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2
An Upstart Prince:
He Confronts His Cousin
第二章 自命不凡的王子：胆敢挑战其表亲之人
'AND HOW DO you enjoy the ball, cousin?' Elric asked, aware that Yyrkoon's melodramatic presentation had been designed to catch him off-guard and, if possible, humiliate him. 'Is the music to your taste?'
“舞会还令你满意吗，表兄？”Elric问道。他注意到，Yyrkoon故意以夸张的问候令他措手不及，如果可能的话，更令他出丑。“音乐合你意吗？”
Yyrkoon lowered his eyes and let his lips form a secret little smile. 'Everything is to my taste, my liege. But what of yourself?. Does something displease you? You do not join the dance.'
Yyrkoon垂下目光，嘴角微微卷起一丝笑意。“一切都合我意，陛下。但是你怎么样呢？有什么令你不满的地方吗？你没有和我们一起跳舞。”
Elric raised one pale finger to his chin and stared at Yyrkoon's hidden eyes. 'I enjoy the dance, cousin, nonetheless. Surely it is possible to take pleasure in the pleasure of others?'
Elric注视着Yyrkoon深藏不露的双眼，举起一只苍白的手抚摸下巴。“不管有没有跳，我都享受这场舞会，表兄。他人的快乐就是自己的快乐，不是吗？”
Yyrkoon seemed genuinely astonished. His eyes opened fully and met Elric's. Elric felt a slight shock and then turned his own gaze away, indicating the music galleries with a languid hand. 'Or perhaps it is the pain of others which brings me pleasure. Fear not, for my sake, cousin. I am pleased. I am pleased. You may dance on, assured that your emperor enjoys the ball.'
Yyrkoon似乎真的因这番话震惊了。他睁大双眼回应Elric的目光。Elric有点被吓到，他避开目光，伸出一只倦怠的手指向音乐长廊的方向。“或许他人的痛苦也能给我带来快乐。别担心，就算为我着想吧，表兄。我很满意。非常满意。你回去继续跳舞吧，你的皇帝欣赏这场舞会。”
But Yyrkoon was not to be diverted from his object. 'Surely, if his subjects are not to go away saddened and troubled that they have not pleased their ruler, the emperor should demonstrate his enjoyment...?'
但是Yyrkoon没有这样容易被打发。“如果陛下的臣民并未因未能取悦他而感到困扰与难过的话，陛下自然应该有享受此景的一些表示……？”
'I would remind you, cousin,' said Elric quietly, 'that the emperor has no duty to his subjects at all, save to rule them. Their duty is to him. That is the tradition of Melnibone.'
“我应该要提醒你，表兄，”Elric静静地说，“皇帝除了统治其臣民之外，对他们没有其他任何义务。而他的臣民应该向他尽职尽责。这是Melnibone的传统。”
Yyrkoon had not expected Elric to use such arguments against him, but he rallied with his next retort. 'I agree, my lord. The emperor's duty is to rule his subjects. Perhaps that is why so many of them do not, themselves, enjoy the ball as much as they might.'
Yyrkoon没有料到Elric会用这样的论据来反驳自己，但他又发起另一轮攻势。“我同意你的观点，陛下。皇帝的义务仅仅只是统治其臣民。或许这也正是为什么这些臣民中的许多人，并没有像他们应该的那样享受这场舞会。”
'I do not follow you, cousin.'
“我不懂你的意思，表兄。”
Cymoril had risen and stood with her hands clenched on the step above her brother. She was tense and anxious, worried by her brother's bantering tone, his disdainful bearing.
身处比他兄长高一级台阶之上的Cymoril站了起来，双手紧握成拳。她内心焦虑不安，为她哥哥嬉笑般的语调以及轻蔑的举止深感忧虑。
'Yyrkoon...' she said.
“Yyrkoon……”她说。
He acknowledged her presence. 'Sister. I see you share our emperor's reluctance to dance.'
他注意到她的表情。“妹妹。原来你也和我们的皇上一样，觉得舞蹈勉勉强强。”
'Yyrkoon,' she murmured, 'you are going too far. The emperor is tolerant, but...'
