insatiate, greedy; that cannot be satisfied. azure main, blue sea.
reakers, waves. maniac, madman.
areering, coursing; running swiftly. martyr, one sacrificed.
hivalry, knighthood. pastimes, games.
protracted, lengthened; numerous. foaming surge, boiling waves.
hallowed, sacred. sable, dark.
impelled, drove onward. strained, exerted to the utmost.
impetuous, furiously.
1. Light sped a bark from Gallia's strand
Across the azure main;
And on her deck a joyous band,
A proud and courtly train,
Surrounded Albion's princely heir,
Who toward his realm returned;
And music's cheering strain was there,
And hearts with pleasure burned.
2. It was a fair and glorious sight
That gallant bark to see,
With floating streamers, glittering brigh
In pomp of chivalry;
The smooth sea blessed her as she flew
The gentle gale impelled,
As if each crested billow knew
What wealth her bosom held.
3. But strangely o'er the summer sky
A sable cloud arose;
And hollow winds, careering high,
Rushed on like armed foes.
Loud thunders roll, wild tempests rave,
Red lightnings cleave the sky—
What is yon wreck amid the wave?
And whence that fearful cry?
4. See! see! amid the foaming surge
There seems a speck to float
And, with such speed as oars can urge,
Toils on the labouring boat.
The Prince is safe; but to his ear
There came a distant shriek,
Which to his strained eye brought the tear,
And paleness to his cheek.
5. That voice! 'twas by his cradle side,
When with sweet dream he slept;—
It ruled his wrath, it soothed his pride,
When moody boyhood wept:
'Twas with him in his hour of glee,
Gay sports, and pastimes rare;
And at his sainted mother's knee,
Amid the evening prayer.
6. Plunging, he dared the breakers hoarse—
None might the deed restrain—
And battled with a maniac's force
The madness of the main.
He snatched his sister from the wreck:
Faint was her accent dear,
Yet strong her white arms 'twined his neck—
“Blest William! art thou here?”
7. The wild waves swell like mountains on,
The blasts impetuous sweep;—
Where is the heir of England's throne?
Go, ask the insatiate deep!
He sleeps in Ocean's coral grove,
Pale pearls his bed adorn,
A martyr to that hallowed love
Which with his life was born.
8. Woe was in England's halls that day,
Woe in her royal towers,
While low her haughty monarch lay,
To wail his smitten fl owers
And, though protracted years bestow
Bright honour's envied store,
Yet on that crowned and lofty brow
The smile sat never more.
—H. L. SIGOURNEY
中文阅读
1. 一叶扁舟飞一般驶离高卢海岸,
开始穿越蔚蓝的茫茫大海;
船上洋溢着欢乐,
众人高贵而气派,
其中有我阿尔比恩 的王子,
他正朝着他的王国欣喜而来;
音乐渲染着激情与兴致,
心花怒放的人们无不开怀。
2. 从小舟望去,
波澜壮阔,晴空万里,
舟中飘飞的彩带,
闪耀着独有的尊荣与魅力,
浩瀚的大海神佑般眷顾着小舟,
温柔的海风充当着强大的动力,
连每一朵雪白的浪花似乎都知道,
海面上这一叶扁舟的意义。
3. 但异象突然来临,
夏日的天空顿时布满乌云,
阵阵阴风不断吹来,
肆虐如武装的强敌。
随后雷声滚滚,暴雨倾泻而下,
血红的闪电猛然划过天宇,
波涛中的小舟如今怎样?
那可怕哭喊声是从何响起?
4. 看哪!看哪!惊涛骇浪之中,
有一个星点还在漂浮;
如此快速推动小舟,
可以想见操桨手是何等辛苦卖力。
王子尚且无恙;
但突然一声尖叫传来,
让他紧张的双眼泛起泪光,
脸色也变得苍白。
5. 那个声音!他从童年开始就已熟悉,
它曾陪伴他经历了多少甜美的梦境;
他还是一个喜怒无常的小男孩时,
它曾平息过他的愤怒,安抚过他那骄傲的心。
它也曾陪伴过他的欢乐时光,
一起奔跑撒野,一起欢笑嬉戏;
还有童年时候,在妈妈的膝下,
晚课时的窃窃私语。
6. 他调转船头,拖着嘶哑的嗓音又进入波涛中去,
没有任何力量能阻止他,
他是在与疯狂力量进行搏斗,
而这疯魔就是大海。
他从漏船之上救出了他的妹妹:
而她已经奄奄一息,
她用洁白的手臂搭住他的头颈,
“上帝保佑威廉!你还在这里吗?”
7. 狂澜高涨如山,
惊涛扫荡着海面;
英格兰的王子如今安在?
去吧,只有去问这贪婪的无底深渊!
他正安息在海底的珊瑚苑,
白色珍珠装点着他的卧榻,
他那先贤般的神圣之爱,
其实与生俱来。
8. 那一天,悲痛笼罩着整个英格兰,
更充塞着皇家宫苑,
不可一世的君王已经倒下,
伤心哀叹他早夭的爱子:
即使岁月让他乐享天年,
让他拥有更多让人羡慕的财产,
与他又有何加焉?
从此这张戴着王冠的高贵的脸,
再也没有露出一次笑颜。
(H. L.西格尼 )