The Slaver in the broad lagoon
奴隶贩子把帆船停在
Lay moored with idle sail;
宽阔的咸水湖中；
He waited for the rising moon,
他要等待上升的月亮，
And for the evening gale.
等待黄昏的海风。
Under the shore his boat was tied,
他的船拴在岸边，那一群
And all her listless crew
无精打采的水手
Watched the gray alligator slide
注视着一条灰白鳄鱼
Into the still bayou.
游入静静的湖口。
Odors of orange-flowers, and spice,
橙花散发的阵阵香气
Reached them from time to time,
飘送到他们身边，
Like airs that breathe from Paradise
有如天国的仙风袅袅
Upon a world of crime.
吹到罪恶的人间。
The Planter, under his roof of thatch,
棕叶盖顶的屋里，农场主
Smoked thoughtfully and slow;
想着心事，抽着烟；
The Slaver's thumb was on the latch,
奴隶贩子，像急着要走，
He seemed in haste to go.
大拇指按着门闩。
He said, "My ship at anchor rides
他说：“我的帆船就停在
In yonder broad lagoon;
宽阔的咸水湖上；
I only wait the evening tides,
我只等着晚上的潮水，
And the rising of the moon."
等着上升的月亮。”
Before them, with her face upraised,
他们面前，仰脸站着的
In timid attitude,
是一个混血女郎，
Like one half curious, half amazed,
有几分好奇，有几分害怕，
A Quadroon maiden stood.
怯生生可怜模样。
Her eyes were large, and full of light,
她脖子、胳臂露在外边，
Her arms and neck were bare;
一双眼又亮又大；
No garment she wore save a kirtle bright,
身上除了那鲜明的袍子，
And her own long, raven hair.
只披着长长黑发。
And on her lips there played a smile
一丝笑意浮现在唇边，
As holy, meek, and faint,
圣洁，温和，恬淡，
As lights in some cathedral aisle
有如教堂廊道的光亮，
The features of a saint.
有如圣者的容颜。
"The soil is barren,—the farm is old,"
农场主想着心事，叨咕着：
The thoughtful planter said;
“这农场，地老，田荒；”
Then looked upon the Slaver's gold,
他看看奴隶贩子的金子，
And then upon the maid.
又看看身边的女郎。
His heart within him was at strife
他心里有斗争，晓得是罪孽：
With such accursèd gains:
只有他，才最了解
For he knew whose passions gave her life,
是谁的情欲给了她生命，
Whose blood ran in her veins.
她血管流着谁的血。
But the voice of nature was too weak;
可是天性的呼声太微弱，
He took the glittering gold!
他抓起亮晶晶的黄金！
Then pale as death grew the maiden's cheek,
女郎的双颊死一样惨白，
Her hands as icy cold.
她两手冷得像冰。
The Slaver led her from the door,
奴隶贩子拉着她的手，
He led her by the hand,
把她拉出了门口，
To be his slave and paramour
带她去隔山隔海的异乡，
In a strange and distant land!
当他的奴隶、姘头！