名家诗歌:混血姑娘

Before them, with her face upraised,
In timid attitude,
Like one half curious, half amazed,
A Quadroon maiden stood.

他们面前,仰脸站着的
是一个混血女郎,
有几分好奇,有几分害怕
怯生生可怜模样.

7
Her eyes were large and full of light,
Her arms and neck were bare;
No garment she wore save a kirtle bright,
And her own long, raven hair.

她脖子、胳臂露在外边,
一双眼又亮又大;
身上除了那鲜明的袍子,
只披着长长的黑发.

8
And on her lips there played a smile，
As holy, meek, and faint,
As lights in some cathedral aisle
The features of a saint.

一丝笑意浮现在唇边,
圣洁、温柔、恬淡,
有如教堂廊道的灯火,
有如圣者的容颜.

“The soil is barren,——the farm is old;”
The thoughtful Planter said;
Then looked upon the Slaver’s gold,
And then upon the maid.

农场主想着心事,叨咕着:
"这农场,地老,田荒;"
他看看奴隶贩子的金子,
又看看身边的女郎.

10

His heart within him was at strife
With such accursed gains;
For he knew whose passions gave  her life,
Whose blood ran in her veins.

他心里有斗争,晓得是罪孽:
只有他,才最了解
是谁的情欲给了她生命,
他的血管里流着谁的血.

11

But the voice of nature was too weak;
He took the glittering gold!
Then pale as death grew the maiden’s  cheek;
Her hands as icy cold.

可是天性的呼声太微弱,
他抓起亮晶晶的黄金!
女郎的双颊死一样惨白,
他两手冷得象冰.

12

The Slaver led her from the door,
He led her by the hand,
To be his slave and paramour
In a strange and distant land!

奴隶贩子拉着她的手,
把她拉出了门口,
带她去隔山隔海的异乡,
当他的奴隶和姘头!