39 THE DOG ANDTHE WATER-LILY
|
三十九 狗和睡蓮
|
William Cowper ①
|
威廉·考伯
|
| The noon was shady, and soft airs |
中午，樹蔭濃，微風和煦， |
| Swept Ouse's silent tide, |
拂過靜靜的河浪， |
| When, 'scaped from literary cares, |
我拋開讀書寫作的思慮， |
| I wander'd on his side. |
沿著烏斯河徜徉。 |
| My spaniel, prettiest of his race, |
我的長毛狗，犬類菁英， |
| And high in pedigree,— |
血統(tǒng)純凈門第高—— |
| (Two nymphs adorn'd with every grace |
（是兩位儀態(tài)萬方的美人 |
| That spaniel found for me,) |
為我把它搜羅到，） |
| Now wanton'd lost in flags and reeds, |
嬉鬧著隱沒在旗幟和蘆葦里， |
| Now, starting into sight, |
一會兒又突現(xiàn)在眼前， |
| Pursucd the swallow o'er the meads. |
他越過草地去追逐燕子， |
| With scarcc a slower flight. |
奔跑得飛快如箭。 |
| It was the time when Ouse display'd |
季節(jié)到了：烏斯河水面上 |
| His lilies newly blown; |
出現(xiàn)了新開的睡蓮； |
| Their beauties I intent survey'd, |
花兒的妍麗我專心觀賞， |
| And one I wish'd my own. |
想采到一朵在手邊。 |
| With cane extended far I sought |
我用藤杖遠遠地撥來 |
| To steer it close to land; |
一朵，快靠近岸沿； |
| But still the prize, though nearly caught, |
戰(zhàn)利品即將到手，可是唉！ |
| Escaped my eager hand. |
又從我手邊漂遠。 |
| Beau mark'd my unsuccessful pains |
乖兒狗注意我失敗的苦惱， |
| With fix'd considerate face, |
一臉專注的思索， |
| And puzzling set his puppy brains |
他心存疑團，小狗的頭腦 |
| To comprehend the case. |
想弄清事態(tài)的經(jīng)過。 |
| But with a cherup clear and strong |
用清脆有力的一聲嘖嘖， |
| Dispersing all his dream, |
我驅(qū)散他的思想， |
| I thence withdrew, and follow'd long |
然后我走開，長時間沿著 |
| The windings of the stream. |
彎曲的河水徜徉。 |
| My ramble ended, I return'd; |
我停止漫步，轉(zhuǎn)身回返， |
| Beau, trotting far before, |
乖兒狗跑在前頭； |
| The floating wreath again discern'd, |
看準了漂浮的一團睡蓮， |
| And plunging left the shore. |
他縱身跳進水流。 |
| I saw him with that lily cropp'd |
我見他銜著那朵嫩蕊， |
| Impatient swim to meet |
急匆匆游過來迎上 |
| My quick approach, and soon he dropp'd |
我的快步，他立即把寶貝 |
| The treasure at my feet. |
在我的腳前安放。 |
| Charm'd with the sight, ‘The world’, I cried |
我一見便呆了，"世界，"我驚叫， |
| 'Shall hear of this thy deed; |
"該知道這樁事件； |
| 'My dog shall mortify the pride |
我的狗使優(yōu)秀人類的驕傲 |
| 'Of man's superior breed; |
受到了一次挑戰(zhàn)！ |
| 'But chief myself I will enjoin, |
"可是我更要提醒自己 |
| 'Awake at duty's call, |
履行應盡的本分， |
| 'To show a love as prompt as thine |
學你的果斷，向造我的上帝 |
| ‘To Him who gives me all.’ |
獻出我一片愛心。" |
| |
屠 岸譯 |
