內战
“步枪手，给我开漂亮的一枪
对正远处那游动骑哨兵的心房；
目标是那护身符般的东西
在他的胸前闪烁发亮！”
“啊，队长！这射出美好的光，
从我枪膛中发出如音乐妙响！”
顷刻！枪弹的使者飞去，
那骑兵从马背上栽下死亡。
“步枪手，现在，从树丛中潛过去，
取个初次流血的彩头从死者身上；
一个钮扣，带子，或那晶亮的东西
在月下像是钻石的领章！”
“啊，队长，我一路上惊愕紧张，
当我注视那死去骑兵的面庞，
他仰臥着，看来跟你那样的相像，
到现在我的心还升到口腔。
但是，我扯下来这金项鍊盒，
隔我射的弹孔仅仅一吋距离；
只瞥见里面的相片那样美丽，
一个漂亮女子新娘的装饰。”
“哈！步枪手，丟给我那项鍊盒！—
是她，我弟弟年轻的妻子，—
那死骑兵是她丈夫，—这是天意，
来！月光下我们把他埋在那里！
但，听！远方响起他们警告的号角，
战爭是道德，—软弱是罪跡；
今夜在周围有潛伏和跃进的行动，
步枪手，弹再上膛，手保持在扳机！”
Civil War
"Rifleman, shoot me a fancy shot
Straight at the heart of yon prowling vidette;
Ring me a ball in the glittering spot
That shines on his breast like an amulet!"
"Ah, captain! here goes for a fine-drawn bead,
There's music around when my barrel's in tune!"
Crack! went the rifle, the messenger sped,
And dead from his horse fell the ringing dragoon.
"Now, rifleman, steal through the bushes, and snatch
From your victim some trinket to handsel first blood;
A button, a loop, or that luminous patch
That gleams in the moon like a diamond stud!"
"O captain! I staggered, and sunk on my track,
When I gazed on the face of that fallen vidette,
For he looked so like you, as he lay on his back,
That my heart rose upon me, and masters me yet.
"But I snatched off the trinket,—this locket of gold;
And inch from the centre my lead broke its way,
Scarce grazing the picture, so fair to behold,
Of a beautiful lady in bridal array."
"Ha! rifleman, fling me the locket!—'t is she,
My brother's young bride,—and the fallen dragoon
Was her husband—Hush! soldier,'t was heaven's decree,
We must bury him there, by the light of the moon!
"But, hark! the far bugles their warning unite;
War is a virtue,—weakness a sin;
There's a lurking and loping around us to-night;
Load again, rifleman, keep your hand in!"
Anonymous
