双语诗夜夜吟

Kubla Khan

《忽必烈汗》

—— by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

忽必烈汗把谕旨颁布：

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

在上都兴建宫苑楼台；

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

圣河阿尔弗流经此处，

Through caverns measureless to man

穿越幽深莫测的洞窟，

Down to a sunless sea.

注入阴沉的大海。

So twice five miles of fertile ground

于是十里膏腴之地

With walls and towers were girdled round;

都被高墙、岗楼围起；

And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,

苑囿鲜妍，有川涧蜿蜒流走，

Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;

有树木清香飘溢，花萼盛开；

And here were forests ancient as the hills,

苍黯的密林，与青山同样悠久，

Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

把阳光映照的绿茵环抱起来。

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted

哦！那一道幽壑，深严诡谲，

Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!

沿碧山迤逦而下，横过松林！

A savage place! as holy and enchanted

蒙昧的荒野！圣洁而又中了邪，

As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted

恍若有孤身女子现形于昏夜，

By woman wailing for her demon-lover!

在残月之下，哭她的鬼魅情人！

And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,

幽壑里声如鼎沸，喧嚣不已，

As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,

仿佛是大地急促地喘着粗气，

A mighty fountain momently was forced:

原来有大股泉水滔滔涌出，

Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst

偶有间歇，接着又急急喷吐，

Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,

水一冲，石块像冰雹纷纷跳起，

Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher’s flail:

又像连枷捶打下飞迸的谷粒；

And mid these dancing rocks at once and ever

从这些蹦跳的乱石中间穿过，

It flung up momently the sacred river.

片刻不歇地腾跃着那条圣河。

Five miles meandering with a mazy motion

圣河旋绕，像迷宫曲径一样，

Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,

流程五里，越过林地和峡谷，

Then reached the caverns measureless to man,

而后才进抵幽深莫测的洞窟，

And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean;

终于，喧哗着，投入死寂的海洋。

And ’mid this tumult Kubla heard from far

这片喧哗里，忽必烈宛然听到

Ancestral voices prophesying war!

祖先悠远的声音——战争的预告！

The shadow of the dome of pleasure

殿宇楼台的迷离倒影

Floated midway on the waves;

在粼粼碧波上漂摇荡漾；

Where was heard the mingled measure

在这里可以从容谛听

From the fountain and the caves.

喷泉、溶洞的融合音响。

It was a miracle of rare device,

这真是穷工极巧，旷代奇观：

A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

冰凌洞府映衬着艳阳宫苑！

A damsel with a dulcimer

我一度神游灵境，瞥见

In a vision once I saw:

一少女扬琴在手：

It was an Abyssinian maid

她是个阿比西尼亚女郎，

And on her dulcimer she played,

她是个阿比西尼亚女郎，

Singing of Mount Abora.

用扬琴悠扬伴奏。

Could I revive within me

但愿那琴声曲意

Her symphony and song,

重现于我的深心，

To such a deep delight ’twould win me,

那么，我就会心醉神迷，

That with music loud and long,

就会以悠长高亢的乐音

I would build that dome in air,

凌空造起那琼楼玉殿——

That sunny dome! those caves of ice!

那艳阳宫阙，那冰凌洞府！

And all who heard should see them there,

凡听见乐曲的都能瞧见；

And all should cry, Beware! Beware!

“留神！留神！”他们会呼唤，

His flashing eyes, his floating hair!

“他长发飘飘，他目光闪闪！

Weave a circle round him thrice,

要排成一圈，绕他三度，

And close your eyes with holy dread

要低眉闭目，畏敬而虔诚，

For he on honey-dew hath fed,

因为他摄取蜜露为生，

And drunk the milk of Paradise.

并有幸啜饮乐园仙乳。”

Stick Boy and Match Girl in Love

《木棍男孩与火柴女孩的爱恋》

——by Tim Burton

Stick Boy liked Match Girl,

木棍男孩喜欢火柴女孩，

He liked her a lot.

非常非常喜欢。

He liked her cute figure,

他爱她曼妙的身姿，

he thought she was hot.

他觉得她肯定是火热的。

But could a flame ever burn for a match and a stick?

但火柴和木棒相遇怎么会不燃烧？

It did quite literally;

正如这句话一样，

he burned up quick.

他很快的燃烧了起来。

The Raven

《乌鸦》

—— by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -

Only this, and nothing more.'

从前一个阴郁的子夜，我独自沉思，慵懒疲竭，

面对许多古怪而离奇、并早已被人遗忘的书卷；

当我开始打盹，几乎入睡，突然传来一阵轻擂，

仿佛有人在轻轻叩击——轻轻叩击我房间的门环。

“有客来也”，我轻声嘟喃，“正在叩击我的门环，

惟此而已，别无他般。”

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -

Nameless here for evermore.

