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From neighbouring woods he interlaced
從附近的森林里，
His sorry skiff with wattled willows;
他采來柳條木棍整修他可憐的小舟，
And thus equipped he would have passed
就靠著這樣簡陋的裝備，
The foaming billows.
他會穿越大海滾滾巨浪。
A French guard caught him on the beach,
一位法國警衛在岸邊發現這位水手和他的木桶小舟，
His little Argo sorely jeering,
他們對這可憐粗陋的小舟百般嘲弄，
Till tidings of him chanced to reach
直到這個消息偶然傳到
Napoleon's hearing.
拿破侖的耳朵。
With folded arms Napoleon stood,
拿破侖抱著雙臂站著，
Serene alike in peace and danger,
以他一貫的，
And, in his wonted attitude,
波瀾不驚的平靜處事態度，
Addressed the stranger.
處理這起古怪的年輕水手的事件。
"Rash youth, that wouldst yon Channel pass
"魯莽的年輕人，你決意用枝條和棍棒拼湊的簡陋小舟
On twigs and staves so rudely fashioned,
冒險穿越茫茫海峽，
Thy heart with some sweet English lass
你激情澎湃的內心
Must be impassioned."
一定是思念著你家鄉親愛的姑娘吧。”
"I have no sweetheart," said the lad;
小伙子說：“我沒有什么甜蜜愛人，”
"But absent years from one another,
“但是戰爭讓我們經年累月的分離，
Great was the longing that I had
我最最思念，最最想見的是
To see my mother."
我的白發親娘。”
"And so thou shalt," Napoleon said;
拿破侖贊賞地回道，“年輕人，你理應這么做”
"You've both my favour justly won;
“你已經贏得我的贊同；
A noble mother must have bred
一位高貴杰出的母親
So brave a son."
才能養育出你這樣勇敢無畏的兒子。”
He gave the tar a piece of gold,
于是他贈與英國水手一枚金幣，
And, with a flag of truce, commanded
下令用一只掛著白旗的艦艇，
He should be shipped to England Old,
派人送他回到故鄉英格蘭，
And safely landed.
安然無恙地見到母親大人。
Our sailor oft could scantly shift
此后英國水手帶著這枚金幣周游世界各地
To find a dinner, plain and hearty,
無論多么困難，甚至窮到吃不上一頓飯，
But never changed the coin and gift
他也絕不肯拿著拿破侖贈送的金幣
Of Buonaparte.
換于他人。
—Campbell
—坎貝爾
