The Hero
Mother， let us imagine we are travelling， and passing through a strange and dangerous country.
You are riding in a palanquin and I am trotting by you on a red horse.
It is evening and the sun goes down. The waste of Joradighi lies wan and grey before us. The land is desolate and barren.
You are frightened and thinking—“I know not where we have come to.”
I say to you， “Mother， do not be afraid.”
The meadow is prickly with spiky grass， and through it runs a narrow broken path.
There are no cattle to be seen in the wide field； they have gone to their village stalls.
It grows dark and dim on the land and sky， and we cannot tell where we are going.
Suddenly you call me and ask me in a whisper， “What light is that near the bank？”
Just then there bursts out a fearful yell， and figures come running towards us.
英 雄
媽媽，我們假設我們正在旅行，經過一個陌生而危險的國度。
您坐在一頂轎子裏，我騎著一匹紅馬，跟在您身旁。
黃昏時，太陽落山。暗淡的約拉迪希荒地在我們麵前展開。大地貧瘠而荒涼。
您害怕地想著——“我不知道我們到了什麼地方了。”
我對您說：“媽媽，不要害怕。”
草原上長滿了針尖般刺人的草，一條崎嶇的小徑穿越其間。
在這片廣袤的原野上看不見牛群，它們已經回到村子的牛棚裏了。
夜幕降臨，大地和天空一片朦朧昏暗，我們說不出我們正走向何方。
突然，您叫我，悄悄地問我：“靠近河岸的是什麼光亮？”
正在那時，一陣可怕的號叫聲傳來，一些人影向我們跑來。
You sit crouched in your palanquin and repeat the names of the gods in prayer.
The bearers， shaking in terror， hide themselves in the thorny bush.
I shout to you， “Don’t be afraid， mother， I am here.”
With long sticks in their hands and hair all wild about their heads， they come nearer and nearer.
I shout， “Have a care！ you villains！ One step more and you are dead men.”
They give another terrible yell and rush forward.
You clutch my hand and say，
“Dear boy， for heaven’s sake， keep away from them.”
I say， “Mother， just you watch me.”
Then I spur my horse for a wild gallop， and my sword and buckler clash against each other.
The fight becomes so fearful， mother， that it would give you a cold shudder could you see it from your palanquin.
Many of them fly， and a great number are cut to pieces.