少年國王 The Young King

It was the night before the day fixed for his coronation, and the young King was sitting alone in his beautiful chamber. His courtiers had all taken their leave of him, bowing their heads to the ground, according to the ceremonious usage of the day, and had retired to the Great Hall of the Palace, to receive a few last lessons from the Professor of Etiquette; there being some of them who had still quite natural manners, which in a courtier is, I need hardly say, a very grave offence.

在加冕典禮的前一天晚上，少年國王獨(dú)自一人坐在他那間漂亮的房子里。他的大臣們按照當(dāng)時的禮節(jié)，頭朝地向他鞠了躬，便告辭而去。他們來到皇宮的大廳中，向禮節(jié)教授學(xué)習(xí)最后的幾堂課，因?yàn)樗麄儺?dāng)中有幾個人的舉止還沒有經(jīng)過教化，不用說，這是很不禮貌的事情。

The lad - for he was only a lad, being but sixteen years of age - was not sorry at their departure, and had flung himself back with a deep sigh of relief on the soft cushions of his embroidered couch, lying there, wild-eyed and open-mouthed, like a brown woodland Faun, or some young animal of the forest newly snared by the hunters.

這位少年——他僅僅是個少年，不過才十六歲——對他們的離去一點(diǎn)也不覺得難過。他把身體向后靠去，坐在他那繡花沙發(fā)的軟墊上，長長地舒了一口氣，躺了下去，睜著兩眼，張著嘴，真像一位褐色的林地農(nóng)牧神，或一只被獵人剛剛抓獲的森林中的小動物。

And, indeed, it was the hunters who had found him, coming upon him almost by chance as, bare-limbed and pipe in hand, he was following the flock of the poor goatherd who had brought him up, and whose son he had always fancied himself to be. The child of the old King's only daughter by a secret marriage with one much beneath her in station - a stranger, some said, who, by the wonderful magic of his lute-playing, had made the young Princess love him; while others spoke of an artist from Rimini, to whom the Princess had shown much, perhaps too much honour, and who had suddenly disappeared from the city, leaving his work in the Cathedral unfinished - he had been, when but a week old, stolen away from his mother's side, as she slept, and given into the charge of a common peasant and his wife, who were without children of their own, and lived in a remote part of the forest, more than a day's ride from the town. Grief, or the plague, as the court physician stated, or, as some suggested, a swift Italian poison administered in a cup of spiced wine, slew, within an hour of her wakening, the white girl who had given him birth, and as the trusty messenger who bare the child across his saddle-bow, stooped from his weary horse and knocked at the rude door of the goatherd's hut, the body of the Princess was being lowered into an open grave that had been dug in a deserted churchyard, beyond the city gates, a grave where, it was said, that another body was also lying, that of a young man of marvellous and foreign beauty, whose hands were tied behind him with a knotted cord, and whose breast was stabbed with many red wounds.

說來也巧，他正是獵人們找到的，他們遇到他也差不多是憑運(yùn)氣。當(dāng)時他光著腳，手里拿著笛子，正跟在把他養(yǎng)大的窮牧羊人的羊群后面，而且他一直把自己看作窮牧羊人的兒子。他的母親原來是老國王的獨(dú)生女兒。她偷偷地戀上了一個比她地位低得多的人一一有人說，那人是外地來的，他用笛子吹出魔術(shù)般的美妙聲音，使年輕的公主鐘情于他;另外有人說他是來自意大利里米尼的藝術(shù)家，公主對他很器重，也許是太看重他了。他不知怎的突然間從城市里消失了，他那幅沒有完成的作品還留在大教堂里——那時小孩才一個星期大，他就從熟睡的孩子母親身邊偷偷抱走孩子，交給一對普通的農(nóng)家夫婦去照管。這對夫婦自己沒有孩子，住在密林的深處，從城里騎馬要一天才能到達(dá)。不知是像宮廷的御醫(yī)所宣布的那樣因?yàn)楸瘋^度，或者是像一些人所談?wù)摰哪菢雍攘朔旁谙懔暇浦械囊环N意大利急性毒藥，反正那位給予這孩子生命的蒼白的少女在不到一小時的時間內(nèi)就死去了。一位忠誠的差人帶著孩子跨上馬鞍走了，當(dāng)他從疲憊的馬背上俯下身來敲響牧羊人小茅屋簡陋的房門時，公主的尸體正被下葬于一個打開的墓穴中，這個墓穴就挖在一個荒涼的教堂墓地里，那里靠近城門。據(jù)說在那個墓穴里還躺著另一具尸體，他是一位非常英俊的外地男人，他的雙手被反綁著，打了個繩結(jié)，胸膛上留著好多血淋淋的傷口。

Such, at least, was the story that men whispered to each other. Certain it was that the old King, when on his death-bed, whether moved by remorse for his great sin, or merely desiring that the kingdom should not pass away from his line, had had the lad sent for, and, in the presence of the Council, had acknowledged him as his heir.

至少，這正是人們私下悄悄相互傳遞的說法。然而令人確信的是老國王在臨終時，不知是由于對自己犯下的大罪而悔恨，或是僅僅因?yàn)橄Ｍ约旱耐鯂恢劣诼淙胪馊酥?，就派人去找回那個少年，并當(dāng)著宮中大臣的面，承認(rèn)少年為自己的繼位人。

And it seems that from the very first moment of his recognition he had shown signs of that strange passion for beauty that was destined to have so great an influence over his life. Those who accompanied him to the suite of rooms set apart for his service, often spoke of the cry of pleasure that broke from his lips when he saw the delicate raiment and rich jewels that had been prepared for him, and of the almost fierce joy with which he flung aside his rough leathern tunic and coarse sheepskin cloak. He missed, indeed, at times the fine freedom of his forest life, and was always apt to chafe at the tedious Court ceremonies that occupied so much of each day, but the wonderful palace - Joyeuse, as they called it - of which he now found himself lord, seemed to him to be a new world fresh-fashioned for his delight; and as soon as he could escape from the council-board or audience-chamber, he would run down the great staircase, with its lions of gilt bronze and its steps of bright porphyry, and wander from room to room, and from corridor to corridor, like one who was seeking to find in beauty an anodyne from pain, a sort of restoration from sickness.

