戴维·卡梅伦 | 朗读诗歌《在圣诞前夜》

Twas the night before Christmas

《在圣诞前夜》

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

那是圣诞节的前夜，整个房子里

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

安静极了，连老鼠也是悄无声息。

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

长袜被小心地挂在了烟囱上，

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

期待着圣尼古拉的随时造访。

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

孩子们都依偎在被窝里，温暖舒适，

while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

脑子里满是香甜的糖果，舞动不止。

And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

妈妈戴上她的头巾，我戴上了帽，

had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

我们要气定神闲地睡个冬日长觉。

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

这时草坪上有咔嗒咔嗒的声响出现，

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

我从床上一跃而起去看看谁在外面。

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

我冲向窗边，快得像一道闪光，

tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

扯开百叶窗，把窗子推到上方。

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

月光洒落，铺满了新雪的胸膛，

gave the lustre of midday to objects below,

给万物镀上正午般闪亮的光芒。

when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

这时出现令人目瞪口呆的一幕，

but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

那是一辆小雪橇和八只小驯鹿。

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

驾车的是身材矮小的老车夫，敏捷活泼，

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

我一下子就认出是圣尼古拉，那还用说。

More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,

他的驯鹿们极速前行，速度远超过老鹰，

and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

他一边吹哨吆喝，一边呼唤它们的大名。

“Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

“驾，达舍！驾，丹瑟！驾，普兰策和维克森！

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

前进，科米特！前进，朱庇特！前进，唐纳和布莱琛！

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

一鼓作气，冲到门廊顶！一鼓作气，冲到围墙上！

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

快，向前啊！向前啊！大伙儿一鼓作气向前方！

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

就像是遭遇暴虐的飓风时枯叶的骤然升空，

when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky

障碍横挡路途时，他们也那样向天上猛冲。

so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

骏鹿向着千家万户的屋顶奔跑，一路飞腾，

with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

拉着满载玩具的雪橇，和圣尼古拉的身影。

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

说的迟那时快，这时我听到房子上，

the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

传来小蹄子踏出的欢腾踢踏的声响。

As I drew in my head and was turning around,

我缩回了脑袋，刚刚把身体转过，

down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. 

圣尼古拉就从烟囱里面轰然降落。

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

他从头上到脚下，身着皮革，

and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

衣服却落满烟灰，毫无光泽。

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

他把一堆玩具往后背一扛，

and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

就像要把背包打开的货郎。

His eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

他的双眼，光芒闪烁！他的酒窝，欢乐美妙！

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

他的双颊，红若玫瑰！他的鼻子，宛若樱桃！

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

他滑稽的小嘴咧着，像弯弓被拉开。

and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

他下巴上长满胡须，如雪一般洁白。

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

他的牙齿中间紧紧地咬着一只烟斗，

and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

香烟飘着，像花环一样绕着他的头。

He had a broad face and a little round belly

他面如满月，小肚子又圆又胖，

that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

笑起来像满满一碗果冻在摇晃。

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

他是一个圆圆乎乎的快活的老精灵，

and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

我一看见他就情不自禁地笑个不停。

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

他眨眨眼睛转过了脑袋，

soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

我突然间感到心无挂碍。

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

他一句话都没有说，立即开始干活，

and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

填满了所有长袜后，猛把身子转过。

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

他把一根手指放到鼻子一旁，

and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

点点头，从烟囱里一跃上房。

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

他跳上了雪橇，朝他的队伍一声口哨，

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

转眼就飞走了，像是一朵蓟草的绒毛。

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

在他驾车消失之前，我听到他的呼喊：

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

“祝福所有的人都圣诞快乐，各位晚安！”