“Yyrkoon，”她小声说，“你得寸进尺了。皇帝确实很宽容，但……”
'Tolerant? Or is he careless? Is he careless of the traditions of our great race? Is he contemptuous of that race's pride?'
“宽容？是宽容还是疏失？我们这伟大种族的传统被他忽视了吗？这伟大种族的骄傲受到他的轻鄙了吗？”
Dyvim Tvar was now mounting the steps. It was plain that he, too, sensed that Yyrkoon had chosen this moment to test Elric's power.
Dyvim Tvar已经在登上阶梯了。显然他同样注意到，Yyrkoon故意选择此刻来考验Elric的权威。
Cymoril was aghast. She said urgently: 'Yyrkoon. If you would live...'
Cymoril吓坏了。她急忙说：“Yyrkoon，如果你还想活的话……”
'I would not care to live if the soul of Melnibone perished. And the guardianship of our nation's soul is the responsibility of the emperor. And what if we should have an emperor who failed in that responsibility? An emperor who was weak? An emperor who cared nothing for the greatness of the Dragon Isle and its folk?'
“如果Melnibone之魂灭亡的话，我也不在乎是否还活着了。而守护这个国家的灵魂，正是皇帝的责任。如果我们中出现一位皇帝，没有尽到这种责任该怎么办？如果这个皇帝懦弱无能该怎么办？如果这个皇帝，对龙之岛的利益和她的人民视若无睹，又该怎么办？”
'A hypothetical question, cousin.' Elric had recovered his composure and his voice was an icy drawl. 'For such an emperor has never sat upon the Ruby Throne and such an emperor never shall.'
“我的表兄，这些疑问都是没有根据的假设。”Elric恢复了镇静，他的吐字冰冷缓慢。“这样的君主，从未坐上过红宝石王座；这样的君主，也绝不应该坐在这里。”
Dyvim Tvar came up, touching Yyrkoon on the shoulder. 'Prince, if you value your dignity and your life...'
Dyvim Tvar走上前，手放在Yyrkoon肩头。“王子殿下，如果你对自己的尊严和生命还抱有敬意的话……”
Elric raised his hand. 'There is no need for that, Dyvim Tvar. Prince Yyrkoon merely entertains us with an intellectual debate. Fearing that I was bored by the music and the dance--which I am not--he thought he would provide the subject for a stimulating discourse. I am certain that we are most stimulated, Prince Yyrkoon.' Elric allowed a patronising warmth to colour his last sentence.
Elric抬起手。“Dyvim Tvar，没有必要。Yyrkoon王子只是想以一些知性的辩论让大家高兴罢了。他担心音乐与舞蹈令我厌倦——事实上并没有——不如来一场富有激情的演说。我想我们都已经为此精神大振了，Yyrkoon王子。”Elric特意用关照的语调为最后一句话增加一点暖意。
Yyrkoon flushed with anger and bit his lip.
Yyrkoon的怒气涨红了他的脸，他简直咬牙切齿。
'But go on, dear cousin Yyrkoon,' Elric said. 'I am interested. Enlarge further on your argument.'
“继续说下去，亲爱的表兄Yyrkoon，”Elric说道，“我很感兴趣。继续进一步展开你的辩论吧。”
Yyrkoon looked around him, as if for support. But all his supporters were on the floor of the hall. Only Elric's friends, Dyvim Tvar and Cymoril, were nearby. Yet Yyrkoon knew that his supporters were hearing every word and that he would lose face if he did not retaliate. Elric could tell that Yyrkoon would have preferred to have retired from this confrontation and choose another day and another ground on which to continue the battle, but that was not possible. Elric, himself, had no wish to continue the foolish banter which was, no matter how disguised, a little better than the quarrelling of two little girls over who should play with the slaves first. He decided to make an end to it.
