CHAPTER XLI

 The Boatman is out crossing the wild sea at night.

 

The mast is aching because of its full sails filled with the violent wind.

 

Stung with the night’s fang¹ the sky falls upon the sea, poisoned with black fear.

 

The waves dash their heads against the dark unseen, and the Boatman is out crossing the wild sea.

 

The Boatman is out, I know not for what tryst², startling the night with the sudden white of his sails.

 

I know not at what shore, at last, he lands to reach the silent courtyard where the lamp is burning and to find her who sits in the dust and waits.

 

What is the quest that makes his boat care not for storm nor darkness?

 

Is it heavy with gems³ and pearls?

 

Ah, no, the Boatman brings with him no treasure, but only a white rose in his hand and a song on his lips.

 

It is for her who watches alone at night with her lamp burning.

 

She dwells in the wayside hut. Her loose hair flies in the wind and hides her eyes.

 

The storm shrieks⁴ through her broken doors, the light flickers⁵ in her earthen lamp flinging shadows on the walls.

 

Through the howl of the winds she hears him call her name, she whose name is unknown.

 

It is long since the Boatman sailed. It will be long before the day breaks and he knocks at the door.

 

The drums will not be beaten and none will know.

 

Only light shall fill the house, blessed shall be the dust, and the heart glad.

 

All doubts shall vanish in silence when the Boatman comes to the shore.

 

1 fang   

n.尖牙，犬牙

参考例句：

• Look how the bone sticks out of the flesh like a dog's fang.瞧瞧,这根骨头从肉里露出来，象一只犬牙似的。
• The green fairy's fang thrusting between his lips.绿妖精的尖牙从他的嘴唇里龇出来。

2 tryst   

n.约会；v.与…幽会

参考例句：

• It has been said that art is a tryst,for in the joy of it maker and beholder meet.有人说艺术是一种幽会，因为艺术家和欣赏者可在幽会的乐趣中相遇在一起。
• Poor Mr. Sanford didn't stand a chance of keeping his tryst secret.可怜的桑福德根本不可能会守住自己幽会的秘密。

3 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

4 shrieks   

n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• shrieks of fiendish laughter 恶魔般的尖笑声
• For years, from newspapers, broadcasts, the stages and at meetings, we had heard nothing but grandiloquent rhetoric delivered with shouts and shrieks that deafened the ears. 多少年来， 报纸上， 广播里， 舞台上， 会场上的声嘶力竭，装腔做态的高调搞得我们震耳欲聋。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 flickers   

电影制片业； （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The fire flickers low. 炉火颤动欲灭。
• A strange idea flickers in my mind. 一种奇怪的思想又在我脑中燃烧了。