Leyden was sublime in its despair. A few murmurs were, however, occasionally heard at the steadfastness of the magistrates; and a dead body was placed at the door of the burgomaster, as a silent witness against his inflexibility. A party of the more faint-hearted even assailed the heroic Adrian Vander Werf with threats and reproaches as he passed along the streets. A crowd had gathered around him as he reached a triangular place in the centre of the town, into which many of the principal streets emptied themselves, and upon one side of which stood the church of St. Pancras.
莱顿城已经陷入绝望当中，人们开始时不时地抱怨地方行政官们的坚硬态度，甚至有人将死尸放在市长家的门口以此作为对顽固市长的无声反抗。英勇的市长阿德里安·范德尔·维尔福先生走在街头，而一帮胆小鼠辈竟向其吐出威胁和责骂之词。当市长走到市中心圣潘克拉斯教堂附近的一片三角区域时，原本许多空空荡荡的主街道竟一下子多出很多人，他们全部围在市长周围。
There stood the burgomaster, a tall, haggard, imposing figure, with dark visage and a tranquil but commanding eye. He waved his broad-leaved felt hat for silence, and then exclaimed, in language which has been almost literally preserved, "What would ye, my friends? Why do ye murmur that we do not break our vows and surrender the city to the Spaniards?—a fate more horrible than the agony which she now endures. I tell you I have made an oath to hold the city; and may God give me strength to keep my oath! I can die but once, whether by your hands, the enemy's, or by the hand of God. My own fate is indifferent to me; not so that of the city intrusted to my care. I know that we shall starve if not soon relieved; but starvation is preferable to the dishonoured death which is the only alternative. Your menaces move me not. My life is at your disposal. Here is my sword; plunge it into my breast, and divide my flesh among you. Take my body to appease your hunger, but expect no surrender so long as I remain alive."……
市长就站在那里，他很高大，黝黑的皮肤，仪表堂堂，然而面容憔悴，平静的毫无波澜的眼眸里透着丝丝威严。他挥动着一顶阔边毡帽来示意大家安静，之后他说道(接近原话)，“朋友们，你们怎么了？你们在抱怨什么呢？不是说好了要坚守誓言绝不把莱顿城拱手让给西班牙人吗？如果你们放弃了，那莱顿城的命运只会更加悲惨，而现在的痛苦又算得了什么呢？你们知道，我曾发誓要誓死守住莱顿，愿上帝赐予我力量，助我守住誓言！人终得一死，无论是被你们杀死、被敌人杀死、还是被上帝杀死都并无差别。我对自己的命本就毫不怜惜，但却将我身上所肩负的莱顿城的命运看得比任何事物都更重要。我知道，如果不能马上得到救济我们就会挨饿，可是，挨饿难道比受尽耻辱死去还要更难以忍受吗？你们的威胁对我毫无用处，我的命就握在你们手里。看，这就是我的剑，将它刺进我的心脏吧，把我的血肉分给大家，用我的身体来为你们充饥。不过，只要我还活着，你们就休想投降。”……
On the 28th of September a dove flew into the city, bringing a letter from Admiral Boisot. In this despatch the position of the fleet at North Aa was described in encouraging terms, and the inhabitants were assured that, in a very few days at furthest, the long-expected relief would enter their gates.
9月28日那天，莱顿城飞来一只信鸽，上面绑着荷兰舰队司令鲍伊索特将军写的一封加急信。信上说我方舰队在诺斯沃的局势一片大好。鲍伊索特将军保证说，莱顿市民期待已久的救援舰队最多只需数日便能抵达莱顿。
The tempest came to their relief. A violent equinoctial gale, on the night of the 1st and 2nd of October, came storming from the north-west, shifting after a few hours fully eight points, and then blowing still more violently from the southwest. The waters of the North Sea were piled in vast masses upon the southern coast of Holland, and then dashed furiously landward, the ocean rising over the earth and sweeping with unrestrained power across the ruined dikes. In the course of twenty-four hours the fleet at North Aa, instead of nine inches, had more than two feet of water……
一场暴风雨的到来加快了莱顿市民的获救进程。10月1日和10月2日的晚上，一场二分点风暴从西北方向肆虐而来并在短短数小时内变至八点，接着又从西南方向更加猛烈的袭来。北海的海水在荷兰南部海岸不断地堆积，之后向内陆猛冲而去，海水不停地上涨并漫过地表，之后以雷霆之势横扫了残破的堤坝。驻扎在诺斯沃的舰队在一天的时间内水位上涨了不止9英寸(约2分米)，而是足足2英尺(6分米)……
On it went, sweeping over the broad waters. As they approached some shallows which led into the great Mere, the Zeelanders dashed into the sea, and with sheer strength shouldered every vessel through!
舰队继续前进着在广阔的水面上横扫而过。当他们到达通向大米雷的一些浅水区域附近时，泽兰德人则猛地扎进海里，使尽浑身力气将每艘舰艇用肩膀推离浅水区域。
评论
打印
