讀點好英文:Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard 寫在教堂墓地的挽歌

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard 寫在教堂墓地的挽歌

Thomas Gray

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day，

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the Iea.

The plowman homeward plods his weary way，

And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight，

And all the air a solemn stillness holds，

Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight，

And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds；

Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tower

The moping owl does to the moon complain

Of such, as wandering near her secret bower，

Molest her ancient solitary reign.

Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade，

Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap，

Each in his narrow cell forever laid，

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.

The breezy call of incense-breathing morn，

The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed，

The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn，

No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.

For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn，

Or busy housewife ply her evening care；

No children run to lisp their sire's return，

Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.

Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield，

Their furrow oft the stubborn gIebe has broke；

How jocund did they drive their team afield！

How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke！

Let not Ambition mock their useful toil，

Their homely joys, and destiny obscure；

Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainfuI smile，

The short and simple annaIs of the poor.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power，

And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave，

Awaits alike the inevitable hour.

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

寫在教堂墓地的挽歌

托馬斯·格雷

黃昏時分敲響了晚鐘，

牛羊在草地上鳴叫歸籠。

農夫疲憊地走在回家的路上，

把整個世界留給了黃昏與我。

大地微光正慢慢消盡，

四周肅穆寧靜。

只有甲殼蟲在空中飛舞，

昏沉的鈴聲催眠著遠處的羊欄。

還有那長滿青藤的塔樓上，

一只憂郁的貓頭鷹對月亮發(fā)著怨氣。

說有人走近了她秘密的閨房，

擾亂了她那悠久而幽靜的領地。

崢嶸的榆樹底下，紫杉的綠蔭里，

累累荒冢在綠草中隆起。

個個都長眠在小小的幽室中，

小村里粗鄙的父老在那里安睡。

芬芳的晨風在輕喚，

茅屋的燕語在呢喃。

號角回蕩，雄雞高啼，

再也不能把他們喚出九泉。

熊熊的灶火不再為他們而燃燒，

主婦也不再為他們做晚飯。

孩子們也不再迎接父親的到來，

也不會再趴到父親的膝上索吻撒嬌。

過去他們常拿鐮刀去收割莊稼，

頑梗的泥板讓他們犁出了壟溝；

一棵棵樹木在他們刀下放倒，

趕著牲口下地，他們是何等的欣喜！

有抱負的人別嘲笑他們的辛苦，

他們的歡樂太家常，他們的命運太尋常。

高貴的人也勿對他們冷笑，

來聽聽窮人們簡約的“家國興亡”。

無論什么炫耀的功勛與權勢，

無論美丑，無論貧富，

大限之時準不一樣。

極度榮光也是通往墳墓。

實戰(zhàn)提升

背景知識

托馬斯·格雷（Thomas Gray），英國新古典主義后期的重要詩人，“墓畔派”的代表人物。他出生在倫敦的一個經(jīng)紀人家庭，一生中的大部分時間在劍橋大學從事教學與研究工作。他的生活可謂中規(guī)中矩，捷足而又穩(wěn)健。

這首詩通過對鄉(xiāng)村一處墓地的描寫，表達對那些默默無聞的人民的深切同情。作者贊揚了他們淳樸善良的品質，為他們沒有機會施展天賦和才華而惋惜，同時也表現(xiàn)了對權貴、人間虛榮的蔑視和嘲諷，對大人物傲慢奢侈生活的譴責。

單詞注解

Iea[li：]草原，牧草地

gIebe[gli：b]土地；旱田

sturdy['st?：di]健壯的，結實的；

disdainfuI[dis'deinful]輕蔑的；驕傲的

annaI['?nl]記錄

名句誦讀

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea.

The breezy call of incense-breathing morn, The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike the inevitable hour. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.