颂诗译选

圣书

凌风 译

永恆的上帝！创造一切
生活在这里，为堕落的人；
万古磐石！在你荫下
茫茫众生繁长又消逝。
你早已认识这纸，当它
仅是种子，以后发长成草；
它用不着穿衣，也不纺线，
卻作成细麻布，给人蔽体；
你知道他们的生命，思想行动举止
或是好麦子，或是稗子不结实。

　　你早已认识这树，还在绿荫下
被覆庇，使它成为荫庇。
他滋生，发展，长起，
像是永存不会死。

　　你早已认识这无害的牲畜，
照你的定旨生活饮食，
吃各样的青物；然后饱足眠息，
它穿过的毛皮，现在铺展开，
成了这古老书帙的外衣。
这使我慧悟哭泣，看到
灰尘的自己；只不过是灰尘，
论干凈还不能与灰尘相比。
你早已认识，已看见这一切，
还未成形前，你已认识我们现在的体质。

噢，荣耀的灵！知道
你使树木牲畜更新，使人复起，
你叫万事复兴，
卻只毀灭痛苦和死，
那些爱你，寻求你面的，
为你工作的必蒙赏赐！

*诗中的变体字，是诗人所加，认为出自圣经，有关救恩。

The Book

Eternal God! Maker of all
That have lived here, since the man's fall;
The Rock of ages! in whose shade
They live unseen, when here they fade.
Thou knew'st this paper, when it was
Mere seed, and after that but grass;
Before 'twas drest or spun, and when
Made linen, who did wear it then:
What were their lives, their thoughts and deeds
Whether good corn, or fruitless weeds.

　　Thou knew'st this Tree, when a green shade
Covered it, since a Cover made,
And where it flourished, grew and spread,
As if it never should be dead.

　　Thou knew'st this harmless beast, when he
Did live and feed by thy decree
On each green thing; then slept（well fed）
Clothed with this skin, which now lies spread
A Covering o'er this aged book,
Which makes me wisely weep and look
On my own dust; mere dust it is,
But not so dry and clean as this.
Thou knew'st and saw'st them all and though
Now scattered thus, dost know them so.

　　O knowing, glorious Spirit! when
Thou shalt restore trees, beasts and men,
When thou shalt make all new again,
Destroying only death and pain,
Give him amongst thy works a place,
Who in them loved and sought thy face!

Henry Vaughan （1621-1695）
English religious poet