似乎就從少年被承認(rèn)的那一刻起，他就表現(xiàn)出了對美麗事物的極大熱情，這便注定了將對他的一生起到巨大的影響。那些陪伴他到預(yù)備的房間侍候他休息的仆人，常常講起當(dāng)他看見那些華麗的服裝和貴重寶石時會興奮地大叫起來，并且在脫去身上的粗皮衣和粗羊皮外套時簡直是欣喜若狂。有時候他確也很懷念他那段自由自在的森林生活，且始終都對占去一天大部分時間的繁雜的宮廷禮節(jié)感到忿懣，但這卻是座富麗的宮殿——人們把它叫做“逍遙宮”——此刻他一下子成了它的主人，對他來說，這就像是一個專為取悅他而新建成的時髦的新世界;只要他能夠從議會廳或會見室里逃出來，他便會跑下那立著鍍金銅獅的亮閃閃的斑巖石大臺階，從一個屋子轉(zhuǎn)到另一個屋子，又從一條走廊來到另一條走廊，好像要一個人在美中間找到一付止痛藥，或一種治病的良方似的。

Upon these journeys of discovery, as he would call them - and, indeed, they were to him real voyages through a marvellous land, he would sometimes be accompanied by the slim, fair-haired Court pages, with their floating mantles, and gay fluttering ribands; but more often he would be alone, feeling through a certain quick instinct, which was almost a divination, that the secrets of art are best learned in secret, and that Beauty, like Wisdom, loves the lonely worshipper.

對于這種充滿新發(fā)現(xiàn)的旅行，這是他對此的稱謂——說真的，對他來說這可是真正地在神境中漫游了。有時候會有幾位身著披風(fēng)飄著艷麗絲帶的金發(fā)宮廷侍衛(wèi)陪伴著;但更多的時候，他常常是一個人，憑著感覺上的某種敏捷的本能，這差不多是一種先見之明吧，把握到藝術(shù)的秘密最好是在秘密中求得，況且美也同智慧一樣，鐘愛的是孤獨(dú)的崇拜者。

Many curious stories were related about him at this period. It was said that a stout Burgomaster, who had come to deliver a florid oratorical address on behalf of the citizens of the town, had caught sight of him kneeling in real adoration before a great picture that had just been brought from Venice, and that seemed to herald the worship of some new gods. On another occasion he had been missed for several hours, and after a lengthened search had been discovered in a little chamber in one of the northern turrets of the palace gazing, as one in a trance, at a Greek gem carved with the figure of Adonis. He had been seen, so the tale ran, pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the building of the stone bridge, and was inscribed with the name of the Bithynian slave of Hadrian. He had passed a whole night in noting the effect of the moonlight on a silver image of Endymion.

這段時期里流傳著很多有關(guān)他的奇聞怪事。據(jù)說有一位胖乎乎的市政長官，代表全城市民出來發(fā)表了一大通華麗堂皇的言論，還說他看見他十分崇敬地跪在一幅剛從威尼斯帶來的巨畫面前，似乎要捍衛(wèi)對新的眾神的崇拜。還有那么一次他失蹤了好幾個小時，費(fèi)了好大勁人們才在宮殿內(nèi)北邊小塔的一間小屋里找到了他，他正癡呆呆地凝視著一塊刻有美少年阿多尼斯像的希臘寶石。還有人傳說親眼見他用自己的熱唇去吻一座大理石古雕像的前額，那座古雕像是人們在修建石橋時在河床中發(fā)現(xiàn)的，除像上還刻著羅馬皇帝哈得里安所擁有的俾斯尼亞國奴隸的名字。他還花了一整夜時間去觀察月光照在安地民銀像上的各種變化。

All rare and costly materials had certainly a great fascination for him, and in his eagerness to procure them he had sent away many merchants, some to traffic for amber with the rough fisher-folk of the north seas, some to Egypt to look for that curious green turquoise which is found only in the tombs of kings, and is said to possess magical properties, some to Persia for silken carpets and painted pottery, and others to India to buy gauze and stained ivory, moonstones and bracelets of jade, sandalwood and blue enamel and shawls of fine wool.

一切稀罕的和昂貴的東西對他的確都有極大的吸引力，使他急切地想得到它們。為此他派出了許多商人，有的被派往北海，向那里的窮漁夫購買琥珀，有的到埃及去找尋那些只有在法老的墓穴中才能找到的綠寶石，據(jù)說這種寶石具有非同一般的魔力，還有的去波斯收購絲絨編織的地毯和彩陶，另外很多人就去印度采購薄紗和著色的象牙，月亮寶石和翡翠手鐲，檀香和藍(lán)色琺瑯以及細(xì)毛織披巾。

But what had occupied him most was the robe he was to wear at his coronation, the robe of tissued gold, and the ruby-studded crown, and the sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls. Indeed, it was of this that he was thinking to-night, as he lay back on his luxurious couch, watching the great pinewood log that was burning itself out on the open hearth. The designs, which were from the hands of the most famous artists of the time, had been submitted to him many months before, and he had given orders that the artificers were to toil night and day to carry them out, and that the whole world was to be searched for jewels that would be worthy of their work. He saw himself in fancy standing at the high altar of the cathedral in the fair raiment of a King, and a smile played and lingered about his boyish lips, and lit up with a bright lustre his dark woodland eyes.

然而，最讓他費(fèi)心的還是在他登位加冕時穿的長袍。長袍是金線織的，另外還有嵌滿了紅寶石的王冠以及那根掛著一串串珍珠的權(quán)杖。其實(shí)，他今晚所想的就是這個，當(dāng)時他躺在奢華的沙發(fā)上，望著大塊的松木在壁爐中慢慢地燃盡。它們都是由那個時代最著名的藝術(shù)家親手設(shè)計(jì)的，設(shè)計(jì)式樣也早在幾個月前就呈交給他過目了，他也下了命令要求工匠們不分晝夜地把它們趕制出來，還讓人去滿世界找尋那些能夠配得上他們手藝的珠寶。他在想象中看見自己穿著華貴的皇袍站在大教堂中高高的祭壇上，他那孩子氣的嘴唇上露出了笑容，那雙森林人特有的黑眼睛也放射出明亮的光芒。

After some time he rose from his seat, and leaning against the carved penthouse of the chimney, looked round at the dimly-lit room. The walls were hung with rich tapestries representing the Triumph of Beauty. A large press, inlaid with agate and lapis-lazuli, filled one corner, and facing the window stood a curiously wrought cabinet with lacquer panels of powdered and mosaiced gold, on which were placed some delicate goblets of Venetian glass, and a cup of dark-veined onyx. Pale poppies were broidered on the silk coverlet of the bed, as though they had fallen from the tired hands of sleep, and tall reeds of fluted ivory bare up the velvet canopy, from which great tufts of ostrich plumes sprang, like white foam, to the pallid silver of the fretted ceiling. A laughing Narcissus in green bronze held a polished mirror above its head. On the table stood a flat bowl of amethyst.

