Ⅳ 群鴉的盛宴 Chapter28 瑟曦
CERSEI
轎子緩緩爬上維桑尼亞丘陵，隨著馬蹄沉悶的節(jié)奏，太后靠在舒適的紅墊子上休息，外面?zhèn)鱽韸W斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士的叫喊：“讓路．清空街道，為攝政王太后陛下讓路！”
It was a slow climb to the top of Visenya’s Hill. As the horses labored upward, the queen leaned back against a plump red cushion. From outside came the voice of Ser Osmund Kettleblack. “Make way. Clear the street. Make way for Her Grace the queen.”
“瑪格麗身邊養(yǎng)了一個活躍的小宮廷，”瑪瑞魏斯夫人報告，“有雜耍藝人、默劇演員、詩人、木偶師……”
“Margaery does keep a lively court,” Lady Merryweather was saying. “We have jugglers, mummers, poets, puppets …”
“和歌手？”瑟曦提示。
“Singers?” prompted Cersei.
“是的，很多很多歌手，陛下?！偈帧孜髅堪朐聭?yīng)召一次，有時候伊森人阿里克晚上會來表演，藍詩人則是她的最愛?！?/p>
“Many and more, Your Grace. Hamish the Harper plays for her once a fortnight, and sometimes Alaric of Eysen will entertain us of an evening, but the Blue Bard is her favorite.”
太后想起這藍詩人也參加了托曼的婚宴。他年輕、英俊，莫非有文章？“她身邊還有其他人，聽說不少是騎士、廷臣及仰慕者之流。說實話，夫人，你覺得瑪格麗還是處女嗎？”
Cersei recalled the bard from Tommen’s wedding. Young, and fair to look upon. Could there be something there? “There are other men as well, I hear. Knights and courtiers. Admirers. Tell me true, my lady. Do you think Margaery is still a maiden?”
“她說她是，陛下?！?/p>
“She says she is, Your Grace.”
“她那么說，你覺得呢？”
“So she does. What do you say?”
坦妮婭黑色的大眼睛里閃動著淘氣的火花?！八诟咄ヅc藍禮大人成親時，我?guī)椭笕嗣撘路４笕耸莻€身體健康、充滿欲望的男子，我們擁他上婚床時看到了證據(jù)——而瑪格麗赤身裸體地在婚床上等他，跟命名日時一樣一絲不掛，在毯子下面漂亮地羞紅了臉。洛拉斯爵士親手把她抱上去的?，敻覃惢蛟S堅稱他們的婚姻并未圓滿，堅稱藍禮大人喝得太醉以至于無法動手，但我向您保證，當我退出門外時，大人兩腿間那活兒可沒有半點委頓的跡象?！?/p>
Taena’s black eyes sparkled with mischief. “When she wed Lord Renly at Highgarden, I helped disrobe him for the bedding. His lordship was a well-made man, and lusty. I saw the proof when we tumbled him into the wedding bed where his bride awaited him as naked as her name day, blushing prettily beneath the coverlets. Ser Loras had carried her up the steps himself. Margaery may say that the marriage was never consummated, that Lord Renly had drunk too much wine at the wedding feast, but I promise you, the bit between his legs was anything but weary when last I saw it.”
“第二天早上你進去了嗎？”瑟曦急忙問，“你見到染血的床單了嗎？”
“Did you chance to see the marriage bed the morning after?” Cersei asked. “Did she bleed?”
“沒有，她沒展示床單，陛下?！?/p>
“No sheet was shown, Your Grace.”
真可惜。不過話說回來，染血的床單也說明不了什么。據(jù)說下賤的農(nóng)夫女在新婚之夜會像豬一樣流血，但瑪格麗·提利爾這樣的貴族姑娘基本不會。領(lǐng)主之女的初夜權(quán)多半交給了胯下坐騎而不是新婚丈夫，而從學會走路起就開始騎馬的瑪格麗便更容易磨破了?！俺杏胁簧衮T士仰慕咱們的小王后。包括雷德溫的雙胞胎，塔拉德爵士……哎，你說說，還有哪些人常去呢？”
A pity. Still, the absence of a bloody sheet meant little, by itself. Common peasant girls bled like pigs upon their wedding nights, she had heard, but that was less true of highborn maids like Margaery Tyrell. A lord’s daughter was more like to give her maidenhead to a horse than a husband, it was said, and Margaery had been riding since she was old enough to walk. “I understand the little queen has many admirers amongst our household knights. The Redwyne twins, Ser Tallad … who else, pray tell?”
瑪瑞魏斯夫人聳聳肩，“藍柏特爵士，把一只好眼睛用繃帶遮住的傻瓜；拜亞德·諾科斯爵士；庫塔內(nèi)·格林希爾；伍德懷特兄弟，有時候是波提菲，更多時候是盧坎迪。噢，對了，派席爾國師時常造訪?！?/p>
Lady Merryweather gave a shrug. “Ser Lambert, the fool who hides a good eye behind a patch. Bayard Norcross. Courtenay Greenhill. The brothers Woodwright, sometimes Portifer and often Lucantine. Oh, and Grand Maester Pycelle is a frequent visitor.”
