《西罗普郡一少年》
VIII
第八首
别了,草堆、树木和粮仓
Farewell to Barn and Stack and Tree
英国 A. E. 豪斯曼原著
Alfred Edward Housman (1859 – 1936)
徐家祯翻译
„Farewell to barn and stack and tree,
Farewell to Severn shore.
Terence, look your last at me,
For I come home no more.
„The sun burns on the half-mown hill,
By now the blood is dried;
And Maurice amongst the hay lies still
And my knife is in his side.
„My mother thinks us long away;
’Tis time the field were mown.
She had two sons at rising day,
To-night she’ll be alone.
„And here’s a bloody hand to shake,
And oh, man, here’s good-bye;
We’ll sweat no more on scythe and rake,
My bloody hands and I.
„I wish you strength to bring you pride,
And a love to keep you clean,
And I wish you luck, come Lammastide,
At racing on the green.
„Long for me the rick will wait,
And long will wait the fold,
And long will stand the empty plate,
And dinner will be cold.”
“别了,草堆、树木和粮仓,
别了,赛汶河的河岸,
泰伦斯,最后再看我一眼,
因为我不会再回家园。
“太阳照着割了一半的山丘,
现在血迹已经晒干;
莫里斯一动不动躺在干草上,
我的刀子就在他身边。
“我在远方的母亲想念我们;
这时田里应该已经割完。
早晨她还有两个儿子,
到今晚她就会形只影单。
“握一握我的血手,
哦,伙计,道声再见;
我的血手与我,
不会再在镰刀、耙子上流汗。
“我祝你健康成功,
找个爱人就会花草不沾,
我祝你收获节好运,
在绿草地上赛马胜局连连。
“禾堆会久久地等我,
久久地等我的还有羊栏,
桌子上会放着空的盘碗,
以及放凉了也无人吃的晚饭。”
二0二二年六月十日
译于澳大利亚刻来佛寺爱闲堂
* 豪斯曼的这首诗,在诗集《西罗普郡一少年》中的编号为第 8 首。 这首诗是一个杀死了他兄弟莫里斯的人在逃亡前与他朋友泰伦斯告别时说的一番话。诗中并未说明为什么他要杀死他的兄弟。但是,很可能,这个故事来自于《圣经》中该隐杀死他兄弟亚伯的故事。为此,上帝惩罚该隐永远在世界上流浪,永不许 再回家园。
"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. (Genesis 4:1-8) "
"亚当和他的妻子夏娃同房,夏娃就怀孕,生了该隐,就说: “藉着耶和华的帮助,我得了一个男儿。” 她又生了该隐的弟弟亚 伯。亚伯是牧羊的,该隐是种地的。有一天,该隐把地里的出产 拿来,当作礼物献给耶和华。亚伯也把自己羊群中一些头生的, 和羊的脂油拿来献上。耶和华看中了亚伯和他的礼物;只是没有 看中该隐和他的礼物。该隐就非常忿怒,垂头丧气。耶和华对该 隐说:“你为什么忿怒呢?你为什么垂头丧气呢?你若行得好, 岂不可以抬起头来吗?你若行得不好,罪就伏在门口了;它要缠 住你,你却要制伏它。” 该隐对他的弟弟亚伯说:“我们到田间去 吧。” 该隐就起来袭击他的弟弟亚伯,把他杀了。"(创世纪 4:1-8) (注 1)
诗中第五节提到“收获节”(Lammastide)是一个基督教节日,定于每年 8 月 1 日,也叫“面包弥撒日”(Loaf Mass Day),是庆祝收获的节日。
原诗六节,每节四句。译诗全诗双句押 [an/ian/uan/u?an] 韵。
注 1: 本书中所有《圣经》翻译全来自网络。以后不再一一注释。