羊皮卷的故事（28）（在线收听）

Hafid, with his animal,

海菲骑着驴子，

entered the walled city of Damascus through the East gate.

由东门进了大马士革城。

He rode along the street called Straight

他沿着一条叫做斯特奇的大街骑着，

with doubts and trepidations

心中充满了疑虑和惶恐。

ami the noise and shoutings from hundreds of bazaars did little to ease his fear.

赶集者的喧哗吵嚷声，都无法驱除他心中的恐惧。

It was one thing to arrive in a large city with a powerful trade caravan such as that of Pathros;

以前跟着主人的商队，浩浩荡荡地来到这里时多风光呀，

it was another to be unprotected and alone.

如今自己孓然一人，无依无靠，前途未卜。

Street merchants rushed at him from all sides holding up merchandise,

街上兜售生意的小贩，

each screaming louder than the next

声音一个比一个大。

He passed cell-like shops and bazaars displaying

他骑着驴，看着鸽子笼般的店面。他经过满地摆着的摊位时，

craftsmanship of coppersmiths, silversmiths,

琳琅满目的铜器、银器、

saddlers, weavers, carpenters;

马具、织品、木工制品，

and each step of his mule brought him face to face with another vender,

让他看不过来，每走一步，都会有小贩上前伸出手兜售生意，

hands outstretched, wailing words of self-pity.

发生自怜的哀泣。

Directly ahead of him,

在他的正前方，

beyond the western wall of the city, rose Mt Harmon.

西墙外，矗立着海蒙山。

Although the season was summer,

虽然时已入夏，

its top was still capped with white

山顶依旧白雪皑皑，

and it seemed to look down on the cacophony of the market place with tolerance and forbearance.

远远地俯视着熙熙攘攘的市集，似乎已能容忍它的喧哗。

Eventually Hafid turned off the famous street

海菲离开了这条颇负盛名的大街，

and inquired about lodging which he had no difficulty finding in an inn called Moscha.

开始打听可以过夜的地方，没多久就找到一家叫做莫沙的客栈。

His room was clean and he paid his rent for a month in advance

房间很干净，他预付了一个月的房租，

which immediately established his standing with Antonine, the owner.

房东立刻对他殷勤起来。

Then he stabled his animal behind the inn,

他把牲口牵到后面拴好，

bathed himself in the waters of the Barada

自己去布达河洗了澡，

and returned to his room.

重新回到客房。

He placed the small cedar chest at the foot of his cot

海菲把那只香杉木箱放在床脚边，

and proceeded to unroll the leather strappings.

掀开裹在外面的皮革。

The cover opened easily and he gazed down at the leather scrolls.

盖子很容易打开。他凝视了一会儿里面的羊皮卷，伸手摸了摸。

Finally he reached inside and touched the leather.

一触到那些羊皮卷，

It gave under his fingers as if it were alive

他突然觉得它们好像有了生命，

and he hurriedly withdrew his hand.

在底下蠢蠢欲动，就又赶紧把手缩了回来。

He arose and stepped toward the latticed window

他起身来到花格窗前，

through which sounds poured from the noisy market place nearly half a mile distant

窗外市集上乱轰轰的声音像洪水一样灌了进来，听上去似乎只有半步之遥。

Fear and doubt returned again

他循声望去，

as he looked in the direction of the muffled voices

恐惧与惶惑再度袭上心头，

and he felt his confidence waning.

临行前的信心消失殆尽。

He closed his eyes,

他闭上眼睛，

leaned his head against the wall, and cried aloud,

头靠在墙上，哭了起来。

"How foolish I am to dream that I, a mere camel boy,

“我真傻，一个喂骆驼的僮仆

will one day be acclaimed as the greatest salesman in the world

竟然梦想有一天成为世界上最伟大的推销员。

when I have not even the courage to ride through the stalls of the hawkers in the street

现在我连到街上去的勇气都没有。

Today mine eyes have witnessed hundreds of salesmen,

今天总算亲眼看到这么多的推销员。

all far better equipped for their profession than I.

他们看上去都比我条件好得多，

All had boldness, enthusiasm, and persistence.

有胆量，有热情，有毅力，

All seemed equipped to survive in the jungle of the market.

都比我更能应付险恶的市场，立于不败之地。

How stupid and presumptuous to think I can compete with and surpass them.

我真是自不量力，居然以为能够超过他们。

Pathros, my Pathros, I fear that I will fail you again."

柏萨罗老爷，我又要让您失望了。”

He threw himself on his cot and weary from his travels

他一头栽到床上，带着旅途的劳累，

he sobbed until he slept

在泪水中睡着了。

When he awoke it was morning.

醒来已是次日清晨，

Even before he opened his eyes he heard the chirp.

还没睁眼，就听见鸟儿啁瞅地唱着。

Then he sat up and stared in disbelief at the sparrow

他坐起身来，睁开双眼，

perched on the open cover of the chest containing the scrolls.

不敢相信地看着一只麻雀停在敞开的箱盖上。

He ran to the window.

他奔到窗前，

Outside, thou- sands of sparrows clustered in the fig trees and sycamores,

见外面成群的麻雀聚集在无花果树上，唱着歌，

each welcoming the day with song.

迎接新的一天的来临。