颂诗译选
圣诞钟声
在圣诞节我听到了钟声，
奏出古老熟习的歌颂，
甜美而且激越
在反覆的述说
地上有平安，善意归人群！
想到这日子又再来临，
普世欢腾协和同庆，
钟楼传出钟声
歌唱持续不停
地上有平安，善意归人群！
一路来鸣钟，歌唱不断，
大地转动从黑夜到白天，
歌声乐音连连
旋律宏亮庄严
地上有平安，善意归人群！
然后，从每个大砲黑色的口腔，
可咒诅的雷声起自南方，
所发出的声响
淹沒圣诞歌唱
地上有平安，善意归人群！
好像是強烈的地震发生，
撕裂了这大陆上许多家庭，
造成丧亡不幸
家门自相分爭
地上有平安，善意归人群！
在失望中我低头黯然，
说道：“在这地上全无平安，
因为恨意深浓
在讥讽着歌颂
地上有平安，善意归人群！”
把钟声敲响更宏亮更深妙：
“上帝沒有死，祂也不睡觉！
邪恶终必败亡
正义得胜昌旺
地上有平安，善意归人群！”
Christmas Bells
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
*此诗作於美国南北战爭期间
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow（1807-1882）
American poet and educator