在耶路撒冷的郊外

On the outskirts of Jerusalem

那匹驴等待着。

The donkey waited.

既非特别勇敢，也非满有悟性，

Not especially brave, or filled with understanding,

他站着等待。

He stood and waited.

马儿们，被牧放进草地，

How horses, turned out into the meadow,

跳跃着，何等欢喜！

Leap with delight!

鸽子们，从笼中得释放，

How doves, released from their cages,

呼啦啦飞起，泼溅着阳光！

Clatter away, splashed with sunlight!

但那匹驴，被拴在树上一如往常，等待着。

But the donkey, tied to a tree as usual, waited.

然后，他任由自己被牵走。

Then he let himself be led away.

然后，他任由那位陌生人骑在了背上。

Then he let the stranger mount.

他从来没有见过如此庞大的人群！

Never had he seen such crowds!

我也好奇他是否想象过会发生什么。

And I wonder if he at all imagined what was to happen.

尽管如此，他依然如常：矮小，黝黑，顺服。

Still, he was what he had always been: small, dark, obedient.

我盼望，最终，他感觉到了勇敢。

I hope, finally, he felt brave.

我盼望，最终，他爱上了那位那么轻柔地骑在他背上的人，

I hope, finally, he loved the man who rode so lightly upon him,

就像他抬起灰扑扑的蹄，迈步，就像他必须做的那样，向前。

As he lifted one dusty hoof and stepped, as he had to, forward.