過了一會兒他站起身來，靠在壁爐頂部雕花的庇檐上，目光環(huán)視著燈光昏暗的屋子。四周的墻上掛著代表“美的勝利”的華麗裝飾物。一個大衣櫥，上面嵌著瑪瑙和琉璃，把一個墻角給填滿了。面對窗戶立著一個異常別致的柜子，上面的漆格層不是鍍了金粉就是鑲著金片，格層上擺放著一些精美的威尼斯玻璃高腳酒杯，還有一個黑紋瑪瑙大杯子。綢子的床單上繡著一些淺白的罌粟花，它們好像是從睡眠的倦手中撒落下來的?？逃袟l形凹槽的高大的象牙柱撐起天鵝絨的華蓋，華蓋上面大簇的駝鳥毛像白色泡沫一般地向上伸展，一直達(dá)到銀白色的回文裝飾屋頂上。用青銅做的美少年納西蘇斯像滿臉笑容地用雙手舉起一面亮光光的鏡子。桌上放著一個紫晶做的平底盆。

Outside he could see the huge dome of the cathedral, looming like a bubble over the shadowy houses, and the weary sentinels pacing up and down on the misty terrace by the river. Far away, in an orchard, a nightingale was singing. A faint perfume of jasmine came through the open window. He brushed his brown curls back from his forehead, and taking up a lute, let his fingers stray across the cords. His heavy eyelids drooped, and a strange languor came over him. Never before had he felt so keenly, or with such exquisite joy, the magic and the mystery of beautiful things.

窗外，他可以看見教堂的大圓頂，隱隱約約的像個氣泡浮動在陰暗的房屋上面。無精打采的哨兵們在靠近河邊的霧蒙蒙的陽臺上來回地走著。在遠(yuǎn)處的一座果園里，一只夜鶯在唱歌。一縷淺淺的茉莉花香從開著的窗戶飄了進(jìn)來。他把自己的棕色卷發(fā)從前額朝后掠去，隨后拿起一只琵琶，讓手指隨便地在弦上撥弄著。他的眼皮沉重地往下垂去，一股莫名的倦意襲上身來。在這以前他從來沒有這么強(qiáng)烈地并且是如此興奮地感受到美的東西的魔力和神秘。

When midnight sounded from the clock-tower he touched a bell, and his pages entered and disrobed him with much ceremony, pouring rose-water over his hands, and strewing flowers on his pillow. A few moments after that they had left the room, he fell asleep.

鐘樓傳來午夜鐘聲的時候，他按了一下鈴，仆人們進(jìn)來了，按繁雜的禮節(jié)為他脫去袍子，并往他手上灑上玫瑰香水，在他的枕頭上撒上鮮花。待他們退出房間后沒多久，他就入睡了。

And as he slept he dreamed a dream, and this was his dream. He thought that he was standing in a long, low attic, amidst the whirr and clatter of many looms. The meagre daylight peered in through the grated windows, and showed him the gaunt figures of the weavers bending over their cases. Pale, sickly-looking children were crouched on the huge cross-beams. As the shuttles dashed through the warp they lifted up the heavy battens, and when the shuttles stopped they let the battens fall and pressed the threads together. Their faces were pinched with famine, and their thin hands shook and trembled. Some haggard women were seated at a table sewing. A horrible odour filled the place. The air was foul and heavy, and the walls dripped and streamed with damp.

他睡著后做了一個夢，夢是這樣的：他覺得自己正站在一間又長又矮的閣樓里，四周是一片織布機(jī)的轉(zhuǎn)動聲和敲擊聲。微弱的光線透過格柵窗射了進(jìn)來，使他看見了那些俯在織機(jī)臺上工作的織工們憔悴的身影。一些面帶病容臉色蒼白的孩子們蹲在巨大的橫梁上而。每當(dāng)梭子飛快地穿過經(jīng)線的時候，織工們便把沉重的箱座抬起，梭子一停下來又立即放下筘座，把線壓在一起。他們的臉上露出饑餓難忍的表情，一雙雙干枯的手不停地震動著，顫抖著。一些贏弱的婦女坐在一張桌邊做著縫紉。房間里充滿了刺鼻的臭氣，空氣既污濁又沉悶，四壁因潮濕而滴水不止。

The young King went over to one of the weavers, and stood by him and watched him.

少年國王來到一位織工跟前，看著他工作。

And the weaver looked at him angrily, and said, 'Why art thou watching me? Art thou a spy set on us by our master?'

織工卻怒沖沖地望著他說，“你為什么老看著我?你是不是主人派來監(jiān)視我們干活的探子?”

'Who is thy master?' asked the young King.

“誰是你們的主人?”少年國王問道。

'Our master!' cried the weaver, bitterly. 'He is a man like myself. Indeed, 'there is but this difference between us that he wears fine clothes while I go in rags, and that while I am weak from hunger he suffers not a little from overfeeding.'

“我們的主人!”織工痛苦地大聲說，“他是跟我一樣的人。其實(shí)，我和他之間就這么點(diǎn)區(qū)別——他穿漂亮的衣服而我總是破衣爛衫，我餓得骨瘦如柴，他卻飽得難受。”

'The land is free,' said the young King, 'and thou art no man's slave.'

“這是個自由的國家，”少年國王說，“你不是任何人的奴隸。”

'In war,' answered the weaver, 'the strong make slaves of the weak, and in peace the rich make slaves of the poor. We must work to live, and they give us such mean wages that we die. We toil for them all day long, and they heap up gold in their coffers, and our children fade away before their time, and the faces of those we love become hard and evil. We tread out the grapes, and another drinks the wine. We sow the corn, and our own board is empty. We have chains, though no eye beholds them; and are slaves, though men call us free.'

“戰(zhàn)爭時代，”織工回答說，“強(qiáng)者把弱者變?yōu)榕`，而在和平年代富人把窮人變成奴隸。我們必須靠干活來糊口，可是他們給的工資少得可憐，我們會給餓死的。我們整天為他們做苦役，他們的箱子里堆滿了黃金，我們的子女還未長大成人就夭折了，我們所愛的那些人的臉變得愁苦而兇惡。我們榨出的葡萄汁，卻讓別人去品嘗。我們種出的谷物，卻不能端上我們的飯桌。我們戴著枷鎖，盡管它們是無形的;而我們是奴隸，雖然人們說我們是自由人。”

'Is it so with all?' he asked.

“所有的人都是這樣的嗎?”少年國王問道。

'It is so with all,' answered the weaver, 'with the young as well as with the old, with the women as well as with the men, with the little children as well as with those who are stricken in years. The merchants grind us down, and we must needs do their bidding. The priest rides by and tells his beads, and no man has care of us. Through our sunless lanes creeps Poverty with her hungry eyes, and Sin with his sodden face follows close behind her. Misery wakes us in the morning, and Shame sits with us at night. But what are these things to thee? Thou art not one of us. Thy face is too happy.' And he turned away scowling, and threw the shuttle across the loom, and the young King saw that it was threaded with a thread of gold.

