The Faerie Queene
Edmud Spenser
A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine,
一位高贵的骑士正策马穿过平原，
Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,
他全副武装，手持银盾，
Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine,
盾上仍留着陈旧的深深的凹痕，
The cruell markes of many a bloudy fielde;
这残酷的标记来自多次血腥的战阵；
Yet armes till that time did he never wield:
但这些武器至今他还未用过；
His angry steede did chide his foming bitt,
他那愤怒的坐骑暴躁地咬着马勒，
As much disdayning to the curde to yield:
似乎桀骜不驯，不愿受主人的控制；
Full jolly knight he seemed , and faire did sitt,
他看上去是位真正的骑士，端坐马上，
As one for knightly giusts and fierce encouters fitt.
好象准备参加骑士比武，迎接激烈对抗。
2
But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore,
然而，他胸前带着一个血十字
The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,
这是他对垂死的主耶稣的珍贵记忆，
For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore,
就为了耶稣，他佩带那光荣的徽章，
And dead as living ever him adored:
虽死犹生，耶稣永受他崇敬；
Upon his shield the like was also scored,
他的盾上也有着同样的血十字，
For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had:
这是耶稣基督帮助他得到最高希望的标记；
Right faithfull true he was in deede and word,
他忠诚正直，言行一致，
But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad;
他的面容却显得过于严肃忧郁；
Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.
但对于任何可怕的东西，他都无所畏惧。
3
Upon  a great adventure he was bond,
他承担着一个冒险的壮举，
That greatest Gloriane to him gave,
这是最伟大的光荣女王交给他的使命，
That greatest Glrious Queene of Faerie Lond,
那仙国的最伟大的光荣之后，
to winne him worship, and her grace to have,
使他崇拜，的到她恩宠，
Which of all earhly things he most did crave;
是他在尘世间最强烈的愿望；
And ever as he rode, his hart did  earne
当他骑马前行，他的心时刻盼望，
To prove his puissance in battell brave
在抗击敌人的无谓的战争中，
Upon his foe, and his new force to learne;
证明他英勇和他学习的潜力；
Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne.
抗击他的敌人，一个可怕而凶猛的恶魔。
4
A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside,
一位可爱的女士伴他前行，
Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow,
骑着一头比雪还白的温驯的白驴，
Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide
而她本人更白，但她的脸藏在
Under a vele , that wimpled was full low,
面纱之后，面纱带着折纹低低垂下，
And over all a blacke stole she did throw,
她又用一条黑披肩蒙住全身，
As one that inly mournd: so was she sad,
如满心哀思之人；她的确十分忧伤，
And heavier sat upon her palfrey slow:
做在缓缓的坐骑上她显得忧郁，
Seemed in heart some hidden care she had,
似乎心中藏着重重忧虑，
And by her in a line a milke white lambe she lad.
她身边还牵着一只乳白的小羊羔。
5
So pure an innocent , as that same  lambe,
她在生活里和每一个关于美德的传说中，
subjection
She was in life and every vertuous lore,
都像那只小羊羔一样纯洁无暇；
And by descent from Royall lynage came
她出生于皇室贵族，
Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore
那昔日的国王与王后的后裔；
Their scepters strecht from East to Westerne shore,
他们的权杖从东海岸伸到西海岸，
And all the world in their subjection held;
整个世界都在他们的统治之下；
Till that infernall feend with foule uprore
直到那可怕的恶魔淫威肆虐，
Forwated all their land , and them expeld:
蹂躏他们的全部国土，将他们赶走；
Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from for compeld.
为了给他们报仇，她请来这远方的骑士。
6
Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag,
她身后的一个侏儒远远落在后面，
That lasie seemed in being ever last,
他似乎因为总在后面而显得懒洋洋，
Or wearied with bearing of her bag
或者因为背负着她的一袋衣物，
Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past,
已经疲惫。当他们这样行进时
The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast,
白昼忽然被乌云所笼罩，
And angry Jove and hideous storme of raine
愤怒的朱庇特将一场可怕的暴风雨
Did poure into his Lemans lap so fast,
倾注在他的大地爱人的怀中，如此迅疾，
That every wight to shrowd  it did constrain,
每个人都被迫地方躲避。
And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain.
这漂亮的一对也欣然地隐蔽自己。
7
Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand,
在森林里寻就近的隐蔽处，
A shadie grove not far away they spide,
他们看见不远处一片树荫，
That promist ayde the tempest to withstand:
可以让他们藏身，抵挡暴风雨；
Whose loftie trees yclad with sommers pride,
那些高高的大树披着夏日的骄傲，
Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide,
绿茵伸得宽宽，挡住天上的光，
Not perceable with power of any starre:
没有一颗星有能力穿透，
And all within were pathes and alleies wide,
在浓荫下有许多宽宽的路径，
With footing worne , and leading inward farre:
被行人脚步踏平，通向远远的深处；
Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred arre.
这似乎是平安港湾，于是他们向里走去。