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And so it came to pass
时光如梭
that Hafid waited in his lonely palace for he
海菲孤独地等待着
who was to receive the scrolls.
接受羊皮卷的人。
The old man, with only his trusted bookkeeper for a companion,
陪伴他的只有老总管伊拉玛。
watched the seasons come and go,
眼看着春去秋来，一年一年地过去，
and the infirmities of old age soon prevented him from doing little except sit quietly
年迈的他什么事都做不了了，每天只是静静地
in his covered garden.
坐在花园里。
He waited.
他等待着。
He waited nearly three full years after the disposal of his worldly wealth and the disbanding of his trade empire.
自从处理完那世界上最大的财富，解散了浩大的商业王国。他已经等了整整三年了。
And then from out of the desert to the East
一天，从沙漠以外的东方
there appeared a slight, limping figure of a stranger who entered Damascus
来了一个身材修长、跛着脚的陌生人。那人走进大马士革城，
and made straightway through the streets until he stood before die palace of Hafid.
穿过几条街道，一直来到海菲的大厦前面。
Erasmus, usually a model of courtesy and propriety,
要是在以往，伊拉玛准会彬彬有礼地把门打开，
remained resolutely in the doorway as the caller repeated his request,
可是这回他却站着不动。陌生人只得重复道：
"I would speak with thy master.''
“我想拜见您家主人。”
The stranger's appearance was not one to inspire confidence.
这位陌生人容易让人起疑心。
His sandals were ripped and mended with rope,
他的草鞋破破烂烂，用绳子绑着。
his brown legs were cut and scratched
他那褐色的腿，伤痕累累，
and had sores in many places,
残留着刀疤和抓破的痕迹。
and above them hung a loose and tattered camel's hair loincloth.
腰上束了条骆驼毛缠腰带，破烂不堪。
The man's hair was snarled and long and his eyes, red from the sun,
头发又长又乱。眼睛布满血丝，像是被太阳晒红的，
seemed to burn from within.
又像是里面在燃烧。
Erasmus held tightly to the door handle.
伊拉玛紧紧地握着门上的把手，
"What is it your seeking of my sire?"
“你找我们老爷有什么事？”
The stranger allowed his sack to fall from his shoulders
陌生人把肩上的袋子放在地上，
and clenched both hands in prayer toward Erasmus.
双手合十地哀求道：
"Please, kind man, grant me an audience with thy master.
“好心人，求您让我见见您家主人。
I mean him no harm nor seek I alms.
我没有什么恶意，也不是来求他施舍。
Let him hear my words
我只有几句话要说，
and then I will go in haste if I offend him."
如果我惹他生气，我立刻就走。”
Erasmus, still unsure,
伊拉玛仍然半信半疑，
slowly opened the door and nodded toward the interior.
慢慢地把门打开。他朝里面点了点头，
Then he turned without looking back and walked swiftly toward the garden
转身快步走向花园。
with his visitor limping behind.
来访者一瘸一拐地跟在后面。
In the garden, Hafid dozed,
花园里，海菲正在打盹。
and Erasmus hesitated before his master.
伊拉玛站在他面前犹豫了一会儿，
He coughed and Hafid stirred.
然后干咳了几声，海菲动了一下。
He coughed again and the old man opened his eyes.
他又咳了一声，老人睁开了眼睛。
"Forgive this disturbance, master, but there is a caller."
“对不起，老爷，有客人要见您。”
Hafid, now awake,
海菲现在醒过来了，
sat up and shifted his gaze to the stranger who bowed and spoke.
目光落在陌生人的身上。只见他深鞠一躬，说道：
"Art thou he who has been called the greatest salesman in the world?"
“您就是大家说的最伟大的推销员？”
Hafid frowned but nodded,
海菲皱了皱眉，然后点点头，
"I have been called that in years now gone.
“那是以前的说法了。
No longer is that crown on my old head.
现在我老了，配不上这项王冠了。
What seeketh thee of me?"
你来这里有什么事吗？”
The small visitor stood self-consciously before Hafid
来人个子不高，在海菲面前略显不安，
and rubbed his hands over his matted chest.
双手抚在胸前。
He blinked his eyes in the soft light and replied,
他眨了眨眼睛，目光柔和。只听他回答道：
"I am called Saul and I return now, from Jerusalem,
“我叫扫罗，从耶路撤冷来，
to my birthplace in Tarsus.
打算回老家塔瑟斯。
However, I beg you, let not my appearance deceive you.
请您不要因为我容貌可憎就把我当成坏人。
I am not a bandit from the wilderness
我不是蛮荒之地的强盗，
nor am I a beggar of the streets.
也不是流落街头的乞弓。
