本帖最后由 ヮ成熟、羙° 于 2014-5-1 20:17 编辑
魔马（二） 荷叶/译 与此同时，菲鲁王子已不计后果地飞上天空，在一个小时内不断地上升，一直飞到高山和平原无法区分的地方。这时，他认为该降落了，他想当然地认为要想降落，只需朝反方向转动螺丝，但让他又惊又怕的是，无论他怎样转动螺丝，一点效果也没有。这时他才记起来他根本没有等着问问如何落地，他明白了自己已身处险境。幸运的是，他并没有慌张，他仔细检查马脖子部位，让他非常高兴地是，他在紧挨马耳朵的地方，发现了一个很小的按钮，比另外那个小很多。他转动了一下，发现自己开始降落，尽管比他离开地面时要慢很多。 这时天已经黑了，王子什么也看不见了，虽然有点焦虑，他也只能信马由缰，午夜时分，他才降到地面。从清晨就没吃过东西，又骑了那么长时间马，王子感到又疲劳又虚弱。 他从马上跳下来，第一件事就是看看自己到了什么地方，在一片漆黑中，他发现自己在一个巨大的宫殿的屋顶露台上，周围有一圈大理石栏杆。露台一角开有一个小门，小门通向一段楼梯，楼梯通向宫殿里面。 有些人可能会犹豫不决，是否继续探索，王子可没有这样做。“我没有恶意，”他想：“无论这的主人是谁，他都不会伤害一个手无寸铁的人。”怕一脚踩空，他小心翼翼地下了楼梯。在楼梯过渡处，他注意到有一扇开着的门，远处大厅里发出了微弱的灯光。 王子在进去前停了一下，听了听动静，他只听到了一些男人的鼾睡声。借助屋顶垂下的灯笼的光线，他发现一排黑衣警卫正在睡觉，每人身旁都有一把出鞘的宝剑，他明白了这一定是通向某位王妃或公主的前厅。 菲鲁王子静静地站着，环视着周围，一直到他的眼睛适应了这里的昏暗，他注意到一束光亮透过一个角落里的帘子照射出来。于是，他轻轻地朝那个方向走去，把帘子拉到一边，进入了一个华丽的大房间，里面睡满了女人，所有人都睡在低矮的椅子上，只有一人，睡在沙发上，他知道，此人一定是公主。 他悄悄地摸到公主床边，注视着她，发现她比自己见过的任何女人都美丽。但尽管被深深地吸引，他还是非常清楚自己的危险处境，哪怕只是一声惊呼，都会立刻惊醒警卫，那样他就必死无疑。 于是，他悄悄地跪了下去，抓到公主的衣袖，轻轻地往自己身边拉。公主睁开眼睛，眼前出现了一个风度翩翩，穿着得体的男子，她惊得一时说不出话来。 王子抓住了这个有利时机，他跪着深鞠一躬，开口说道： “您瞧，女士，一个落难的王子，波斯国王的儿子，由于一个您几乎不会相信的奇遇，来到了这里，寻求您的保护。但是昨天，我还在父亲的宫廷上参加最庄严的节日庆典，今天，我来到了一个陌生的国度，面临着生命危险。” 现在菲鲁王子正在恳求的是孟加拉国国王的长女，她为了换个环境，离开都城，来到了父亲给她修的宫殿，正在小憩。她友善地听着王子的叙述，然后回答道： “王子，别紧张，像在波斯一样，好客和人道主义在孟加拉国也广为流传。我向你保证，人人都会给你想要的保护。”王子刚要致谢，她迅速接下去说：“尽管我非常好奇你是通过何种方式快速来到这里，我知道你一定快饿昏了，因此我命令侍女把你送到我的一个房间去，你可以在那里用餐，休息。” 此时，公主的侍从都已醒来，正听着他们谈话。公主一招手，他们迅速起床，穿衣，抓起几只细长的蜡烛照亮了房间，把王子领进一个又高又大的屋子。两人个铺床，其余人到厨房去端来各种美食。然后，指给他看了一个装满衣服和亚麻布的壁橱，他们就离开了。 在他们离开的时候，被王子的美貌深深打动的孟加拉国公主试图再度入睡，但是徒劳无益。她感觉非常清醒，当她的侍女进来时，她迫不及待地问王子是否得到了想要的一切，他们对王子看法如何。 “公主，”她们回答：“我们当然没法说出这个年轻人给你留下的印象。让我们说，我们认为如果您父亲把您许配给这样一个和蔼可亲的人，您会非常幸运。孟加拉国宫廷里肯定没有一个人能比得上他。” 这些奉承话一点也没让公主生气，但因为她不想泄露自己的想法，她只是说：“你们这帮爱唠叨的人，去上床，睡觉。” 第二天梳妆时，侍女发现她一反常态，对化妆十分挑剔，坚持把发型做了两三次。她自语道：“因为，如果我的外表在昨天那种情况下没让王子不高兴的话，那当他看到我魅力十足时，一定会更加动心。” 然后，她在头发上戴上她能找到的最大最华丽的钻石，戴上项链，手镯和腰带，全都是价值连城的宝石。她身上披上全印度群岛只皇室成员才能穿的最华丽的衣裳。当她按自己意愿穿戴整齐时，她派人去打探波斯王子是不是醒了，是不是愿意接待她，她想去见王子。 当公主的信使走进菲鲁王子的房间时，他正要离开，去问一下他的女主人是否允许他去表示效忠。但一听到公主的愿望，他立刻让步。“她的意愿就是我的金科玉律，”他说：“我来此只是为服从她的命令。” 过了一会儿，公主到了，寒暄过后，公主坐在沙发上，开始向王子解释她为什么不让王子到她公寓去的原因。“如果那样做的话，我们任何时候都可能被太监总管所打扰，只要他高兴，他有权随时进入，而这里是禁地。我十万火急地想知道是什么样的精彩故事把令人愉快的你送到这里来，这里没有人能够打扰我们。我请求你，现在就开始讲，不得延误。” 附：原文 Meanwhile, Prince Firouz Schah had gone gaily up into the air, and for thespace of an hour continued to ascend higher and higher, till the very mountainswere not distinguishable from the plains. Then he began to think it was time tocome down, and took for granted that, in order to do this, it was only needful to turn the screw the reverse way; but, to his surprise and horror, he found that, turn as he might, he did not make the smallest impression. He then remembered that he had never waited to ask how he was to get back to earthagain, and understood the danger in which he stood. Luckily, he did not losehis head, and set about examining the horse's neck with great care, till atlast, to his intense joy, he discovered a tiny little peg, much smaller than the other,close to the right ear. This he turned, and found him-self dropping to theearth, though more slowly than he had left it. It was now dark, and as the prince could see nothing, he was obliged, not without some feeling of disquiet, to allow the horse to direct his own course,and midnight was already passed before Prince Firouz Schah again touched theground, faint