In dark fens of the Dismal Swamp

一个被追捕的黑奴，藏在

The hunted Negro lay;

阴湿沼地的黑魆魆泥塘；

He saw the fire of the midnight camp,

他望见营帐里半夜的火光，

And heard at times a horse's tramp

他听到一阵阵马蹄声响，

And a bloodhound's distant bay.

还听到猎犬狂吠在远方。

Where will-o'-the-wisps and glow-worms shine,

在那些芦苇和羊齿丛间，

In bulrush and in brake;

磷火和流萤青光闪闪；

Where waving mosses shroud the pine,

苍苔覆盖着松树躯干，

And the cedar grows, and the poisonous vine

杉树茁长，有毒的藤蔓

Is spotted like the snake;

像蛇一样浑身是花斑。

Where hardly a human foot could pass,

没有什么人从这里走过，

Or a human heart would dare,

没有什么人胆敢这么做；

On the quaking turf of the green morass

青绿沼泽里，烂泥地上，

He crouched in the rank and tangled grass,

他在蓬蓬乱草中蜷缩，

Like a wild beast in his lair.

像一头野兽钻进了兽窝。

A poor old slave, infirm and lame;

这是个又老又瘸的奴隶，

Great scars deformed his face;

他脸上留着大块疮痍，

On his forehead he bore the brand of shame,

额头烙有屈辱的印记，

And the rags, that hid his mangled frame,

破布条遮住残损的躯体，

Were the livery of disgrace.

就是他那件可耻的号衣。

All things above were bright and fair,

上边的一切都清朗秀丽，

All things were glad and free;

周遭的万物都欢欣如意；

Lithe squirrels darted here and there,

灵巧的松鼠跳来跳去，

And wild birds filled the echoing air

野鸟儿唱着自由的歌曲，

With songs of Liberty!

歌声注满了共鸣的天宇。

On him alone was the doom of pain,

而他，从刚刚出世的辰光

From the morning of his birth;

就得把痛苦的厄运承当；

On him alone the curse of Cain

该隐的诅咒从天而降，

Fell, like a flail on the garnered grain,

像连枷打着新收的稻粱，

And struck him to the earth!

把他重重打倒在地上。