“所有的人都這祥，”織工答道，“不論是年輕的或是年老的，不管是男人或是女人，小孩子或是終年艱辛的人們都一樣。商人們壓榨我們，我們還得照他們的話去做。牧師們騎馬從我們身邊走過，口中不停地?cái)?shù)著念珠，沒有一個人關(guān)心我們。窮困張著饑餓的雙眼爬過陰暗的小巷，罪惡帶著他的酒精面孔緊隨其后。早晨喚醒我們的是悲痛，晚上伴我們?nèi)胨氖菒u辱。但是這些與你有什么關(guān)系?你又不是我們中的一員。你的神情是多么的快樂啊!，說完他滿臉不高興地轉(zhuǎn)過頭去，并把梭子穿過織機(jī)，少年國王看見梭子上面織出的是一根金線。

And a great terror seized upon him, and he said to the weaver, 'What robe is this that thou art weaving?'

他心中猛地一驚，趕緊問織工，“你織的是什么袍子?”

'It is the robe for the coronation of the young King,' he answered; 'what is that to thee?'

“這是少年國王加冕時穿的袍子，”他回答說，“你問這干什么?”

And the young King gave a loud cry and woke, and lo! he was in his own chamber, and through the window he saw the great honey-coloured moon hanging in the dusky air.

這時少年國王大叫一聲便醒了，天啊!他原來是在自己的房間里，透過窗戶他看見蜜色的大月亮正掛在熹微的天空上。

And he fell asleep again and dreamed, and this was his dream.

他又一次睡著了，再次做起了夢，夢是這樣的：

He thought that he was lying on the deck of a huge galley that was being rowed by a hundred slaves. On a carpet by his side the master of the galley was seated. He was black as ebony, and his turban was of crimson silk. Great earrings of silver dragged down the thick lobes of his ears, and in his hands he had a pair of ivory scales.

他覺得自己躺在一艘大帆船的甲板上面，一百個奴隸在為船劃槳。船長就坐在他身邊的地毯上。他黑得像一塊烏木，頭巾是深江色的絲綢做的。厚厚的耳垂上掛著一對碩大的銀耳墜，他的手中象著一架象牙天平。

The slaves were naked, but for a ragged loincloth, and each man was chained to his neighbour. The hot sun 'beat brightly upon them, and the negroes ran up and down the gangway and lashed them with whips of hide. They stretched out their lean arms and pulled the heavy oars through the water. The salt spray flew from the blades.

奴隸們除了腰間的一塊破爛的遮羞布外，全身上下光溜溜的，每個人都與旁邊的另一個鎖在一起。驕陽熱辣辣地射在他們身上，黑人們在過道上跑來跑去的，同時皮鞭不停地抽打在他們身上。他們伸出干枯的雙臂往水中劃動著沉重的槳。咸咸的海水從槳上飛濺起來。

At last they reached a little bay, and began to take soundings. A light wind blew from the shore, and covered the deck and the great lateen sail with a fine red dust. Three Arabs mounted on wild asses rode out and threw spears at them. The master of the galley took a painted bow in his hand and shot one of them in the throat. He fell heavily into the surf, and his companions galloped away. A woman wrapped in a yellow veil followed slowly on a camel, looking back now and then at the dead body.

最后他們來到一個小港灣，并開始測量水的深度。一陣微風(fēng)從岸上吹來，給甲板和大三角帆上蒙上了一層細(xì)細(xì)的紅沙。三個阿拉伯人騎著野毛驢趕來朝他們投來標(biāo)槍。船長拿起一張弓，射中了他們其中一人的咽喉。他重重地跌進(jìn)了海浪之中，他的同伴也倉皇逃占。一位面蒙黃色紗巾的女子騎著駱駝慢慢地跟在后面，還不時地回頭看看那具死尸。

As soon as they had cast anchor and hauled down the sail, the negroes went into the hold and brought up a long rope-ladder, heavily weighted with lead. The master of the galley threw it over the side, making the ends fast to two iron stanchions. Then the negroes seized the youngest of the slaves, and knocked his gyves oil, and filled his nostrils and his ears with wax, and tied a big stone round his waist. He crept wearily down the ladder, and disappeared into the sea. A few bubbles rose where he sank. Some of the other slaves peered curiously over the side. At the prow of the galley sat a shark-charmer, beating monotonously upon a drum.

黑人們拋了錨，降下了帆，紛紛來到艙底下，拿出一根長長的吊梯來，梯下綁著鉛錘。船長把繩梯從船側(cè)扔下去，把梯的兩端系在兩根鐵柱上面。這時，黑人們抓住一位最年輕的奴隸，打開了他的腳鐐，并往他的鼻孔和耳朵里灌滿蠟，還在他的腰間捆上了一塊石頭。他疲憊地爬下繩梯，便消失在海水中了。在他入水的地方冒出了幾個水泡。另外一些奴隸在一旁好奇地張望著。在船頭上坐著一位驅(qū)趕鯊魚的人，他在單調(diào)不停地?fù)糁摹?/p>

After some time the diver rose up out of the water, and clung panting to the ladder with a pearl in his right hand. The negroes seized it from him, and thrust him back. The slaves fell asleep over their oars.

過了一會兒潛水者從水中冒了上來，喘著粗氣攀梯而上，右手拿著一顆珍珠。黑人們從他手中奪去珍珠，又把他拋到海里。而奴隸們已靠在槳旁入睡了。

Again and again he came up, and each time that he did so he brought with him a beautiful pearl. The master of the galley weighed them, and put them into a little bag of green leather.

他上來了一次又一次，每次都帶上一顆美麗的珍珠。船長把珍珠都過了秤，并把它們放進(jìn)一只綠色皮革的小袋子中。

The young King tried to speak, but his tongue seemed to cleave to the roof of his mouth, and his lips refused to move. The negroes chattered to each other, and began to quarrel over a string of bright beads. Two cranes flew round and round the vessel.

少年國王想說點(diǎn)什么，可是他的舌頭好像給粘在了上牙齒后面，他的嘴唇也動彈不了。黑人們在彼此談著話，并開始為一串明珠爭吵起來。兩只白鶴圍繞著帆船飛個不停。

Then the diver came up for the last time, and the pearl that he brought with him was fairer than all the pearls of Ormuz, for it was shaped like the full moon, and whiter than the morning star. But his face was strangely pale, and as he fell upon the deck the blood gushed from his ears and nostrils. He quivered for a little, and then he was still. The negroes shrugged their shoulders, and threw the body overboard.

