Chapter 41

Where dost thou stand behind them all, my lover, hiding thyself in the shadows? They push thee and pass thee by on the dusty road, taking thee for naught¹. I wait here weary hours spreading my offerings for thee, while passers-by come and take my flowers, one by one, and my basket is nearly empty.
 
The morning time is past, and the noon. In the shade of evening my eyes are drowsy² with sleep. Men going home glance at me and smile and fill me with shame. I sit like a beggar maid, drawing my skirt over my face, and when they ask me, what it is I want, I drop my eyes and answer them not.
 
Oh, how, indeed, could I tell them that for thee I wait, and that thou hast promised to come. How could I utter for shame that I keep for my dowry this poverty. Ah, I hug this pride in the secret of my heart.
 
I sit on the grass and gaze upon the sky and dream of the sudden splendour of thy coming---all the lights ablaze³, golden pennons flying over thy car, and they at the roadside standing⁴ agape, when they see thee come down from thy seat to raise me from the dust, and set at thy side this ragged⁵ beggar girl a-tremble with shame and pride, like a creeper in a summer breeze.
 
But time glides⁶ on and still no sound of the wheels of thy chariot. Many a procession passes by with noise and shouts and glamour⁷ of glory. Is it only thou who wouldst stand in the shadow silent and behind them all? And only I who would wait and weep and wear out my heart in vain longing⁸?
 
我的情人，你站在大家背后，藏在何处的阴影中呢？在尘土飞扬的道上，他们把你推开走过，没有理睬你。在乏倦的时间，我摆开礼品来等候你，过路的人把我的香花一朵一朵地拿去，我的花篮几乎空了。
 
清晨，中午都过去了。暮色中，我倦眼朦胧。回家的人们瞟着我微笑，使我满心羞惭。我像女丐一般地坐着，拉起裙儿盖上脸，当他们问我要什么的时候，我垂目没有答应。
 
呵，真的，我怎能告诉他们说我是在等候你，而且你也许说你一定会来，我有怎能抱愧地说我的妆奁就是贫穷。呵，我在我心的微隐处紧抱着这一段骄荣。
 
我坐在草地上凝望天空，梦想着你来临时候那忽然炫耀的繁华――万彩交辉，车辇上金旗飞扬，在道旁众目睽睽之下，你从车座下降，把我从尘埃中扶起坐在你的旁边，这褴褛的丐女，含羞带喜，像蔓藤在暴风中颤摇。
 
但是时间都流过了，还听不见你的车辇的轮声。许多仪仗队伍都在光彩喧闹中走过了。你只要静默地站在他们背后吗？我只能哭泣着等待，把我的心折磨在空虚的伫望之中吗？

1 naught   

n.无，零 [=nought]

参考例句：

• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
• I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。

2 drowsy   

adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的

参考例句：

• Exhaust fumes made him drowsy and brought on a headache.废气把他熏得昏昏沉沉，还引起了头疼。
• I feel drowsy after lunch every day.每天午饭后我就想睡觉。

3 ablaze   

adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的

参考例句：

• The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
• Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

6 glides   

n.滑行( glide的名词复数 )；滑音；音渡；过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔

参考例句：

• The new dance consists of a series of glides. 这种新舞蹈中有一连串的滑步。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The stately swan glides gracefully on the pond. 天鹅在池面上优美地游动。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 glamour   

n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住

参考例句：

• Foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.到国外旅行对她已失去吸引力了。
• The moonlight cast a glamour over the scene.月光给景色增添了魅力。

8 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。