書蟲二級《亨利八世和他的六位妻子》：4.簡·西摩

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4.Jane Seymour
4．簡·西摩

People say that Princess Elizabeth is very clever,' said Margaret. 'Is that true, my lady?'

“據(jù)說伊麗莎白公主非常聰明，”瑪格麗特說，“是真的嗎，夫人？”

Yes, it is. She's only thirteen years old, but she can read and write in four languages already.'

“是的，是真的，她只有13歲，但已經(jīng)會用四種語言讀書寫字了?！?

Margaret's face was sad. 'I only know one language,' she said. 'And I can't read or write it.'

瑪格麗特一臉沮喪?！拔抑欢环N語言，”她說，“而且既不會讀也不會寫?！?

But you have a mother and father who are alive,' I said quickly. 'You don't have enemies who watch you all the time, or who want to send you far away to marry a stranger—perhaps an old man who drinks too much, and keeps a mistress!'

“但你的父母都還健在，”我急忙說，“你沒有敵人時刻監(jiān)視你，或者想把你遠嫁給他鄉(xiāng)的陌生人——或許會把你嫁給酗酒養(yǎng)情婦的老頭兒！”

Will that happen to Princess Elizabeth?' margaret asked, her eyes round.

“伊麗莎白公主會那樣嗎？”瑪格麗特瞪大了眼睛問道。

Perhaps. Who knows? A princess doesn't always have an easy life, you know.' I laughed. 'But Elizabeth is clever. I think she'll get what she wants in life. Now, let's go outside, while the sun is shining. We'll take the next letter with us.'

“可能吧。誰知道呢？一個公主并不總是能過上安逸的生活，你知道，”我笑道，“但伊麗莎白很聰明，我想她會從生活中得到她想要的東西的?，F(xiàn)在趁著陽光明媚，咱們出去吧。帶上下一封信?！?

We walked down through the garden to the river. There we sat on a seat and watched the boats.

我們穿過花園來到河邊，坐在一張凳子上，注視著過往的船只。

So Jane Seymour was the third wife,' said Margaret. 'When did the King marry her?'

“那么簡·西摩是第三任妻子，”瑪格麗特說，“國王什么時候和她結(jié)婚的？”

Just ten days after Anne's death.'

“安妮去世后僅十天?！?

That was very quick!'

“真夠快的！”

Yes, Henry always knew what he wanted. And he usually wanted things immediately.'

“是的，亨利總是知道自己想要什么，而且他總是要立刻就得到?！?

And was Jane the same as Anne Boleyn?'

“簡和安妮·博倫一樣嗎？”

No, Jane was very different. She was quiet and careful. Before she married the King, she was never alone with him. Her brother Edward was always with her when the King came to visit. And Henry was pleased to see that. He didn't want another wild and dangerous wife like Anne.'

“不，簡與她很不一樣。她性格文靜，處世小心。嫁給國王之前，她從沒和他單獨在一起待過。國王來訪時，她的弟弟愛德華總是跟隨在她左右。亨利看到這些很高興，他不想再娶一個像安妮那樣既放蕩又危險的妻子了?！?

How do you know so much about the King and his other wives?' asked Margaret.

“你怎么會對國王和他那些妻子的事知道得這么多？”瑪格麗特問道。

I have lived for many years in palaces, Margaret,' I said, smiling. 'And palaces are full of people, coming and going, talking in corners, telling secrets. If you listen, it's not difficult to learn things.'

“我在王宮里生活了很多年，瑪格麗特，”我笑著說，“王宮里到處都是人，來來往往，秘密交談，竊竊私語。如果你留心聽，了解這些并非難事?！?

So was Jane a nicer person than Anne?'

“那么簡這個人比安妮好些吧？”

I think she was. She was very kind to Henry's daughters, Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth. She was like a mother to both of them. Jane was clever too, and she quickly learnt to listen to Henry. She didn't try to tell him what to do. And with her brown hair and white face, she also looked very different to Anne Boleyn.'

“我想是的。她對亨利的女兒瑪麗公主和伊麗莎白公主都很好，就像她們兩個的母親。簡也非常聰明，她很快就學會了聽從亨利。她從不對亨利指手畫腳，她棕色的頭發(fā)，白皙的面龐，都使她看起來和安妮·博倫截然不同?！?

And what about the King at this time? Was he still handsome?'