這時潛水者最后一次冒出水來，帶上來的珍珠比奧馬茲島所有的珍珠都要美，因?yàn)樗男螤钊缤惠啙M月，白得超過了晨星的顏色。不過他的臉卻蒼白異常，他一頭倒在甲板上，鮮血立即從他的耳朵和鼻孔中迸射而出。他只是顫抖了一下就再也動彈不了啦。黑人們聳聳肩，把他的尸體拋向船舷外的海水中。

And the master of the galley laughed, and, reaching out, he took the pearl, and when he saw it he pressed it to his forehead and bowed. 'It shall be,' he said, 'for the sceptre of the young King,' and he made a sign to the negroes to draw up the anchor.

船長笑了，他伸出手去拿起那顆珍珠，他一邊看著它，一邊把它放在自己的前額上并鞠了一個躬。“它應(yīng)該用來，”他說，“用來裝飾少年國王的權(quán)杖。”說完他朝黑人們打了個手勢示意起錨。

And when the young King heard this he gave a great cry, and woke, and through the window he saw the long grey fingers of the dawn clutching at the fading stars.

少年國王聽到這里，突然大叫一聲，便醒了過來，透過窗戶，他看見那些破曉的長手指正在摘取衰弱的繁星。

And he fell asleep again, and dreamed, and this was his dream.

他再一次入睡了，做了夢，夢是這樣的：

He thought that he was wandering through a dim wood, hung with strange fruits and with beautiful poisonous flowers. The adders hissed at him as he went by, and the bright parrots flew screaming from branch to branch. Huge tortoises lay asleep upon the hot mud. The trees were full of apes and peacocks.

他覺得自己正徘徊在一個陰森森的樹林中，樹上懸掛著奇形的果子和美麗而有毒的鮮花。他經(jīng)過的地方，毒蛇朝他嘶嘶地叫著，羽毛華麗的鸚鵡尖叫著從一根樹枝飛到另一個枝頭上。巨大的烏龜躺在熱乎乎的泥潭中睡大覺。樹上到處都是猴子和孔雀。

On and on he went, till he reached the outskirts of the wood, and there he saw an immense multitude of men toiling in the bed of a dried-up river. They swarmed up the crag like ants. They dug deep pits in the ground and went down into them. Some of them cleft the rocks with great axes; others grabbled in the sand. They tore up the cactus by its roots, and trampled on the scarlet blossoms. They hurried about, calling to each other, and no man was idle.

他走著走著，一直來到樹林的邊緣，在那兒他看見有好大一群人在一條干枯的河床上做苦役。他們像螞蟻般地蜂擁至巖石上。他們在地上挖了好些深洞，并下到洞里去。他們中的一些人用大斧頭開山劈石，另一些人在沙灘上摸索著。他們連根拔起仙人掌，并踏過鮮紅的花朵。他們忙來忙去，彼此叫喊著，沒有一個人偷懶。

From the darkness of a cavern Death and Avarice watched them, and Death said, 'I am weary; give me a third of them and let me go.'

死亡和貪婪從洞穴的陰暗處注視著他們，死亡開口說：“我已經(jīng)疲倦了，把他們中的三分之一給我，我要走了。”

But Avarice shook her head. 'They are my servants,' she answered.

不過貪婪卻搖了搖頭。“他們是我的仆人，”她回答說。

And Death said to her, 'What hast thou in thy hand?'

死亡對她說，“你手中拿的是什么東西?”

'I have three grains of corn,' she answered; 'what is that to thee?'

“我有三粒谷子，”她回答說，“那跟你有什么關(guān)系?”

'Give me one of them,' cried Death, 'to plant in my garden; only one of them, and I will go away.'

“給我一粒，”死亡大聲說，“去種在我的花園中，只要其中的一粒，我要走了。”

'I will not give thee anything,' said Avarice, and she hid her hand in the fold of her raiment.

“我什么也不會給你的，”貪婪說，說著她把手藏在自己衣服福邊的里面。

And Death laughed, and took a cup, and dipped it into a pool of water, and out of the cup rose Ague. She passed through the great multitude, and a third of them lay dead. A cold mist followed her, and the water-snakes ran by her side.

死亡笑了。他拿起一只杯子，并把它浸在水池中，等杯子出來時里面已生出了瘧疾。瘧疾從人群中走過，三分之一的人便倒下死去了。她的身后卷起一股寒氣，她的身旁狂竄著無數(shù)條水蛇。

And when Avarice saw that a third of the multitude was dead she beat her breast and wept. She beat her barren bosom and cried aloud. 'Thou hast slain a third of my servants,' she cried, 'get thee gone. There is war in the mountains of Tartary, and the kings of each side are calling to thee. The Afghans have slain the black ox, and are marching to battle. They have beaten upon their shields with their spears, and have put on their helmets of iron. What is my valley to thee, that thou should'st tarry in it? Get thee gone, and come here no more.

貪婪看見三分之一的人都死去了，便捶胸大哭起來。她捶打著自己干枯的胸膛，哭叫著說：“你殺死了我三分之一的仆人，你快走吧。在韃靼人的山上正舉行著一場戰(zhàn)爭，雙方的國王都在呼喚你去。阿富汗人殺掉了黑牛，正開往前線。他們用長矛敲擊著自己的盾牌，還戴上了鐵盔。我的山谷對你有什么用，你沒有必要呆在這兒吧?你快走吧，不要再到這兒來了。”

'Nay,' answered Death, 'but till thou hast given me a grain of corn I will not go.'

“不，”死亡回答說，“除非你再給我一粒谷子，否則我是不會走的。”

But Avarice shut her hand, and clenched her teeth. 'I will not give thee anything,' she muttered.

貪婪一下子捏緊自己的手，牙齒也咬得緊繃繃的。“我不會給你任何東西的，”她喃喃地說。

And Death laughed, and took up a black stone, and threw it into the forest, and out of a thicket of wild hemlock came Fever in a robe of flame. She passed through the multitude, and touched them, and each man that she touched died. The grass withered beneath her feet as she walked.

死亡笑了。他撿起一塊黑色的石頭，朝樹林中扔去，從密林深處的野毒芹叢中走出了身穿火焰長袍的熱病。她從人群中走過，去觸摸他們，凡是被她碰著的人都死去了。她腳下踏過的青草也跟著枯萎了。

And Avarice shuddered, and put ashes on her head. 'Thou art cruel,' she cried; 'thou art cruel. There is famine in the walled cities of India, and the cisterns of Samarcand have run dry. There is famine in the walled cities of Egypt, and the locusts have come up from the desert. The Nile has not overflowed its banks, and the priests have cursed Isis and Osiris. Get thee gone to those who need thee, and leave me my servants.'

