冰与火之歌系列之《权力的游戏》第431期:第二十四章 艾德(28)

 　　He was at the door when Ned called, Varys. The eunuch turned back. How did Jon Arryn die? 他走到门边时，奈德叫道：瓦里斯，太监回过头。琼恩·艾林是怎么死的？

　　I wondered when you would get around to that. 我还在想你什么时候才会问起这个。

　　Tell me. 告诉我。

　　The tears of Lys, they call it. A rare and costly¹ thing, clear and sweet as water, and it leaves no trace.  那东西叫里斯之泪，非常罕见，价格高昂。其味道清甜如水，不留一点痕迹。

　　I begged Lord Arryn to use a taster, in this very room I begged him, but he would not hear of it.  当时我就在这个房间里恳求艾林大人叫人先尝过食物，自己再吃，可他不肯听，还告诉我：

　　Only one who was less than a man would even think of such a thing, he told me. 只有不配做人的东西才会想到这种事。

　　Ned had to know the rest. Who gave him the poison? 奈德急切地想知道事情始末。谁下的毒？

　　Some dear sweet friend who often shared meat and mead² with him, no doubt. Oh, but which one?  显然是某个与他很亲近，常和他一起同桌共餐的朋友，噢，但是哪一个呢？

　　There were many such. Lord Arryn was a kindly³, trusting man.  可疑的对象太多了。艾林大人是个和蔼可亲又值得信赖的人哪。

　　The eunuch sighed. There was one boy. All he was, he owed Jon Arryn,  太监叹道：不过倒确有这么个孩子，他的一切都是琼恩·艾林给的，

　　but when the widow fled to the Eyrie with her household, he stayed in King's Landing and prospered⁴. 但当艾林的寡妇带着一家大小逃回鹰巢城时，他却选择了留在君临，并很快飞黄腾达。

　　It always gladdens my heart to see the young rise in the world.  看到年轻人有发展，我总是高兴的。

　　The whip was in his voice again, every word a stroke.  他的话锋重归锐利，每个字都像挥出的一鞭。

　　He must have cut a gallant⁵ figure in the tourney, him in his bright new armor, with those crescent moons on his cloak.  他在比武大会上想必塑造了自己英勇的形象，穿着那身闪亮的新盔甲，还有那件弯月披风。

　　A pity he died so untimely, before you could talk to him... 只可惜他死不逢时，您还来不及问他就…

　　Ned felt half-poisoned himself. The squire⁶, he said. Ser Hugh.  奈德觉得自己仿佛也给下了毒。原来是那个侍从，他说，修夫爵士。

　　Wheels within wheels within wheels. Ned's head was pounding. Why? Why now? Jon Arryn had been Hand for fourteen years.  真是谜中有谜，错综复杂。奈德脑中怦怦作响。为什么？为什么选在这个时候？琼恩·艾林已经当了十四年的首相，

　　What was he doing that they had to kill him? 他到底做了什么，逼得他们非杀他不可？

1 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

2 mead   

n.蜂蜜酒

参考例句：

• He gave me a cup of mead.他给我倒了杯蜂蜜酒。
• He drank some mead at supper.晚饭时他喝了一些蜂蜜酒。

3 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

4 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

5 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

6 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。