LESSON 44 The slave's dream

第四十四课 奴隶之梦

Beside the ungathered rice he lay, his sickle in his hand;

手中握着镰刀，他躺倒在未收割的稻田旁；

His breast was bare, his matted hair was buried in the sand.

赤裸着胸膛，他的蓬乱的头发沾满了沙粒。

Again, in the mist and shadow of sleep, he saw his native land.

薄雾冥冥和昏昏欲睡中，他再次看到了自己的家乡。

Wide through the landscape of his dreams the lordly Niger flowed;

梦中庄严的尼日尔河水奔流不止，看那广阔壮美如画的风景！

Beneath the palm-trees on the plain once more a king he strode,

平原上的棕榈树下，他大步流星，再次成为国王像以前一样，

And heard the tinkling caravans descend the mountain-road.

他听到叮当作响的大篷车，沿山路而下。

He saw once more his dark-eyed queen among her children stand;

他再次看到了黑眼睛的王后站在孩子们中间；

They clasped his neck, they kissed his cheeks, they held him by the hand!—

他们围上来搂着他的脖子，亲着他的脸颊，紧紧地拥抱着他！

A tear burst from the sleeper's lids, and fell into the sand.

一滴泪珠从这梦中人的眼中滚落，掉入了沙土。

And then at furious speed he rode along the Niger's bank;

然后他策马奔腾在尼日尔的海岸，快如闪电；

His bridle-reins were golden chains, and, with a martial clank,

金色的锁链是他新的缰绳，在手中铮铮作响；

At each leap he could feel his scabbard of steel smiting his stallion's flank.

每一次腾空跳跃，都能感受到钢铁剑鞘重重击打着骏马的侧腹。