“派席爾？真的？”莫非這只搖搖擺擺的老蛆蟲拋棄獅子投靠了玫瑰？若是真的，他一定會付出代價。“還有誰？”
“Pycelle? Truly?” Had that doddering old worm forsaken the lion for the rose? If so, he will regret it. “Who else?”
“穿羽毛披風的盛夏群島人，哈哈，我怎可能忘了他？他的皮膚黑得跟墨水似的。還有許多人專程來向她的表親們致敬。埃蘿雖與安布羅斯家的孩子訂了婚，但她很喜歡賣弄風情；梅歌平均兩星期換一位追求者，她甚至在廚房中吻過幫廚小弟。聽說她被許給布爾威伯爵夫人的弟弟，但我看如果讓她自己挑，她會選馬克·穆倫道爾?！?/p>
“The Summer Islander in his feathered cloak. How could I have forgotten him, with his skin as black as ink? Others come to pay court to her cousins. Elinor is promised to the Ambrose boy, but loves to flirt, and Megga has a new suitor every fortnight. Once she kissed a potboy in the kitchen. I have heard talk of her marrying Lady Bulwer’s brother, but if Megga were to choose for herself, she would sooner have Mark Mullendore, I am certain.”
瑟曦大笑，“那位在黑水河上丟了半條胳膊的蝴蝶騎士？要個殘廢來做什么？”
Cersei laughed. “The butterfly knight who lost his arm on the Blackwater? What good is half a man?”
“梅歌認為他可愛極了，她甚至懇求瑪格麗夫人給他找只新猴子?！?/p>
“Megga thinks him sweet. She has asked Lady Margaery to help her find a monkey for him.”
“啊，猴子，”太后不知該說什么好。麻雀與猴子，這個國家真是瘋了?！霸蹅冇⒂碌穆謇咕羰磕?？他經(jīng)常去見妹妹嗎？”
“A monkey.” The queen did not know what to say to that. Sparrows and monkeys. Truly, the realm is going mad. “What of our brave Ser Loras? How often does he call upon his sister?”
“他去得最多?！碧鼓輯I皺眉時，黑色的大眼睛之間出現(xiàn)了一道細細的紋路?！懊刻煸缤砀饕淮?，除非有事脫不開身。她哥哥對她無微不至，他們之間無話不談……噢……”密爾女人突然驚訝地住了口，接著又滿臉堆笑，“我剛才有個邪惡的念頭，陛下?！?/p>
“More than any of the others.” When Taena frowned, a tiny crease appeared between her dark eyes. “Every morn and every night he visits, unless duty interferes. Her brother is devoted to her, they share everything with … oh …” For a moment, the Myrish woman looked almost shocked. Then a smile spread across her face. “I have had a most wicked thought, Your Grace.”
“自己心里知道就好。山上全是麻雀，我們都曉得麻雀們標榜自己有多么純潔，厭惡邪惡?！?/p>
“Best keep it to yourself. The hill is thick with sparrows, and we all know how sparrows abhor wickedness.”
“我看他們厭惡的是肥皂和水，陛下?！?/p>
“I have heard they abhor soap and water too, Your Grace.”
“是啊，這幫家伙實在是太臭了，如果可以，我會要求新任總主教幫他們清洗清洗?！?/p>
“Perhaps too much prayer robs a man of his sense of smell. I shall be sure to ask His High Holiness.”
帷幕卷動，掀起一陣緋紅絲綢的波浪?！皧W頓說新任總主教沒有名字，”坦妮婭夫人道，“這是真的嗎？至少在密爾，每個人都有名字的?！?/p>
The draperies swayed back and forth in a wash of crimson silk. “Orton told me that the High Septon has no name,” Lady Taena said. “Can that be true? In Myr we all have names.”
“他以前當然有名字，修士都有名字，”太后不耐煩地揮揮手，“比方說他若是貴族，發(fā)下誓言加入教會時會去掉家族姓氏，只保留自己的名，而一旦成為總主教，就必須放棄所有姓名——教會認為他已當上諸神的代言人，不再需要凡人的名字?！?/p>
“Oh, he had a name once. They all do.” The queen waved a hand dismissively. “Even septons born of noble blood go only by their given names once they have taken their vows. When one of them is elevated to High Septon, he puts aside that name as well. The Faith will tell you he no longer has any need of a man’s name, for he has become the avatar of the gods.”
“那總主教與總主教之間如何區(qū)分呢？”
“How do you distinguish one High Septon from another?”