哦，我清楚地记得那是在风凄雨冷的十二月，

每一团奄奄一息的余烬都形成阴影伏在地板。

我当时真盼望翌日——因为我已经枉费心机

想用书来消除伤悲，消除因失去丽诺尔的伤感，

因那位被天使叫作丽诺尔的少女，她美丽娇艳，

在此已抹去芳名，直至永远。

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -

This it is, and nothing more,'

那柔软、暗淡、飒飒飘动的每一块紫色窗布

使我心中充满前所未有的恐惧，我毛骨悚然；

为平息我心儿的悸跳．我站起身反复念叨

“这是有客人想进屋，正在叩我房间的门环，

更深夜半有客人想进屋，正在叩我房间的门环，

惟此而已，别无他般。”

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -

Darkness there, and nothing more.

于是我的心变得坚强；不再犹疑，不再彷徨，

“先生”，我说，“或夫人，我求你多多包涵；

刚才我正睡意昏昏，而你敲门又敲得那么轻，

你敲门又敲得那么轻，轻轻叩我房间的门环，

我差点以为没听见你”，说着我打开门扇——

但惟有黑夜，别无他般。

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before

But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'

Merely this and nothing more.

凝视着夜色幽幽，我站在门边惊惧良久，

疑惑中似乎梦见从前没人敢梦见的梦幻；

可那未被打破的寂静，没显示任何象征，

“丽诺尔？”便是我嗫嚅念叨的惟一字眼，

我念叨“丽诺尔”，回声把这名字轻轻送还；

惟此而已，别无他般。

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;

Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -

'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

我转身回到房中，我的整个心烧灼般疼痛，

很快我又听到叩击声，比刚才听起来明显。

“肯定”，我说，“肯定有什么在我的窗棂；

让我瞧瞧是什么在那儿，去把那秘密发现，

让我的心先镇静一会儿，去把那秘密发现；

那不过是风，别无他般！”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

然后我推开了窗户，随着翅膀的一阵猛扑，

一只神圣往昔的乌鸦庄重地走进我房间；

它既没向我致意问候，也没有片刻的停留，

而是以绅士淑女的风度栖到我房门的上面，

栖在我房门上方一尊帕拉斯半身雕像上面；

栖息在那儿，仅如此这般。

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'

Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

于是这只黑鸟把我悲伤的幻觉哄骗成微笑，

以它那老成持重一本正经温文尔雅的容颜，

“冠毛虽被剪除”，我说，“但你显然不是懦夫，

你这幽灵般可怕的古鸦，漂泊来自夜的彼岸，

请告诉我你尊姓大名，在黑沉沉的冥府阴间！”

乌鸦答曰“永不复焉”。

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -

Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

With such name as `Nevermore.'

听见如此直率的回答，我对这丑鸟感到惊讶，

尽管它的回答不着边际——与提问几乎无关；

因为我们不得不承认，从来没有活着的世人

曾如此有幸地看见一只鸟栖在他房门的上面，

看见鸟或兽栖在他房门上方的半身雕像上面，

而且名叫“永不复焉”。

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -

Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -

On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'

Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

但那只栖于肃穆的半身雕像上的乌鸦只说了

这一句话，仿佛它倾泻灵魂就用那一个字眼。

然后它便一声不吭——也不把它的羽毛拍动，

直到我几乎在喃喃自语“其他朋友早已离散，

明晨它也将离我而去，如同我的希望已消散。”

这时乌鸦说“永不复焉”。

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -

Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore

`Of "Never-nevermore."'

惊异于屋里的寂静被如此恰当的回话打破，

“肯定”，我说，“此话是它惟一会说的人言，

从它不幸的主人口中学来。一连串横祸飞灾

曾接踵而至，直到它主人的歌中有了这字眼，

直到他希望的挽歌中有了这个忧郁的字眼——

永不复焉，永不复焉。”

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -

What this grim, ungainly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

但那只乌鸦仍然在骗我悲伤的灵魂露出微笑，

我即刻拖了张软椅到门边雕像下那乌鸦跟前；

然后坐在天鹅绒椅垫上，我开始产生联想，

浮想连着浮想，猜度这不祥的古鸟何出此言，

这只狰狞丑陋可怕不吉不祥的古鸟何出此言，

为何对我说“永不复焉”。

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,

But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,

She shall press, ah, nevermore!

