評(píng)論
打印
Pathros glanced again and again at the open tent flap
一邊望著帳篷外灑滿星光的大地。
and the brightness beyond which still illuminated the camp grounds,
他不再困惑，
A smile began to form on his puzzled face
慢慢露出笑容。
and he did not notice that the lad had ceased with his story
他沒有注意到少年已經(jīng)把故事講完，
and was now sobbing.
開始在一旁抽噎。
Soon the sobs subsided
慢慢地，抽噎聲也止住了，
and there was only silence in the great tent.
帳內(nèi)一片沉寂。
Hafid dared not look up at his master.
海菲不敢抬頭看他的主人。
He had failed
他已經(jīng)失敗了，
and proven that he was ill-equipped to be anything more than a camel boy.
事實(shí)證明，他只配喂養(yǎng)駱駝。
He fought back the urge to leap up and run from the tent.
他很想站起來逃出帳篷。
Then he felt the great salesman's hand on his shoulder
突然他感到那位推銷大師的手正按在自己的肩上，
and forced himself to look into the eyes of Pathros.
他不得不看著主人的眼睛。
"My son, this trip has not been of much profit to you."
“孩子，這一趟，你沒賺什么錢。”
"No, sire."
“是的，老爺。”
"But to me it has.
“但在我看來，你獲益匪淺。
The star which followed you has cured me of a blindness that I am reluctant to admit.
我不得不承認(rèn)，天上的那顆星星照亮了我的眼睛。
I will explain this matter to you only after we return to Palmyra.
等我們回到帕爾邁拉島以后，我再解釋給你聽，
Now I make a request of thee."
現(xiàn)在我要你做一件事。
"Yes, master."
“好的，老爺。”
"Our sellers will begin returning to the caravan before sundown tomorrow
“明天日落以前，咱們的推銷員都會(huì)回來，
and their animals will need your care.
到時(shí)候他們牲畜還需要人照料。
Are you willing to return to your duties as camel boy for the present?"
你愿不愿意先回去照料那些牲畜？”
Hafid rose resignedly
海菲順從地站起身，
and bowed toward his benefactor.
感激地向主人鞠了一躬，說道：
"Whatever you ask of me, that I will do . . .
“您吩咐我做什么，我都愿意去做……
and I am sorry that I have failed you."
這一趟讓您失望，我很難過。”
"Go then, and prepare for the return of our men
“去吧，準(zhǔn)備一下，大伙快要回來了。
and we shall meet again when we are in Palmyra."
我們回家以后再談。”
As Hafid stepped through the tent opening,
海菲出了帳篷，
bright light from above momentarily blinded him.
星光亮得他睜不開眼。
He rubbed his eyes
他揉揉眼睛，
and heard Pathros call from inside the tent.
聽到主人在里面叫他。
The youth turned
少年回身又進(jìn)了帳篷，
and stepped back inside, waiting for the old man to speak.
聽候主人差遣。
Pathros pointed toward him and said,
只聽老人說道：
"Sleep in peace
“安心睡吧，
for you have not failed."
孩子，你沒有失敗。”
The bright star remained above
那顆明亮的星星，
throughout the night.
整晚都停在帳篷的上空。
