Childe Rowland

Childe Rowland and his brothers twain Were playing at the ball, And there was their sister Burd Ellen In the midst, among them all.

罗兰少爷和他的两个兄弟正在玩球，他们的姐姐伯德·艾伦也在其中，和大家一起玩耍。

Childe Rowland kicked it with his foot And caught it with his knee; At last as he plunged among them all O'er the church he made it flee.

罗兰少爷一脚把球踢起， 又用膝盖把它接住； 最后他猛地一冲，混在众人当中， 竟把球踢过了教堂的屋顶。

Burd Ellen round about the aisle To seek the ball is gone, But long they waited, and longer still, And she came not back again.

伯德·艾伦绕着回廊 去把球找寻， 可他们等了又等，等了又等， 她却再也没有回来。

They sought her east, they sought her west, They sought her up and down, And woe were the hearts of those brethren, For she was not to be found.

他们向东寻她，向西寻她， 上上下下都找遍， 兄弟们个个心里凄苦， 因为她哪里也找不见。

So at last her eldest brother went to the Warlock Merlin and told him all the case, and asked him if he knew where Burd Ellen was. “The fair Burd Ellen,” said the Warlock Merlin, “must have been carried off by the fairies, because she went round the church 'wider shins'—the opposite way to the sun. She is now in the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland; it would take the boldest knight in Christendom to bring her back.”

于是她的大哥最后去找了巫师梅林，把事情原原本本地告诉了他，问他是否知道伯德·艾伦在哪里。“美丽的伯德·艾伦，”巫师梅林说，“一定是被仙子们掳走了，因为她绕教堂走的方向是‘逆着影子转’——也就是逆着太阳的方向走。她如今身在精灵王国的黑暗之塔中；要救她回来，非得是基督教世界里最勇敢的骑士不可。”

“If it is possible to bring her back,” said her brother, “I'll do it, or perish in the attempt.”

“要是有可能救她回来，”她哥哥说，“我一定去做，就算为此送命也在所不惜。”

“Possible it is,” said the Warlock Merlin, “but woe to the man or mother's son that attempts it, if he is not well taught beforehand what he is to do.”

“这是有可能的，”巫师梅林说，“可是要是事先没有把该做的事学好，无论是谁去做这件事，都要大祸临头。”

The eldest brother of Burd Ellen was not to be put off, by any fear of danger, from attempting to get her back, so he begged the Warlock Merlin to tell him what he should do, and what he should not do, in going to seek his sister. And after he had been taught, and had repeated his lesson, he set out for Elfland.

伯德·艾伦的大哥丝毫不畏惧危险，决意要去把她救回来，于是他恳求巫师梅林告诉他去寻找妹妹时该做什么、不该做什么。学会了这些教诲，反复念熟之后，他便动身前往精灵王国。

But long they waited, and longer still, With doubt and muckle pain, But woe were the hearts of his brethren, For he came not back again.

可他们等了又等，等了又等， 满心疑惑，苦楚重重， 兄弟们个个心里凄苦， 因为他再也没有回来。

Then the second brother got tired and sick of waiting, and he went to the Warlock Merlin and asked him the same as his brother. So he set out to find Burd Ellen.

于是二哥也等得厌烦了，便去找巫师梅林，问了和大哥一样的话。于是他也动身去寻找伯德·艾伦。

But long they waited, and longer still, With muckle doubt and pain, And woe were his mother's and brother's heart, For he came not back again.

可他们等了又等，等了又等， 满心疑惑，苦楚重重， 母亲和兄弟们个个心里凄苦， 因为他再也没有回来。

And when they had waited and waited a good long time, Childe Rowland, the youngest of Burd Ellen's brothers, wished to go, and went to his mother, the good queen, to ask her to let him go. But she would not at first, for he was the last of her children she now had, and if he was lost, all would be lost. But he begged, and he begged, till at last the good queen let him go, and gave him his father's good brand that never struck in vain. And as she girt it round his waist, she said the spell that would give it victory.

他们又等了好长好长一段时间之后，伯德·艾伦最小的弟弟罗兰少爷也想去，便去求他的母亲，那位善良的王后，让他也去。可王后起初不肯，因为他是她如今仅剩的孩子了，要是他也没了，那便什么都没了。可他求了又求，求了又求，最后善良的王后终于答应让他去，还把他父亲那把从未失手的宝剑赐给了他。她把剑系在他腰间时，念了一道咒语，好让这把剑无往不胜。

So Childe Rowland said good-bye to the good queen, his mother, and went to the cave of the Warlock Merlin. “Once more, and but once more,” he said to the Warlock, “tell how man or mother's son may rescue Burd Ellen and her brothers twain.”

