沉睡谷传奇

《沉睡谷传奇》，华盛顿·欧文著，见于已故迪德里希·尼克博克的遗稿中。

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF THE LATE DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER.

“这是一片令人昏昏欲睡的怡人之地，半闭的眼眸前晃动着迷离梦影；霞云间浮现着绚烂的虚幻城堡，永远在夏日的天空四周泛起红晕。”——《懒惰城堡》

A pleasing land of drowsy head it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye; And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, Forever flushing round a summer sky. CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.

在哈得孙河东岸那些宽阔幽深的海湾怀抱中，在那片被早期荷兰航海家称为塔潘泽的辽阔水域处，他们每当横渡时，总是审慎地收起风帆，祈求圣

In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent the eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St.

尼古拉斯的庇佑。那里座落着一座小集镇或称乡村港口，有人称之为格林斯堡，但更普遍、更确切的名称则是塔里敦（“逗留镇”）。

Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly known by the name of Tarry Town.

据说，这个名字是早年间邻近乡间的贤惠主妇们给起的，因为她们的丈夫每逢集市日，总有着在村中酒馆里流连忘返的顽固习性。

This name was given, we are told, in former days, by the good housewives of the adjacent country, from the inveterate propensity of their husbands to linger about the village tavern on market days.

不管实情究竟如何，我并不为此事担保，只是顺带提及，以求叙述之严谨与真实。

Be that as it may, I do not vouch for the fact, but merely advert to it, for the sake of being precise and authentic.

离这座村庄不远，大约两英里处，群山环抱之中有一片狭小的谷地，或者说是一片洼地，堪称举世最为宁静的处所之一。

Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world.

一条小溪静静流淌穿过其间，低回的潺潺声恰好足以催人入眠；偶有一只鹌鹑的短鸣，或是啄木鸟的笃笃敲击声，几乎便是打破那亘古宁谧的唯一音响。

A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquillity.

我依然记得，当年我还是个半大少年时，生平第一回打松鼠的战果，便是在遮蔽着山谷一侧的一片高大胡桃木树林里取得的。

I recollect that, when a stripling, my first exploit in squirrel-shooting was in a grove of tall walnut-trees that shades one side of the valley.

我是在正午时分漫步走入林中的，那时大自然格外沉寂，而当我自己的猎枪轰然作响时，我不禁吓了一跳——枪声打破了四周安息日般的幽静，在愤怒的回声中久久回荡、延绵不绝。

I had wandered into it at noontime, when all nature is peculiarly quiet, and was startled by the roar of my own gun, as it broke the Sabbath stillness around and was prolonged and reverberated by the angry echoes.

倘若有朝一日，我渴望寻觅一处得以避开尘世与喧嚣的归隐之所，平静地做着梦度过纷扰余生，我想不出有哪处地方能比这处小山谷更富希望了。

If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might steal from the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the remnant of a troubled life, I know of none more promising than this little valley.

由于此地的倦怠安适，以及其居民独特的性格（他们皆是最初荷兰拓殖者的后裔），这处僻静的幽谷长久以来一直被称为“沉睡谷”，其乡间小伙子在四周邻近乡里也都被唤作“沉睡谷小子”。

From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of SLEEPY HOLLOW, and its rustic lads are called the Sleepy Hollow Boys throughout all the neighboring country.

一种昏昏欲睡、如梦似幻的气息似乎笼罩着这片土地，弥漫在空气的每一寸角落。

A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere.

有人说，这处地方在拓殖初期曾被一位高地德国医生施了巫术；也有人说，在亨德里克·哈得孙船长发现这片土地之前，一位身为部族先知或术士的老印第安酋长曾在此举行祈巫祭典。

Some say that the place was bewitched by a High German doctor, during the early days of the settlement; others, that an old Indian chief, the prophet or wizard of his tribe, held his powwows there before the country was discovered by Master Hendrick Hudson.