Yyrkoon看看他四周，仿佛在寻求支援。但他所有的支持者都留在下方大厅中。唯独Elric的朋友，Dyrim Tvar和Cymoril，站在他身边。但是Yyrkoon知道，他的支持者正仔细倾听他们说的每一句话，如果他不施以报复，就会颜面尽失。Elric看得出Yyrkoon此刻情愿结束这场对峙，改日再战，但那是不可能的。Elric自己也无心再继续这无论如何掩饰，也比两个小姑娘为抢夺奴隶而争吵不休好不到哪里去的愚蠢玩笑。他决定做个了断。
Yyrkoon began: 'Then let me suggest that an emperor who was physically weak might also be weak in his will to rule as befitted...'
Yyrkoon开口：“那么不如让我假设，一个身体虚弱的皇帝，或许连意志都薄弱到不适合再统治国家……”
And Elric raised his hand. 'You have done enough, dear cousin. More than enough. You have wearied yourself with this conversation when you would have preferred to dance. I am touched by your concern. But now I, too, feel weariness steal upon me.' Elric signaled for his old servant Tanglebones who stood on the far side of the throne dais, amongst the soldiers: 'Tanglebones! My cloak.'
Elric抬起手。“够了，亲爱的表兄。说得够多了。你本该在那里跳舞，现在却用这番对话让自己变得乏味。你的关心我心领了。但是现在连我也感到厌倦。”Elric向身处王座所在的平台远端，与士兵站在一起的老仆人Tanglebones缠骨示意：“缠骨！我的披风。”
Elric stood up. 'I thank you again for your thoughtfulness, cousin.' He addressed the court in general. 'I was entertained. Now I retire.'
Elric站起身。“我再次感激你体贴入微的话语，表兄。”接着他对宫中众臣致意。“你们的表演令我满意。现在我要休息了。”
Tanglebones brought the cloak of white fox fur and placed it around his master's shoulders. Tangle-bones was very old and much taller than Elric, though his back was stooped and all his limbs seemed knotted and twisted back on themselves, like the limbs of a strong, old tree.
缠骨拿出一件白狐皮斗篷，将其披在他主人的肩头。缠骨是一个年事已高的老人，比Elric高出许多，但他佝偻的背部以及纠缠结打的四肢骨骼，让他显得就像一颗盘根错节的粗壮老树。
Elric walked across the dais and through the door which opened onto a corridor which led to his private apartments.
Elric穿过高台另一边的门，走进一条直接通往他私人寓所的走廊。
×××
Yyrkoon was left fuming. He whirled round on the dais and opened his mouth as if to address the watching courtiers. Some, who did not support him, were smiling quite openly. Yyrkoon clenched his fists at his sides and glowered. He glared at Dyvim Tvar and opened his thin lips to speak. Dyvim Tvar coolly returned the glare, daring Yyrkoon to say more.
Yyrkoon被独自一人撇在现场。他张口结舌，怒火中烧，在台上左右踱步，仿佛准备对在场将这一切看在眼里的朝臣演讲却欲言又止。其中某些不支持他的人已经难掩笑意。Yyrkoon怒目而视，身侧的双手紧握成拳。他瞪向Dyvim Tvar，张开刻薄的嘴唇想说话。Dyvim Tvar冷冷回瞪他的目光，让他不敢再多言。
Then Yyrkoon flung back his head so that the locks of his hair, all curled and oiled, swayed against his back. And Yyrkoon laughed.
接着Yyrkoon一甩头，将他精心上油的卷发全部甩到脑后。他大笑起来。
The harsh sound filled the hall. The music stopped. The laughter continued.
尖利的笑声充满整个大厅。音乐停止了。笑声还在继续。
Yyrkoon stepped up so that he stood on the dais. He dragged his heavy cloak round him so that it engulfed his body.
Yyrkoon攀上阶梯，走到最后一层。他拉紧斗篷，直到沉重的斗篷完全将他包裹在里面。
Cymoril came forward. 'Yyrkoon, please do not...' He pushed her back with a motion of his shoulder.