貪婪顫抖起來，把泥土放在自己的頭上。“你太殘忍了，”她叫著說，“你太殘忍了。在印度的好多城市里正鬧著饑荒，撒馬爾罕的蓄水池也干枯了。埃及的好多城市里也在鬧饑荒，蝗蟲也從沙漠飛來了。尼羅河水并沒有沖上岸來，牧師們正痛罵他們自己的神愛西斯和阿西里斯。到那些需要你的人那兒去吧，放過我的仆人吧。”

'Nay,' answered Death, 'but till thou hast given me a grain of corn I will not go.'

“不，”死亡回答說，“除非你給我一粒谷子，否則我是不會離開的。”

'I will not give thee anything,' said Avarice.

“我什么東西也不會給你，”貪婪說。

And Death laughed again, and he whistled through his fingers, and a woman came flying through the air. Plague was written upon her forehead, and a crowd of lean vultures wheeled round her. She covered the valley with her wings, and no man was left alive.

死亡再一次笑了，他將手放在嘴上在指縫中吹了一聲口哨，只見一個女人從空中飛來。她的額頭上印著“瘟疫”兩個字，一群饑餓的老鷹在她身旁飛旋著。她用巨大的翅膀藍(lán)住了整個山谷，沒有一個人能逃脫她的魔掌。

And Avarice fled shrieking through the forest, and Death leaped upon his red horse and galloped away, and his galloping was faster than the wind.

貪婪尖叫著穿過樹林逃走了，死亡跨上他那匹紅色的大馬也飛馳而去，他的馬跑得比風(fēng)還快。

And out of the slime at the bottom of the valley crept dragons and horrible things with scales, and the jackals came trotting along the sand, sniffing up the air with their nostrils.

從山谷底部的稀泥中爬出無數(shù)條龍和有鱗甲的怪獸，一群胡狼也沿著沙灘跑來，并用鼻孔貪婪地吸著空氣。

And the young King wept, and said: 'Who were these men and for what were they seeking?'

少年國王哭了，他說：“這些人是誰?他們在尋找什么東西?”

'For rubies for a king's crown,' answered one who stood behind him.

“國王王冠上的紅寶石，”站在他身后的一個人說。

And the young King started, and, turning round, he saw a man habited as a pilgrim and holding in his hand a mirror of silver.

少年國王吃了一驚，轉(zhuǎn)過頭去，看見一個香客模樣的人，那人手中拿著一面銀鏡。

And he grew pale, and said: 'For what king?'

他臉色變得蒼白起來，并開口問道：“哪一個國王?”

And the pilgrim answered: 'Look in this mirror, and thou shalt see him.'

香客回答說：“看著這面鏡子，你會看見他的。”

And he looked in the mirror, and, seeing his own face, he gave a great cry and woke, and the bright sunlight was streaming into the room, and from the trees of the garden and pleasaunce the birds were singing.

他朝鏡子看去，見到的是他自己的面孔，他大叫了一聲就驚醒了。燦爛的陽光瀉入房屋，從外面花園和庭園的樹上傳來了鳥兒的歌唱。

And the Chamberlain and the high officers of State came in and made obeisance to him, and the pages brought him the robe of tissued gold, and set the crown and the sceptre before him.

宮廷大臣和文武百官走進(jìn)房來向他行禮，侍者給他拿來用金線篇織的長袍，還把王冠和權(quán)杖放在他面前。

And the young King looked at them, and they were beautiful. More beautiful were they than aught that he had ever seen. But he remembered his dreams, and he said to his lords: 'Take these things away, for I will not wear them.'

少年國王看著它們，它們美極了，比他以前見過的任何東西都要美。然而他還記得自己做的夢，于是便對大臣們說：“把這些東西都拿走，我不會穿戴它們的。”

And the courtiers were amazed, and some of them laughed, for they thought that he was jesting.

群臣都感到很驚訝，有些人甚至笑了，因?yàn)樗麄冋J(rèn)為國王是在開玩笑。

But he spake sternly to them again, and said: 'Take these things away, and hide them from me. Though it be the day of my coronation, I will not wear them. For on the loom of Sorrow, and by the white hands of Pain, has this my robe been woven. There is Blood in the heart of the ruby, and Death in the heart of the pearl.' And he told them his three dreams.

可是他再次嚴(yán)肅地對他們說：“把這些東西都拿開，不要讓我見到它們。雖然今天是我加冕的日子，但是我不會穿戴它們的。因?yàn)槲业倪@件長袍是在憂傷的織機(jī)上用痛苦的蒼白的雙手織出來的。紅寶石的心是用鮮血染紅的。珍珠的心上有死亡的陰影。”接著他對他們講述了自己的三個夢。

And when the courtiers heard them they looked at each other and whispered, saying: 'Surely he is mad; for what is a dream but a dream, and a vision but a vision? They are not real things that one should heed them. And what have we to do with the lives of those who toil for us? Shall a man not eat bread till he has seen the sower, nor drink wine till he has talked with the vinedresser?'

大臣們聽完故事后，互相對視著，低聲交談?wù)f：“他一定是瘋了，夢還不就是夢嗎，幻覺只不過是幻覺罷了，它們不是真的，用不著在意。再說，那些為我們做工的人的生命又與我們有什么相干的?難道一個人沒有看見播種就不能吃面包，沒有與種葡萄的人交談過就不能喝葡萄酒了嗎?”

And the Chamberlain spake to the young King, and said, 'My lord, I pray thee set aside these black thoughts of thine, and put on this fair robe, and set this crown upon thy head. For how shall the people know that thou art a king, if thou hast not a king's raiment?'

宮廷大臣對少年國王說道：“陛下，我懇求您把這些憂傷的念頭拋開，穿上這件美麗的袍子，戴上這頂王冠吧。如果您不穿上王袍，人民怎么會知道您就是國王呢?”

And the young King looked at him. 'Is it so, indeed?' he questioned. 'Will they not know me for a king if I have not a king's raiment?'

少年國王望著他。“真是這樣嗎?”他問道，“如果我不穿王袍，他們就不會知道我是國王了嗎?”

'They will not know thee, my lord,' cried the Chamberlain.

“他們不會認(rèn)識您的，陛下，”宮廷大臣大聲說。

'I had thought that there had been men who were kinglike,' he answered, 'but it may be as thou sayest. And yet I will not wear this robe, nor will I be crowned with this crown, but even as I came to the palace so will I go forth from it.'

