羊皮卷的故事（10）（在线收听）

It was winter and the chill was bitter on the Mount of Olives.

时已冬季，橄榄山上寒风凛冽。

From Jerusalem, across the narrow cleft of the Kidron Valley,

耶路撒冷庙堂里

came the smell of smoke,

传来一股烧香熏烟的气味，

incense, and binning flesh from the Temple and its foulness mixed

焚烧尸体时发出的臭味，

with the turpentine odor of terebinth trees on the mountain.

以及山上树林里松脂的清香，混杂在一起，穿过金伦山谷，袅袅飘来。

On an open slope, only a short descent from the village of Bethpage,

离贝斯村不远的斜坡上，

slumbered the immense trade caravan of Pathros of Palmyra.

歇息着帕尔迈拉岛的柏萨罗商队。

The hour was late

夜深了，

and even the great merchant's favorite stallion had ceased munching on the low pistachio bushes

主人最宠爱的种马也不再咀嚼低矮的阿月浑子树丛，

and settled down against a soft hedge of laurel

靠在月桂树旁，安静下来。

Beyond the long row of silent tents,

长长的一列帐篷旁，

strands of thick hemp curled around four ancient olive trees.

粗大的麻绳围住四棵古老的橄榄树，

They formed a square corral

麻绳围的圈里面可以看见

enclosing shapeless forms of camels and asses huddled together

骆驼和骡子挤在一起，

to draw warmth from each other’s body.

互相取暖。

Except for two guards, patrolling near the baggage wagons,

除了两个警卫来回巡逻外，

the only movement in the camp

方圆一片寂静，

was the tall and moving shadow outlined against the goafs hair wall of Pathros' great tent.

只有柏萨罗的帐篷现出走动的人影。

Inside, Pathros paced angrily back and forth,

帐篷里，柏萨罗面带愠色，来回踱着步子，

pausing occasionally to frown

时而皱眉，

and shake his head at the youth

时而摇头。

kneeling timidly near the tent opening.

看着跪在门边的那个怯生生的少年

Finally he lowered his ailing body to the gold-woven rug

最后，他在金缕交织的地毯上坐下来。

and beckoned the lad to move closer.

招手示意少年过来。

"Hafid, you have always been as my own.

“海菲，我一直当你是自己的亲生儿子。

I am perplexed and puzzled by your strange request

我不明白你怎么会提出这种奇怪的要求。

Are you not content with your work?"

你对现在干的活儿不满意吗?”

The boy's eyes were fixed on the rug.

少年眼望地毯说道，

"No sire."

“不是，老爷。”

"Perhaps the ever increasing size of our caravans has made your task of tending to all our animals too great?"

“是不是篷车多了，你喂养不了那么多骆驼?

"No, sire."

“也不是，老爷。”

"Then kindly repeat your request.

“那么，再把你的请求说一遍吧，

Include also, in thy words,

慢慢地说，

the reasoning behind such an unusual request."

告诉我你的理由。”