我坐着猜想那意思，但没对乌鸦说片语只言，

此时，它炯炯发光的眼睛已燃烧进我的心坎；

我依然坐在那儿猜度，把我的头靠得很舒服，

舒舒服服地靠着在灯光凝视下的天鹅绒椅垫，

但在这灯光凝视着的紫色的天鹅绒椅垫上面，

她还会靠么？啊，永不复焉！

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee

Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'

Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

接着我觉得空气变得稠密，被无形香炉熏香，

提香炉的撒拉弗的脚步声响在有簇饰的地板。

“可怜的人”，我叹道，“是上帝派天使为你送药，

这忘忧药能终止你对失去的丽诺尔的思念；

喝吧，喝吧，忘掉你对失去的丽诺尔的思念！”

这时乌鸦说“永不复焉”。

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -

Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -

On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -

Is there -is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'

Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

“先知！”我说“不管是先知是魔鬼，是鸟是魔，

是不是撒旦派你，或是暴风雨抛你，来到此岸，

来到这片妖惑鬼祟但却不惧怕魔鬼的荒原——

来到这恐怖的小屋——告诉我真话，求你可怜！

基列有香膏吗？告诉我，告诉我，求你可怜！”

乌鸦说“永不复焉”。

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'

Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

“先知！”我说“不管是先知是魔鬼，是鸟是魔，

凭着我们都崇拜的上帝——凭着我们头顶的苍天，

请告诉这充满悲伤的灵魂。它能否在遥远的仙境

拥抱一位被天使叫作丽诺尔的少女，她纤尘不染，

拥抱一位被天使叫作丽诺尔的少女，她美丽娇艳。”

乌鸦说“永不复焉”。

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -

Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'

Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

“让这话做我们的告别辞，鸟或魔！”我起身吼道，

“回你的暴风雨中去吧，回你黑沉沉的夜之彼岸！

别留下你黑色的羽毛作为你灵魂谎过言的象征！

留给我完整的孤独！快从我门上的雕像上滚蛋！

让你的嘴离开我的心；让你的身子离开我房间！”

乌鸦答曰“永不复焉”。

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted -nevermore!

那只鸟鸦并没飞走，它仍然栖息，仍然栖息，

栖息在房门上方苍白的帕拉斯半身雕像上面；

它的眼光与正在做梦的魔鬼的眼光一模一样，

照在它身上的灯光把它的阴影投射在地板；

而我的灵魂，会从那团在地板上漂浮的阴影中

解脱么——永不复焉！

A Rondel of Merciless Beauty

《无情美人回旋曲》

—— by Geoffrey Chaucer

Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly;

你那双大眼睛能一下把我杀掉；

Their beauty shakes me who was once serene; 

它们的美已使我无法再安祥；

Straight through my heart the wound is quick and keen. 

我的心上被刺出剧痛的创伤。

Only your word will heal the injury 

只有你的话能把我的伤治好，

To my hurt heart, while yet the wound is clean - 

趁现在这创口还没开始溃疡——

Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly; 

你一双大眼睛能一下把我杀掉；

Their beauty shakes me who was once serene. 

它们的美已使我无法再安祥。

Upon my word, I tell you faithfully

相信我的话，我把实情奉告：

Through life and after death you are my queen;

生前和死后你都是我的女王；

For with my death the whole truth shall be seen. 

因为我的死会使你了解真相。

Your two great eyes will slay me suddenly; 

你一双大眼睛能一下把所杀掉；

Their beauty shakes me who was once serene; 

它们的美已使我无法再安祥。

Straight through my heart the wound is quick and keen.

我的心上被刺出剧痛的创伤。

Sonnet 29

——By William Shakespeare

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes 

面对命运的抛弃，世人的冷眼， 

I all alone be weep my outcast state,

我唯有独自把飘零的身世悲叹。

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

我曾徒然地呼唤聋耳的苍天，

And look upon myself, and curse my fate,

诅咒自己的时运，顾影自怜。

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, 

我但愿，愿胸怀千般心愿，

Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,

愿有三朋六友和美貌之颜；

Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,

愿有才华盖世，有文采斐然， 

With what I most enjoy contented least;

唯对自己的长处，偏偏看轻看淡。

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

我正耽于这种妄自菲薄的思想，

Haply I think on thee,—and then my state,

猛然间想到了你，顿时景换情迁，

Like to the lark at break of day arising,

我忽如破晓的云雀凌空振羽，

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

讴歌直上天门，把苍茫大地俯瞰。

For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings

但记住你柔情招来财无限，

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

纵帝王屈尊就我，不与换江山。

The Charge of the Light Brigade

《轻骑兵的冲锋》

—— by Alfred Lord Tennyson

I

Half a league, half a league,

半里格，半里格，

Half a league onward,

往前冲杀半里格，

All in the valley of Death

骑兵六百名

Rode the six hundred.

冲进死亡的谷地。

“Forward, the Light Brigade!

“向前冲，轻骑兵！”

Charge for the guns!” he said.

他说，“向炮冲击！”

Into the valley of Death

骑兵六百名

Rode the six hundred.

冲进死亡的谷地。

II

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”

“向前冲，轻骑兵！”

Was there a man dismayed?

可有人丧气？没有。

Not though the soldier knew

尽管士兵们知道

Someone had blundered.

是错误命令。

Theirs not to make reply,

他们可不能抗命，

Theirs not to reason why,

他们可无法弄清，

Theirs but to do and die.

只能奉命去牺牲。

Into the valley of Death

骑兵六百名

Rode the six hundred.