于是罗兰少爷向他的母亲，那位善良的王后，道别，来到了巫师梅林的洞穴。“再说一次，只此一次，”他对巫师说，“告诉我凡人或母亲的儿子该如何救出伯德·艾伦和她那两个兄弟。”

“Well, my son,” said the Warlock Merlin, “there are but two things, simple they may seem, but hard they are to do. One thing to do, and one thing not to do. And the thing to do is this: after you have entered the land of Fairy, whoever speaks to you, till you meet the Burd Ellen, you must out with your father's brand and off with their head. And what you've not to do is this: bite no bit, and drink no drop, however hungry or thirsty you be; drink a drop, or bite a bit, while in Elfland you be and never will you see Middle Earth again.”

“好吧，孩子，”巫师梅林说道，“事情只有两件，看似简单，做起来却很难。一件是该做的，一件是不该做的。该做的是这样的：你一旦进入精灵之地，在你遇见伯德·艾伦之前，无论是谁跟你说话，你都要拔出你父亲的宝剑，砍下他的头颅。不该做的是这样的：不管你有多饿多渴，都不可以吃一口东西，也不可以喝一滴水；只要你在精灵之地喝了一滴水，或吃了一口东西，你就再也见不到人间了。”

So Childe Rowland said the two things over and over again, till he knew them by heart, and he thanked the Warlock Merlin and went on his way. And he went along, and along, and along, and still further along, till he came to the horse-herd of the King of Elfland feeding his horses. These he knew by their fiery eyes, and knew that he was at last in the land of Fairy. “Canst thou tell me,” said Childe Rowland to the horse-herd, “where the King of Elfland's Dark Tower is?” “I cannot tell thee,” said the horse-herd, “but go on a little further and thou wilt come to the cow-herd, and he, maybe, can tell thee.”

于是罗兰少爷把这两件事翻来覆去地默念，直到烂熟于心，随后他谢过巫师梅林，便踏上了旅途。他走啊走啊，走了又走，一直走了很久很久，终于来到了精灵王的牧马人放马的地方。他一眼就从那些马匹炽热的眼睛认出，自己终于到了精灵之地。“你能不能告诉我，”罗兰少爷问那牧马人，“精灵王的黑暗之塔在哪里？”“我说不上来，”牧马人答道，“不过你再往前走一段，会遇见牧牛人，他也许知道。”

Then, without a word more, Childe Rowland drew the good brand that never struck in vain, and off went the horse-herd's head, and Childe Rowland went on further, till he came to the cow-herd, and asked him the same question. “I can't tell thee,” said he, “but go on a little farther, and thou wilt come to the hen-wife, and she is sure to know.” Then Childe Rowland out with his good brand, that never struck in vain, and off went the cow-herd's head.

罗兰少爷二话不说，拔出了那把从未失手的宝剑，一剑砍下了牧马人的头颅，随后继续往前走，来到了牧牛人那里，问了他同样的问题。“我说不上来，”牧牛人答道，“不过你再往前走一段，会遇见养鸡婆，她一定知道。”于是罗兰少爷拔出了他那把从未失手的宝剑，砍下了牧牛人的头颅。

And he went on a little further, till he came to an old woman in a grey cloak, and he asked her if she knew where the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland was. “Go on a little further,” said the hen-wife, “till you come to a round green hill, surrounded with terrace-rings, from the bottom to the top; go round it three times, widershins, and each time say:

他又往前走了一段，遇见一个披着灰色斗篷的老妇人，便问她是否知道精灵王的黑暗之塔在哪里。“再往前走一段，”养鸡婆说，“会看见一座圆圆的绿色小山，从山脚到山顶都环绕着一圈圈的台地；绕着它走三圈，逆着日头的方向走，每绕一圈都要念：

Open, door! open, door! And let me come in.

开门吧，开门吧！ 让我进去吧。

and the third time the door will open, and you may go in.” And Childe Rowland was just going on, when he remembered what he had to do; so he out with the good brand, that never struck in vain, and off went the hen-wife's head.

