評論
打印
LESSON 8 The trial by combat(II)
第八課 決斗審判（二）
Our scene now returns to the exterior of the Castle, or Precep'tory, of Tem'plestowe, about the hour when the bloody die was to be cast for the life or death of Rebecca. A throne was erected for the Grand Master at the east end of the tilt-yard, surrounded with seats of distinction for the Preceptors and Knights of the Order.
現在我們將場景轉移到圣殿騎士團的城堡（會堂）之外，約一小時后這里將進行一場決定麗貝卡生死的血戰。比武場的最東面是大宗師的寶座，而寶座周圍各不相同的座椅則是為分團的團長們和騎士們準備的。
At the opposite end of the lists was a pile of fagots, so arranged around a stake, deeply fixed in the ground, as to leave a space for the victim whom they were destined to consume, to enter within the fatal circle in order to be chained to the stake by the fetters which hung ready for the purpose.
比武場的最西邊堆著一堆柴火，柴火中間穩穩地立著一根柱子，這根柱子是為捆綁注定死去的受害者準備的，而它此時正等著受害者進入其周圍的死亡圈。
The unfortunate Rebecca was conducted to a black chair placed near the pile. On her first glance at the terrible spot where preparations were making for a death alike dismaying to the mind and painful to the body, she was observed to shudder and shut her eyes—praying internally, doubtless, for her lips moved though no speech was heard. In the space of a minute she opened her eyes, looked fixedly on the pile, as if to familiarize her mind with the object, and then slowly and naturally turned away her head.
不幸的麗貝卡已經被帶到柴堆旁坐在一把黑色椅子上。就在她看到那個已經堆好柴火立好柱子、準備摧殘受害者身心的恐怖之地第一眼的時候，她便渾身陡然顫抖了一下并閉上眼睛內心默默祈禱，雖然她沒有祈禱出聲，但嘴唇卻在動。分鐘后她睜開雙眼死盯著那根柱子，就好像在試圖弄明白什么，之后她又似乎接受了現實，緩緩地很自然地轉過頭。
It was the general belief that no one could or would appear for a Jewess accused of sorcery; and the knights whispered to each other that it was time to declare the pledge of Rebecca forfeited. At that instant a knight, urging his horse to speed, appeared on the plain advancing towards the lists. A hundred voices exclaimed, "A champion! a champion!" And despite the prejudices of the multitude, they shouted unanimously as the knight rode into the tilt-yard.
所有人都認為不會有人會為一個被指控施行巫術的猶太女子出場決斗，騎士們正為是時候撤銷此次麗貝卡的挑戰的事情交頭接耳。而就在這時，只見遠處的空地上一個騎著馬的騎士正朝著比武場疾馳而來，眾人驚呼出聲，“是一名斗士、一名斗士！” 看著已經騎著馬進入比武場的騎士，盡管大多數人不敢相信，但他們還是齊聲呼喊起來。
