評論
打印
"Battle will set their hearts ablaze once more, Your Grace,"
“戰斗會讓他們再度振奮，”
Ser Axell said.
亞賽爾爵士道，
"Defeat is a disease, and victory is the cure."
“失敗是病，勝利是療方。”
"Victory."
“勝利。”
The king's mouth twisted.
國王的嘴扭曲了一下。
"There are victories and victories, ser.
“我們需要很多勝利，爵士。
But tell your plan to Ser Davos.
把你的計劃告訴戴佛斯爵士，
I would hear his views on what you propose."
我要聽聽他的看法。”
Ser Axell turned to Davos, with a look on his face much like the look that proud Lord Belgrave must have worn,
亞賽爾爵士轉向戴佛斯。“受神愛護的貝勒”曾令高傲的貝格萊佛伯爵給乞丐洗爛腳丫——
the day King Baelor the Blessed had commanded him to wash the beggar's ulcerous feet.
這位未來的首相臉上的表情大概就跟貝格萊佛當時差不多。
Nonetheless, he obeyed.
然而他還是遵從了命令。
The plan Ser Axell had devised with Salladhor Saan was simple.
亞賽爾爵士和薩拉多·桑恩的計劃很簡單。
A few hours' sail from Dragonstone lay Claw Isle, ancient sea-girt seat of House Celtigar.
蟹島位于龍石島幾小時航程外，乃是賽提加家族海中的古老領地。
Lord Ardrian Celtigar had fought beneath the flery heart on the Blackwater,
黑水河上，阿德里安·賽提加伯爵在烈焰紅心旗下戰斗，
but once taken, he had wasted no time in going over to Joffrey.
但被俘后，第一時間就倒向喬佛里，
He remained in King's Landing even now.
甚至至今仍逗留君臨。
"Too frightened of His Grace's wrath to come near Dragonstone, no doubt,"
“懾于陛下威勢，他不敢靠近龍石島，”
Ser Axell declared.
亞賽爾爵士宣稱，
"And wisely so.
“算他聰明，
The man has betrayed his rightful king."
此人背叛了真正的國王。”
Ser Axell proposed to use Salladhor Saan's fleet and the men who had escaped the Blackwater --
亞賽爾爵士計劃用薩拉多·桑恩的艦隊運載逃過黑水河的人員——
Stannis still had some fifteen hundred on Dragonstone, more than half of them Florents --
史坦尼斯在龍石島仍有約一千五百名士兵，其中泰半屬于佛羅倫家族——
to exact retribution for Lord Celtigar's defection.
對賽提加伯爵的變節實行報復。
Claw Isle was but lightly garrisoned, its castle reputedly stuffed with Myrish carpets,
蟹島守衛松懈，而它的城堡里據說塞滿了名貴的密爾地毯、
Volantene glass, gold and silver plate, jeweled cups, magnificent hawks,
瓦蘭提斯玻璃、金銀器皿、珠寶酒杯、一只雄奇獵鷹、
an axe of Valyrian steel, a horn that could summon monsters from the deep, chests of rubies,
一把瓦雷利亞鋼斧，一個可以喚醒海底怪獸的號角、無數箱紅寶石
and more wines than a man could drink in a hundred years.
及喝不完的葡萄酒。
Though Celtigar had shown the world a niggardly face, he had never stinted on his own comforts.
賽提加素來吝嗇，但自己卻從不節儉。
"Put his castle to the torch and his people to the sword, I say," Ser Axell concluded.
“燒他的城堡，殺他的人，”亞賽爾爵士總結，
"Leave Claw Isle a desolation of ash and bone, fit only for carrion crows,
“把蟹島化為荒蕪的灰燼與骸骨，只有食腐的烏鴉停留，
so the realm might see the fate of those who bed with Lannisters."
這樣全國上下都能明白，跟蘭尼斯特為伍的下場。”
Stannis listened to Ser Axell's recitation in silence, grinding his jaw slowly from side to side.
史坦尼斯一邊沉默地聽亞賽爾爵士復述，一邊緩緩地左右磨牙。
When it was done, he said,
等對方講完，他說，
"It could be done, I believe.
“我相信這計劃可以辦到。
The risk is small.
風險很小。
Joffrey has no strength at sea until Lord Redwyne sets sail from the Arbor.
喬佛里沒有海軍——除非雷德溫伯爵從青亭島派出增援；
The plunder might serve to keep that Lysene pirate Salladhor Saan loyal for a time.
而戰利品也許能讓那里斯海盜薩拉多·桑恩暫時安心。
By itself Claw Isle is worthless, but its fall would serve notice to Lord Tywin that my cause is not yet done."
蟹島本無戰略價值，但它的陷落能告訴泰溫公爵，我還沒死。”
The king turned back to Davos.
國王回頭看著戴佛斯。
"Speak truly, ser.
“說實話，爵士，
What do you make of Ser Axell's proposal?"
你對亞賽爾爵士的提議怎么想？”
Speak truly, ser.
說實話，爵士。
Davos remembered the dark cell he had shared with Lord Alester, remembered Lamprey and Porridge.
戴佛斯想起跟艾利斯特伯爵共享的黑牢，想起“鰻魚”和“麥片粥”，
He thought of the promises that Ser Axell had made on the bridge above the yard.
想起庭院上方的拱橋，想起亞賽爾爵士的承諾。
A ship or a shove, what shall it be?
一艘船或一記推搡，選哪樣？
But this was Stannis asking.
但這是史坦尼斯在提問。
"Your Grace," he said slowly,
“陛下，”他緩緩地說，
"I make it folly… aye, and cowardice."
“我認為那很愚蠢…是的，而且懦弱。”
"Cowardice?"
“懦弱？”
Ser Axell all but shouted.
亞賽爾爵士幾乎叫喊起來，
"No man calls me craven before my king!"
“沒人敢在國王面前稱我為懦夫！”
"Silence," Stannis commanded.
“安靜，”史坦尼斯命令，
"Ser Davos, speak on, I would hear your reasons."
“戴佛斯爵士，說下去，我要聽聽你的理由。”
Davos turned to face Ser Axell.
戴佛斯轉臉面對亞賽爾爵士。
"You say we ought show the realm we are not done.
“你說要讓全國上下明白我們沒死，
Strike a blow.
所以得主動出擊，
Make war, aye… but on what enemy?
尋找戰機，這沒錯…但打誰呢？
You will find no Lannisters on Claw Isle."
蟹島上可沒有蘭尼斯特。”
"We will find traitors," said Ser Axell,
“那里有叛徒！”亞賽爾爵士嚷道，
"though it may be I could find some closer to home.
“也許這里也有，
Even in this very room."
就在這間屋子。”
