Kapal Putih

Raja Henry, sang Cendekiawan Rupawan, memiliki seorang putra bernama William yang sangat ia sayangi. Pemuda itu mulia dan pemberani, dan semua orang berharap bahwa suatu hari nanti ia akan menjadi Raja Inggris.

King Henry, the Handsome Scholar, had one son, named William, whom he dearly loved. The young man was noble and brave, and everybody hoped that he would some day be the King of England.

Pada suatu musim panas, Pangeran William pergi bersama ayahnya menyeberangi lautan untuk mengurus tanah mereka di Prancis. Mereka disambut dengan sukacita oleh seluruh rakyat mereka di sana, dan pangeran muda itu begitu gagah dan baik hati, sehingga ia memenangkan hati semua orang yang melihatnya.

One summer Prince William went with his father across the sea to look after their lands in France. They were welcomed with joy by all their people there, and the young prince was so gallant and kind, that he won the love of all who saw him.

Namun akhirnya tiba saatnya bagi mereka untuk kembali ke Inggris. Sang raja, bersama orang-orang bijak dan para kesatria pemberaninya, berlayar pada pagi hari; tetapi Pangeran William bersama teman-temannya yang lebih muda menunggu sebentar lagi.

But at last the time came for them to go back to England. The king, with his wise men and brave knights, set sail early in the day; but Prince William with his younger friends waited a little while.

Mereka telah bersenang-senang sedemikian rupa di Prancis sehingga mereka tidak terburu-buru untuk pergi.

They had had so joyous a time in France that they were in no great haste to tear themselves away.

Kemudian mereka naik ke atas kapal yang sedang menunggu untuk membawa mereka pulang. Itu adalah kapal yang indah dengan layar putih dan tiang-tiang putih, dan kapal itu telah dipersiapkan khusus untuk pelayaran ini.

Then they went on board of the ship which was waiting to carry them home. It was a beautiful ship with white sails and white masts, and it had been fitted up on purpose for this voyage.

Laut begitu tenang, angin bertiup bersahabat, dan tidak ada yang memikirkan bahaya. Di atas kapal, segala sesuatu telah diatur untuk membuat perjalanan itu menyenangkan. Ada musik dan tarian, dan semua orang merasa riang dan gembira.

The sea was smooth, the winds were fair, and no one thought of danger. On the ship, everything had been arranged to make the trip a pleasant one. There was music and dancing, and everybody was merry and glad.

Matahari telah terbenam sebelum kapal bersayap putih itu benar-benar keluar dari teluk. Namun apa pedulinya? Bulan sedang purnama penuh, dan cahayanya akan cukup menerangi; dan sebelum fajar esok hari menyingsing, laut yang sempit itu akan terlewati.

The sun had gone down before the white-winged vessel was fairly out of the bay. But what of that? The moon was at its full, and it would give light enough; and before the dawn of the morrow, the narrow sea would be crossed.

Maka sang pangeran, dan orang-orang muda yang bersamanya, larut dalam kegembiraan, pesta, dan sukacita.

And so the prince, and the young people who were with him, gave themselves up to merriment and feasting and joy.

Jam-jam awal malam berlalu; lalu terdengar teriakan tanda bahaya di geladak. Sesaat kemudian terdengar suara tabrakan yang dahsyat. Kapal itu menabrak sebuah batu karang. Air mengalir deras masuk. Kapal itu mulai tenggelam.

The earlier hours of the night passed by; and then there was a cry of alarm on deck. A moment afterward there was a great crash. The ship had struck upon a rock. The water rushed in. She was sinking.

Ah, ke mana perginya mereka yang tadi begitu riang dan bebas dari rasa cemas?

Ah, where now were those who had lately been so heart-free and glad?

Setiap hati dipenuhi rasa takut. Tak seorang pun tahu apa yang harus dilakukan. Sebuah perahu kecil segera diturunkan, dan sang pangeran bersama beberapa temannya yang paling berani melompat ke dalamnya. Mereka mendayung menjauh tepat saat kapal mulai tenggelam di bawah ombak. Apakah mereka akan selamat?

Every heart was full of fear. No one knew what to do. A small boat was quickly launched, and the prince with a few of his bravest friends leaped into it. They pushed off just as the ship was beginning to settle beneath the waves. Would they be saved?

Mereka baru mendayung hampir sepuluh yard dari kapal, ketika terdengar jeritan dari antara orang-orang yang tertinggal.

They had rowed hardly ten yards from the ship, when there was a cry from among those that were left behind.

“Dayung kembali!” teriak sang pangeran. “Itu adik perempuanku. Dia harus diselamatkan!”

“Row back!” cried the prince. “It is my little sister. She must be saved!”

Orang-orang itu tidak berani membantah. Perahu kembali dibawa ke samping kapal yang sedang karam. Sang pangeran berdiri, dan mengulurkan kedua tangannya untuk adik perempuannya. Pada saat itu kapal berguncang hebat dan terbalik ke depan ke dalam gulungan ombak.

The men did not dare to disobey. The boat was again brought alongside of the sinking vessel. The prince stood up, and held out his arms for his sister. At that moment the ship gave a great lurch forward into the waves.