颂诗译选
责任颂
责任！神声音严肃的女儿，
你可喜欢这名字
你是引路的光，
纠正错误並责罚的杖；
你，是胜利和法律
使虛空的恫吓畏服；
软弱的人类从虛荣的试探解放；
脫离劳烦的掙扎中得到舒畅。
有的人不问是否你的眼睛
对他们注视；行在爱和真理，
沒有焦虑和怀疑，只以
青年內在的品性和精力：
快乐的心！沒有责疚和污渍；
他们行你的意旨，而不自知：
噢！如果他们误信被误导失败了，
你拯救的膀臂，以可畏的能力环卫护持。
我们的日子会平靜明朗，
欢愉是我们的性向，
当爱作无误的光，
喜乐是它自己的保障。
他们持定蒙福的路径
在现今，如果不无知盲撞，
生活在这规范的精神；
寻求你及时的坚定扶帮。
我，喜爱自由，缺乏经验，
不习惯於各样狂乱的风暴，
但以自我为引导，
会趋向盲目的信靠；
我迟延你及时的使命，
我的心曾时常听到，
但现在，我愿更坚定的服事你，
不再迷失在便利的小道。
沒有经过灵魂的扰攘，
或发生良心的严厉责备，
我请求你来管治；
只出於平靜的思维：
我倦於这样的自由无羁；
我感到沉重的慾念忽起；
我希望不是只改換些名字，
我渴望得到永恆的安息。
严肃的立法者！你卻具有
神性最仁慈的恩典；
我们不知道有什么这般
美丽比得上你的笑脸：
在你面前畦中的花朵欢笑，
你的腳蹤留下了芬芳；
你保守群星不至於失序，
最古老的穹苍，因你而常新並坚強。
可畏的能力！也眷顾卑微
我向你祈求：从现在开始
我完全交托听从你的引导；
噢，使我的软弱就此终止！
你使愚昧人有智慧，
求你赏赐我心灵牺牲自己；
赐给我理智的自信；
让我生活在真理的光下作你仆役。
1804 1807
Ode to Duty
Stern Daughter of the Voice of God
O Duty! If that name thou love
Who are a light to guide, a rod
To check the erring, and reprove;
Thou, who art victory and law
When empty terrors overawe;
From vain temptations dost set free;
And calm’st the weary strife of frail humanity!
There are who ask not if thine eye
Be on them; who in love and truth,
Where no misgiving is, rely
Upon the genial sense of youth:
Glad hearts! without reproach or blot;
Who do thy work, and know it not:
Oh! If through confidence misplaced
They fail, thy saving arms, dread power! Around them cast.
Serene will be our days and bright,
And happy will our nature be,
When love is an erring light,
And joy its own security.
And they a blissful course may hold,
Even now, who, not unwisely bold,
Live in the spirit of this creed;
Yet seek thy form support, according to their need.
I, loving freedom, and untried,
No sport of every random gust,
Yet being to myself a guide,
Too blindly have reposed my trust;
And oft, when in my heart was heard
Thy timely mandate, I deferred
The task, in smoother walks to stray;
But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may.
Through no disturbance of my soul,
Or strong compunction in me wrought,
I supplicate for thy control;
But in the quietness of thought:
Me this unchartered freedom tires;
I feel the weight of chance desires:
My hopes no more must change their name,
I long for a repose that ever is the same.
Stern lawgiver! Yet thou dost wear
The Godhead’s most benignant grace;
Nor know we anything so fair
As is the smile upon thy face:
Flowers laugh before thee on their beds
And fragrance in thy footing treads;
Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong;
The most ancient heavens, through thee, are fresh and strong.
To humbler functions, awful Power!
I call thee: I myself commend
Unto thy guidance from this hour:
Oh, let my weakness have an end!
Give unto me, made lowly wise,
The spirit of self-sacrifice;
The confidence of reason give;
And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live!
1804 1807
William Wordsworth, 1770-1850