“有點難度。通常叫這位為‘胖子’，叫那位作‘胖子前的那位’或’睡覺時死去的那位’。當然，你還是可以用他們的俗名來稱呼，但會得罪人的，因為這提醒了他們出身平凡，他們不喜歡這樣?！?/p>
“With difficulty. One has to say, ‘the fat one,’ or ‘the one before the fat one,’ or ‘the old one who died in his sleep.’ You can always winkle out their birth names if you like, but they take umbrage if you use them. It reminds them that they were born ordinary men, and they do not like that.”
“我夫君說新任總主教不是貴族，而是個骯臟的賤民。”
“My lord husband tells me this new one was born with filth beneath his fingernails.”
“據(jù)說是這樣。其實照慣例，大主教們一般會推選彼此間的一位，偶而才破例?！迸上癄柌粎捚錈┑叵蛩v述過這段冗長的歷史?！霸谑苌褡８５呢惱胀踅y(tǒng)治時期，一名石匠被選為總主教，因為他的工藝如此精巧，讓貝勒以為他是鐵匠的肉體凡身。此人不會讀寫，連最簡單的禱告都學不會?！痹S多人相信他是被貝勒的首相毒死的，以防國家繼續(xù)蒙羞?！八篮?，教團在貝勒王敦促下，又選出一位八歲男童。國王宣稱這孩子能施行奇跡，不過他那雙醫(yī)療圣手卻無法改變國王在絕食齋戒中喪命?！?/p>
“So I suspect. As a rule the Most Devout elevate one of their own, but there have been exceptions.” Grand Maester Pycelle had informed her of the history, at tedious length. “During the reign of King Baelor the Blessed a simple stonemason was chosen as High Septon. He worked stone so beautifully that Baelor decided he was the Smith reborn in mortal flesh. The man could neither read nor write, nor recall the words of the simplest of prayers.” Some still claimed that Baelor’s Hand had the man poisoned to spare the realm embarrassment. “After that one died, an eight-year-old boy was elevated, once more at King Baelor’s urging. The boy worked miracles, His Grace declared, though even his little healing hands could not save Baelor during his final fast.”
瑪瑞魏斯夫人清脆地笑道，“八歲？看來我兒子也有機會當總主教嘍，他快滿七歲了?！?/p>
Lady Merryweather gave a laugh. “Eight years old? Perhaps my son could be High Septon. He is almost seven.”
“他會禱告嗎？”太后漫不經(jīng)心地問。
“Does he pray a lot?” the queen asked.
“他更喜歡練武?！?/p>
“He prefers to play with swords.”
“好孩子。他知道七神的名字嗎？”
“A real boy, then. Can he name all seven gods?”
“都清楚?！?/p>
“I think so.”
“嗯，我會將他列入考量?！鄙夭挪辉诤醮魃纤Ч诘膬和瘯鲂┦裁?，反正比教團推出的這位賤民好應(yīng)付。這回聽任白癡和懦夫們選擇首領(lǐng)，下次就沒那么便宜了——如果新任總主教不合我意，這個“下次”很快就會到來。貝勒王的首相是我的榜樣。
“I shall have to take him under consideration.” Cersei did not doubt that there were any number of boys who would do more honor to the crystal crown than the wretch on whom the Most Devout had chosen to bestow it. This is what comes of letting fools and cowards rule themselves. Next time, I will choose their master for them. And the next time might not be long in coming, if the new High Septon continued to annoy her. Baelor’s Hand had little to teach Cersei Lannister where such matters were concerned.
“清空街道！”奧斯蒙·凱特布萊克爵士大叫，“為攝政王太后陛下讓路！”
“Clear the way!” Ser Osmund Kettleblack was shouting. “Make way for the Queen’s Grace!”
轎子開始慢下來，應(yīng)是快登上山丘頂了?！澳惆褍鹤訋нM宮吧，”瑟曦告訴瑪瑞魏斯夫人，“六歲男孩不小了。托曼需要別的孩子陪伴，你兒子不是可以做他的朋友嗎？”喬佛里就沒有同齡朋友。可憐的孩子，一直那么孤單，我小時候都有詹姆……和梅拉雅，直到她掉入水井。噢，小喬很喜歡獵狗，可他們之間并非友情，他只是在尋求從勞勃那里沒有得到的父愛。一位養(yǎng)兄弟將把托曼從瑪格麗和她那群小雞身邊奪過來。假以時日，他們之間將會像勞勃和奈德·史塔克那樣親密。是，奈德是個傻瓜，卻是個忠誠的傻瓜。托曼需要忠心耿耿的人替他防備后方。
The litter began to slow, which could only mean that they were near the top of the hill. “You should bring this son of yours to court,” Cersei told Lady Merryweather. “Six is not too young. Tommen needs other boys about him. Why not your son?” Joffrey had never had a close friend of his own age, that she recalled. The poor boy was always alone. I had Jaime when I was a child … and Melara, until she fell into the well. Joff had been fond of the Hound, to be sure, but that was not friendship. He was looking for the father he never found in Robert. A little foster brother might be just what Tommen needs to wean him away from Margaery and her hens. In time they might grow as close as Robert and his boyhood friend Ned Stark. A fool, but a loyal fool. Tommen will have need of loyal friends to watch his back.
