颂诗译选

天使服役

凌风 译

上天是否眷顾？是否有爱
在属天的灵界对这低卑的受造者，
会对他们的邪恶怜悯？
曾有过，不堪的劣行
人更不如畜牲：噢，格外丰盛的宏恩
来自至高的神！如此的爱祂所造的，
对祂所有的工作普遍施慈仁，
差遣祂蒙福的天使上去下来，
服事祂邪恶的仇敌，服事邪恶的人！

多少次他们离开银色的居所，
当我们需要拯援时赴援施拯！
多少次他们金色的翅膀掠过
诸天，如同飞翔的侍从，
帮助我们对抗恶魔的战爭！
他们为我们奋战，他们看守並保护，
他们光明的军队围绕着我们安营；
全然是为了爱，並不在乎报赏，
噢，为什么天上的神对我们这样看重！

The Ministry of Angels

And is there care in heaven? And is there love
In heavenly spirits to these creatures base,
That may compassion of their evils move?
There is:-- else much more wretched were the case
Of men than beasts: but O the exceeding grace
Of highest God! that loves his creatures so,
And all his works with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed angels he sends to and fro,
To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe!

How oft do they their silver bowers leave,
To come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!
They for us fight, they watch, and duly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about us plant;
And all for love, and nothing for reward;
O, why should heavenly God to men have such regard!

Edmund Spenser（1552-1599）