and weary fromhis long ride, and from the fact that he h ad eaten nothing since earlymorning. The first thing he did on dismounting was to try to find out where he was,and, as far as he could discover in the thick darkness, he found himself on the terraced roof of a huge palace, with abalustrade of marble running round. In one corner of the terrace stood a small door, openingon to a staircase which led down into the palace. Some people might have hesitated before exploring further, but not so theprince. "I am doing no harm," he said, "and whoever the owner may be, he will not touch me when he sees I am unarmed," and in dread of making a false step, he went cautiously down the staircase. On a landing, henoticed an open door, beyond which was a faintly lighted hall. Before entering, the prince paused and listened, but he heard nothing except the sound of men snoring. By the light of a lantern suspended from theroof, he perceived a row of black guards sleeping, each with a naked sword lying by him, and he understood that the hall must form the ante-room to the chamber of some queen or princess. Standing quite still, Prince Firouz Schah looked about him, till his eyesgrew accustomed to the gloom, and he noticed a bright light shining through acurtain in one corner. He then made his way softly towards it, and, drawing aside its folds, passed into a magnificent chamber full of sleeping women, alllying on low couches, except one, who was on a sofa; and this one, he knew,must be the princess. Gently stealing up to the side of her bed he looked at her, and saw thatshe was more beautiful than any woman he had ever beheld. But, fascinated though he was, he was well aware of the danger of his position, as one cry ofsurprise would awake the guards, and cause his certain death. So sinking quietly on his knees, he took hold of the sleeve of the princess and drew her arm lightly towards him. The princess opened her eyes,and seeing before her a handsome well-dressed man, she remained speechless with astonishment. This favourable moment was seized by the prince, who bowing low while heknelt, thus addressed her: "You behold, madame, a prince in distress, son to the King of Persia, who,owing to an adventure so strange that you will scarcely believe it, findshimself here, a suppliant for your protection. But yesterday, I was in my father's court, engaged in the celebration of our most solemn festival; to-day,I am in an unknown land, in danger of my life." Now the princess whose mercy Prince Firouz Schah implored was the eldest daughter of the King of Bengal, who was enjoying rest and change in the palace her father had built her, at a little distance from the capital. She listenedkindly to what he had to say, and then answered: "Prince, be notuneasy; hospitality and humanity are practised as widely in Bengal as they arein Persia.The protection you ask will be given you by all. You have my word for it."And as the prince was about to thank her for her goodness, she added quickly,"However great may be my curiosity to learn by what means you have travelled here so speedily, I know that you must be faint for want of food, soI shall give orders to my women to take you to one of my chambers, where you