Cymoril走上前。“Yyrkoon，请不要这样做……”他甩动肩膀将她推开。
Yyrkoon walked stiffly towards the Ruby Throne. It became plain that he was about to seat himself in it and thus perform one of the most traitorous actions possible in the code of Melnibone. Cymoril ran the few steps to him and pulled at his arm.
Yyrkoon径直朝着红宝石王座走去。他想要自己坐在上面的意图明显无疑，由此他将犯下一切Melnibone戒律中最严重的叛国罪行。Cymoril快步追上他，抓住他的手臂。
Yyrkoon's laughter grew. 'It is Yyrkoon they would wish to see on the Ruby Throne,' he told his sister. She gasped and looked in horror at Dyvim Tvar whose face was grim and angry.
Yyrkoon的笑声更响亮了。“他们期待在红宝石王座上看到的人是我Yyrkoon，”他对妹妹这样说。Cymoril倒抽一口气，惊恐地看着颜色愤怒而可怕的Dyvim Tvar。
Dyvim Tvar signed to the guards and suddenly there were two ranks of armoured men between Yyrkoon and the throne.
Dyvim Tvar向卫兵点头示意，眨眼间，两排全副武装的士兵横在Yyrkoon与王座之间。
Yyrkoon glared back at the Lord of the Dragon Caves. 'You had best hope you perish with your master,' he hissed.
Yyrkoon回头怒视龙穴之主。“你尽早盼着和你主子同归于尽吧，”他恶狠狠地说。
'This guard of honour will escort you from the hall,' Dyvim Tvar said evenly. 'We were all stimulated by your conversation this evening, Prince Yyrkoon.'
“这队仪仗队会送你出宫，”Dyvim Tvar不动声色地说。“今晚你的讲话令我们全都深受激励，Yyrkoon王子。”
Yyrkoon paused, looked about him, then relaxed. He shrugged. 'There's time enough. If Elric will not abdicate, then he must be deposed.'
Yyrkoon停下来打量他，最后做出一副什么事都没发生的样子。他耸耸肩。“我们有的是时间。如果Elric自己肯不弃位，就必须被罢免。”
Cymoril's slender body was rigid. Her eyes blazed. She said to her brother:
Cymoril纤细的身躯紧绷起来，双目如炬。她对哥哥说：
'If you harm Elric in any way, I will slay you myself, Yyrkoon.'
“如果你敢动Elric一根手指，Yyrkoon，我就会亲手杀死你。”
He raised his tapering eyebrows and smiled. At that moment he seemed to hate his sister even more than he hated his cousin. 'Your loyalty to that creature has ensured your own doom, Cymoril. I would rather you died than that you should give birth to any progeny of his. I will not have the blood of our house diluted, tainted--even touched--by his blood. Look to your own life, sister, before you threaten mine.'
Yyrkoon扬起尖细的眉毛笑了起来。此刻似乎比起那个表弟来，眼前的妹妹更加可恨。“你对那个怪物的忠心，已经宣告了你自己的末日，Cymoril。我宁可你死掉，也不要看到你怀上他的子嗣。我决不允许我们家族的血统被他的血脉污染，被他冲淡——他碰都别想碰一下。先替你自己的性命担忧吧，妹妹，别这么急着威胁我。”
And he stormed down the steps, pushing through those who came up to congratulate him. He knew that he had lost and the murmurs of his sycophants only irritated him further.
他疾步冲下台阶，推开前来恭贺他的人群。他知道自己输了，那些献媚者的私语，只令他更加恼怒。
The great doors of the hall crashed together and closed. Yyrkoon was gone from the hall.
宫殿的大门猛地砸在一起，关上了。Yyrkoon离开了大厅。
Dyvim Tvar raised both his arms. 'Dance on, courtiers. Pleasure yourselves with all that the hall provides. It is what will please the emperor most.'
Dyvim Tvar举起双臂。“继续跳舞吧，朝臣们。尽情享受宫中为你们提供的一切吧。你们的快乐就是皇帝最大的快乐。”
But it was plain there would be little more dancing done tonight. Courtiers were already deep in conversation as, excitedly, they debated the events.
