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LESSON 32 The Saxon and the Gael
第三十二课 撒克逊人和盖尔人
The Chief in silence strode before,
酋长闷声不语，大步向前走，
And reached that torrent's sounding shore,
来到滚滚河水的岸边，
Which, daughter of three mighty lakes，
那是三个大湖汇成的河，
From Vennachar in silver breaks,
从惟那恰银白色的断岩中流出，
Sweeps through the plain and ceaseless mines
流经平原和博卡斯托
On Bochastle the mouldering lines,
到处崩塌的矿山，
Where Rome, the empress of the world,
那里曾是世界征服者
Of yore her eagle-wings unfurled.
罗马人的天下。
And here his course the Chieftain stayed,
酋长在这里停下，
Threw down his target and his plaid,
他在这里表明他的目标，
And to the Lowland warrior said:
对苏格兰低地的将士们说：
"Bold Saxon! to his promise just,“
勇敢的撒克逊人！为了承诺过的公平，
Vich-Alpine has discharged his trust.
我们已经得到了高地人的信任。
This murderous Chief, this ruthless man,
这个好杀、无情的人，
This head of a rebellious clan,
这个叛逆家族的首领，
Hath led thee safe through watch and ward,
他日夜守卫保证你们的安全，
Far past Clan-Alpine's outmost guard.
他的防卫工作比克兰阿尔派恩山上的要好得多。
Now, man to man, and steel to steel,
现在，我们要短兵相接了，
A Chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feel!
你就要感受到一个酋长的复仇了！
See here, all vantageless I stand,
看，我站在这里
Armed, like thyself, with single brand:
和你们一样，全副武装
For this is Coilantogle ford,
因为这里是柯兰拖歌渡口，
And thou must keep thee with thy sword."
你们必须紧随我之后。“
The Saxon paused:—"I ne'er delayed,
撒克逊人停顿了一下，说：——“当敌人前来，”
When foeman bade me draw my blade;
我会毫不迟疑拔剑；
Nay, more, brave Chief, I vowed thy death;
不仅如此，勇敢的酋长，我们用生命对你起誓；
Yet sure thy fair and generous faith,
我们不怀疑您公正的信仰，
And my deep debt for life preserved,
我的生命中欠有重债，
A better meed have well deserved:
应该得到更好的奖励：
Can nought but blood our feud atone?
我们只有用鲜血来赎罪吗？
Are there no means—?" "No, Stranger, none?
没有办法了吗？“”不，没有了
And hear,—to fire thy flagging zeal,—
听着，——不要萎靡不振，
The Saxon cause rests on thy steel;
你们手中的剑决定撒克逊的命运；
For thus spoke Fate, by prophet bred
预言家们所说的命运
Between the living and the dead:
在生与死之间：
'Who spills the foremost foeman's life,‘
谁能杀死敌军统帅，
His party conquers in the strife.'
"—谁就能在这场战争中取胜。“
"Then, by my word," the Saxon said,“
那么，要我说，“撒克逊人说，
"The riddle is already read.“
谜底已经揭晓。
Seek yonder brake beneath the cliff,—
去那边的山崖下，——
There lies Red Murdoch, stark and stiff
那里躺着身体僵硬的雷德·默多克
Thus Fate has solved her prophecy;
命运已经解答了她的预言；
Then yield to Fate, and not to me.
那么向命运低头吧，而不要向我低头。
