牛津書蟲系列 曾達的囚徒 7 For love of the King

7 For love of the King

7 為了對國王的愛

Every day I was sent a secret report by the Chief of Police，and the next afternoon I was playing cards with Fritz when Sapt brought it in.We learned that Duke Michael and the Three had left Strelsau，and that Antoinette de Mauban had also left.Clearly，they had gone to Zenda.The report also said that the people were unhappy because the King had not yet asked Princess Flavia to marry him.

第二天下午我和弗里茨打牌時，薩普特帶給我一封密信，那時每天警察長都要給我送一份秘密報告。我們得知邁克爾公爵和他的三個殺手離開了斯特萊索，安冬納特·德·莫班也走了。很明顯，他們去了曾達。報告還說臣民不太高興，因為國王還沒有請求弗蕾維亞公主嫁給他。

'Yes，'said Fritz.'It's true.I've heard that the Princess loves the King and she's very sad…'

“是這樣，”弗里茨說，“這是真的，我聽說公主愛國王，她很傷心……”

'Well，'Sapt informed us，'I've arranged a dance at the royal palace this evening，for the Princess.'

“喂，”薩普特通知我們，“我今晚在王宮為公主安排了一個舞會。”

'Why wasn't I told?'I asked angrily.

“為什么事先不告訴我?”我生氣地說。

But Sapt continued，'Everything is arranged.And tonight you must ask the Princess to marry you.'

可是薩普特繼續(xù)說著：“一切都安排好了。今天你就向公主求婚。”

'No!I'll do nothing to hurt her!'I cried.

“不!我決不做任何傷害她的事!”我叫道。

'All right，my boy，'Sapt smiled gently.'Just say something nice to her，then.Remember，she thinks you're the King and we don't want her to be angry with him，do we?'

“好的，我的孩子。”薩普特溫和地微笑著。“那就只對她說些好聽的話。記住，她以為你是國王。我們不想讓她對國王生氣，對嗎?”

I understood，of course.If the King was saved，then Flavia must marry him.If he was not saved，then Sapt would ask me to stay and marry the Princess.Duke Michael must not be King.

我當然明白，如果國王得救了，弗蕾維亞就必須跟他結婚，如果他沒得救，薩普特就會請我留下來，并且娶弗蕾維亞公主。決不能讓邁克爾公爵當國王。

The dance was wonderful.Flavia was beautiful and I dancedwith her again and again.Everyone could feel our happiness.I forgot about the crowd of rich，colourful people who were watching us.I had eyes only for my beautiful Flavia.

舞會好極了。弗蕾維亞很美麗。我跟她一遍又一遍地跳舞，每個人都能感到我們的快樂。我忘了那些有錢的，打扮得多姿多彩的人們在看著我們。我的眼里只有我美麗的弗蕾維亞。

When supper had finished，Fritz touched me on the shoulder.I stood up，took Flavia's hand and led her into a little room.They brought coffee to us and then the door was closed quietly.The Princess and I were alone.

晚餐結束后，弗里茨碰了碰我的肩膀，我站了起來，拉著弗蕾維亞的手，把她帶進一個小房間里，他們給我們送來了咖啡，然后門就輕輕關上了，公主和我單獨呆在一起。

The windows of the little room opened onto the garden.The night was fine and the room was filled with the sweet smell of the flowers outside.Flavia sat down and I stood opposite her.I was fighting with myself…But then she looked at me-and I was lost!I forgot the King，I forgot who I was，I forgot everything!I fell to my knees，took her gently in my arms and kissed her.

小房間的窗戶朝花園開著，夜色明朗，屋內充滿了窗外鮮花的甜香。弗蕾維亞坐了下來，我站在她的對面。我跟自己在斗爭著……可是她看著我，我失敗了。我忘了國王，忘了我是誰，忘了一切。我跪了下來，輕輕地摟住她，吻了她。

Suddenly she pushed me away.'Is it true?Do you really love me?'she cried.'Or is it because you're the King and you must marry me?'