但是显然今晚不会再有什么舞蹈了。宫中所有人已经开始众说纷纭，激烈地探讨起刚刚发生的事情。
Dyvim Tvar turned to Cymoril. 'Elric refuses to understand the danger, Princess Cymoril. Yyrkoon's ambition could bring disaster to all of us.'
Dyvim Tvar转身向Cymoril。“Cymoril公主，Elric不肯认清目前的危险。Yyrkoon的野心会给我们所有人带来灾难的。”
'Including Yyrkoon.' Cymoril sighed.
“也包括Yyrkoon自己。”Cymoril叹息道。
'Aye, including Yyrkoon. But how can we avoid this, Cymoril, if Elric will not give orders for your brother's arrest?'
“是的，包括他自己。但如果Elric一直不肯下达拘捕你哥哥的命令，我们又怎么能避免这种事情发生呢，Cymoril？”
'He believes that such as Yyrkoon should be allowed to say what they please. It is part of his philosophy. I can barely understand it, but it seems integral to his whole belief. If he destroys Yyrkoon, he destroys the basis on which his logic works. That at any rate, Dragon Master, is what he has tried to explain to me.'
“他认为即便像Yyrkoon这样的人，也有权发表自己的观点。这是他整个思想的一部分。虽然难以理解，但似乎这一点对他的整个信仰系统至关重要。如果他摧毁Yyrkoon的话，也就等于摧毁了自身逻辑赖以运转的根基。至少他是这样跟我解释的，龙主。”
Dyvim Tvar sighed and he frowned. Though unable to understand Elric, he was afraid that he could sometimes sympathise with Yyrkoon's viewpoint. At least Yyrkoon's motives and arguments were relatively straightforward. He knew Elric's character too well, however, to believe that Elric acted from weakness or lassitude. The paradox was that Elric tolerated Yyrkoon's treachery because he was strong, because he had the power to destroy Yyrkoon whenever he cared. And Yyrkoon's own character was such that he must constantly be testing that strength of Elric's, for he knew instinctively that if Elric did weaken and order him slain, then he would have won. It was a complicated situation and Dyvim Tvar dearly wished that he was not embroiled in it. But his loyalty to the royal line of Melnibone was strong and his personal loyalty to Elric was great. He considered the idea of having Yyrkoon secretly assassinated, but he knew that such a plan would almost certainly come to nothing. Yyrkoon was a sorcerer of immense power and doubtless would be forewarned of any attempt on his life.
Dyvim Tvar皱起双眉，深深叹气。纵然无法理解Elric，但他有时却难免与Yyrkoon分享同样的观点。至少相对而言，Yyrkoon的动机与论据直截了当。但是他太了解Elric的个性了，他的所作所为，绝不是出于软弱或无力而为。矛盾之处正在于，Elric之所以容忍Yyrkoon的变节，是因为他有能力对抗他的叛变，有能力随心所欲将其摧毁。而Yyrkoon的个性则是他必须一直不断地考验Elric的力量，因为他本能地知道，Elric下令处死他的那一天，就是他击垮Elric，获取胜利的那一天。Dyvim Tvar真心不想卷进这样复杂的情形当中。但是龙穴之主对Melnibone皇室忠贞不渝，他对Elric个人的忠诚有过之而无不及。他认真考虑过将Yyrkoon秘密暗杀的想法，但他知道这样的计划要实行几乎是不可能的。Yyrkoon是一个力量强大的巫师，他一定能预见到任何威胁他生命的不轨企图。
'Princess Cymoril,' said Dyvim Tvar, 'I can only pray that your brother swallows so much of his rage that it eventually poisons him.'
“Cymoril公主，”Dyvim Tvar说，“我衷心祈祷你的哥哥有朝一日会被自己肚里的怒气憋死。”
'I will join you in that prayer, Lord of the Dragon Caves.'
“我同你一起祈祷，龙穴之主。”
Together, they left the hall.
他们双双离开大厅。
——第二章完——
——第三章——
——返回第一卷第一章——
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发表于 2013-11-19 12:41:59
