冰与火之歌系列之《权力的游戏》第89期:第六章 凯特琳 (14)

 His fury was on him. He might have said more, and worse, but Maester Luwin cut in.  他正在气头上，原本可能会说出更不堪入耳的话，但鲁温学士却适时插话：

Another solution presents itself, he said, his voice quiet.  "我倒有个主意。

Your brother Benjen came to me about Jon a few days ago. It seems the boy aspires¹ to take the black.　 您的弟弟班扬前几天来找过我，那孩子似乎对加入黑衫军颇有兴趣。"

Ned looked shocked. He asked to join the Night’s Watch? 奈德听了大吃一惊："他想加入守夜人？"

Catelyn said nothing. Let Ned work it out in his own mind; her voice would not be welcome now.  凯特琳没说什么，就让奈德自己理出一番头绪罢，现在她多说只会惹他生气。

Yet gladly would she have kissed the maester just then. His was the perfect solution.  然而她却高兴得想亲吻眼前这位老师傅呢！他所提出的这个建议正是最完美的解决方案。

Benjen Stark² was a Sworn Brother. Jon would be a son to him, the child he would never have.  班扬·史塔克是个发过誓的黑衣弟兄，对他而言，琼恩等于是此生不可能有的儿子。

And in time the boy would take the oath as well.  日子久了，那孩子自然而然也会跟着宣誓加入黑衣弟兄，

He would father no sons who might someday contest with Catelyn’s own grandchildren for Winterfell. 这样一来，他就不能养儿育女，有朝一日来和凯特琳自己的孙子孙女抢夺临冬城的继承权了。

Maester Luwin said, There is great honor in service on the Wall, my lord. 鲁温学士又说："老爷，加入长城守军可是很高的荣誉。"

And even a bastard³ may rise high in the Night’s Watch, Ned reflected.  "而且即使是私生子，在守夜人军团里也可能升到高位。"奈德思忖，

Still, his voice was troubled. Jon is so young.  但他的语气仍然有些困惑，"可琼恩年纪还这么小，

If he asked this when he was a man grown, that would be one thing, but a boy of fourteen 倘若他是个成人，说要加入一切还好，然而他只是个十四岁的孩子……。"

A hard sacrifice, Maester Luwin agreed. Yet these are hard times, my lord. His road is no crueler than yours or your lady’s. "这确实是个困难的抉择，"鲁温师傅同意，"但我们也身处艰难时刻，他所走的这条路，不会比您或夫人走的路更崎岖坎坷。"

Catelyn thought of the three children she must lose. It was not easy keeping silent then. 凯特琳又无可避免地想起她即将失去的三个孩子，想要保持沉默太难了。

Ned turned away from them to gaze out the window, his long face silent and thoughtful. Finally he sighed, and turned back.  奈德转过身去，再次望向窗外，他那长长的脸庞宁静中若有所思。最后他叹口气，又回过头：

Very well, he said to Maester Luwin. I suppose it is for the best. I will speak to Ben. "好罢，"他对鲁温学士说，"看来这是目前最好的办法了。我会跟班扬谈谈。"

When shall we tell Jon? the maester asked. "我们什么时候告诉琼恩呢？"老师傅问。

When I must. Preparations must be made. It will be a fortnight before we are ready to depart.  "还不是时候，我们要先做些准备，距离启程足足还有两个星期，

I would sooner let Jon enjoy these last few days.  就让他尽情享受这段剩余的时光吧。

Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well. When the time comes, I will tell him myself. 夏天很快就要结束，童年的日子所剩无多。时机一到，我会亲自告诉他。"

 

1 aspires   

v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The fame to which he aspires was beyond his reach. 他追求的名誉乃是他所不能及的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

3 bastard   

n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子

参考例句：

• He was never concerned about being born a bastard.他从不介意自己是私生子。
• There was supposed to be no way to get at the bastard.据说没有办法买通那个混蛋。