Sleep Well My Love

 

 

Dear Dave,

亲爱的戴夫，

This is in memory of an anniversary — the anniversary of October 27th, 1943, when I first heard you singing in North Africa.

这封信是为了纪念我们一周年，纪念1943年10月27日，我第一次在北非听见你的歌声。

That song brings memories of the happiest times I've ever known.

这首歌带给了我此生最美好的回忆。

Memories of a GI show troop — curtains made from barrage balloons — spotlights made from cocoa cans — rehearsals that ran late into the evenings — and a handsome boy with a wonderful tenor voice.

那时我们在进行军队表演，把拦截气球用作窗帘，把可可罐用做聚光灯，彩排一直持续到深夜，还有那个歌声悦耳的帅气男孩。

Opening night at a theatre in Canastel — perhaps a bit too much muscatel, and someone who understood.

在纳斯特尔剧院的首演，我可能有点喝多了，才发现原来有人懂我。

Exciting days playing in the beautiful and stately Municipal Opera House in Oran — a misunderstanding — an understanding in the wings just before opening chorus.

在奥兰美丽庄严的市歌剧院演出的那些日子，在开场合唱前我们有了误会，但又马上和好。

 

 

Drinks at "Coq d'or" — dinner at the "Auberge" — a ring and a promise given.

在Coq d'or把酒言欢，在客栈共进晚餐，随后你向我求婚。

The show 1st Armoured — muscatel, scotch, wine — someone who had to be carried from the truck and put to bed in his tent.

有一次，我们去看了《第一装甲》这场戏剧，喝了很多酒，我需要把你从卡车上背下来，把你送回帐篷里睡觉。

A night of pouring rain and two very soaked GIs beneath a solitary tree on an African plain.

还有那一晚，大雨倾盆，我们俩全身湿透躲在非洲平原一棵孤零零的树下。

A borrowed French convertible — a warm sulphur spring, the cool Mediterranean, and a picnic of "rations" and hot cokes.

有一次，我们借了一辆法式敞篷车，去泡硫磺温泉，享受地中海的清凉，“定量”的野餐和热可乐。

Two lieutenants who were smart enough to know the score, but not smart enough to realize that we wanted to be alone.

两个聪明的中尉了解我们的关系，但却不知道我们不希望被打扰。

A screwball piano player — competition — miserable days and lonely nights.

一个可笑的钢琴家，比赛，糟糕的日子和孤独的夜晚。

The cold, windy night we crawled through the window of a GI theatre and fell asleep on a cot backstage, locked in each other’s arms

那个寒风瑟瑟的晚上，我们在士兵剧院后台窗户下的小床上相拥而眠

the shock when we awoke and realized that miraculously we hadn’t been discovered.

当我们醒来时，意识到竟无人发现我们，这真是个奇迹。

A fast drive to a cliff above the sea — pictures taken, and a stop amid the purple grapes and cool leaves of a vineyard.

我们开了一会儿车去海岸的峭壁，拍了很大照片，流连于路边葡萄园内紫色的葡萄和翠绿的叶子。

The happiness when told we were going home — and the misery when we learned that we would not be going together.

当得知要回家时，我们欣喜若狂，而当得知我们无法一起回家时，又痛苦万分。

Fond goodbyes on a secluded beach beneath the star-studded velvet of an African night,and the tears that would not be stopped as I stood atop the sea-wall and watched your convoy disappear over the horizon.

在幽静的海滩，非洲满天的星空下，我们温情告别，当我站在海上，看到你的舰队逐渐消失在地平线，眼泪止不住地往下流。

We vowed we’d be together again “back home,” but fate knew better — you never got there.

我们发誓等你回家后要在一起，但终究抵不过命运的安排——你永远回不来了。

And so, Dave, I hope that wherever you are these memories are as precious to you as they are to me.

所以戴夫，不管你身处何方，我希望这些回忆对于你，就像对于我一样的珍贵。

Goodnight, sleep well my love.

晚安，安睡吧，我的爱人

Brian Keith

布莱恩·基思