“我從前還以為真有那么一些帶帝王之相的人，”少年國王回答說，“不過也許正如你所說的，然而我還是不穿這身長袍，而且也不戴這頂王冠，我要像進(jìn)宮時的那樣走出宮去。”

And he bade them all leave him, save one page whom he kept as his companion, a lad a year younger than himself. Him he kept for his service, and when he had bathed himself in clear water, he opened a great painted chest, and from it he took the leathern tunic and rough sheepskin cloak that he had worn when he had watched on the hillside the shaggy goats of the goatherd. These he put on, and in his hand he took his rude shepherd's staff.

然后他吩咐他們都離去，只留一個侍者來陪他，這個侍者的年中洗了個澡，打開一個上了漆的箱子，從箱中他拿出皮衣和粗羊皮外套，這些都是當(dāng)年他在山腰上放羊時穿過的。他穿上它們，手里又拿起那根粗大的牧羊杖。

And the little page opened his big blue eyes in wonder, and said smiling to him, 'My lord, I see thy robe and thy sceptre, but where is thy crown?'

這位小侍者吃驚地睜大一雙藍(lán)色的眼睛，笑著對他說：“陛下，我看見你的長袍和權(quán)杖，可你的王冠在哪兒?”

And the young King plucked a spray of wild briar that was climbing over the balcony, and bent it, and made a circlet of it, and set it on his own head.

少年國王從攀附在陽臺上的野荊棘上折下一枝，把它彎曲成一個圓圈，放在了自己的頭上。

'This shall be my crown,' he answered.

“這就是我的王冠，”他回答說。

And thus attired he passed out of his chamber into the Great Hall, where the nobles were waiting for him.

這樣穿戴好后，他走出房間來到大廳中，顯貴們都在那兒等著他。

And the nobles made merry, and some of them cried out to him, 'My lord, the people wait for their king, and thou showest them a beggar,' and others were wroth and said, 'He brings shame upon our state, and is unworthy to be our master.' But he answered them not a word, but passed on, and went down the bright porphyry staircase, and out through the gates of bronze, and mounted upon his horse, and rode towards the cathedral, the little page running beside him.

顯貴們覺得很可笑，他們中有的人還對他叫道：“陛下，臣民們等著見他們的國王，而您卻讓他們看到了一位乞丐。”另有一些人怒氣沖沖地說：“他使我們的國家蒙羞，不配做我們的主人。”然而，他對他們一言不發(fā)，只是朝前走去，走下明亮的斑巖石階，出了青銅大門，騎上自己的坐騎，朝教堂奔去，小侍者跟在他身旁跑著。

And the people laughed and said, 'It is the King's fool who is riding by,' and they mocked him.

百姓們笑了，他們說：“騎馬走過的是國王的小丑。”他們嘲笑著他。

And he drew rein and said, 'Nay, but I am the King.' And he told them his three dreams.

而他卻勒住馬緬，開口說道：“不，我就是國王。”于是他把自己的三個夢講給了他們聽。

And a man came out of the crowd and spake bitterly to him, and said, 'Sir, knowest thou not that out of the luxury of the rich cometh the life of the poor? By your pomp we are nurtured, and your vices give us bread. To toil for a hard master is bitter, but to have no master to toil for is more bitter still. Thinkest thou that the ravens will feed us? And what cure hast thou for these things? Wilt thou say to the buyer, "Thou shalt buy for so much," and to the seller, "Thou shalt sell at this price?" I trow not. Therefore go back to thy Palace and put on thy purple and fine linen. What hast thou to do with us, and what we suffer?'

一個人從人群中走出，他痛苦地對國王說道：“皇上，你不知道窮人的生活是從富人的奢侈中得來的嗎?就是靠你們的富有我們才得以生存，是你們的惡習(xí)給我們帶來了面包。給一個嚴(yán)厲的主子干活是很艱苦的，但若沒有主子要我們于活那會更艱苦。你以為烏鴉會養(yǎng)活我們嗎?對這些事你會有什么良方嗎?你會對買主說，‘你要用這么多錢來買’，而同時又對賣主說，‘你要以這個價格賣’嗎?我敢說你不會。所以回到你自己的宮中去，穿上你的高貴紫袍吧。你和我們以及我們遭受的痛苦有什么相干的?”

'Are not the rich and the poor brothers?' asked the young King.

“難道富人和窮人不是兄弟嗎?”少年國王問道。

'Aye,' answered the man, 'and the name of the rich brother is Cain.'

“是啊，”那人回答說，“那個有錢兄長的名字叫該隱(即《圣經(jīng)》中殺害弟弟的人)。”

And the young King's eyes filled with tears, and he rode on through the murmurs of the people, and the little page grew afraid and left him.

少年國王的眼里充滿了淚水，他騎著馬在百姓們的喃喃低語中走過，小侍者感到好害怕，就走開了。

And when he reached the great portal of the cathedral, the soldiers thrust their halberts out and said, 'What dost thou seek here? None enters by this door but the King.'

他來到教堂的大門口時，衛(wèi)兵們舉起他們手中的戟對他說：“你到這兒來干什么?除了國王以外任何人不得入內(nèi)。”

And his face flushed with anger, and he said to them, 'I am the King,' and waved their halberts aside and passed in.

一聽這話他氣得滿臉通紅，便對他們說：“我就是國王。”說完把他們的戟推開，就走進(jìn)去了。

And when the old Bishop saw him coming in his goatherd's dress, he rose up in wonder from his throne, and went to meet him, and said to him, 'My son, is this a king's apparel? And with what crown shall I crown thee, and what sceptre shall I place in thy hand? Surely this should be to thee a day of joy, and not a day of abasement.'

老主教看見他穿一身牧羊人的衣服走了進(jìn)來，吃驚地從寶座上站起來，迎上前去，對他說：“我的孩子，這是國王的服飾嗎?我用什么王冠為你加冕?又拿什么樣的權(quán)杖放在你的手中呢?這對你當(dāng)然應(yīng)該是個快樂的日子，而不應(yīng)是一個屈辱的日子。”

'Shall Joy wear what Grief has fashioned?' said the young King. And he told him his three dreams.

“難道快樂要用愁苦來裝門面嗎?”少年國王說。然后他對老主教講了自己的三個夢。

And when the Bishop had heard them he knit his brows, and said, 'My son, I am an old man, and in the winter of my days, and I know that many evil things are done in the wide world. The fierce robbers come down from the mountains, and carry off the little children, and sell them to the Moors. The lions lie in wait for the caravans, and leap upon the camels. The wild boar roots up the corn in the valley, and the foxes gnaw the vines upon the hill. The pirates lay waste the sea-coast and burn the ships of the fishermen, and take their nets from them. In the salt-marshes live the lepers; they have houses of wattled reeds, and none may come nigh them. The beggars wander through the cities, and eat their food with the dogs. Canst thou make these things not to be? Wilt thou take the leper for thy bedfellow, and set the beggar at thy board? Shall the lion do thy bidding, and the wild boar obey thee? Is not He who made misery wiser than thou art? Wherefore I praise thee not for this that thou hast done, but I bid thee ride back to the Palace and make thy face glad, and put on the raiment that beseemeth a king, and with the crown of gold I will crown thee, and the sceptre of pearl will I place in thy hand. And as for thy dreams, think no more of them. The burden of this world is too great for one man to bear, and the world's sorrow too heavy for one heart to suffer.'

