《柳园里》是根据爱尔兰剧作家、诗人叶芝的著名诗歌Down By the
Salley Garden谱曲而成,最初翻译为《柳园里》,是叶芝早年的诗作之一。他的早年诗歌韵律优美,感情细腻,辞藻华丽,象征意味浓郁,明显受到英国浪漫主义和法国象征主义诗歌的影响。
叶芝(William Butler Yeats, 1865-1939, 由于“始终富有灵感的诗歌,……并以精美的艺术形式表达了整个民族的精神”而获得1923年诺贝尔文学奖)。
柳园里(Down By the Salley Garden)
——(爱尔兰)威廉·巴特勒·叶芝
Down by the Salley Gardens my love and I did meet
我曾和我的挚爱相遇在莎园中
She passed the Salley Gardens with little snow-white feet
她踏著雪白的纤纤玉足,轻轻走过莎园
She bid me take love easy as the leaves grow on the tree
她要我简单的追求真爱,就像大树长出树叶一般自然
But I being young and foolish with her would not agree
但我是那么的年轻愚笨,从来没有听从过她的心声
In a field by the river my love and I did stand
我曾和我的挚爱并肩伫立在河畔的旷野上
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand
她把她嫩白的小手,搭在我那微微倾斜的肩膀上
She bid me take life easy as the grass grows on the weirs
她要我简单的去生活,就像那生长在河畔的韧草一般
But I was young and foolish and now am full of tears
但我是那么的年轻愚笨, 现在唯有泪水涟涟,感怀满襟