英国语文第五册(双语):撒克逊人和盖尔人(2)
When, if thou wilt be still his foe,
如果他还把你们看成敌人，
Or if the King shall not agree
或者如果国王不同意
To grant thee grace and favour free,
还你们自由，
I plight mine honour, oath, and word,
我以我的荣誉和誓言作担保，
That, to thy native strengths restored,
我会利用你们的力量，
With each advantage shalt thou stand
和你们所有的优势
That aids thee now to guard thy land."
来帮助你们守卫自己的土地。“
Dark lightning flashed from Roderick's eye
罗德里克眼中闪过一丝黑色闪电
"Soars thy presumption, then, so high,“
你们可以傲慢得高高在上，
Because a wretched kern ye slew,
因为你们杀了一个可怜的步兵，
Homage to name to Roderick Dhu?
要在十二月向罗德里克致敬吗？
He yields not, he, to man nor Fate!
他没有向敌军也没有向命运屈服！
Thou add'st but fuel to my hate:—
你们激起了我的憎恨：——
My clansman's blood demands revenge.—
血债必须血偿。——
Not yet prepared! Nay, then, I change
还没有准备好复仇！不，随后，
My thought, and hold thy valour light
我改变了主意，凭借你们英勇的光芒
As that of some vain carpet knight,
向自负的游手好闲的骑士复仇，
Who ill deserved my courteous care,
我会悉心照料你们生病的人，
And whose best boast is but to wear
你们最值得骄傲的事情不过是
A braid of his fair lady's hair."
—他美丽的新娘头上那长发。“
"I thank thee, Roderick, for the word!“
罗德里克，我为你的誓言感谢你！
It nerves my heart, it steels my sword;
你的誓言使我的心中鼓足了勇气，使我的剑变得更加坚硬；
For I have sworn this braid to stain
因为我曾立下誓言
In the best blood that warms thy vein.
要用我流淌的热血染红我的头发。
Now, truce farewell! and ruth begone!—
现在，我们要和停战说再见！我们不需要怜悯！
Yet think not that by thee alone，
我们大家和你想的都一样，
Proud Chief! can courtesy be shown;
我们高尚的首领！表示出谦恭；
Though not from copse, or heath, or cairn,
虽然这不是来自小灌木林，也不是来自荒野或石堆，
Start at my whistle clansmen stern.
但却是从我们斯特恩族人的哨声开始。
Of this small horn one feeble blast
这个小喇叭一吹响
Would fearful odds against thee cast.
就会遭遇可怕的力量悬殊。
But fear not—doubt not—which thou wilt—
但是不要害怕——不要怀疑——这会让你变得脆弱——
We try this quarrel hilt to hilt."
我们会和他们进行白刃战。“
Then each at once his falchion drew;
然后每个人都会立马拔出剑；
Each on the ground his scabbard threw;
将剑鞘扔在地上；
Each looked to sun, and stream, and plain,
看着太阳，溪流和平原，
As what he ne'er might see again;—
因为他们可能再也见不到这些了；——
Then foot, and point, and eye opposed,
然后大家向前走，短兵相接，四目相对，
In dubious strife they darkly closed.—
在战斗中他们慢慢地闭上了眼。
Ill fared it then with Roderick Dhu
遇上罗德里克是他们得不幸
That on the field his targe he threw,
他在战场上放倒一个个敌人，
Whose brazen studs and tough bull-hide
穿着黄铜甲和坚硬厚斜纹绒布的敌人
Had death so often dashed aside;
都倒在他的剑下，倒在路边；
For, trained abroad his arms to wield,
因为菲特亚梅的军队在国外受过训练，
Fitz-James's blade was sword and shield.
所以剑锋盾硬。
He practised every pass and ward,
他每天练习
To thrust, to strike, to feint, to guard;
刺杀，砍杀，假动作和防御；
While, less expert, though stronger far,
虽然优势甚大，但是却没有那么专业，
The Gael maintained unequal war.
盖尔人发动的是一场不平等的战争。