“陛下您真是太好心了，但魯賽爾從未離開過長桌廳，恐怕會在這座大城市里迷途呢。”
“Your Grace is kind, but Russell has never known any home but Longtable. I fear he would be lost in this great city.”
“剛開始也許會，”太后承認，“但他能適應(yīng)的，和我一樣。當年我父親要我入宮時，我拼命地哭，而詹姆怒火沖天，最后是我姑媽拉我到石頭花園里坐下，促膝長談，她說君臨城內(nèi)沒有一個人值得我害怕?！闶穷^母獅，’她告訴我，‘別的野獸應(yīng)該怕你才對。’毫無疑問，你的孩子也能找到勇氣，而且你就不想多見到他嗎，每天都見到他？他是你唯一的孩子，對吧？”
“In the beginning,” the queen allowed, “but he will soon outgrow that, as I did. When my father sent for me to court I wept and Jaime raged, until my aunt sat me down in the Stone Garden and told me there was no one in King’s Landing that I need ever fear. ‘You are a lioness,’ she said, ‘a(chǎn)nd it is for all the lesser beasts to fear you.’ Your son will find his courage too. Surely you would prefer to have him close at hand, where you could see him every day? He is your only child, is he not?”
“目前是。我的夫君懇求諸神再給我們添一個小子，以防……”
“For the present. My lord husband has asked the gods to bless us with another son, in case …”
“我懂，”她想起了喬佛里抓摳喉嚨的模樣，在那最后時刻，他絕望地看著她，發(fā)出無言的求告；隨后，另一段回憶占據(jù)了她的腦海，令她血液凝結(jié)：那是燭光下的一滴鮮血，沙啞的聲音在談?wù)摵蠊谂c裹尸布，談?wù)揤ALONQAR的謀殺。
“I know.” She thought of Joffrey, clawing at his neck. In his last moments he had looked to her in desperate appeal, and a sudden memory had stopped her heart; a drop of red blood hissing in a candle flame, a croaking voice that spoke of crowns and shrouds, of death at the hands of the valonqar.
轎外，奧斯蒙爵士叫囂著什么，有人竟朝他吼回去。轎子突然停下?！澳銈兪撬廊藛幔俊眲P特布萊克咆哮道，“媽的，滾開！”
Outside the litter, Ser Osmund was shouting something, and someone was shouting back. The litter jerked to a halt. “Are you all dead?” roared Kettleblack. “Get out of the bloody way!”
太后掀開簾子一角，招呼馬林·特蘭爵士。“怎么回事？”
The queen pulled back a corner of the curtain and beckoned to Ser Meryn Trant. “What seems to be the trouble?”
“是麻雀們，陛下?！瘪R林爵士的白披風下穿著全套白色鎧甲，頭盔與盾牌懸在鞍頭?！八麄冊诮稚下稜I，妨礙交通?！?/p>
“The sparrows, Your Grace.” Ser Meryn wore white scale armor beneath his cloak. His helm and shield were slung from his saddle. “Camping in the street. We’ll make them move.”
“把他們趕開，但動作不要太大。我可不想引發(fā)另一場暴動?！鄙厮砷_簾子。“真荒唐。”
“Do that, but gently. I do not care to be caught up in another riot.” Cersei let the curtain fall. “This is absurd.”
“是啊，陛下，”瑪瑞魏斯夫人表示同意，“應(yīng)該是總主教前來拜見您才對。這幫可惡的麻雀……”
“It is, Your Grace,” Lady Merryweather agreed. “The High Septon should have come to you. And these wretched sparrows …”
“他供養(yǎng)他們，慣壞了他們，甚至祝福了他們。但到目前為止，他卻沒為國王陛下祝福?！弊８Ｖ皇琼椏斩吹膬x式，但在無知的平民眼中，儀式具有不可替代的象征意義。征服者伊耿便把總主教在舊鎮(zhèn)替他抹上圣油的那一天作為登基的紀念日。“這混蛋僧侶若不乖乖聽話，我就讓他曉得自己還是個肉體凡胎。”
“He feeds them, coddles them, blesses them. Yet will not bless the king.” The blessing was an empty ritual, she knew, but rituals and ceremonies had power in the eyes of the ignorant. Aegon the Conqueror himself had dated the start of his realm from the day the High Septon anointed him in Oldtown. “This wretched priest will obey, or learn how weak and human he still is.”
“奧頓說他想要的不過是錢，換言之，在王室還債之前，他不會祝福國王?！?/p>
“Orton says it is the gold he really wants. That he means to withhold his blessing until the crown resumes its payments.”