到第三圈，门就会开了，你便可以进去。”罗兰少爷正要动身，忽然想起了自己该做的事，于是他拔出了那把从未失手的宝剑，砍下了养鸡婆的头颅。

Then he went on, and on, and on, till he came to the round green hill with the terrace-rings from top to bottom, and he went round it three times, widershins, saying each time:

于是他继续往前走啊走，走了又走，终于来到了那座从山脚到山顶都环绕着台地的圆圆绿色小山前，他绕着它逆着日头走了三圈，每绕一圈都念道：

Open, door! open, door! And let me come in.

开门吧，开门吧！ 让我进去吧。

And the third time the door did open, and he went in, and it closed with a click, and Childe Rowland was left in the dark.

到第三圈，门果然开了，他走了进去，门随即“咔嗒”一声关上了，罗兰少爷便被留在了黑暗之中。

It was not exactly dark, but a kind of twilight or gloaming. There were neither windows nor candles, and he could not make out where the twilight came from, if not through the walls and roof. These were rough arches made of a transparent rock, incrusted with sheepsilver and rock spar, and other bright stones. But though it was rock, the air was quite warm, as it always is in Elfland. So he went through this passage till at last he came to two wide and high folding-doors which stood ajar. And when he opened them, there he saw a most wonderful and glorious sight.

其实那里也不算全黑，倒像是一种朦胧的暮色。既没有窗户也没有蜡烛，他也弄不清这朦胧的光是从哪里透进来的，若不是从墙壁和屋顶透进来的话。这些墙壁是用一种透明的岩石砌成的粗糙拱顶，上面镶嵌着云母石、水晶石和其他各种亮闪闪的宝石。虽然是石头砌的，空气却十分暖和，精灵之地向来如此。于是他穿过这条通道往前走，终于来到两扇又宽又高、半掩着的双开大门前。他推开门，眼前出现了一幅无比奇妙、无比绚丽的景象。

A large and spacious hall, so large that it seemed to be as long, and as broad, as the green hill itself. The roof was supported by fine pillars, so large and lofty, that the pillars of a cathedral were as nothing to them. They were all of gold and silver, with fretted work, and between them and around them, wreaths of flowers, composed of what do you think? Why, of diamonds and emeralds, and all manner of precious stones.

一间宽阔宏伟的大厅，大得仿佛和那座绿色的小山一样长、一样宽。屋顶由精美的立柱支撑着，那些立柱又高又大，教堂里的柱子跟它们比起来简直不值一提。这些柱子全是金银打造，饰有镂空花纹，柱与柱之间、四周环绕着一圈圈花环，你猜是用什么做的？没错，是用钻石、绿宝石和各种各样的珍贵宝石做成的。

And the very key-stones of the arches had for ornaments clusters of diamonds and rubies, and pearls, and other precious stones. And all these arches met in the middle of the roof, and just there, hung by a gold chain, an immense lamp made out of one big pearl hollowed out and quite transparent. And in the middle of this was a big, huge carbuncle, which kept spinning round and round, and this was what gave light by its rays to the whole hall, which seemed as if the setting sun was shining on it.

那些拱顶的正中央拱心石上，也都镶嵌着一簇簇的钻石、红宝石、珍珠和其他珍贵的宝石作为装饰。所有这些拱顶都在屋顶正中央汇聚在一起，正在那里，用一条金链子悬挂着一盏巨大的灯，是用一整颗大珍珠掏空、磨得十分透明做成的。这珍珠正中央有一颗巨大的红玉髓，不停地旋转着，正是它发出的光芒照亮了整个大厅，看上去就像是落日的余晖洒在上面一般。

The hall was furnished in a manner equally grand, and at one end of it was a glorious couch of velvet, silk and gold, and there sate Burd Ellen, combing her golden hair with a silver comb. And when she saw Childe Rowland she stood up and said:

大厅里的陈设同样富丽堂皇，一头摆着一张用天鹅绒、丝绸和金线做成的华美卧榻，伯德·艾伦正坐在那里，用一把银梳子梳理着她金色的头发。她一见到罗兰少爷，便站起身来说道：

“God pity ye, poor luckless fool, What have ye here to do?

“愿上天怜悯你，可怜的傻孩子， 你到这里来做什么？

“Hear ye this, my youngest brother, Why didn't ye bide at home? Had you a hundred thousand lives Ye couldn't spare any a one.

“听我说，我最小的弟弟， 你为何不留在家中？ 就算你有千千万万条命， 也没有一条能够挥霍。

“But sit ye down; but woe, O, woe, That ever ye were born, For come the King of Elfland in, Your fortune is forlorn.”

