历来，地球上的王国战争总是不断，而人民备受其害。除了作战，他们还要在平时缴纳沉重的赋税，否则就要人头落地。作为善良象征的月亮公主这次能救苍生于水深火热吗？
Amythical(神话的,神话般的)musicechoedoverthetallbuildings,floatingtowardtheheavensthroughclustersofstarsandgentlymakingalightrainsprinkleovertheforeheadoftheMoonPrincess.Shesleptonacouchofcloudandonapillowoffur,herpitch-blackhairdazzlingonthepurewhiteofherbed;hersixmaleservantskneltatthefootofherandwaited.Shestirred,herwhitesuitshimmeringwithdiamondsandcrystalsasthemooncastitsbrilliantraysoverherslenderbody,andherdeepblueeyesopened.Herservantsboweddowninpiety(虔诚)andofferedhersixblackboxes,eachcontainingajewel.ThePrincesslookedquicklyoverthemandchoseajewel,thenflungitintotheorbitwhereitbecameafallingstarthatshehopedpeoplewouldseesotheycouldprayonit.Shestoodupandquiveredslightly,stillrecoveringfromherlongsleepandherdevout(虔敬的)servantsrushedshortlytoholdhertap.ThePrincesshadbeensleepingforahundredsolarcalendaryears,apunishmentfromapowerfulandambitiousEmperoronearthbecauseshehadresolvedaconflictbetweenhispeopleandanothertribeandhadbeenhatedforit.Sheslowlywalkedoverthenickel-platingcubeboxesthatwerelaidoutforhertomakeabridgetowardtheMoon.Shesteppedontoitscoolsurfaceandtowardherthrone,onemadeofsilverencrustedwithstarsthatcouldnolongerholdthemselvesinthesky.
ThePrincesssatdownandturnedtoherservantswhoabsentlylayatherfeet.Shegesturedforthemtostandup.“Tellme,”shesaid,“tellmeabouttheworldnow;aretherestillwars?”Herservantsnoddedsadly.Onesteppedforward,hisblondehairbrushingagainsthischeekandhekneltathisPrincess’sfeet.“Mydearlady”,hespokesadlyyethisvoicehintedawarning(警告),“asyouslept,theEmperorpassedawayandhissonCalafwashissuccessorandheisevenmoreblood-thirstythanhisfather.Weallhatehim.”ThePrincessrosetoherfeet.
“ThenImuststophim。IcannotstandtoseeinnocentpeoplekilledinthenameofanEmperor.Aretheystillfightingwiththeneighboringtribe?”Themannodded.“ThenonceagainImusttrytostopthismischief.Idonotcarewhathappenstomeaslongastheystopthisnonsense.”Shewalkedswiftlyacrossthecoldsurfaceofthemoonandlookedtowardtheearth.“Fetchmycloak,”shecommanded,“Iwillgodownnowtothemandnegotiatewiththisman.”Withoutsayinganythingherservantsfetchedawhitesilkcloakandwrappeditroundhershoulders.“Goodluck,”theytoldherinaneutraltone.Theprincessjumpedandfloatedgentlyfromthemoontoearthbelow.
EmperorCalafsatonagoldthronewithvelvetcushionsathisback.Helivedinabundance.Hehadeverythingnoonecouldeverwantandheboastedaboutit,buthewasnotsatisfiedwithit.Hewantedmoreandhedidn’tcarehowhegotanythingaslongasitpleasedhim.Heoppressedtheworkersandraisedtaxessoarbitrarily(任意地)thatpeopleinpovertystruggledtopaythem.Helookedoutofthetemple’swindow.Theroyalcourtdoorsburstopenandtwomuscularguardshurledinaterrifiedmanwhocowered(畏缩)atthewickedEmperor’sfeet.ThiswaswhatCalafhadbeenwaitingfor.Thismancouldn’tpayhistaxessohewouldbesentencedtodeath.Themansaidnothing,eithertooscaredtospeakorknewnothingbetterthantobesilent.TheEmperorsmiledevilly(邪恶地)andkickedthemaninthefacesohefellbackintotheguards.“Takehimandexecutehim.Iwantitinpublicsoallthoseotherfoolscanseewhathappensifyoudon’tpayupontime.”Theguardsbowedfromthewaistanddraggedthemanaway.CalafgotupandforanEmperorhewasmorelikeacelebrity,veryslimandgood-looking.Hewalkeddownacorridoraftertheguards,wantingtoseethisdeath.Itwasfunforhimtolistentotheman’sscreamashisloyalexecutioner(刽子手)eitherslittedhisthroatorbeheaded(斩首)himonarack.Heturnedleftfromwheretheguardswentoutandontoabalcony,whichhadabetterviewthere.Thecrowdscalledouttheexecutioner’snameoverandover,butCalafdidn’tknowwhytheyweresoexcitedthattheywereactingasifthiswereanenemybeingputintodeath.
Onewoman,however,caughthisattention.Shewasn’tfromaroundhereandthatfascinatedCalafbecausehehadneverknownanyonefromothertownscamehere.Herbeautywasperfectandsheseemeddisgustedbythecrowdsandtheexecution.Hewatchedherrunthroughthecheeringcrowdsastheexecutionerbroughthisaxedown.“Where’sshegone?”Hethoughttohimself,andthenhesawshewasheadingintohistemple.“Howdareshe!?”Calafstormedfromthebalconyintohisthroneroomandfoundthewomanstoodbythedoor.Hefrozeashergazepiercedhim.“Whoareyou?”Hedemanded,“andwhyareyouhere?”
“IamtheMoonPrincessandyouwerebornfromthebloodofmanypeopleandfromthebodyofyourfather,byreputationthemostsinfulmanIhaveeverknown.”Calafstoodinstunnedsilence,howdaredshespeaktohimlikethat?“Iknowyou,”hesaid,“youaretheonewhotriedtostopthewarbetweenmytribeandEmperorTimur’stribe.Ithoughtmyfatherputyoutosleep.”
“Alas(唉),hedidbut1onlysleptforonehundredyears.Afterseventy-fiveIrecalledyourfatherpassedawayandachildoftenwasleftinhisplace,amIright?”
“Yes!IwastenwhenItookoverthroneandIamdoingwhatmyfatherwanted,IhavedestroyedTimur’stribeandmadealotofmoneyformykingdom.”ThePrincesslaughed。“makingalotofmoneyforthekingdom?Thatisalie。you’refillingyourownpocketswithsoiledgoldandIamgoingtostopyouonceandforall!”NowitwasCalaf’sturntolaugh,“Iwouldliketoseeyoutry,youarenothingbutawomanandhowwouldyoustandagainstmygreatarmy?Goyoustupidcreatureanddon’treturn!”ThePrincesssaidnothingandwentoutofthethroneroom.Shewouldstayhereandfindoutmorebeforetakingfurtheraction.
注释:
princessempire/prince
echo
cluster
gently
sprinkle
couch
fur
pitch
pitch-black
dazzle
stir
shimmer
crystal
cast
brilliant
slender
jewel
fling
quiver
shortlyshort
solar
calendar
punishment
ambitious
emperorempire/prince
resolve
conflict
tribe
hate
nickel
cube
throne
encrust
absently
gesture
hint
warning
successorsucceed
innocent
kill
mischiefchief
nonsense
swiftly
cloak
command
negotiate
neutral
tone
velvet
cushion
abundance
boast
oppress
poverty
struggle
temple
royal
court
muscular
hurl
terrifyterrible
wicked
execute
dragdrag
slim
corridor
loyal
slit
throat
rack
balcony
disgust
axe
dare
pierce
reputation
sinful
lielie
creature
actionact