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While the two listened,
主仆二人安靜地聽著。
he spoke of the long Jewish wait for a Messiah who would come and unite them within a new
他說猶太人一直在等待彌賽亞的來臨，等待他來把大家團結起來，
and independent kingdom of happiness and peace.
創造一個新的獨立王國，充滿快樂與和平。
He told of John the Baptist
他談到施洗約翰，
and the arrival, on the stage of history, of one called Jesus,
談到一個叫做耶穌的人在歷史舞臺上的出現。
He told of the miracles performed by this man,
他談到這個人所行的神跡
his lectures to the crowds,
和所傳的道。
his raising of the dead,
他使死者復活，
his treatment of the money changers,
他對稅吏的態度，
and he told of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
被釘十字架，埋葬與復活。
Finally, as if to give further impact to his story,
最后，為了加深印象，
Paul reached into the sack at his side and removed a red garment
保羅從行李袋中拿出一件紅色的袍子，
which he placed in the lap of Hafid.
放在海菲的腿上。
"Sire, you hold in your arms all the worldly goods left behind by this Jesus.
“老爺，您手中擁有的財富都是耶穌留下的。
All that he possessed he shared with the world,
他把擁有的一切都分給了世人，
even unto his life.
甚至他的生命。
And at the foot of his cross,
在他的十字架下，
Roman soldiers cast lots for this robe.
羅馬士兵以抽簽的方式決定這件袍子歸誰所有。
It has come into my possession through much diligence and searching
我在耶路撤冷四處尋找，費了好大的周折，
when I was last in Jerusalem."
總算把它拿回來。”
Hafid's face paled and his hands shook as he turned the robe stained with blood.
海菲把這件濺滿血跡的袍子翻轉過來的時候，臉色蒼白，雙手顫抖。
Erasmus, alarmed at his master's appearance, moved closer to the old man.
伊拉瑪被主人的樣子嚇了一跳，忙走到老人身邊。
Hafid continued to turn the garment
海菲翻來復去地看著袍子，
until he found the small star sewn into the cloth ...
直到他看見里面繡著的兩個標志
the mark of Tola, whose guild made the robes sold by Pathros.
托勒工廠的星星
Next to the star was a circle sewn within a square ... the mark of Pathros.
和柏薩羅的方框圓圈商標。
As Paul and Erasmus watched,
保羅和伊拉瑪看著
the old man raised the robe and rubbed it gently against his cheek.
老人把長袍貼在臉上，輕輕擦著。
Hafid shook his head.
他搖搖頭，
Impossible. Thousands of other robes were made by Tola and sold by Pathros in the years of his great trade route.
不可能，當年這種袍子賣出去不止一千件。
Still clutching the robe and speaking in a hoarse whisper,
海菲仍然緊緊地抱著長袍，用低啞的聲音說：
Hafid said, "Tell me what is known of the birth of this Jesus."
“告訴我這個耶穌出生時的情形。”
Paul said, "He left our world with little.
保羅說：“他走的時候，一無所有；
He had entered it with less.
來的時候，也是寒微。
He was born in a cave,
他生在伯利恒的一個山洞里，
in Bethlehem, during the time of the census of Tiberius."
那時正碰上奧古斯都人口普查。”
Hafid's smile seemed almost childish to the two men,
海菲笑得像個孩子，
and they looked on with puzzlement,
更令人不解的是，
for tears also flowed down his wrinkled cheeks.
老人皺紋密布的臉上淌下眼淚。
He brushed them away with his hand and asked,
他用手拂于眼淚，說道：
"And was there not the brightest star that man has ever seen
“在這嬰兒出生的時候，
which shone above the birthplace of this baby?"
天上是不是有一顆最明亮的星星？”
Paul's mouth opened yet he could not speak,
保羅張著口，說不出話來，
nor was it necessary.
其實也用不著說什么。
Hafid raised his arms and embraced Paul,
海菲伸出雙臂擁抱保羅，
and this time the tears of both were mingled.
這一回兩人都流淚了。
Finally the old man arose and beckoned toward Erasmus.
老人終于站起身來，招呼伊拉瑪道：
"Faithful friend, go to the tower and return with the chest.
“老伙計，去塔樓上把箱子抬下來。
We have found our salesman at last."
我們總算找到等候已久的人了。”