主教聽完了三個夢后，眉頭緊鎖，他說：“孩子，我是個老人，已進(jìn)入垂暮之年，我知道在這個大千世界里還有很多邪惡的東西。兇狠的土匪從山上下來，擄去無數(shù)小孩，把他們賣給摩爾人。獅子躺在草叢中等待著過往的商隊(duì)，準(zhǔn)備撲咬駱駝。野豬將山谷中的莊稼連根拔起。狐貍咬著山上的葡萄藤。海盜們在海岸一帶興風(fēng)作浪，焚燒漁船，還把漁民的漁網(wǎng)搶走。在鹽澤地帶住著麻瘋病人，他們用蘆葦桿蓋起小屋，沒有人愿意接近他們。乞丐們在大街上漂流，同狗一起爭食吃。你能夠讓這些事情不出現(xiàn)嗎?你愿意讓麻瘋病人同你一起睡覺，讓乞丐同你一起進(jìn)餐嗎?你會叫獅子聽你的話，野豬服從你的命令嗎?難道制造出這些苦難的上帝還不如你聰明嗎?因此，我不會為你所做的事而贊揚(yáng)你的，我要求你騎馬回你自己的王宮中，臉上要露出笑容，并穿上符合國王身分的衣服，我要用金王冠來為你加冕，我要把嵌滿珍珠的權(quán)杖放在你的手中。至于你的那些夢，就不要再想它們了。這世上的負(fù)擔(dān)已經(jīng)太重了，是一個人難以承受的;人間的愁苦也太大了，不是一顆心所能負(fù)擔(dān)的。”

'Sayest thou that in this house?' said the young King, and he strode past the Bishop, and climbed up the steps of the altar, and stood before the image of Christ.

“你就是在這間房子里說這種話的嗎?”少年國王說。他大步從主教身旁走過，登上祭壇的臺梯，站到了基督像前。

He stood before the image of Christ, and on his right hand and on his left were the marvellous vessels of gold, the chalice with the yellow wine, and the vial with the holy oil. He knelt before the image of Christ, and the great candles burned brightly by the jewelled shrine, and the smoke of the incense curled in thin blue wreaths through the dome. He bowed his head in prayer, and the priests in their stiff copes crept away from the altar.

他站在基督像前，在他的左手邊和右手邊分別放著華麗的金盆，裝黃酒的圣餐杯和裝圣油的瓶子。他跪在基督像下，巨大的蠟燭在珠光寶氣的神座旁明亮地燃燒著，燃香的煙霧繞成一圓圈藍(lán)色的輕煙飄向屋梁。他低下頭去進(jìn)行祈禱，那些身著硬挺法衣的牧師們紛紛走下了祭壇。

And suddenly a wild tumult came from the street outside, and in entered the nobles with drawn swords and nodding plumes, and shields of polished steel. 'Where is this dreamer of dreams?' they cried. 'Where is this King, who is apparelled like a beggar - this boy who brings shame upon our state? Surely we will slay him, for he is unworthy to rule over us.'

突然，從外面的大街上傳來了喧嘩聲，一群頭戴羽纓的貴族們走了進(jìn)來，他們手中握著出鞘的寶劍和閃光的鋼制盾牌。“做夢的那個人在什么地方?”他們大聲嚷道，“那位國王，就是那位打扮得像個乞丐，給我們的國家?guī)韾u辱的男孩在什么地方?我們一定要?dú)⒘怂?，因?yàn)樗慌浣y(tǒng)治我們。”

And the young King bowed his head again, and prayed, and when he had finished his prayer he rose up, and turning round he looked at them sadly.

少年國王再一次低下頭去祈禱，禱告完畢他便站起身來，轉(zhuǎn)過頭去悲傷地望著他們。

And lo! through the painted windows came the sunlight streaming upon him, and the sunbeams wove round him a tissued robe that was fairer than the robe that had been fashioned for his pleasure. The dead staff blossomed, and bare lilies that were whiter than pearls. The dry thorn blossomed, and bare roses that were redder than rubies. Whiter than fine pearls were the lilies, and their stems were of bright silver. Redder than male rubies were the roses, and their leaves were of beaten gold.

啊!看那，陽光透過彩色的玻璃窗照在他的身上，光線在他的四周織出一件金袍，比那件為取悅于他而編織的王袍更加美麗。干枯的枝條怒放出鮮花，那是比珍珠還要潔白的百合花。干枯的荊棘也開花了，開放出比紅寶石還要紅的紅玫瑰。比上等珍珠還潔白的百合花，它們的根莖是由亮閃閃糾銀子做成的。比紅寶石更紅的玫魂，它們的葉子是由金子鑄造的。

He stood there in the raiment of a king, and the gates of the jewelled shrine flew open, and from the crystal of the many-rayed monstrance shone a marvellous and mystical light. He stood there in a king's raiment, and the Glory of God filled the place, and the saints in their carven niches seemed to move. In the fair raiment of a king he stood before them, and the organ pealed out its music, and the trumpeters blew upon their trumpets, and the singing boys sang.

他身穿國王的衣服站在那里，珠寶鑲嵌的神龕打開了蓋子，從光芒四射的圣體匣的水晶上放出異常神奇的光。他身著國王的衣服站在那兒，這里就充滿了上帝的榮光，連壁龕中的圣徒們也好像在動。身穿國王的華貴衣服，他站在了他們的面前，風(fēng)琴奏出了樂曲，喇叭手吹響了他們的喇叭，唱詩班的孩子們在放聲歌唱。

And the people fell upon their knees in awe, and the nobles sheathed their swords and did homage, and the Bishop's face grew pale, and his hands trembled. 'A greater than I hath crowned thee,' he cried, and he knelt before him.

百姓們敬畏地跪下身來，貴族們收回寶劍并向少年國王行禮，主教大人的臉色變得蒼白，雙手顫抖不已。“給你加冕的人比我更偉大。”他大聲說道，并跪倒在國王面前。

And the young King came down from the high altar, and passed home through the midst of the people. But no man dared look upon his face, for it was like the face of an angel.

少年國王從高高的祭壇上走下來，穿過人群朝自己的房間走去。此時沒有一個人敢看他的臉，因?yàn)槟侨菝簿透焓挂粯印?/p>