英國語文第五冊(雙語):撒克遜人和蓋爾人(2)
When, if thou wilt be still his foe,
如果他還把你們看成敵人，
Or if the King shall not agree
或者如果國王不同意
To grant thee grace and favour free,
還你們自由，
I plight mine honour, oath, and word,
我以我的榮譽和誓言作擔保，
That, to thy native strengths restored,
我會利用你們的力量，
With each advantage shalt thou stand
和你們所有的優(yōu)勢
That aids thee now to guard thy land."
來幫助你們守衛(wèi)自己的土地?！?/p>
Dark lightning flashed from Roderick's eye
羅德里克眼中閃過一絲黑色閃電
"Soars thy presumption, then, so high,“
你們可以傲慢得高高在上，
Because a wretched kern ye slew,
因為你們殺了一個可憐的步兵，
Homage to name to Roderick Dhu?
要在十二月向羅德里克致敬嗎？
He yields not, he, to man nor Fate!
他沒有向敵軍也沒有向命運屈服！
Thou add'st but fuel to my hate:—
你們激起了我的憎恨：——
My clansman's blood demands revenge.—
血債必須血償?！?/p>
Not yet prepared! Nay, then, I change
還沒有準備好復仇！不，隨后，
My thought, and hold thy valour light
我改變了主意，憑借你們英勇的光芒
As that of some vain carpet knight,
向自負的游手好閑的騎士復仇，
Who ill deserved my courteous care,
我會悉心照料你們生病的人，
And whose best boast is but to wear
你們最值得驕傲的事情不過是
A braid of his fair lady's hair."
—他美麗的新娘頭上那長發(fā)?！?/p>
"I thank thee, Roderick, for the word!“
羅德里克，我為你的誓言感謝你！
It nerves my heart, it steels my sword;
你的誓言使我的心中鼓足了勇氣，使我的劍變得更加堅硬；
For I have sworn this braid to stain
因為我曾立下誓言
In the best blood that warms thy vein.
要用我流淌的熱血染紅我的頭發(fā)。
Now, truce farewell! and ruth begone!—
現(xiàn)在，我們要和停戰(zhàn)說再見！我們不需要憐憫！
Yet think not that by thee alone，
我們大家和你想的都一樣，
Proud Chief! can courtesy be shown;
我們高尚的首領(lǐng)！表示出謙恭；
Though not from copse, or heath, or cairn,
雖然這不是來自小灌木林，也不是來自荒野或石堆，
Start at my whistle clansmen stern.
但卻是從我們斯特恩族人的哨聲開始。
Of this small horn one feeble blast
這個小喇叭一吹響
Would fearful odds against thee cast.
就會遭遇可怕的力量懸殊。
But fear not—doubt not—which thou wilt—
但是不要害怕——不要懷疑——這會讓你變得脆弱——
We try this quarrel hilt to hilt."
我們會和他們進行白刃戰(zhàn)。“
Then each at once his falchion drew;
然后每個人都會立馬拔出劍；
Each on the ground his scabbard threw;
將劍鞘扔在地上；
Each looked to sun, and stream, and plain,
看著太陽，溪流和平原，
As what he ne'er might see again;—
因為他們可能再也見不到這些了；——
Then foot, and point, and eye opposed,
然后大家向前走，短兵相接，四目相對，
In dubious strife they darkly closed.—
在戰(zhàn)斗中他們慢慢地閉上了眼。
Ill fared it then with Roderick Dhu
遇上羅德里克是他們得不幸
That on the field his targe he threw,
他在戰(zhàn)場上放倒一個個敵人，
Whose brazen studs and tough bull-hide
穿著黃銅甲和堅硬厚斜紋絨布的敵人
Had death so often dashed aside;
都倒在他的劍下，倒在路邊；
For, trained abroad his arms to wield,
因為菲特亞梅的軍隊在國外受過訓練，
Fitz-James's blade was sword and shield.
所以劍鋒盾硬。
He practised every pass and ward,
他每天練習
To thrust, to strike, to feint, to guard;
刺殺，砍殺，假動作和防御；
While, less expert, though stronger far,
雖然優(yōu)勢甚大，但是卻沒有那么專業(yè)，
The Gael maintained unequal war.
蓋爾人發(fā)動的是一場不平等的戰(zhàn)爭。
