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From neighbouring woods he interlaced
从附近的森林里，
His sorry skiff with wattled willows;
他采来柳条木棍整修他可怜的小舟，
And thus equipped he would have passed
就靠着这样简陋的装备，
The foaming billows.
他会穿越大海滚滚巨浪。
A French guard caught him on the beach,
一位法国警卫在岸边发现这位水手和他的木桶小舟，
His little Argo sorely jeering,
他们对这可怜粗陋的小舟百般嘲弄，
Till tidings of him chanced to reach
直到这个消息偶然传到
Napoleon's hearing.
拿破仑的耳朵。
With folded arms Napoleon stood,
拿破仑抱着双臂站着，
Serene alike in peace and danger,
以他一贯的，
And, in his wonted attitude,
波澜不惊的平静处事态度，
Addressed the stranger.
处理这起古怪的年轻水手的事件。
"Rash youth, that wouldst yon Channel pass
"鲁莽的年轻人，你决意用枝条和棍棒拼凑的简陋小舟
On twigs and staves so rudely fashioned,
冒险穿越茫茫海峡，
Thy heart with some sweet English lass
你激情澎湃的内心
Must be impassioned."
一定是思念着你家乡亲爱的姑娘吧。”
"I have no sweetheart," said the lad;
小伙子说：“我没有什么甜蜜爱人，”
"But absent years from one another,
“但是战争让我们经年累月的分离，
Great was the longing that I had
我最最思念，最最想见的是
To see my mother."
我的白发亲娘。”
"And so thou shalt," Napoleon said;
拿破仑赞赏地回道，“年轻人，你理应这么做”
"You've both my favour justly won;
“你已经赢得我的赞同；
A noble mother must have bred
一位高贵杰出的母亲
So brave a son."
才能养育出你这样勇敢无畏的儿子。”
He gave the tar a piece of gold,
于是他赠与英国水手一枚金币，
And, with a flag of truce, commanded
下令用一只挂着白旗的舰艇，
He should be shipped to England Old,
派人送他回到故乡英格兰，
And safely landed.
安然无恙地见到母亲大人。
Our sailor oft could scantly shift
此后英国水手带着这枚金币周游世界各地
To find a dinner, plain and hearty,
无论多么困难，甚至穷到吃不上一顿饭，
But never changed the coin and gift
他也绝不肯拿着拿破仑赠送的金币
Of Buonaparte.
换于他人。
—Campbell
—坎贝尔