“等國家恢復和平，教會自能得到金子?！睂Υ?，托伯特修士與雷那德修士表示理解……討厭的布拉佛斯使節(jié)卻很頑固，他一直糾纏著可憐的蓋爾斯大人，直到后者終于因嘔血而臥床不起。我們必須重建海軍，我不能依靠著青亭島，因為雷德溫是提利爾的封臣。瑟曦需要蘭尼斯特的艦隊。
“The Faith will have its gold as soon as we have peace.” Septon Torbert and Septon Raynard had been most understanding of her plight … unlike the wretched Braavosi, who had hounded poor Lord Gyles so mercilessly that he had taken to his bed, coughing up blood. We had to have those ships. She could not rely upon the Arbor for her navy; the Redwynes were too close to the Tyrells. She needed her own strength at sea.
黑水河上建造中的大帆船是她的希望所在，其旗艦的槳數(shù)將是勞勃國王之錘號的兩倍。奧雷恩請示能否將其命名為泰溫公爵號，太后欣然應(yīng)允——她等著聽人們將以她父親之名命名的船稱呼為“她”。另一艘大船得名甜美瑟曦號，船首像是太后的鍍金形體，身穿鎖甲，頭戴獅盔，長矛在手。另外幾艘分別是英勇喬佛里號、喬安娜夫人號和母獅號，以及瑪格麗王后號、金玫瑰號、藍禮公爵號、奧蓮娜夫人號、彌賽菈公主號——瑟曦錯誤地允許托曼為一半的船只命名，才出現(xiàn)這樣的結(jié)果。男孩甚至想把最后一艘船命名為月童號，只是奧雷恩提出水手們可能不愿在以弄臣為名的船只上服役后，托曼才勉強換成姐姐的名字。
The dromonds rising on the river would give her that. Her flagship would dip twice as many oars as King Robert’s Hammer. Aurane had asked her leave to name her Lord Tywin, which Cersei had been pleased to grant. She looked forward to hearing men speak of her father as a “she.” Another of the ships would be named Sweet Cersei, and would bear a gilded figurehead carved in her likeness, clad in mail and lion helm, with spear in hand. Brave Joffrey, Lady Joanna, and Lioness would follow her to sea, along with Queen Margaery, Golden Rose, Lord Renly, Lady Olenna, and Princess Myrcella. The queen had made the mistake of telling Tommen he might name the last five. He had actually chosen Moon Boy for one. Only when Lord Aurane suggested that men might not want to serve on a ship named for a fool had the boy reluctantly agreed to honor his sister instead.
“若這賤人以為我要花錢來買他祝福托曼，他可大錯特錯。”她對坦妮婭保證。堂堂七國之后決不會屈意逢迎一幫修士。
“If this ragged septon thinks to make me buy Tommen’s blessing, he will soon learn better,” she told Taena. The queen did not intend to truckle to a pack of priests.
轎子又陡然停止，以至于瑟曦被摔了一下?！班蓿闶裁垂戆?？”她再度探出身子，發(fā)現(xiàn)已到了維桑尼亞丘頂，前方就是貝勒大圣堂巍峨的拱頂與七座閃亮高塔——然而，在隊伍和圣堂的大理石階之間，人山人海，數(shù)不清的穿褐色粗布衣服、骯臟不堪的人們。麻雀們，她嗤之以鼻地想，他們比真麻雀還臭。
The litter halted yet again, so suddenly that Cersei jerked. “Oh, this is infuriating.” She leaned out once more, and saw that they had reached the top of Visenya’s Hill. Ahead loomed the Great Sept of Baelor, with its magnificent dome and seven shining towers, but between her and the marble steps lay a sullen sea of humanity, brown and ragged and unwashed. Sparrows, she thought, sniffing, though no sparrows had ever smelled so rank.
令瑟曦驚駭?shù)氖牵M管科本向她報告過麻雀的人數(shù)，真正見到了還是覺得不可思議。廣場上有數(shù)百人露營，花園中還有數(shù)百人，炊煙繚繞，粗布帳篷和泥巴廢料搭建的簡陋小屋玷污了純白大理石，他們甚至在大圣堂講壇下的階梯上鋪了鋪蓋卷。
Cersei was appalled. Qyburn had brought her reports of their numbers, but hearing about them was one thing and seeing them another. Hundreds were encamped upon the plaza, hundreds more in the gardens. Their cookfires filled the air with smoke and stinks. Roughspun tents and miserable hovels made of mud and scrap wood besmirched the pristine white marble. They were even huddled on the steps, beneath the Great Sept’s towering doors.
奧斯蒙爵士策馬回來找她，旁邊是金馬金袍的奧斯佛利爵士。作為凱特布萊克三兄弟中的老二，奧斯佛利比其他兩位都要沉靜，笑容也比較少，經(jīng)常愁眉苦臉。如果傳說屬實，他也是最冷血的一位。或許我該派他去長城。
Ser Osmund came trotting back to her. Beside him rode Ser Osfryd, mounted on a stallion as golden as his cloak. Osfryd was the middle Kettleblack, quieter than his siblings, more apt to scowl than smile. And crueler as well, if the tales are true. Perhaps I should have sent him to the Wall.
