30

WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

征服者威廉

circling, all round.　　　　　　　　　　　　　realm, kingdom.
slumbers, sound sleep.　　　　　　　　　　　untold, uncounted.
squadrons, divisions of the army.　　　　　　　host, army.
legions, numbers; hosts.　　　　　　　　　　stain, blame; spot.
martial, warlike.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　sward, grass.
minted, coined.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　tranquil, quiet.
peasant's, poor man's.　　　　　　　　　　turret, small tower.
diamonds, emeralds, rubies, precious stones.

1. Great King William spread before him

All his stores of wealth untold—

Diamonds, emeralds, and rubies,

Heaps on heaps of minted gold.

Mournfully he gazed upon it

As it glittered in the sun,

Sighing to himself, “O treasure!

Held in care, by sorrow won;

Millions think me rich and happy,

But, alas! before me piled,

I would give thee ten times over

For the slumbers of a child.”

2. Great King William from his turret

Heard the martial trumpets blow,

Saw the crimson banners floatin

Of a countless host below;

Saw their weapons flash in sunlight

As the squadrons trod the sward;

And he sighed, “O mighty army!

Hear thy miserable lord:

At my word thy legions gather—

At my nod thy captains bend;

But, with all thy power and splendour,

I would give thee for a friend.”

3. Great King William stood on Windsor,

Looking from its castled height

O'er his wide-spread realm of England,

Glittering in the morning light;

Looking on the tranquil river

And the forest waving free;

And he sighed, “O land of beauty!

Fondled by the circling sea,

Mine thou art, but I would yield thee

And be happy, could I gain,

In exchange, a peasant's garden,

And a conscience free from stain.”

—CHARLES MACKAY

中文阅读

1. 威廉大帝将他的无数珍宝铺陈于前，

钻石、蓝宝石、红宝石，

还有无数金条堆在旁边。

他悲戚地看着如许财宝，

阳光下，它们是那样的耀眼。

许久他发出一声浩叹：“我的财物啊！

皆是多年苦心经营，辛勤积攒；

万众以为我富有而快乐，

呜呼，夫复何言！眼前的一切，

我都可以不要，我甚至可以将此十倍的财富馈赠于你，

哪怕就为了睡梦中的孩子，那张安详的脸。”

2. 威廉大帝登临塔楼，

听闻战斗的号角从下面传来，

红色的旗帜迎风飞舞，

军队的方阵已映入他的眼帘。

他们的队伍行过草地，

武器在阳光下金光闪闪。

许久他发出一声浩叹：“英勇之军啊！

听听你们悲苦国王的肺腑之言，

我一发话能让尔等集合，

我一点头能让尔等首领折腰；

但是尔等所有的显赫荣耀，

我也可以馈赠于友。”

3. 威廉大帝站在温莎王城，

于城堡之上凭栏眺望，

英格兰无边美景，

在清晨的阳光里更加婀娜旖旎，

河流悄无声息，

树林绿波荡漾；

许久他发出一声浩叹：“美丽的土地啊！

四周有大海轻柔环绕，

你属于我，而我也会屈服于你，

我会由衷高兴，

只要我能得到一间草庐，

以及一颗无愧的心。”

（查尔斯·麦凯）