《凯伯雷歌曲》

第三首

乔尼

Johnny
By W. H. Auden (1907-1973)

作者:W. H. 奥登

徐家祯翻译

O the valley in the summer where I and my John 
Beside the deep river would walk on and on 
While the flowers at our feet and the birds up above 
Whispered so soft on reciprocal love, 
And I leaned on his shoulder; 'O Johnny, let's play': 
But he frowned like thunder and he went away. 

O the evening near Christmas as I well recall 
When we went to the Charity Matinee Ball, 
The floor was so smooth and the band was so loud 
And Johnny so handsome I felt so proud; 
'Squeeze me tighter, dear Johnny, let's dance till day': 
But he frowned like thunder and he went away. 

Shall I ever forget at the Grand Opera 
When music poured out of each wonderful star. 
Diamonds and pearls they hung like ivy down 
Over each silver or golden silk gown; 
'O John I'm in heaven, ' I whispered to say: 
But he frowned like thunder and he went away. 

O but he was as fair as a garden in flower, 
As slender and tall as the great Eiffel Tower, 
When the waltz throbbed out on the long promenade 
O his eyes and his smile they went straight to my heart; 
'O marry me, Johnny, I'll love and obey': 
But he frowned like thunder and he went away. 

O last night I dreamed of you, Johnny, my lover, 
You'd the sun on one arm and the moon on the other, 
The sea it was blue and the grass it was green, 
Ev’ry star rattled a round tambourine; 
Ten thousand miles deep in a pit there I lay: 
But you went away.

哦，沿着夏天的山谷，深邃的河道，

我和我的约翰走呀走的走个不了；

脚下的芳草和头顶的小鸟，

轻柔地对唱着爱情的曲调；

我靠在他的肩上说 :“哦，乔尼，一起玩儿吧。”

可他却像雷公般皱起眉头，一溜烟地跑掉！

我们一同去了场下午的慈善舞会，

那是圣诞的傍晚，所以我记得很牢。

那儿的地板真滑，乐队奏得天动地摇。

乔尼长得多帅呀，我心里充满骄傲：

“抱得紧些，乔尼，让我们一直跳到拂晓。”

可他却像雷公般皱起眉头，一溜烟地跑掉！

我怎能忘记在歌剧院堂皇的大厅，

音乐将一颗颗灿烂的星星倾倒；

在金饰银绣的袍褂之上，

像藤蔓似的挂下一串串钻石和珠宝。

“哦，乔尼，我像进了天堂，”我对他耳语道，

可他却像雷公般皱起眉头，一溜烟地跑掉！

可是，啊，他真像繁花盛开的庭园般美妙，

也像宏伟的埃菲尔铁塔那么挺拔俊俏。

每当在长廊上响彻诱人的圆舞曲，

射中我心的就是他的眼神和微笑：

“跟我结婚吧，乔尼。我会爱你顺你到老。”

可他却像雷公般皱起眉头，一溜烟地跑掉！

哦，昨晚我梦见了你，乔尼，我的爱，

你一手握着太阳，另一手将月亮举得高高，

大海蔚蓝，草地碧绿，

每颗星星都摇着一个铃鼓晶亮闪耀；

我躺在万里深的坑穴里，

可你，却一溜烟地跑掉！

                           二0一四年七月二十七日

                          译于澳大利亚刻来佛寺新红叶山庄