Chapter 54

I asked nothing from thee; I uttered not my name to thine ear. When thou took’st thy leave I stood silent. I was alone by the well where the shadow of the tree fell aslant¹, and the women had gone home with their brown earthen pitchers² full to the brim. They called me and shouted, ‘Come with us, the morning is wearing on to noon.’ But I languidly lingered awhile lost in the midst of vague musings.
 
I heard not thy steps as thou camest. Thine eyes were sad when they fell on me; thy voice was tired as thou spokest low---‘Ah, I am a thirsty traveller.’ I started up from my day-dreams and poured water from my jar on thy joined palms. The leaves rustled³ overhead; the cuckoo sang from the unseen dark, and perfume of babla flowers came from the bend of the road.
 
I stood speechless with shame when my name thou didst ask. Indeed, what had I done for thee to keep me in remembrance? But the memory that I could give water to thee to allay⁵ thy thirst will cling to my heart and enfold it in sweetness. The morning hour is late, the bird sings in weary notes, neem leaves rustle⁴ overhead and I sit and think and think.
 
我不向你求什么；我不向你耳中陈述我的名字。当你离开的时候我静默地站着。
 
我独立在树影横斜的井边，女人们已顶着褐色的瓦罐盛满了水回家了。她们叫我说：“和我们一块来罢，都快到了中午了。”但我仍在慵倦地留连，沉入恍惚的默想之中。
 
你走来时我没有听到你的足音。你含愁的眼望着我；你低语的时候声音是倦乏的――“呵，我是一个干渴的旅客。”我从幻梦中惊起把我罐里的水倒在你掬着的手掌里。
 
树叶在头上萧萧地响着，杜鹃在幽暗处歌唱，曲径传来胶树的花香。
 
当你问到我的名字的时候，我羞得悄立无言。真的，我替你做了什么，值得你的忆念？但是我幸能给你饮水止渴的这段回忆，将温馨地贴抱在我的心上。天已不早，鸟儿唱着倦歌，楝树叶子在头上沙沙作响，我坐着反复地想了又想。

1 aslant   

adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的

参考例句：

• The sunlight fell aslant the floor.阳光斜落在地板上。
• He leant aslant against the wall.他身子歪斜着依靠在墙上。

2 pitchers   

大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Over the next five years, he became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball. 在接下来的5年时间里，他成为了最了不起的棒球投手之一。
• Why he probably won't: Pitchers on also-rans can win the award. 为什麽不是他得奖：投手在失败的球队可以赢得赛扬奖。

3 rustled   

v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He rustled his papers. 他把试卷弄得沙沙地响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Leaves rustled gently in the breeze. 树叶迎着微风沙沙作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 rustle   

v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声

参考例句：

• She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
• He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。

5 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。