Chapter 52

I thought I should ask of thee---but I dared not---the rose wreath thou hadst on thy neck. Thus I waited for the morning, when thou didst depart, to find a few fragments on the bed. And like a beggar I searched in the dawn only for a stray petal¹ or two.
 
Ah me, what is it I find? What token left of thy love? It is no flower, no spices, no vase of perfumed water. It is thy mighty² sword, flashing as a flame, heavy as a bolt of thunder. The young light of morning comes through the window and spread itself upon thy bed. The morning bird twitters and asks, ‘Woman, what hast thou got?’ No, it is no flower, nor spices, nor vase of perfumed water---it is thy dreadful sword.
 
I sit and muse³ in wonder, what gift is this of thine. I can find no place to hide it. I am ashamed to wear it, frail⁴ as I am, and it hurts me when press it to my bosom⁵. Yet shall I bear in my heart this honour of the burden of pain, this gift of thine.
 
From now there shall be no fear left for me in this world, and thou shalt be victorious⁶ in all my strife⁷. Thou hast left death for my companion and I shall crown him with my life. Thy sword is with me to cut asunder⁸ my bonds, and there shall be no fear left for me in the world.
 
From now I leave off all petty decorations. Lord of my heart, no more shall there be for me waiting and weeping in corners, no more coyness and sweetness of demeanour. Thou hast given me thy sword for adornment⁹. No more doll’s decorations for me!
 
我想我应当向你请求――可是我又不敢――你那挂在颈上的玫瑰花环。这样我等到早上，想在你离开的时候，从你床上找到些碎片。我像乞丐一样破晓就来寻找，只为着一两片散落的花瓣。
 
呵，我呵，我找到了什么呢？你留下了什么爱的表记呢？那不是花朵，不是香料，也不是一瓶香水。那是你的一把巨剑，火焰般放光，雷霆般沉重。清晨的微光从窗外射到床上。晨鸟叽叽喳喳着问：“女人，你得到了什么呢？”不，这不是花朵，不是香料，也不是一瓶香水――这是你的可畏的宝剑。
 
我坐着猜想，你这是什么礼物呢。我没有地方去藏放它。我不好意思佩带它；我是这样的柔弱，当我抱它在怀里的时候，它就把我压痛了。但是我要把这光宠铭记在心，你的礼物，这痛苦的负担。
 
从今起在这世界上我将没有畏惧，在我的一切奋斗中你将得到胜利。你留下死亡和我作伴，我将以我的生命给他加冕。我带着你的宝剑来斩断我的羁勒，在世界上我将没有畏惧。
 
从今起我要抛弃一切琐碎的装饰。我心灵的主，我不再在一隅等待哭泣，也不再畏怯娇羞。你已把你的宝剑给我佩带。我不再要玩偶的装饰品了！

1 petal   

n.花瓣

参考例句：

• Each white petal had a stripe of red.每一片白色的花瓣上都有一条红色的条纹。
• A petal fluttered to the ground.一片花瓣飘落到地上。

2 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

3 muse   

n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感

参考例句：

• His muse had deserted him,and he could no longer write.他已无灵感，不能再写作了。
• Many of the papers muse on the fate of the President.很多报纸都在揣测总统的命运。

4 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

5 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

6 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

7 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

8 asunder   

adj.分离的，化为碎片

参考例句：

• The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗帘被拉向两边。
• Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠诚都被扯得粉碎了。

9 adornment   

n.装饰；装饰品

参考例句：

• Lucie was busy with the adornment of her room.露西正忙着布置她的房间。
• Cosmetics are used for adornment.化妆品是用来打扮的。