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It might have taken the warlock fifty years to find such a woman, yet it so happened that the very day after he decided to seek her, a maiden answering his every wish arrived in the neighborhood to visit her kinsfolk.
男巫恐怕要花上五十年才能找到这样一位女子，然而无巧不成书，就在他决定寻找妻子的第二天，一个完全符合他要求的姑娘来到了邻居家做客。
She was a witch of prodigious skill and possessed of much gold.
她是一个技艺高超的女巫，拥有很多财富。
Her beauty was such that it tugged at the heart of every man who set eyes on her; of every man, that is, except one.
她的美貌实在惊人，男人一看见她就会怦然心动。当然，只有一个人例外。
The warlock's heart felt nothing at all.
男巫的心仍然毫无感觉。
Nevertheless, she was the prize he sought, so he began to pay her court.
然而，既然她就是他所寻找的战利品，他还是向她展开了追求。
All who noticed the warlock's change in manners were amazed, and told the maiden that she had succeeded where a hundred had failed.
注意到男巫行为变了的人们都感到很吃惊，他们告诉这位姑娘说，一百个女人都没有成功的事，居然在她这里成功了。
The young woman herself was both fascinated and repelled by the warlock's attentions.
年轻姑娘对男巫的殷勤觉得既迷人又排斥。
She sensed the coldness that lay behind the warmth of his flattery, and had never met a man so strange and remote.
她察觉到了他那些温暖的甜言蜜语后面的冷漠，她以前从没遇到过这样奇怪和孤傲的男人。
Her kinsfolk, however, deemed theirs a most suitable match and, eager to promote it, accepted the warlock's invitation to a great feast in the maiden's honour.
但亲戚们都认为他们是天造地设的一对，急于促成好事，她便接受了男巫的邀请，参加男巫为她举办的盛大宴会。
The table was laden with silver and gold bearing the finest wines and most sumptuous foods.
餐桌上摆满了盛着美酒的金银器皿和最奢华的食物。
Minstrels strummed on silk-stringed lutes and sang of a love their master had never felt.
艺人们弹拨着缠着丝制弦的琉特琴，歌唱着他们主人从未感受过的爱情。
The maiden sat upon a throne beside the warlock, who spake low, employing words of tenderness he had stolen from the poets, without any idea of their true meaning.
姑娘坐在男巫旁边的宝座上，男巫轻声细语地说着他从诗人那里偷来的情话，并不理解这些话的真正含义。
The maiden listened, puzzled, and finally replied, “You speak well, Warlock, and I would be delighted by your attentions, if only I thought you had a heart!”
姑娘听着，感到十分困惑，最后她回答道：“您说得很好，男巫，如果我认为您有一颗心的话，我会为您的这般殷勤而感到高兴的！”
The warlock smiled, and told her that sheneed not fear on that score.
男巫笑了，告诉她无需为此担心。
Bidding her follow, he led her from the feast, and down to the locked dungeon where he kept his greatest treasure.
他吩咐她跟着自己离开宴席，下楼走到锁着的地牢里，这里藏着他最重要的财富。