“可你先坐下吧；可是，唉，唉， 真恨你生来到这世上， 只要精灵王一进来， 你的命运便再无指望。”

Then they sate down together, and Childe Rowland told her all that he had done, and she told him how their two brothers had reached the Dark Tower, but had been enchanted by the King of Elfland, and lay there entombed as if dead. And then after they had talked a little longer Childe Rowland began to feel hungry from his long travels, and told his sister Burd Ellen how hungry he was and asked for some food, forgetting all about the Warlock Merlin's warning.

于是他们一起坐下，罗兰少爷把自己所做的一切都告诉了她，她也告诉他，他们的两个哥哥是怎样到了黑暗之塔，却被精灵王施了魔法，如今就像死了一般躺在那里。他们又谈了一会儿之后，罗兰少爷因为一路奔波而感到饥饿，便对姐姐伯德·艾伦说自己有多饿，向她要些吃的，把巫师梅林的告诫忘得一干二净。

Burd Ellen looked at Childe Rowland sadly, and shook her head, but she was under a spell, and could not warn him. So she rose up, and went out, and soon brought back a golden basin full of bread and milk. Childe Rowland was just going to raise it to his lips, when he looked at his sister and remembered why he had come all that way. So he dashed the bowl to the ground, and said: “Not a sup will I swallow, nor a bit will I bite, till Burd Ellen is set free.”

伯德·艾伦哀伤地看着罗兰少爷，摇了摇头，可她也身中魔咒，无法出言提醒他。于是她起身走了出去，不一会儿端回来一只金盆，里面盛满了面包和牛奶。罗兰少爷正要把盆举到唇边，忽然看了姐姐一眼，想起了自己千里迢迢赶来的缘由。于是他把盆狠狠摔在地上，说道：“在伯德·艾伦获得自由之前，我一口水也不会喝，一口东西也不会吃。”

Just at that moment they heard the noise of some one approaching, and a loud voice was heard saying:

正在这时，他们听见有人走近的声响，一个洪亮的声音喊道：

“Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of a Christian man, Be he dead, be he living, with my brand, I'll dash his brains from his brain-pan.”

“嗅，嗅，嗅，嗅， 我闻到了一个基督徒的血腥味， 不管他是死是活，我都要用我的剑， 把他的脑浆从脑壳里砸出来。”

And then the folding-doors of the hall were burst open, and the King of Elfland rushed in.

话音刚落，大厅的双开大门猛地被撞开，精灵王闯了进来。

“Strike then, Bogle, if thou darest,” shouted out Childe Rowland, and rushed to meet him with his good brand that never yet did fail. They fought, and they fought, and they fought, till Childe Rowland beat the King of Elfland down on to his knees, and caused him to yield and beg for mercy. “I grant thee mercy,” said Childe Rowland, “release my sister from thy spells and raise my brothers to life, and let us all go free, and thou shalt be spared.” “I agree,” said the Elfin King, and rising up he went to a chest from which he took a phial filled with a blood-red liquor.

“来吧，妖怪，你若敢的话就出手，”罗兰少爷大喝一声，拔出他那把从未失手的宝剑迎了上去。他们打啊打，打了又打，直到罗兰少爷把精灵王打得跪倒在地，逼得他俯首求饶。“我饶你一命，”罗兰少爷说，“解除我姐姐身上的魔咒，让我两个哥哥重获生命，让我们都自由离去，我便饶你不死。”“我答应，”精灵王说着站起身来，走到一只箱子前，取出一个装着血红色药水的小瓶。

With this he anointed the ears, eyelids, nostrils, lips, and finger-tips, of the two brothers, and they sprang at once into life, and declared that their souls had been away, but had now returned. The Elfin king then said some words to Burd Ellen, and she was disenchanted, and they all four passed out of the hall, through the long passage, and turned their back on the Dark Tower, never to return again. And they reached home, and the good queen, their mother, and Burd Ellen never went round a church widershins again.

他用这药水涂抹了两个哥哥的耳朵、眼皮、鼻孔、嘴唇和指尖，两人顿时活了过来，说自己的灵魂原本已经离开了身体，如今才又回来了。精灵王随后又对伯德·艾伦念了几句咒语，她身上的魔法便解除了，四人一同穿过大厅，走出那条长长的通道，从此再也不曾回头看那黑暗之塔一眼。他们终于回到了家中，善良的王后，也就是他们的母亲，还有伯德·艾伦，从此再也没有逆着太阳的方向绕教堂走过。