評論
打印
Hafid rode slowly,
海菲慢慢地騎著，
his head bowed so that he no longer noticed the star spreading its path of light before him.
垂著頭，不再理會那顆星星，任它將無盡的光芒灑滿在前方的路上。
Why had he committed such a foolish act?
他為什么要做這種蠢事？
He knew not those people in the cave.
他根本不認識洞里的人，
Why had he not attempted to sell the robe to them?
為什么沒有想到把袍子賣給他們？
What would he tell Pathros?
這下可好，怎么向主人交待？
And the others?
別人又會怎么看他？
They would roll on the ground with laughter
一定會笑得在地上打滾，
when they learned he had given away a robe
知道他把自己欠了帳的袍子
with which he had been charged.
送給不相識的人，
And to a strange baby in a cave.
何況是給了一個山洞里的嬰兒。
He searched his mind for a tale that would deceive Pathros.
他左思右想，打算編個故事，
Perhaps he could say that the robe had been stolen from his animal while he was in the dining hall.
就說他去吃飯的時候，袍子被人偷了。
Would Pathros believe such a tale?
主人會相信嗎？
After all, there were many bandits in the land.
反正這年頭到處鬧強盜。
And should Pathros believe him
不過，就算柏薩羅信了他的話，
would he not then be condemned for carelessness?
難道不會怪他疏忽嗎？
All too soon he reached the path
時間似乎過得很快，
that led through the Garden of Gethsemane.
他已經回到了商隊扎營的地方。
He dismounted and walked wearily ahead of the mule until he arrived at the caravan.
海菲跳下驢子，憂心忡忡地牽著牲口，來到篷車前。
The light from above made it seem as daylight
頭頂上的星光將大地照得如同白晝。
and the confrontation he had been dreading was
他一路上惴惴不安的場面
quickly upon him as he saw Pathros,
終于出現了：
outside his tent, staring into the heavens.
柏薩羅正站在帳篷外，仰望夜空。
Hafid remained motionless but the old man noticed him almost immediately.
海菲不動聲色，止住了腳步。主人還是馬上發現了他。
There was awe in the voice of Pathros as he approached the youth and asked,
柏薩羅驚訝不已，走近少年問道：
"Have you come directly from Bethlehem?"
“你直接從伯利恒回來的？”
"Yes, master."
“是的，老爺。”
"Are you not alarmed
“你沒留意，
that a star should follow you?"
有顆星星一直在跟著你？”
"I had not noticed, sire."
“我沒留意，老爺。”
"Had not noticed?
“沒有留意？
I have been unable to move from this spot
兩個時辰前，我就站在那兒，一動沒動，
since I first saw that star rise over Bethlehem nearly two hours ago.
從我看到那顆星星在柏利恒的方向升起的時候，
Never have I seen one with more color and brightness.
我從來沒見過這么光彩奪目的星星。
Then as I watched,
我看著它出現，
it began to move in the heavens and approach our caravan.
又看著它朝著我們的方向移過來。
Now that it is directly overhead,
現在它就在我們頭頂的正上方停住了，
you appear, and by the gods, it moves no more."
你正好出現，天啊，它這會兒一動也不動了。”
Pathros approached Hafid and studied the youth's face closely as he asked,
柏薩羅走近海菲，仔細打量著年輕人的神色，追問道：
"Did you participate in some extraordinary event while in Bethlehem?"
“你在伯利恒有沒有碰上什么特別的事情？”
"No, sire "
“沒有，老爺。”
The old man frowned as if deep in thought.
老人皺起眉，頓時陷入了沉思。
"I have never known a night or an experience such as this"
“我從來沒有經歷過這樣一個夜晚。”