冲进死亡的谷地。

III

Cannon to right of them,

炮打在他们右面，

Cannon to left of them,

炮打在他们左面，

Cannon in front of them

炮打在他们前面，

Volleyed and thundered;

排炮在轰鸣，

Stormed at with shot and shell,

冒着炮火和霰弹，

Boldly they rode and well,

他们善骑又勇敢。

Into the jaws of Death,

骑兵六百名

Into the mouth of hell

冲进地狱的大门，

Rode the six hundred.

冲进死神的牙关。

IV

Flashed all their sabres bare,

出鞘马刀亮晃晃，

Flashed as they turned in air

挥舞空中闪寒光，

Sabring the gunners there,

劈下在炮手身上；

Charging an army, while

向一支大军冲击，

All the world wondered.

举世都震惊。

Plunged in the battery-smoke

他们冲破了防线，

Right through the line they broke;

杀进炮台的硝烟；

Cossack and Russian

哥萨克和俄国人

Reeled from the sabre stroke

挡不住马刀猛劈，

Shattered and sundered.

乱掉了队形。

Then they rode back, but not

这时他们往回驰——

Not the six hundred.

不满六百名。

V

Cannon to right of them,

炮打在他们右面，

Cannon to left of them,

炮打在他们左面，

Cannon behind them

炮打在他们后面，

Volleyed and thundered;

排炮在轰鸣；

Stormed at with shot and shell,

在炮火和霰弹下，

While horse and hero fell.

战马和英雄倒下。

They that had fought so well

打得漂亮的他们

Came through the jaws of Death,

冲出死神的牙关；

Back from the mouth of hell,

他们中的生还者，

All that was left of them,

六百人中的生者

Left of six hundred.

冲出地狱门。

VI

When can their glory fade?

时间能湮没英名？

O the wild charge they made!

哦他们这次狂冲！

All the world wondered.

举世都震惊。

Honour the charge they made!

致敬，向这次冲锋！

Honour the Light Brigade,

致敬，向这六百名

Noble six hundred!

豪迈轻骑兵！

O Tell Me The Truth About Love

《噢，请告诉我什么是爱情的真谛》

——By W. H. Auden

Some say love’s a little boy,

有人说爱是个小男孩，

And some say it’s a bird,

也有人说爱是只小鸟。

Some say it makes the world go around,

有人说爱会转动地球，

Some say that’s absurd,

有人却说这是荒唐无聊。

And when I asked the man next-door,

可是当我请教邻居的时候，

Who looked as if he knew,

他似乎已经知晓；

His wife got very cross indeed,

但他太太却勃然大怒，

And said it wouldn’t do.

说他什么都不知道。

Does it look like a pair of pyjamas,

它像一套睡衣，

Or the ham in a temperance hotel?

还是像禁酒旅馆里的火腿？

Does its odour remind one of llamas,

它闻起来是否会让人想起驼绒，

Or has it a comforting smell?

还是会有一种使人舒服的香气？

Is it prickly to touch as a hedge is,

碰到它的感觉像是接触树篱般刺痛，

Or soft as eiderdown fluff?

还是像摸到鹅绒那么松软无比？

Is it sharp or quite smooth at the edges?

它的边缘是光滑还是尖利，

O tell me the truth about love.

噢，请告诉我究竟什么才是爱的真谛。

Our history books refer to it

我们的史书对此有所涉及，

In cryptic little notes,

但小注遮掩神秘，

It’s quite a common topic on

它是横越大西洋的舟楫上

The Transatlantic boats;

一个极普通的话题；

I’ve found the subject mentioned in

在很多自杀事件的描述里

Accounts of suicides,

都提到了爱情的问题，

And even seen it scribbled on

甚至还在许多列车时刻表的背面

The backs of railway guides.

见过与爱情有关的涂画。

Does it howl like a hungry Alsatian,

它听上去是像阿尔萨斯饿狼的嚎叫，

Or boom like a military band?

还是像军乐对那样铿锵雄壮？

Could one give a first-rate imitation

在弓毛或者史坦威大钢琴上

On a saw or a Steinway Grand?

谁能做一流的模仿？

Is its singing at parties a riot?

派对上它一亮歌喉就彩声四起？

Does it only like Classical stuff?

唯有经典乐曲它才喜欢？

Will it stop when one wants to be quiet?

人欲安静它是否会会停息？

O tell me the truth about love.

噢，请告诉我究竟什么才是爱的真谛。

I looked inside the summer-house;

我到避暑山庄里去寻找，

It wasn’t over there;

可它并不在那里。

I tried the Thames at Maidenhead,

我找了美登海德的泰晤士河，

And Brighton’s bracing air.

也试了布里顿令人振奋的空气。

I don’t know what the blackbird sang,

我听不懂黑色小鸟的歌唱，

Or what the tulip said;

也不知道玫瑰在说什么东西。

But it wasn’t in the chicken-run,

可是它既不在养鸡场里，

Or underneath the bed.

