LESSON 8 The trial by combat(II)
第八课 决斗审判(二)
Our scene now returns to the exterior of the Castle, or Precep'tory, of Tem'plestowe, about the hour when the bloody die was to be cast for the life or death of Rebecca. A throne was erected for the Grand Master at the east end of the tilt-yard, surrounded with seats of distinction for the Preceptors and Knights of the Order.
现在我们将场景转移到圣殿骑士团的城堡(会堂)之外,约一小时后这里将进行一场决定丽贝卡生死的血战。比武场的最东面是大宗师的宝座,而宝座周围各不相同的座椅则是为分团的团长们和骑士们准备的。
At the opposite end of the lists was a pile of fagots, so arranged around a stake, deeply fixed in the ground, as to leave a space for the victim whom they were destined to consume, to enter within the fatal circle in order to be chained to the stake by the fetters which hung ready for the purpose.
比武场的最西边堆着一堆柴火,柴火中间稳稳地立着一根柱子,这根柱子是为捆绑注定死去的受害者准备的,而它此时正等着受害者进入其周围的死亡圈。
The unfortunate Rebecca was conducted to a black chair placed near the pile. On her first glance at the terrible spot where preparations were making for a death alike dismaying to the mind and painful to the body, she was observed to shudder and shut her eyes—praying internally, doubtless, for her lips moved though no speech was heard. In the space of a minute she opened her eyes, looked fixedly on the pile, as if to familiarize her mind with the object, and then slowly and naturally turned away her head.
不幸的丽贝卡已经被带到柴堆旁坐在一把黑色椅子上。就在她看到那个已经堆好柴火立好柱子、准备摧残受害者身心的恐怖之地第一眼的时候,她便浑身陡然颤抖了一下并闭上眼睛内心默默祈祷,虽然她没有祈祷出声,但嘴唇却在动。分钟后她睁开双眼死盯着那根柱子,就好像在试图弄明白什么,之后她又似乎接受了现实,缓缓地很自然地转过头。
It was the general belief that no one could or would appear for a Jewess accused of sorcery; and the knights whispered to each other that it was time to declare the pledge of Rebecca forfeited. At that instant a knight, urging his horse to speed, appeared on the plain advancing towards the lists. A hundred voices exclaimed, "A champion! a champion!" And despite the prejudices of the multitude, they shouted unanimously as the knight rode into the tilt-yard.
所有人都认为不会有人会为一个被指控施行巫术的犹太女子出场决斗,骑士们正为是时候撤销此次丽贝卡的挑战的事情交头接耳。而就在这时,只见远处的空地上一个骑着马的骑士正朝着比武场疾驰而来,众人惊呼出声,“是一名斗士、一名斗士!” 看着已经骑着马进入比武场的骑士,尽管大多数人不敢相信,但他们还是齐声呼喊起来。