The Slaver in the broad lagoon
Lay moored with idle sail;
He waited for the rising moon
And for the evening gale.
奴隶贩子把帆船停在
宽阔的咸水湖中;
他要等待上升的月亮,
等待黄昏的海风.
2
Under the shore his boat was tied,
And all her listless crew
Watched the gray alligator slide，
Into the still bayou.
他的船拴在岸边,那一群
无精打采的水手
注视着一条灰白的鳄鱼
游入静静的湖口.
3
Odours of orange-flowers and spice
Reached them from time to time,
Like the airs that breathing from
Paradise
Upon a world of crime.
橙花和豆蔻的阵阵香气
飘送到他们身边,
有如天国的仙风袅袅
吹到罪恶的人间.
4
The Planter, under his roof of thatch,
Smoked thoughtfully and slow;
The Slaver’s thumb was on the latch,
He seemed in haste to go.
棕叶盖顶的屋里,农场主
想着心事,抽着烟;
奴隶贩子,象急着要走,
大拇指按着门闩.
He said, “My ship at anchor rides
In yonder broad lagoon;
I only wait the evening tides
And the rising of the moon.”
他说:"我的帆船就停在
宽阔的咸水湖上;
我只等着晚上的潮水,
等着上升的月亮."6
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!