更不在我的床底。

Can it pull extraordinary faces?

它会做出独特的鬼脸，

Is it usually sick on a swing?

还是一上秋千就晕得昏天黑地？

Does it spend all its time at the races,

它整天沉迷于赛马，

Or fiddling with pieces of string?

还是在琴弦上演奏哆来咪？

Has it views of its own about money?

它对金钱有没有自己的看法，

Does it think Patriotism enough?

还是肯用足够时间去考虑爱国主义？

Are its stories vulgar but funny?

它的故事有趣好笑还是无聊低级，

O tell me the truth about love.

噢，请告诉我究竟什么才是爱的真谛。

When it comes, will it come without warning

当它来到的时候是否毫无预兆，

Just as I’m picking my nose?

就像我想挖挖鼻子？

Will it knock on my door in the morning,

它会不会在早上敲我的前门，

Or tread in the bus on my toes?

还是会在公共汽车上踩痛我的脚趾？

Will it come like a change in the weather?

它会不会像天气变化那么来得出其不意？

Will its greeting be courteous or rough?

它的祝贺是虚情假意还是礼貌客气？

Will it alter my life altogether?

它会不会根本上改变我的生活？

O tell me the truth about love.

噢，请告诉我究竟什么才是爱的真谛。

Sir Thomas More

《托马斯·莫尔爵士》

—— by William Shakespeare

Imagine that you see the wretched strangers,

假定你们见到了悲惨的外国人

Their babies at their backs with their poor luggage,

背上背着婴儿，带着少许可怜的行李

Plodding to the ports and coasts for transportation,

沉重缓慢地走向港口和海岸，准备离境

And that you sit as kings in your desires,

就算你们如愿以偿，坐上了皇家宝座

Authority quite silenced by your brawl,

权威的声音也为你们的吵闹所压制，

And you in rough of your opinions clothed;

哪怕你们华衮加身，志得意满。

What had you got? I'll tell you: you had taught

你们又能得到什么？告诉你们：

How insolence and strong hand should prevail,

你们只会证明暴力和高压如何取得了胜利

How order should be quelled; and by this pattern

秩序如何遭到了破坏而已，而照此下去

Not one of you should live an aged man,

你们就没有一个人能活到晚年

For other ruffians, as their fancies wrought,

因为别的暴徒也会按他们的幻想

With self same hand, self reasons, and self right,

用同样的手段，同样的理由和权利

Would shark on you, and men like ravenous fishes

把你们吃掉，而人们也将如贪吃的鱼群

Would feed on one another.

互相吞噬

You'll put down strangers,

你们会迫害外国人

Kill them, cut their throats, possess their houses,

杀害它们，割断他们的喉咙，强占他们的住房

And lead the majesty of law in liom，

你们用皮带牵着法律的权威

To slip him like a hound. Say now the king

把他像猎狗一样嗾了出去

O, desperate as you are,

啊，简直是肆无忌惮

Wash your foul minds with tears, and those same hands,

用泪水清洗你们肮脏的心

That you like rebels lift against the peace,

举起你们那企图像叛逆一样，破坏和平的手，去保护和平吧

Lift up for peace, and your unreverent knees,

把你们那大不敬的膝盖，当作脚跪下来吧

Make them your feet to kneel to be forgiven!

跪下来请求宽恕

Say now the King!

如果国王此时

（As he is clement, if th’ offender mourn,）

（出于仁德矜悯犯罪的人们）

Should so much come to short of your great trespass

对你们的巨大过失只给轻微的惩处

As but to banish you, whether would you go?

把你们流放出境，你们又能到哪去？

What country, by the nature of your error,

按你们错误的性质，哪一个国家愿意收留你们

Should give you harbor? go you to France or Flanders,

无论是到法兰西、佛兰德斯、

To any German province, to Spain or Portugal,

德国的任何一省、西班牙或是葡萄牙

Nay, any where that not adheres to England,

是的，无论你们到哪个国家，只要它与英国风习不同

Why, you must needs be strangers: would you be pleased

你们都难免变成外国人：那时的你们能快乐吗？

To find a nation of such barbarous temper,

若是那里的人也有这野蛮的脾气

That, breaking out in hideous violence,

也爆发出可憎的暴行

Would not afford you an abode on earth,

不让你们在人世有栖身之地

Whet their detested knives against your throats,

也磨利了他们罪恶的刀刃对准你们的喉咙

Spurn you like dogs, and like as if that God

像狗一样踢开你们，仿佛上帝

Owed not nor made not you, nor that the claimants

并不承认也不曾创造了你们

Were not all appropriate to your comforts,

而人世的一切只是他们的特权

But chartered unto them, what would you think

你们完全没资格享用，若是你们如此

To be thus used? this is the strangers case;

你们将作何感想？今天的外国佬正是这样

And this your momtainish inhumanity.

