[英美著名儿童诗一百首 / 多人 著]
■ Ⅰ SONGS OF INNOCENCE 天真的歌唱
■ 1 THE BLIND BOY
Colley Cibber①
O say what is that thing call'd Light,
睡吧睡吧我亲爱的宝贝 Which I must ne'er enjoy;
What are the blessings of the sight.
O tell your poor blind boy !
You talk of wondrous things you see,
You say the sun shines bright;
I feel him warm, but how can he
Or make it day or night
My day or night myself I make
Whene'er I sleep or play;
And could I ever keep awake
With me 'twere always day.
With heavy sighs I often hear
You mourn my hapless woe;
But sure with patience I can bear
A loss I ne'er can know
Then let not what I cannot have
My cheer of mind destroy
Whilst thus I sing, I am a king,
Although a poor blind boy
■ 一 盲孩
柯莱·西柏
你们说的"光",是什么东西,
我永远不可能感觉出来;
你们能够"看",是什么福气,
请告诉我这可怜的盲孩!
你们讲到了种种奇景,
你们说太阳光辉灿烂;
我感到他温暖,可他怎么能
把世界分出黑夜和白天?
这会儿我玩耍,待会儿我睡觉,
这样分我的白天和夜晚;
假如我老是醒着,睡不着,
我觉得那就是白天没完。
我听见你们一次又一次
为我的不幸而叹息:唉……
可我完全能忍受这损失——
损失是什么我并不明白。
别让我永远得不到的东西
把我愉快的心情破坏:
我歌唱,我就是快乐君王,
尽管我是个可怜的盲孩。
屠 岸译
①柯莱·西柏(1671-1757),英国演员、剧作家,诗人。《盲孩》是他的名篇。
■ 2 TO CHARLOTTE PULTENEY
Ambrose Philips①
Timely blossom, Infant fair,
Fondling of a happy pair,
Every morn and every night
Their solicitous delight,
Sleeping, waking, still at ease,
Pleasing, without skill to please;
Little gossip, blithe and hale,
Tattling many a broken tale,
Singing many a tuneless song,
Lavish of a heedless tongue;
Simple maiden, void of art,
Babbling out the very heart,
Yet abandon'd to thy will,
Yet imagining no ill,
Yet too innocent to blush;
Like the linnet in the bush
To the mother-linnet's note
Moduling her slender throat;
Chirping forth thy petty joys,
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