派席爾大學士認為應(yīng)讓“更有戰(zhàn)爭經(jīng)驗的人”指揮金袍軍，其他重臣也表示贊同?！皧W斯佛利爵士經(jīng)驗豐富，”她告訴大家，但他們并不信服。一幫不聽話的小狗?？偠灾龑ε上癄柕哪托乃闶菑氐赘娼K了，后者居然蠻橫地反對她邀請多恩領(lǐng)派來新教頭，他堅持認為這是對提利爾的冒犯?！蹦愎艿昧宋颐?？”她輕蔑地回敬老人。
Grand Maester Pycelle had wanted an older man “more seasoned in the ways of war” to command the gold cloaks, and several of her other councillors had agreed with him. “Ser Osfryd is seasoned quite sufficiently,” she had told them, but even that did not shut them up. They yap at me like a pack of small, annoying dogs. Her patience with Pycelle had all but run its course. He had even had the temerity to object to her sending to Dorne for a master-at-arms, on the grounds that it might offend the Tyrells. “Why do you think I’m doing it?” she had asked him scornfully.
“請恕罪。陛下，”奧斯蒙爵士報告，“我弟弟正在調(diào)集更多金袍衛(wèi)士前來。放心，我們一定會掃開道路?！?/p>
“Beg pardon, Your Grace,” said Ser Osmund. “My brother’s summoning more gold cloaks. We’ll clear a path, never fear.”
“我沒空多等，就步行前去吧?！?/p>
“I do not have the time. I will continue on afoot.”
“不，陛下，”坦妮婭抓住她的手，“他們讓我害怕。成百上千的，又那么骯臟。”
“Please, Your Grace.” Taena caught her arm. “They frighten me. There are hundreds of them, and so dirty.”
瑟曦吻了她的臉。“獅子何懼麻雀？……但我謝謝你，我知道你關(guān)心我，夫人。奧斯蒙爵士，扶我下轎?！?/p>
Cersei kissed her cheek. “The lion does not fear the sparrow … but it is good of you to care. I know you love me well, my lady. Ser Osmund, kindly help me down.”
早知道得步行，我就換身衣服了。太后今天穿金線鑲邊的白裙服，華美而不失端莊，但這件服裝已有多年未曾穿用，腰部很有些緊?！皧W斯蒙爵士，馬林爵士，請隨我來。奧斯佛利爵士，護住我的座轎。”有些麻雀看起來形容桔槁、眼窩深陷，似乎能吃了她的馬。
If I had known I was going to have to walk, I would have dressed for it. She wore a white gown slashed with cloth-of-gold, lacy but demure. It had been several years since the last time she had donned it, and the queen found it uncomfortably tight about the middle. “Ser Osmund, Ser Meryn, you will accompany me. Ser Osfryd, see that my litter comes to no harm.” Some of the sparrows looked gaunt and hollow-eyed enough to eat her horses.
她在衣衫襤褸的人群中穿行，越過篝火、馬車和陋屋，不禁想起了與勞勃·拜拉席恩成親時廣場上的空前盛況。當年，數(shù)千平民專程前來為她喝彩，所有女人都穿上最漂亮的衣服，一半的男人肩頭上坐著孩子。她與年輕的國王手拉著手從圣堂走出來時，群眾的歡呼連蘭尼斯港都能聽見?！八麄儛勰?，我的王后，”勞勃湊在她耳邊低語，“瞧，每張臉都笑得那么開心?！蹦且凰查g，她的婚姻是如此美滿幸?！钡剿匆娬材贰２唬南?，不，不是每張臉，陛下……
As she made her way through the ragged throng, past their cookfires, wagons, and crude shelters, the queen found herself remembering another crowd that had once gathered on this plaza. The day she wed Robert Baratheon, thousands had turned out to cheer for them. All the women wore their best, and half the men had children on their shoulders. When she had emerged from inside the sept, hand in hand with the young king, the crowd sent up a roar so loud it could be heard in Lannisport. “They like you well, my lady,” Robert whispered in her ear. “See, every face is smiling.” For that one short moment she had been happy in her marriage … until she chanced to glance at Jaime. No, she remembered thinking, not every face, my lord.
今天，沒有一張笑臉。麻雀們表情遲鈍、陰郁、充滿敵意，他們勉勉強強地讓開。他們是真麻雀就好了，吼一嗓子就統(tǒng)統(tǒng)被嚇走?；蛘咴撆梢话倜鹋圩訋е靼簟㈤L劍與釘頭錘前來清路？泰溫大人就會這么做。他會狠狠收拾他們，決不會下馬走路。
No one was smiling now. The looks the sparrows gave her were dull, sullen, hostile. They made way but reluctantly. If they were truly sparrows, a shout would send them flying. A hundred gold cloaks with staves and swords and maces could clear this rabble quick enough. That was what Lord Tywin would have done. He would have ridden over them instead of walking through.