你们毫不近人情也是这样！

The Cap And Bells

《帽子和饰铃》

—— by William Butler Yeats

The jester walked in the garden:

伶人在花园散步，

The garden had fallen still;

花园已经寂静，

He bade his soul rise upward

他叫灵魂出窍，

And stand on her window-sill.

在她窗台上站立。

It rose in a straight blue garment,

它穿挺直的蓝衣升起，

When owls began to call:

猫头鹰初啼的时分，

It had grown wise-tongued by thinking

想着脚步要放轻，

Of a quiet and light footfall;

它说话就变得聪明。

But the young queen would not listen;

但年轻皇后不想听，

She rose in her pale night-gown;

她穿灰睡衣起身，

She drew in the heavy casement

她穿灰睡衣起身，

And pushed the latches down.

把插销都插紧。

He bade his heart go to her,

他叫心灵去她处，

When the owls called out no more;

猫头鹰叫声已停，

In a red and quivering garment

穿着飘动的红衣服，

It sang to her through the door.

它唱着歌进门。

It had grown sweet-tongued by dreaming

梦想她秀发如花颤 ，

Of a flutter of flower-like hair;

它变得甜言蜜语，

But she took up her fan from the table

但她拿起扇子

And waved it off on the air.

把它往空中赶去。

"I have cap and bells,' he pondered,

他想“我有帽和铃，

"I will send them to her and die';

把它们给她，我去死；”

And when the morning whitened

把它们放路边

He left them where she went by.

当曙光一片明亮时。

She laid them upon her bosom,

她把它们放胸前，

Under a cloud of her hair,

就在如云的秀发下面，

And her red lips sang them a love-song

红嘴唇唱着情歌，

Till stars grew out of the air.

直到星星从空中涌现。

She opened her door and her window,

她打开她的门和窗，

And the heart and the soul came through,

心和灵魂由此进，

To her right hand came the red one,

右手迎来红色的心，

To her left hand came the blue.

左手迎来蓝色的魂。

They set up a noise like crickets,

它们鸣叫如蟋蟀，

A chattering wise and sweet,

说话聪明又甜蜜，

And her hair was a folded flower

她秀发如含苞的花，

And the quiet of love in her feet.

她脚下是爱的静寂。

Twelfth Night: Act II（Excerpt）

《第十二夜：第二幕》（节选）

—— by William Shakespeare

I left no ring with her; what means this lady? 

我没有留下戒指呀；这位小姐是什么意思？

Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her! 

但愿她不要迷恋了我的外貌才好！

She made good view of me; indeed, so much, 

她把我打量得那么仔细；真的，

That methought her eyes had lost her tongue, 

连自己讲的什么话儿也顾不到了，

For she did speak in starts distractedly. 

那么没头没脑，颠颠倒倒的。

She loves me, sure: the cunning of her passion 

一定的，她爱上我啦；情急智生，

Invites me in this churlish messenger. 

才差这个无礼的使者来邀请我。

None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none. 

不要我主人的戒指！嘿，他并没有把什么戒指送给她呀！

I am the man; --if it be so,--as 'tis,-- 

我才是她意中的人；真是这样的话——事实上确是这样——

Poor lady, she were better love a dream. 

那么，可怜的小姐，她真是做梦了！

Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness 

我现在才明白假扮的确不是一桩好事情，

Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. 

魔鬼会乘机大显他的身手。

How easy is it for the proper-false 

一个又漂亮又靠不住的男人，

In women's waxen hearts to set their forms! 

多么容易占据了女人家柔弱的心！

Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we; 

唉！这都是我们生性脆弱的缘故，

For such as we are made of, such we be. 

不是我们自身的错处；因为上天造下我们是这样的人。

How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly, 

这种事情怎么了结呢？我的主人深深地爱着她；

And I, poor monster, fond as much on him; 

我呢，可怜的小鬼，也是那样恋着他；

And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me. 

她呢，认错了人，似乎在思念我。

What will become of this? As I am man, 

这怎么了呢？因为我是个男人，

My state is desperate for my master's love; 

我没有希望叫我的主人爱上我；

As I am woman, now alas the day! 

因为我是个女人，唉！

What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe! 

可怜的奥丽维娅也要白费无数的叹息了！

O time, thou must untangle this, not I; 

这纠纷要让时间来理清；

It is too hard a knot for me to untie! 

叫我打开这结儿怎么成！

I Love thee

《我爱你》

——by Thomas Hood

I love thee–I love thee!

我爱你，我爱你，

‘Tis all that I can say;–

我能说的仅此而已。

It is my vision in the night,

这是我夜间的幻境，

My dreaming in the day;

我白日的美梦。

The very echo of my heart,

我心中的唯一的回响，

The blessing when I pray:

我祷告时的祝福。

I love thee–I love thee!

我爱你，我爱你，

Is all that I can say.

我能说的仅此而已。

I love thee–I love thee!