will be provided with supper, and left to repose." By this time the princess's attendants were all awake, and listening tothe conversation. At a sign from their mistress they rose, dressed themselves hastily, and snatching up some of the tapers which lighted the room, conducted the prince to a large and lofty room, where two of the number prepared his bed,and the rest went down to the kitchen, from which they soon returned with allsorts of dishes. Then, showing him cupboards filled with dresses and linen, they quitted the room. During their absence the Princess of Bengal,who had been greatly struck by the beauty of the prince, tried in vain to go tosleep again. It was of no use: she felt broad awake, and when her women entered the room, she inquired eagerly if the prince had all he wanted, and what theythought of him. "Madame," they replied, "it is of course impossible for usto tell what impression this young man has made on you. For ourselves, we thinkyou would be fortunate if the king your father should allow you to marry anyoneso amiable. Certainly thereis no one in the Court of Bengal who can be compared with him." These flattering observations were by no means displeasing to theprincess, but as she did not wish to betray her own feelings she merely said,"You are all a set of chatterboxes;go back to bed, and let me sleep." When she dressed the following morning, her maids noticed that, contrary to her usual habit, the princess was very particular about her toilette, and insisted on her hair being dressed two or three times over. "For,"she said to herself, "if my appearance was not displeasing to the prince when he saw me in the condition I was, how much more will he be struck with mewhen he beholds me with all my charms." Then she placed in her hair the largest and most brilliant diamonds shecould find, with a necklace, bracelets and girdle, all of precious stones. And over her shoulders her ladies put a robe of the richest stuff in all the Indies, that no one was allowed to wear except members ofthe royal family. When she was fully dressed according to her wishes, she sent to know if the Prince of Persia was awake and ready to receive her, as she desired to present herself beforehim. When the princess's messenger entered his room, Prince Firouz Schah was inthe act of leaving it, to inquire if he might be allowed to pay his homage toher mistress: but on hearing the princess's wishes, he at once gave way."Her will is my law," he said, "I am only here to obey her orders." In a few moments the princess herself appeared, and after the usual complimentshad passed between them, the princess sat down on a sofa, and began to explain to the prince her reasons for not giving him an audience in her own apartments."Had I done so," she said, "we might have been interrupted atany hour by the chief of the eunuchs, who has the right to enter whenever itpleases him, whereas this is forbidden ground. I am all impatience to learn thewonderful accident which has procured the pleasure of your arrival, and that iswhy I have come to you here, where no one can intrude upon us. Begin then, I entreat you, without delay." | 
发表于 2014-5-1 20:11:20
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