當太后發(fā)現(xiàn)他們對受神祝福的貝勒王的雕像做了些什么時，她開始后悔自己的軟心腸了。那座露出慈祥的微笑，照看廣場長達百年之久的雄偉大理石雕像，如今自腰部以下堆滿了各種骨頭和頭骨，其中很多仍殘留著血肉。一些烏鴉停在上面，享用干澀的便餐。到處是嗡嗡叫的蒼蠅?！斑@是為何？！”瑟曦質(zhì)問群眾，“你們打算把腐尸堆成山，用來掩蓋受神祝福的貝勒王嗎？”
When she saw what they had done to Baelor the Beloved, the queen had cause to rue her soft heart. The great marble statue that had smiled serenely over the plaza for a hundred years was waist-deep in a heap of bones and skulls. Some of the skulls had scraps of flesh still clinging to them. A crow sat atop one such, enjoying a dry, leathery feast. Flies were everywhere. “What is the meaning of this?” Cersei demanded of the crowd. “Do you mean to bury Blessed Baelor in a mountain of carrion?”
一位獨腿男人拄著木拐杖走上前?！氨菹?，這些都是圣人與圣女的遺骨，他們身在教會為世人服務(wù)，卻慘遭謀殺。被害者不僅包括修士、修女，還包括穿褐衣、棕衣和綠衣的弟兄，穿白衣、藍衣和灰衣的姐妹。他們有的被吊死，有的被開膛破肚，修士遭遇搶劫，處女和母親被不信神的匪徒和惡魔崇拜者強暴——連靜默姐妹也不能幸免于難。天上的圣母在悲痛中吶喊，所以我們把他們的遺骨從全國各地收集到這里，懇請神圣的教會予以見證?！?/p>
A one-legged man stepped forward, leaning on a wooden crutch. “Your Grace, these are the bones of holy men and women, murdered for their faith. Septons, septas, brothers brown and dun and green, sisters white and blue and grey. Some were hanged, some disemboweled. Septs have been despoiled, maidens and mothers raped by godless men and demon worshipers. Even silent sisters have been molested. The Mother Above cries out in her anguish. We have brought their bones here from all over the realm, to bear witness to the agony of the Holy Faith.”
瑟曦能感覺到周圍目光的重量?！皣鯐謴屯鯂暮推剑彼f嚴保證，“托曼與大家感同身受。這些都怪史坦尼斯和他身邊那紅袍女巫，都怪崇拜樹木和狼的北方蠻子?！彼岣呗曊{(diào)?！捌叽笸鯂纳颇行排畟?，我一定會為你們死去的親人復仇！”
Cersei could feel the weight of eyes upon her. “The king shall know of these atrocities,” she answered solemnly. “Tommen will share your outrage. This is the work of Stannis and his red witch, and the savage northmen who worship trees and wolves.” She raised her voice. “Good people, your dead shall be avenged!”
幾聲歡呼，僅僅幾聲?！拔覀儾灰獜统穑豹毻饶腥苏f，“只要您保護生者。保護圣堂和其他圣地。”
A few cheered, but only a few. “We ask no vengeance for our dead,” said the one-legged man, “only protection for the living. For the septs and holy places.”
“鐵王座應(yīng)該維護教會，”一個額頭文著七芒星的大塊頭抱怨，“不能保護人民的國王不是真正的國王?！敝車娜藗兡剜硎就狻Ｒ粋€男人突然站起來抓住馬林爵士的手腕：“是時候了，所有涂抹圣油的騎士都應(yīng)該拋棄俗世的主人，團結(jié)在神圣的教會周圍。與我們一起戰(zhàn)斗吧，爵士先生，如果您還熱愛七神?！?/p>
“The Iron Throne must defend the Faith,” growled a hulking lout with a seven-pointed star painted on his brow. “A king who does not protect his people is no king at all.” Mutters of assent went up from those around him. One man had the temerity to grasp Ser Meryn by the wrist, and say, “It is time for all anointed knights to forsake their worldly masters and defend our Holy Faith. Stand with us, ser, if you love the Seven.”
“放手！”馬林爵士用力掙脫開來。
“Unhand me,” said Ser Meryn, wrenching free.
“你們的請愿我都聽到了，”瑟曦道，“我兒子年紀雖小，但他熱愛七神。你們會得到他和我的庇護?！?/p>
“I hear you,” Cersei said. “My son is young, but he loves the Seven well. You shall have his protection, and mine own.”
額上文七芒星的男人渾不在乎。“戰(zhàn)士庇護我們，”他說，“而這位胖胖的小國王什么也沒做?！?/p>
The man with the star upon his brow was not appeased. “The Warrior will defend us,” he said, “not this fat boy king.”