我爱你，我爱你，

Is ever on my tongue;

这是我欲言又止的话。

In all my proudest poesy

在最值得我骄傲的诗篇里，

That chorus still is sung;

颂歌依然传唱不息。

It is the verdict of my eyes,

它是我眼里的裁定，

Amidst the gay and young:

在快乐的年轻人中一眼选中了你。

I love thee–I love thee!

我爱你，我爱你，

A thousand maids among.

在千万少女之中也唯有你。

I love thee–I love thee!

我爱你，我爱你。

Thy bright hazel glance,

你那淡褐色明眸的惊鸿一瞥。

The mellow lute upon those lips,

你那柔唇轻启如琴声般的芳音，

Whose tender tones entrance;

你温柔的语调是如此迷人。

But most, dear heart of hearts, thy proofs

但我最爱的，是你那颗可爱的芳心，

That still these words enhance,

它使你的轻言细语愈加温柔美好。

I love thee–I love thee!

我爱你，我爱你，

Whatever be thy chance.

无论我是否是你的选择。

Caged Bird

《笼中鸟》

—— by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps

自由的鸟儿一跃

on the back of the wind

跳上风的脊背

and floats downstream

向下俯冲

till the current ends

至风止处

and dips his wings

震动翅膀

in the orange sun rays

划过橘色的阳光

and dares to claim the sky.

并宣告他拥有整个天空

But a bird that stalks

另一只鸟儿跳下

down his narrow cage

他狭小的牢笼

can seldom see through

看不穿眼前

his bars of rage

那愤怒的栏杆

his wings are clipped and

他的翅膀已被剪断

his feet are tied

他的双脚带着镣铐

so he opens his throat to sing.

他只能打开喉咙，歌唱

The caged bird sings

笼中鸟儿的歌声

with a fearful trill

带着可怕的颤音

of the things unknown

歌唱渴望的世界

but longed for still

尽管从未谋面

and his tune is heard

他的歌声飘到

on the distant hill

遥远的山巅

for the caged bird

因为笼中的鸟儿

sings of freedom.

歌唱自由

The free bird thinks of another breeze

自由的鸟儿等着下一阵风

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

还有那温柔拂过树叶的赤道信风

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

和晨光照亮的草坪上静候着的肥美青虫

and he names the sky his own

并宣告他拥有整个天空

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

笼中鸟儿站在梦想的坟墓上

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

他的影子在噩梦里嘶嚎

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

他的翅膀已被剪断；他的双脚带着镣铐

so he opens his throat to sing.

他只能打开喉咙，歌唱

The caged bird sings

笼中鸟儿的歌声

with a fearful trill

带着可怕的颤音

of things unknown

歌唱渴望的世界

but longed for still

尽管从未谋面

and his tune is heard

他的歌声飘到

on the distant hill

遥远的山巅

for the caged bird

因为笼中的鸟儿

sings of freedom.

歌唱自由

The Knight's Tomb

《骑士之墓》

—— by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Where is the grave of Sir Arthur O'Kellyn?

亚瑟·奥凯伦爵士的坟冢在何处？

Where may the grave of that good man be?—

这位仁人志士的坟冢在哪里？

By the side of a spring, on the breast of Helvellyn,

在海尔弗林山腰的泉边，

Under the twigs of a young birch tree!

在一棵年轻的白桦下！

The oak that in summer was sweet to hear,

夏天声音悦耳动听，

And rustled its leaves in the fall of the year,

秋天树叶沙沙作响，

And whistled and roared in the winter alone,

冬天独自在寒风中咆哮的

Is gone,—and the birch in its stead is grown.—

橡树已不复存在，取而代之的是一棵桦树。

The Knight's bones are dust,

骑士的尸骨已化为尘土，

And his good sword rust;—

他的宝剑锈迹斑斑——

His soul is with the saints, I trust.

但我相信，他的灵魂与圣徒同在。

If-ing

《假如》

—— by Langston Hughes

If I had some small change

如果我有些零钱

I’d buy me a mule,

我会买一头驴子，

Get on that mule and

然后爬上驴背

Ride like a fool.

像个傻瓜一样骑行。

If I had some greenbacks

如果我有些美钞

I’d buy me a Packard,

我会买一辆帕卡德

Fill it up with gas and

加满汽油，然后

Drive that baby backward.

把车倒着开。

If I had a million

如果我有一百万

I’d get me a plane

我会买一架飞机

And everybody in America’d

美国的每一个人

Think I was insane.

肯定觉得我疯了。

But I ain’t got a million,

但是我没有一百万，

Fact is, ain’t got a dime—

事实上，我一文不名——

So just by if-ing

所以只需一个假如

I have a good time!

我就能过得很开心！

Poor Old Lady

《可怜的老太太》

—— by Anonymous

Poor old lady, she swallowed a fly.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一只苍蝇。

I don't know why she swallowed a fly.

