As I Walked Out One Evening
W. H. Auden
某日黄昏外出时
奥登
(山鬼 译)
As I walked out one evening,
某日黄昏外出时,
Walking down Bristol Street,
我走在布里斯托尔街上。
The crowds upon the pavement
人行道上的拥挤
Were fields of harvest wheat.
犹如一片片收割的麦田。
And down by the brimming river
在满溢欲出的河畔
I heard a lover sing
我听到恋爱中的人在歌唱。
Under an arch of the railway:
从铁路拱桥的下方飘来歌声:
"Love has no ending.
“爱是永无止境。
"I&`&ll love you, dear, I&`&ll love you
“我会爱你的,亲爱的,我将爱你
Till China and Africa meet
直到中非相遇。
And the river jumps over the mountain
直到川逾于山,
And the salmon sing in the street.
鱼鸣于市。
"I&`&ll love you till the ocean
“我会爱你,直到大海
Is folded and hung up to dry
被折起来挂着风干,
And the seven stars go squawking
直到北斗七星啼叫着
Like geese about the sky.
像一群大雁掠过天际。
"The years shall run like rabbits
“时光飞逝如脱兔一般,
For in my arms I hold
只因我手中捧着
The Flower of the Ages
长生不老之花。
And the first love of the world."
以及举世无双的初爱。”
But all the clocks in the city
但这时城中所有的钟都
Began to whirr and chime:
开始叮叮咚咚骚动不安。
"O let not Time deceive you,
“咄,別让时间之神蒙骗了你们。
You cannot conquer Time.
你们永远战胜他。
"In the burrows of the Nightmare
“在那深入梦魇的洞穴中
Where Justice naked is,
是赤裸的公道。
Time watches from the shadow
时间躲在阴影里静观一切,
And coughs when you would kiss.
在你们即将接吻时轻咳一声。
"In headaches and in worry
“在头痛和焦虑中
Vaguely life leaks away,
生命模糊地漏失。
And Time will have his fancy
而时间之神将随心所欲
To-morrow or to-day.
不论明日或今天。
"Into many a green valley
“多少座青山绿谷中
Drifts the appalling snow;
流淌的是那骇人的冰雪。
Time breaks the threaded dances
时间会打破那交织如胶的对舞
And the diver&`&s brilliant bow.
以及跳水者那优美的弧度。
"O plunge your hands in water,
“咄,将你们的双手沒入水中吧,
Plunge them in up to the wrist;
让水浸上你们的双腕。
Stare, stare in the basin
然后死死凝视那盆状水底
And wonder what you&`&ve missed.
领悟你们所错过的一切。
"The glacier knocks in the cupboard,
“橱柜中有冰川在敲打,
The desert sighs in the bed,
床中有沙漠在叹息。
And the crack in the tea-cup opens
茶杯上那细细的裂痕会开启
A lane to the land of the dead.
一条通往冥府的路径。
"Where the beggars raffle the banknotes
“在那儿,乞丐把银票当彩票用,
And the Giant is enchanting to Jack,
巨魔取媚于童子。
And the Lily-white Boy is a Roarer
白如莲花的男孩咆哮了一声,
And Jill goes down on her back.
女孩失足,背心着地。
"O look, look in the mirror,
“咄,看吧,看那镜中,
O look in your distress;
看那伤悲;
Life remains a blessing
生命依旧充满了祝福
Although you cannot bless.
但你却祈福无果。
"O stand, stand at the window
“咄,站起來,佇立在窗边
As the tears scald and start;
当灼烫的泪珠溢出时,
You shall love your crooked neighbour
你亦将用你那颗畸形的心
With your crooked heart."
爱上你那畸形的东邻。”
It was late, late in the evening,
此时日暮已深,
The lovers they were gone;
恋人们不知去向。
The clocks had ceased their chiming
时钟早已停止了奏鸣
And the deep river ran on.
河水一如既往地深深流淌。
[雪梨有话说]
已经是第三首奥登的诗了。Tom Hiddleston念过这首诗,非常棒。
(Tom Hiddleston还念过E. E. Cummings的May I Feel Said He,啧啧,夜深人静时可以戴着耳机听一听)
BGM:Theme from Schindler&`&s List (Reprise) - John Williams