78

It was in May. The sultry noon seemed endlessly long. The dry earth gaped with thirst in the heat.

在五月天里，闷热的正午仿佛无尽地悠长。干地在灼热中渴得张着口。

When I heard from the riverside a voice calling， "Come， my darling！"

当我听到河边有个声音叫道："来吧，我的宝贝！"

I shut my book and opened the window to look out.

我合上书开窗外视。

I saw a big buffalo with mud-stained hide， standing near the river with placid， patient eyes； and a youth， kneedeep in water， calling it to its bath.

我看见一只皮毛上尽是泥土的大水牛，眼光沉着地站在河边；一个小伙子站在没膝的水里，在叫它去洗澡。

I smiled amused and felt a touch of sweetness in my heart.

我高兴而微笑了，我心里感到一阵甜柔的接触。

79

I often wonder where lie hidden the boundaries of recognition between man and the beast whose heart knows no spoken language.

我常常思索，人和动物之间没有语言，他们心中互相认识的界线在哪里。

Through what primal paradise in a remote morning of creation ran the simple path by which their hearts visited each other.

在远古创世的清晨，通过哪一条太初乐园的单纯的小径，他们的心曾彼此访问过。

Those marks of their constant tread have not been effaced though their kinship has been long forgotten.

他们的亲属关系早被忘却，他们不变的足印的符号并没有消灭。

Yet suddenly in some wordless music the dim memory wakes up and the beast gazes into the man's face with a tender trust， and the man looks down into its eyes with amused affection.

可是忽然在些无言的音乐中，那模糊的记忆清醒起来，动物用温柔的信任注视着人的脸，人也用嬉笑的感情下望着它的眼睛。

It seems that the two friends meet masked and vaguely know each other through the disguise.

好像两个朋友戴着面具相逢，在伪装下彼此模糊地互认着。

80

Wit a glance of your eyes you could plunder all the wealth of songs struck from poets' harps， fair woman！

用一转的秋波，你能从诗人的琴弦上夺去一切诗歌的财富，美妙的女人！

But for their praises you have no ear， therefore I come to praise you.

但是你不愿听他们的赞扬，因此我来颂赞你。

You could humble at your feet the proudest heads in the world.

你能使世界上最骄傲的头在你脚前俯伏。

But it is your loved ones， unknown to fame， whom you choose to worship， therefore I worship you.

但是你愿意崇拜的是你所爱的没有名望的人们，因此我崇拜你。

The perfection of your arms would add glory to kingly splendour with their touch.

你的完美的双臂的接触，能在帝王荣光上加上光荣。

But you use them to sweep away the dust， and to make clean your humble home， therefore I am filled with awe.

但你却用你的手臂去扫除尘土，使你微贱的家庭整洁，因此我心中充满了钦敬。

81

Why do you whisper so faintly in my ears， O Death， my Death？

你为什么这样低声地对我耳语，呵，"死亡"，我的"死亡"？

When the flowers droop in the evening and cattle come back to their stalls， you stealthily come to my side and speak words that I do not understand.

当花儿晚谢，牛儿归棚，你偷偷地走到我身边，说出我不了解的话语。

Is this how you must woo and win me with the opiate of drowsy murmur and cold kisses， O Death， my Death？

难道你必须用昏沉的微语和冰冷的接吻来向我求爱，来赢得我心么，呵，"死亡"，我的"死亡"？

Will there be no proud ceremony for our wedding？

我们的婚礼不会有铺张的仪式么？

Will you not tie up with a wreath your tawny coiled locks？

在你褐黄的卷发上不系上花串么？

Is there none to carry your banner before you， and will not the night be on fire with your red torch-lights， O Death， my Death？

在你前面没有举旗的人么？你也没有通红的火炬，使黑夜像着火一样地明亮么，呵，"死亡"，我的"死亡"？

Come with your conch-shells sounding， come in the sleepless night.

你吹着法螺来吧，在无眠之夜来吧。

Dress me with a crimson mantle， grasp my hand and take me.

给我穿上红衣，紧握我的手把我娶走吧。

Let your chariot be ready at my door with your horses neighing impatiently.

让你的驾着急躁嘶叫的马的车辇，准备好等在我门前吧。

Raise my veil and look at my face proudly， O Death， my Death！

揭开我的面纱骄傲地看我的脸吧，呵，"死亡"，我的"死亡".