我不知道她为什么吞了一只苍蝇。

Poor old lady, I think she'll die.

可怜的老太太，我觉得她要死了。

Poor old lady, she swallowed a spider.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一只蜘蛛。

It squirmed and wriggled and turned inside her.

它在她肚子里又扭又拱翻来覆去。

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.

她吞了一只蜘蛛去捉那只苍蝇。

I don't know why she swallowed a fly.

我不知道她为什么吞了一只苍蝇。

Poor old lady, I think she'll die.

可怜的老太太，我觉得她要死了。

Poor old lady, she swallowed a bird.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一只小鸟。

How absurd!She swallowed a bird.

太荒唐了！她吞了一只小鸟。

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,

她吞了那只小鸟去捉那只蜘蛛，

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

她吞了那只蜘蛛去捉那只苍蝇。

I don't know why she swallowed a fly.

我不知道她为什么吞了一只苍蝇。

Poor old lady, I think she'll die.

可怜的老太太，我觉得她要死了。

Poor old lady, she swallowed a cat.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一只小猫。

Think of that!She swallowed a cat.

不可思议！她吞了一只小猫。

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.

她吞了那只小猫去捉那只小鸟。

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider.

她吞了那只小鸟去捉那只蜘蛛。

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

她吞了那只蜘蛛去捉那只苍蝇。

I don't know why she swallowed a fly.

我不知道她为什么吞了一只苍蝇。

Poor old lady, I think she'll die.

可怜的老太太，我觉得她要死了。

Poor old lady, she swallowed a dog.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一只小狗。

She went the whole hog when she swallowed the dog.

她一不做二不休，一口吞了那只小狗。

She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,

她吞了那只小狗去捉那只小猫，

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,

她吞了那只小猫去捉那只小鸟。

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider.

她吞了那只小鸟去捉那只蜘蛛。

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

她吞了那只蜘蛛去捉那只苍蝇。

I don't know why she swallowed a fly.

我不知道她为什么吞了一只苍蝇。

Poor old lady, I think she'll die.

可怜的老太太，我觉得她要死了。

Poor old lady, she swallowed a cow.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一头母牛。

I don't know how she swallowed a cow.

我不知道她怎么吞下去的那头母牛。

She swallowed the cow to catch the dog,

她吞了那头母牛去捉那只小狗，

She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,

她吞了那只小狗去捉那只小猫，

She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,

她吞了那只小猫去捉那只小鸟。

She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,

她吞了那只小鸟去捉那只蜘蛛。

She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,

她吞了那只蜘蛛去捉那只苍蝇。

I don't know why she swallowed a fly.

我不知道她为什么吞了一只苍蝇。

Poor old lady, I think she'll die.

可怜的老太太，我觉得她要死了。

Poor old lady, she swallowed a horse.

可怜的老太太，她吞了一匹大马。

She died, of course.

她死了，那还用想。

Leda and the Swan

《丽达与天鹅》

—— by William Butler Yeats

A sudden blow: the great wings beating still

猝然一攫：巨翼犹兀自拍动，

Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed

扇着欲坠的少女，他用黑蹼

By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,

摩挲她双股，含她的后颈在喙中，

He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.

且拥她无助的乳房在他的胸脯。

How can those terrified vague fingers push

惊骇而含糊的手指怎能推拒，

The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?

她松弛的股间，那羽化的宠幸？

And how can body, laid in that white rush,

白热的冲刺下，那扑倒的凡躯

But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?

怎能不感到那跳动的神异的心？

A shudder in the loins engenders there

腰际一阵颤抖，从此便种下

The broken wall, the burning roof and tower

败壁颓垣，屋顶和城楼焚毁，

And Agamemnon dead.

而亚加曼侬死去。

Being so caught up,

就这样被抓，

So mastered by the brute blood of the air,

被自天而降的暴力所凌驾，

Did she put on his knowledge with his power

她可曾就神力汲神的智慧，

Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?

乘那冷漠之喙尚未将她放下？

Hope is the Thing with Feathers

《希望长着翅膀》

—— by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers

希望长着翅膀

That perches in the soul,

栖息在灵魂里，

And sings the tune-without the words,

唱着一首没有歌词的曲调，

And never stops at all,

永不停息，

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

疾风中听来最为甜蜜；

And sore must be the storm

曾让多少人感到温馨

That could abash the little bird

那暴雨该有多么剧烈

That kept so many warm.

才能让小鸟彷徨局促。

I've heard it in the chilliest land,

在严寒的国度，在陌生的海上，

And on the strangest sea;

我都能听到它在歌唱；

Yet, never, in extremity,

可无论环境多么艰险，

It asked a crumb of me.

它从未向我索取，哪怕一丝报偿。

This is just to say

《便条》

—— by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

我吃了

冰箱

中的

李子

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

那也许

是你

为早餐

留下来的

forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

so cold

原谅我

它们很可口

又甜

又凉