达了他的消息恶魔在身边24，文字的巧妙书写者，－－
Did not embellish the theme, nor array it in beautiful phrases,
没有主题的修饰，也没有华丽的词句排列，
But came straight to the point, and blurted it out like a school-boy;
而是直奔主题，像个学生男孩一样冲口而出；
Even the Captain himself could hardly have said it more bluntly.
就算上校自己也不会说得更坦率唐突。
Mute with amazement and sorrow, Priscilla the Puritan maiden
在惊讶与哀伤中沉默了，普丽西拉清教徒女孩
Looked into Alden's face, her eyes dilated with wonder,
看着奥尔登的脸，睁大惊奇的眼睛，
Feeling his words like a blow, that stunned her and rendered her speechless;
他的话像沉重的一击，令她晕眩使她哑口无言；
Till at length she exclaimed, interrupting the ominous silence:
终于她惊叫出声，打破了不祥的寂静：
"If the great Captain of Plymouth is so very eager to wed me,
“如果普利茅斯了不起的首领那么渴望娶我，
Why does he not come himself, and take the trouble to woo me?
为什么他不自己来，费心向我求爱?
If I am not worth the wooing, I surely am not worth the winning!"
如果我不值得他的求爱，那我也不值得他来赢我的心!”
Then John Alden began explaining and smoothing the matter,
约翰 奥尔登这才开始解释，以弥补转圜，
Making it worse as he went, by saying the Captain was busy,
却越弄越糟，说上校太忙，－－
Had no time for such things such things! the words grating harshly
没有时间做这些事－－这些事! 粗暴刺耳的字眼
Fell on the ear of Priscilla; and swift as a flash she made answer:
钻进普丽西拉的耳朵；她的回答迅速像白光一闪：
"Has he not time for such things, as you call it, before he is married,
“他要是婚前没有时间做这些事，就像你说的，
Would he be likely to find it, or make it, after the wedding?
那结婚之后，他有可能找到时间，甚至挤出时间吗?
That is the way with you men; you don't understand us, you cannot.
你们男人就是这样；你们不理解我们，你们不能理解。
When you have made up your minds, after thinking of this one and that one,
当你们下了决心，经过了这样那样的思考，
Choosing, selecting, rejecting, comparing one with another,
选择，挑拣，拒绝，比较，
Then you make known your desire, with abrupt and sudden avowal,
然后你们宣布你们的欲望，发表突兀的声明，
And are offended and hurt, and indignant perhaps, that a woman
然后觉得被冒犯伤害了，也许还会愤怒恶魔在身边开头曲，因为一个女人
Does not respond at once to a love that she never suspected,
对她从未猜想过的一份爱没有立刻回报，
Does not attain at a bound the height to which you have been climbing.
没有一跃就达到你们已经攀越的高度。
This is not right nor just: for surely a woman's affection
这不正常也不公平：因为一个女人的感情绝
Is not a thing to be asked for, and had for only the asking.
不是可以要求的，也不是仅凭要求就能得到的。
When one is truly in love, one not only says it, but shows it.
当一个人真的爱着，他不光口说，还会表现出来。
Had he but waited awhile, had he only showed that he loved me,
假如他等一段时间，假如他表现出爱我，
Even this Captain of yours who knows? at last might have won me,
就算是你的这位上校－－谁知道呢?－－最终也许会赢得我，
Old and rough as he is; but now it never can happen."
甚至年老粗鲁如他；但现在这绝不可能了。”
Still John Alden went on, unheeding the words of Priscilla,
而约翰 奥尔登还在继续，不顾普丽西拉的话，
Urging the suit of his friend, explaining, persuading, expanding;
力陈朋友的请求，解释，劝说，详细展开；
Spoke of his courage and skill, and of all his battles in Flanders,
说他的勇气和能力，他在法兰德斯的战斗，
How with the people of God he had chosen to suffer affliction;
他怎样与上帝的子民一起共患难；
How, in return for his zeal, they had made him Captain of Plymouth;
又是怎样，为了报答他的忠诚，他们让他作普利茅斯的首领；
He was a gentleman born, could trace his pedigree plainly
他出身绅士家庭，血统可以明白无误地上溯到
Back to Hugh Standish of Duxbury Hall, in Lancashire, England,
英国兰开夏郡达克斯伯利城堡的休 斯坦迪什，
Who was the son of Ralph, and the grandson of Thurston de Standish;
拉尔夫的儿子，图斯顿 德 斯坦迪什的孙子；
Heir unto vast estates of which he was basely defrauded,
继承了大片地产却被卑鄙地欺骗，
Still bore the family arms, and had for his crest a cock argent,
他仍然带着家传的武器，头盔上饰有一只银鸡，
Combed and wattled gules, and all the rest of the blazon.
红色的鸡冠和肉垂，还有所有的家徽纹章。
He was a man of honor, of noble and generous nature;
这个男人集荣誉，高贵与慷慨的品格于一身；
Thought he was rough, he was kindly; she knew how during the winter
以为他粗鲁，其实他和蔼；她了解，在冬天
He had attended the sick, with a hand as gentle as a woman's'
他曾经用妇人般温柔的手恶魔在身边片头曲，怎样地照顾病人，
Somewhat hasty and hot, he could not deny it, and headstrong,
不可否认，他有些匆忙激动，甚至顽固，
Stern as a soldier might be, but hearty, and placable always,
严厉，正如一个战士会有的性情，但总是诚恳，宽大，
Not to be laughed at and scorned, because he was little of stature;
不能因为他身形短小，就加以蔑视和嘲笑；
For he was great of heart, magnanimous, courtly, courageous;
他心怀博大，宽宏大量，彬彬有礼，勇敢坚强；
Any woman in Plymouth, nay, any woman in England,
普利茅斯的任何一个女人，不，英格兰的任何一个女人，
Might be happy and proud to be called the wife of Miles Standish!
都会以迈尔斯 斯坦迪什妻子的称号而幸福骄傲!
But as he warmed and glowed, in his simple and eloquent language,
但是，当他激动起来红光焕发，用他简洁雄辩的语言，
Quite forgetful of self, and full of the praise of his rival,
完全忘记了自己，满口对情敌的赞扬，
Archly the maiden smiled, and, with eyes overrunning with laughter,
少女顽皮地微笑，眼里溢出欢喜，
Said, in a tremulous voice, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?"
用战栗的声音说道，“为什么不为你自己说话，约翰?”
>>>QQ470681378