馬林·特林的手伸向劍柄，但瑟曦及時制止了他亮兵器。身處麻雀的海洋里，她只有兩位騎士。她看見了棍子、鐮刀、木棒、短棒、斧頭等等?！安怀审w統(tǒng)！怎能在圣地里動粗，爵士？”你這大白癡，把眼前的家伙砍翻，我們?nèi)隧暱涕g便會被五馬分尸。“畢竟，我們都是圣母的子孫，來吧，總主教在等我們?！彼竭^群眾，待要走上石階，卻被一群武裝的男子擋住去路。他們身披鎖甲和煮沸皮甲，還有幾件零散的、打凹了的板甲。有的握長矛，有的拿長劍，大部分人裝備著斧頭，所有人都穿縫有紅色星星的漂白外套。其中兩位傲慢無禮地將長矛交叉，不準她向前。
Meryn Trant reached for his sword, but Cersei stopped him before he could unsheathe it. She had only two knights amidst a sea of sparrows. She saw staves and scythes, cudgels and clubs, several axes. “I will have no blood shed in this holy place, ser.” Why are all men such children? Cut him down, and the rest will tear us limb from limb. “We are all the Mother’s children. Come, His High Holiness awaits us.” But as she made her way through the press to the steps of the sept, a gaggle of armed men stepped out to block the doors. They wore mail and boiled leather, with here and there a bit of dinted plate. Some had spears and some had longswords. More favored axes, and had sewn red stars upon their bleached white surcoats. Two had the insolence to cross their spears and bar her way.
“你們就是這么迎接太后陛下的嗎？”她質(zhì)問，“行行好，托伯特和雷那德在哪里？”這兩人不大可能錯過這個奉承她的好機會啊。托伯特尤其喜歡夸張地跪下來吻她的腳。
“Is this how you receive your queen?” she demanded of them. “Pray, where are Raynard and Torbert?” It was not like those two to miss a chance to fawn on her. Torbert always made a show of getting down on his knees to wash her feet.
“我不認識您說的這兩位，”外套縫有紅色星星的男人回答，“不過只要他們身在教會，總歸是服務(wù)七神。”
“I do not know the men you speak of,” said one of the men with a red star on his surcoat, “but if they are of the Faith, no doubt the Seven had need of their service.”
“雷那德修士和托伯特修士都是大主教，”瑟曦難以置信地說，“你們竟敢阻擋我，待會有得瞧了。怎么，你們真打算禁止我進入貝勒大圣堂嗎？”
“Septon Raynard and Septon Torbert are of the Most Devout,” Cersei said, “and will be furious to learn that you obstructed me. Do you mean to deny me entrance to Baelor’s holy sept?”
“陛下，”一個駝背灰胡子說，“我們歡迎您，但您的隨從們必須解下劍帶。遵照總主教大人的命令，武器不能帶進圣堂。”
“Your Grace,” said a greybeard with a stooped shoulder. “You are welcome here, but your men must leave their swordbelts. No weapons are allowed within, by command of the High Septon.”
“即便在國王身邊，御林鐵衛(wèi)的騎士也無須解除武器?！?/p>
“Knights of the Kingsguard do not set aside their swords, not even in the presence of the king.”
“國王身邊，國王做主，”這位上年紀的騎士回答，“這里是教會的殿堂?！?/p>
“In the king’s house, the king’s word must rule,” replied the aged knight, “but this is the house of the gods.”
瑟曦臉上掛不住了。只消吩咐馬林·特林一個字，就能送這駝背去會他的諸神。不，這里不行，現(xiàn)在還不行?！霸谕饷娴戎?。”她簡短地吩咐御林鐵衛(wèi)，獨自走上階梯。長矛手拿開武器，另兩個人頂住門用力推，大門嘰嘰嘎嘎地打開。
Color rose to her cheeks. One word to Meryn Trant, and the stoop-backed greybeard would be meeting his gods sooner than he might have liked. Not here, though. Not now. “Wait for me,” she told the Kingsguard curtly. Alone, she climbed the steps. The spearmen uncrossed their spears. Two other men put their weight against the doors, and with a great groan they swung apart.
進入燈火之廳，瑟曦發(fā)現(xiàn)二十多位修士跪在地上，卻并非在祈禱，而是就著水桶與肥皂擦洗地板。由于他們身穿粗布袍子和涼鞋，瑟曦起初都當成了麻雀，直到其中一人抬起頭。此人的臉紅得像甜菜根，手上磨破的水皰正在流血，“陛下?！?/p>
In the Hall of Lamps, Cersei found a score of septons on their knees, but not in prayer. They had pails of soap and water, and were scrubbing at the floor. Their roughspun robes and sandals led Cersei to take them for sparrows, until one raised his head. His face was red as a beet, and there were broken blisters on his hands, bleeding. “Your Grace.”
