羊皮卷的故事（27）

There must be no deviation¹ from this condition.

这一点不可以含糊，

Will you agree?"

你答应吗？”

"Yes, sire."

“答应，老爷。”

"And now the most important condition of all.

“现在，还有最重要的一个条件，

You are forbidden to share the scrolls²

你不能把羊皮卷上的内容

or the wisdom they contain with anyone.

告诉任何人，

One day there will appear a person who will transmit to you a sign

将来有一天，你会得到神的启示，

just as the star and your unselfish actions were the sign I sought.

就像那颗星星对我的启示，

When this happens you will recognize this sign even though the person transmitting it

到时候，你会认出这个人来，

may be ignorant that he is the chosen person.

也许连他本人也不知道是怎么回事。

When your heart assures you that you are correct

等你确认无误之后，

you will pass over to him, or her, the chest and its contents and when this is done

你再把这箱秘密传给他。

there need be no conditions imposed on the receiver

就像我认出你一样

such as were imposed on me and which I now impose on you.

你要一字不落地找到下一任继承者

The letter which I received so long ago commanded that the third to receive the scrolls

这第三代传人，

could share their message with the world if he so desires,

如果他愿意，就可以把所有秘密公诸于世了。

Will you promise to carry out this third condition?

这个条件，你答应吗？”

"I will."

“答应。”

Pathros sighed in relief

柏萨罗长嘘一声，

as if a heavy weight had been removed from his body.

如释重负。

He smiled weakly and cupped Hafids face in his bony hands.

他面带微笑，用骨瘦如柴的双手捧起海菲的脸庞。

"Take the chest and depart

“带上箱子上路吧。

I will see thee no more.

我们不会再见面了。

Go with my love and with my wishes for success and may your Lisha

我爱你，孩子，祝你成功，

eventually share all the happiness your future will bring you."

也愿你的丽莎能分享你未来的一切幸福。”

Tears unashamedly rolled down Hafid's cheeks as he took the chest

泪珠顺着海菲的脸颊滚落下来。他拿起箱子，

and carried it through the open bedroom door.

走出主人的卧房。

He paused outside, placed the chest on the floor,

他在门外停住脚步，放下箱子，

and turned back toward his master,

又转回头问他的主人：

"Failure will never overtake me

“只要决心成功，

if my determination to succeed is strong enough?"

失败永远不会把我击垮？”

The old man smiled faintly and nodded.

老人靠在床上，微微点了点头，

He raised his hand in farewell.

笑着朝他挥手告别。

1 deviation   

n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题

参考例句：

• Deviation from this rule are very rare.很少有违反这条规则的。
• Any deviation from the party's faith is seen as betrayal.任何对党的信仰的偏离被视作背叛。

2 scrolls   

n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕

参考例句：

• Either turn it off or only pick up selected stuff like wands, rings and scrolls. 把他关掉然后只捡你需要的物品，像是魔杖(wand)，戒指(rings)和滚动条(scrolls)。 来自互联网
• Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. 死海旁边的山洞里发现了古代的卷轴。 来自辞典例句