突然她推開了我：“這是真的嗎?你真的愛我嗎?”她說，“還是因為你是國王而不得不娶我?”

'No!'I answered quietly.'I love you more than my life!'

“不!”我靜靜地回答：“我愛你勝過愛我的生命!”

Flavia smiled.'Oh，why do I love you now?'she said softly.'I didn't love you before，but I do now.'

弗蕾維亞微笑了：“哦，為什么我現在愛你了?”她溫柔地說，“以前我并不愛你，可現在我愛了。”

How happy I was! It was not the King she loved.It was me -it was Rudolf Rassendyll! But as I looked into her lovely face，I knew I could not live with the lie.How could I pretend to be the King any longer?

我多么幸福啊!她愛的并不是國王，而是我——魯道夫·拉森狄爾!可是當我望著她可愛的臉，我知道我沒法再對她撒謊。我怎么能繼續(xù)裝扮我是國王呢?

'There's something I must tell you…'I began in a low voice.

“有件事我必須告訴你……”我低聲說。

'Your Majesty，'said a voice from the garden.'People are waiting to say goodbye.'

“國王陛下，”花園里有人說道：“人們都在等著跟您告別呢。”

It was Sapt.He had heard me talking to the Princess.

是薩普特，他聽見我和公主說的話了。

'We'll come，'I replied coldly.

“我們就來。”我冷冷地回答。

But Flavia，her eyes full of her love for me， held out her hand to Sapt as he came into the room.He took it and said softly and sadly，'God save your Royal Highness.'And then he added，'But before all comes the King-God save the King!'

可是弗蕾維亞的眼里充滿了對我的愛，對走進房間的薩普特伸出手去。他握著她的手，溫柔而又傷感地說：“上帝拯救公主殿下。”然后他又加了一句：“可是國王高于一切，上帝拯救國王!”

When Sapt told the people that Princess Flavia had accepted the King as her future husband，they were wild with happiness.

當薩普特宣告說弗蕾維亞公主接受國王作為她未來的丈夫時，人們都樂得發(fā)瘋了。

'You know，Sapt，'I said sadly，'I could marry the Princess and let my people kill Duke Michael-and the King.'

“你知道，薩普特，”我悲哀地說，“我可以娶了公主，并且讓我的人民殺了邁克爾公爵，還有國王。”

'I know，'Sapt replied quietly.

“我知道。”薩普特靜靜地回答。

'So we must go to Zenda and bring the King home atonce!'I said.

“所以我們必須立即去曾達，把國王弄回來!”

Sapt put his hand on my shoulder.'You're the finest Elph-berg of them all，'he said with feeling.

薩普特把手放在我的肩上：“在所有艾爾弗伯格家族的人當中，你是最好的一個。”他動情地說。

Before we left Strelsau，I saw the Marshal and asked him to stay near Flavia，to take care of her and to keep her safe from Duke Michael.Then I went to say goodbye to her.At first she was cold with me.She did not understand why I wanted to leave her.But her anger changed to fear when I told her that I was going after Duke Michael.

在我們離開斯特萊索之前，我見了元帥，并且請他呆在弗蕾維亞身邊，照顧她并且使她免受邁克爾公爵的打擾。然后我去向她告別。起初她對我很冷淡，她不明白為什么我想離開她。但當我告訴她我去追趕邁克爾公爵時，她的怒氣變成了恐懼。

'Oh，Rudolf，be careful!'she cried.'He's a dangerous man!Please come back safely to me.'

“哦，魯道夫，小心點兒!”她說，“他是個危險的家伙!請你一定要平安地回到我的身邊。”

'Duke Michael can never keep me away from you，'I promised.But in my heart I knew that another man could.

“邁克爾公爵永遠也別想讓我離開你。”我保證道。但在我心里，我知道另一個人卻能做到。