1
A Gentle Knight was pricking（驱使）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（凹痕）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（steed战马）did chide（斥责）his foming bitt, 他那愤怒的坐骑暴躁地咬着马勒--
As much disdayning(disdain) to the curde(crud：家伙) 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。
But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore,
然而--他胸前带着一个血十字
The deare remembrance(回忆) of his dying Lord,
这是他对垂死的主耶稣的珍贵记忆--
For whose sweete（sweet）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(刻),
他的盾上也有着同样的血十字--
For soveraine（sovereign，至高无上的）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（联结着，义务）,
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（渴望）; 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（power）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(Veil) , that wimpled(折纹，用头巾遮) was full low,
面纱之后--面纱带着折纹低低垂下--
And over all a blacke stole（披肩）she did throw,
subjection她又用一条黑披肩蒙住全身--
As one that inly（在内心）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（专用，尤其是女性专用的马）slow: 坐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--
She was in life and every vertuous（=virtuous，美德的）lore,
都像那只小羊羔一样纯洁无暇--
And by descent from Royall lynage（=lineage, 血统）came
她出生于皇室贵族--
Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore（往昔的）
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（阴间，恶魔）feend with foule uprore (=uproar, 骚动，喧闹)
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（dwarf, 侏儒）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（sudden）overcast,
白昼忽然被乌云所笼罩--