辛巴达航海记

辛巴达与欣巴达

Sindbad and Hindbad

在哈里发哈伦·拉希德统治的时代，巴格达住着一个名叫欣巴达的穷苦力。在一个极其炎热的日子里，他奉命将沉重的货物从城的一头挑到另一头。路程还没走完一半，他就已经筋疲力尽了。这时，他发现自己来到了一条宁静的街道上，路面洒着玫瑰水，微风徐徐吹来，于是他便把担子放在地上，坐在一座宏伟宅邸的阴凉处歇息。很快，他便认定自己再也选不出比这更宜人的地方了：敞开的窗户里飘出沉香与熏香丸的芬芳，同滚烫石板路上蒸腾出的玫瑰水香气交融在一起。在宅邸内，他听到了音乐声，仿佛由多种乐器巧妙合奏而成，还伴有夜莺与其它鸟儿悦耳的啼鸣。听着这些声响，又闻到了阵阵扑鼻的佳肴香气，他断定里面正在大摆筵席、欢宴作乐。他不禁纳闷，究竟是谁住在这座他从未见过的豪宅里，因为他平日极少有机会路过这条街道。为了满足好奇心，他走到守在门前几名衣着华丽的仆人跟前，向其中一人打听宅邸主人的名字。

In the times of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid there lived in Bagdad a poor porter named Hindbad, who on a very hot day was sent to carry a heavy load from one end of the city to the other. Before he had accomplished half the distance he was so tired that, finding himself in a quiet street where the pavement was sprinkled with rose water, and a cool breeze was blowing, he set his burden upon the ground, and sat down to rest in the shade of a grand house. Very soon he decided that he could not have chosen a pleasanter place; a delicious perfume of aloes wood and pastilles came from the open windows and mingled with the scent of the rose water which steamed up from the hot pavement. Within the palace he heard some music, as of many instruments cunningly played, and the melodious warble of nightingales and other birds, and by this, and the appetising smell of many dainty dishes of which he presently became aware, he judged that feasting and merry making were going on. He wondered who lived in this magnificent house which he had never seen before, the street in which it stood being one which he seldom had occasion to pass. To satisfy his curiosity he went up to some splendidly dressed servants who stood at the door, and asked one of them the name of the master of the mansion.

“什么，”那名仆人答道，“你住在巴格达，竟然不知道这里住着尊贵的航海家辛巴达？那位航行过日光普照下的每一片汪洋大海的著名旅行家？”

“What,” replied he, “do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here lives the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over every sea upon which the sun shines?”

苦力常常听人谈论起辛巴达的万贯家财，此时不禁对这个际遇如此幸福的人心生妒忌，相比之下，他自己的处境是何等悲惨。他仰望天空，大声呼喊道：

The porter, who had often heard people speak of the immense wealth of Sindbad, could not help feeling envious of one whose lot seemed to be as happy as his own was miserable. Casting his eyes up to the sky he exclaimed aloud,

“万物的全能造物主啊，请看一看辛巴达的生活与我之间的天壤之别吧！我每天都要经受千种磨难与不幸，辛劳劳作却连维持自己与家人温饱的粗劣大麦面包都勉强糊口；而幸运的辛巴达却挥金如土，享尽世间奢华！他究竟做了什么，竟蒙您赐予这般惬意的人生——我又做了什么，要承受如此残酷的命运？”

“Consider, Mighty Creator of all things, the differences between Sindbad’s life and mine. Every day I suffer a thousand hardships and misfortunes, and have hard work to get even enough bad barley bread to keep myself and my family alive, while the lucky Sindbad spends money right and left and lives upon the fat of the land! What has he done that you should give him this pleasant life--what have I done to deserve so hard a fate?”

说完，他像个痛苦绝望得难以自持的人一样，在地上狠狠跺脚。正在这时，一名仆人从宅邸里走出来，挽住他的手臂说道：“跟我来吧，我的主人，尊贵的辛巴达想要同你说话。”

So saying he stamped upon the ground like one beside himself with misery and despair. Just at this moment a servant came out of the palace, and taking him by the arm said, “Come with me, the noble Sindbad, my master, wishes to speak to you.”

欣巴达对这番召唤感到万分惊讶，生怕自己无心说出的话惹恼了辛巴达，于是借口不能把托付给自己的重担丢在大街上，试图推脱。然而男仆向他保证担子自会有人照看，并极其恳切地催促他听从传唤，苦力最终只得答应。

Hindbad was not a little surprised at this summons, and feared that his unguarded words might have drawn upon him the displeasure of Sindbad, so he tried to excuse himself upon the pretext that he could not leave the burden which had been entrusted to him in the street. However the lackey promised him that it should be taken care of, and urged him to obey the call so pressingly that at last the porter was obliged to yield.