“國王這時候是什么樣子？他依然很英俊嗎？”

Oh no, he was beginning to get fat and his face was just like a big potato! Not like the picture in Whitehall Palace.'

“噢，不，他已開始發(fā)福，臉就像個大土豆！可不像白廳里的畫像那樣英俊?！?

But was he happy?' asked Margaret.

“但他高興嗎？”瑪格麗特問。

Yes, I think he really loved Jane. And of course, she also gave him a baby boy, who is now our King Edward.'

“是的，我想他真的愛上了簡。當然，她也給他生了個男孩，就是我們現(xiàn)在的愛德華國王?！?

A son at last for the King! But what happened to Jane? Did he get tired of her too, or was she the one who died?'

“國王終于有兒子了！但是簡怎么樣了？國王也厭倦她了，要不就是她死了？”

Yes, she died soon after Edward was born.'

“是的，她在愛德華出生后不久就去世了。”

How sad! She gave the King a son and then she died.'

“多么可憐！她給國王生了個兒子，然后自己卻死了?！?

Let's read the letter now.' I opened it and a piece of brown hair fell out. I showed it to Margaret.

“咱們現(xiàn)在讀信吧?！蔽掖蜷_信，一綹棕色的頭發(fā)掉了出來。我把它遞給瑪格麗特。

What soft hair,' she said, touching it. 'Is it Jane's?'

“好柔軟的頭發(fā)，”她撫摸著頭發(fā)說，“是簡的嗎？”

Yes, I think so.' I began to read...

“是的，我想是的。”我開始讀信……

Hampton Court Palace

漢普頓宮

22nd October 1537

1537年10月22日

Dear Henry

親愛的亨利：

The doctors and my women tell me that I shall feel better tomorrow, but I can see in their faces that it is not true. I cannot sleep or eat, and a fire burns in my body day and night. I know that I shall soon be dead.

醫(yī)生和我的侍女告訴我，我明天會感覺好些的，但從他們的臉上可以看出，這不是真的。我既睡不著也吃不下，有團火日夜在我體內(nèi)燃燒。我知道，我將不久于人世了。

But I have given you a son, Henry, and I can die happy, knowing that Edward will be King after you. I will never see the day when he becomes King, but I pray that God will give him a long and happy life.

但我已給你生了個兒子，亨利，我可以含笑而去了，我知道愛德華會繼承你的王位。我永遠也看不到他成為國王的那一天了，但我將向上帝祈禱讓他長命百歲，一生幸福。

Please look after dear Edward and tell him all about me. Here is a piece of my hair—a small present from a dying mother to her baby son.

請照看好親愛的愛德華，告訴他關(guān)于我的一切。這是我的一綹頭發(fā)——算是一位彌留之際的母親留給她兒子的小小禮物吧。

I am too ill to write more and must say goodbye.

我病情太重，再也寫不下去了，不得不向你說再見了。

　Your loving wife and queen

愛你的妻子和王后

　Jane

簡

I put the letter away, and looked at Margaret. 'She had a very difficult time when the baby was born, you see. It took three days and two nights before the baby arrived. Poor Jane was very tired and ill. She died twelve days later, very soon after this letter.'

我把信收好，看著瑪格麗特。“嬰兒出生時，她很痛苦，你知道。整整折騰了三天兩夜，孩子才降生?？蓱z的簡被折磨得疲憊不堪，終于病倒了。她在寫完這封信12天后就去世了。”

How terrible,' said Margaret. She touched the piece of Jane's hair again. 'And was the King sad?'

“多可怕呀，”瑪格麗特說。她又撫摸著簡的那綹頭發(fā)，“國王很傷心嗎？”

Oh yes. He was very unhappy. He shut himself away in the palace for weeks. All England was sad, and every church in the country said prayers for poor Queen Jane. She was buried at Windsor, and Henry is now buried next to her.'

“哦，是的。他非常難過。他把自己關(guān)在王宮里，好幾個星期都沒出來。整個英格蘭都沉浸在悲痛之中，國內(nèi)的每個教堂都在為可憐的王后簡祈禱。她被葬在溫莎宮，亨利現(xiàn)在就葬在她的旁邊?！?

Just then Uncle William came up behind us.

這時，威廉叔叔從我們身后走過來。

Ah, Uncle,' I said. 'Let's go in and have some lunch.'

“啊，叔叔，”我說，“我們一起進去用午餐吧?！?