On the outskirts of Jerusalem

在耶路撒冷的郊外

The donkey waited.

那匹驴等待着。

Not especially brave, or filled with understanding,

既非特别勇敢，也非满有悟性，

He stood and waited.

他站着等待。

How horses, turned out into the meadow,

马儿们，被牧放进草地，

Leap with delight!

跳跃着，何等欢喜！

How doves, released from their cages,

鸽子们，从笼中得释放，

Clatter away, splashed with sunlight!

呼啦啦飞起，泼溅着阳光！

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

但那匹驴，被拴在树上一如往常，等待着。

Then he let himself be led away.

然后，他任由自己被牵走。

Then he let the stranger mount.

然后，他任由那位陌生人骑在了背上。

Never had he seen such crowds!

他从来没有见过如此庞大的人群！

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

我也好奇他是否想象过会发生什么。

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

尽管如此，他依然如常：矮小，黝黑，顺服。

I hope, finally, he felt brave.

我盼望，最终，他感觉到了勇敢。

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

我盼望，最终，他爱上了那位那么轻柔地骑在他背上的人，

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

就像他抬起灰扑扑的蹄，迈步，就像他必须做的那样，向前。