一个被追捕的黑奴，藏在

In dark fens of the Dismal Swamp

阴湿沼地的黑魆魆泥塘；

The hunted Negro lay;

他望见营帐里半夜的火光，

He saw the fire of the midnight camp,

他听到一阵阵马蹄声响，

And heard at times a horse's tramp

还听到猎犬狂吠在远方。

And a bloodhound's distant bay.

在那些芦苇和羊齿丛间，

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

磷火和流萤青光闪闪；

In bulrush and in brake;

苍苔覆盖着松树躯干，

Where waving mosses shroud the pine,

杉树茁长，有毒的藤蔓

And the cedar grows, and the poisonous vine

像蛇一样浑身是花斑。

Is spotted like the snake;

没有什么人从这里走过，

Where hardly a human foot could pass,

没有什么人胆敢这么做；

Or a human heart would dare,

青绿沼泽里，烂泥地上，

On the quaking turf of the green morass

他在蓬蓬乱草中蜷缩，

He crouched in the rank and tangled grass,

像一头野兽钻进了兽窝。

Like a wild beast in his lair.

这是个又老又瘸的奴隶，

A poor old slave, infirm and lame;

他脸上留着大块疮痍，

Great scars deformed his face;

额头烙有屈辱的印记，

On his forehead he bore the brand of shame,

破布条遮住残损的躯体，

And the rags, that hid his mangled frame,

就是他那件可耻的号衣。

Were the livery of disgrace.

上边的一切都清朗秀丽，

All things above were bright and fair,

周遭的万物都欢欣如意；

All things were glad and free;

灵巧的松鼠跳来跳去，

Lithe squirrels darted here and there,

野鸟儿唱着自由的歌曲，

And wild birds filled the echoing air

歌声注满了共鸣的天宇。

With songs of Liberty!

而他，从刚刚出世的辰光

On him alone was the doom of pain,

就得把痛苦的厄运承当；

From the morning of his birth;

该隐的诅咒从天而降，

On him alone the curse of Cain

像连枷打着新收的稻粱，

Fell, like a flail on the garnered grain,

把他重重打倒在地上。

And struck him to the earth!