英語閱讀精選:The Quadroon Girl(2)
7
Her eyes were large and full of light,
Her arms and neck were bare;
No garment she wore save a kirtle bright,
And her own long, raven hair.
她脖子、胳臂露在外邊,
一雙眼又亮又大;
身上除了那鮮明的袍子,
只披著長長的黑發.
8
And on her lips there played a smile,
As holy, meek, and faint,
As lights in some cathedral aisle
The features of a saint.
一絲笑意浮現在唇邊,
圣潔、溫柔、恬淡,
有如教堂廊道的燈火,
有如圣者的容顏.
9
“The soil is barren,——the farm is old;”
The thoughtful Planter said;
Then looked upon the Slaver’s gold,
And then upon the maid.
農場主想著心事,叨咕著:
"這農場,地老,田荒;"
他看看奴隸販子的金子,
又看看身邊的女郎.
10
His heart within him was at strife
With such accursed gains;
For he knew whose passions gave her life,
Whose blood ran in her veins.
他心里有斗爭,曉得是罪孽:
只有他,才最了解
是誰的情欲給了她生命,
他的血管里流著誰的血.
11
But the voice of nature was too weak;
He took the glittering gold!
Then pale as death grew the maiden’s cheek;
Her hands as icy cold.
可是天性的呼聲太微弱,
他抓起亮晶晶的黃金!
女郎的雙頰死一樣慘白,
他兩手冷得象冰.
12
The Slaver led her from the door,
He led her by the hand,
To be his slave and paramour
In a strange and distant land!
奴隸販子拉著她的手,
把她拉出了門口,
帶她去隔山隔海的異鄉,
當他的奴隸和姘頭!