他跟着仆人走进一间宽敞的大厅，那里高朋满座，正围坐在一张摆满各种珍馐美味的桌旁。坐在尊位上的是一位身材高大、容貌庄严的男子，长长的白胡须使他显得格外威严慈祥。他的椅子后面站着一群侍从，随时恭候听差。这正是著名的辛巴达本人。苦力见到如此奢华的排场，心中更加惊恐，战战兢兢地向在座的贵客行礼。辛巴达示意他上前，让他坐在自己的右手边，并亲自往他的盘子里夹满精美的菜肴，又为他斟上一杯美酒。过了一会儿，宴席接近尾声时，辛巴达和蔼地同他攀谈起来，询问他的姓名与营生。

He followed the servant into a vast room, where a great company was seated round a table covered with all sorts of delicacies. In the place of honour sat a tall, grave man whose long white beard gave him a venerable air. Behind his chair stood a crowd of attendants eager to minister to his wants. This was the famous Sindbad himself. The porter, more than ever alarmed at the sight of so much magnificence, tremblingly saluted the noble company. Sindbad, making a sign to him to approach, caused him to be seated at his right hand, and himself heaped choice morsels upon his plate, and poured out for him a draught of excellent wine, and presently, when the banquet drew to a close, spoke to him familiarly, asking his name and occupation.

“大人，”苦力答道，“我名叫欣巴达。”

“My lord,” replied the porter, “I am called Hindbad.”

“很高兴在这里见到你，”辛巴达接着说道，“我可以代表在座的所有客人保证，他们也同样欢迎你，但我希望你告诉我，你刚才在街上说了些什么。”原来，辛巴达在宴会开始前从敞开的窗前经过，听到了他的抱怨，因此才派人召他进来。

“I am glad to see you here,” continued Sindbad. “And I will answer for the rest of the company that they are equally pleased, but I wish you to tell me what it was that you said just now in the street.” For Sindbad, passing by the open window before the feast began, had heard his complaint and therefore had sent for him.

面对这一发问，欣巴达羞愧得无地自容，低下头答道：“大人，我承认，由于过度疲惫和心生怨气，我说了些不知轻重的胡话，万望您宽恕我。”

At this question Hindbad was covered with confusion, and hanging down his head, replied, “My lord, I confess that, overcome by weariness and ill-humour, I uttered indiscreet words, which I pray you to pardon me.”

“哦！”辛巴达答道，“千万别以为我会那般不近情理地责怪你。恰恰相反，我很理解你的处境，也深表同情。只不过你似乎对我有所误解，我想为你澄清事实。你一定以为，我享受着你眼下所见的这些财富与奢华，是不费吹灰之力、未冒任何凶险便得来的，然而事实绝非如此。我是经历了多年的各种劳苦与奇险，才终于走到今日这般幸福境地的。

“Oh!” replied Sindbad, “do not imagine that I am so unjust as to blame you. On the contrary, I understand your situation and can pity you. Only you appear to be mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You doubtless imagine that I have acquired all the wealth and luxury that you see me enjoy without difficulty or danger, but this is far indeed from being the case. I have only reached this happy state after having for years suffered every possible kind of toil and danger.

“是的，我高贵的朋友们，”他转而面向全座宾客继续说道，“我向你们保证，我的历险奇特得足以打消哪怕最贪婪之人借漂洋过海来谋求财富的念头。既然诸位或许只是耳闻过关于我七次航海、以及我在陆地和海洋上所遇凶险与奇观的零碎传说，我现在就向你们原原本本地道来，我想大家一定会乐意倾听的。”

“Yes, my noble friends,” he continued, addressing the company, “I assure you that my adventures have been strange enough to deter even the most avaricious men from seeking wealth by traversing the seas. Since you have, perhaps, heard but confused accounts of my seven voyages, and the dangers and wonders that I have met with by sea and land, I will now give you a full and true account of them, which I think you will be well pleased to hear.”

辛巴达讲述他的历险主要正是为了这位苦力，因此在开讲前，他吩咐自己的几个仆人将丢在街上的重担送到欣巴达原先要送往的地点，而让欣巴达留下来听故事。

As Sindbad was relating his adventures chiefly on account of the porter, he ordered, before beginning his tale, that the burden which had been left in the street should be carried by some of his own servants to the place for which Hindbad had set out at first, while he remained to listen to the story.