Chapter 43

The day was when I did not keep myself in readiness for thee; and entering my heart unbidden even as one of the common crowd, unknown to me, my king, thou didst press the signet of eternity¹ upon many a fleeting² moment of my life.
 
And today when by chance I light upon them and see thy signature, I find they have lain scattered³ in the dust mixed with the memory of joys and sorrows of my trivial days forgotten.
 
Thou didst not turn in contempt from my childish play among dust, and the steps that I heard in my playroom are the same that are echoing from star to star.
 
那天我没有准备好来等候你，我的国王，你就像一个素不相识的平凡的人，自动地进到我的心里，在我生命的许多流逝的时光中，盖上了永生的印记。
 
今天我偶然照见了你的签印，我发现它们和我遗忘了的日常哀乐的回忆，杂乱地散掷在尘埃里。
 
你不曾鄙夷地避开我童年时代在尘土中的游戏，我在游戏室里所听见的足音，和在群星中的回响是相同的。

1 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

2 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

3 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。