颂诗译选

冠冕

凌风 译

当那荊棘冠冕的刺，太长，
　　加冕在我救主的头上，
　　造成许多的创伤，
我长愿欲，设法作个华冠为错误补偿：
　　找遍每个花园，每片草场
採集花朵（我的结果不过有花）
　　拆毀所有芳香的花塔，
一度曾为我的牧羊女装饰头发。
现在我倾所有的存积
　　妄想（是我在自欺）
　　如此丰美的花圈编织
荣耀的王所戴的冠冕无一能及；
　　啊呀！我发现那古蛇仇敌
　　盘绕着它斑点的胸皮，
　　弯曲伪装作类似的花枝，
　　卷缠着名声和利益。
啊！愚人，必朽的荣耀难以久远
将要贬抑属天的皇冠！
但只有你能制伏那古蛇，
解脫它狡滑的结，
断开它所有网罗曲折；
或同时破碎我的奇心淫妄
让这些都凋残，它也就死亡，
虽然用上技巧，选择复营想；
这样，当你践踏两重的战利品，
作足下的冠冕，虽不配冠冕在你头上。

马卫勒（Andrew Marvell） 英国形上派诗人。
於克伦威尔执政期间，任弥尔敦（John Milton）拉丁秘书助理，相当於外交次长。於英王查理二世 （Charles II） 复辟后，被选为国会议员。弥尔敦因曾参加清教徒革命，並著文指查理一世为叛国暴君，主张处以死刑（1649），为新政府不容，议以监禁；马卫勒极力营救为之庇护。

The Coronet

When for the Thorns with which I long, too long,
　　With many a piercing wound
　　My Saviour's head have crown'd,
I seek with Garlands to redress that Wrong,
　　Through every Garden, every Mead
I gather flow'rs (my fruits are only flow'rs)
　　Dismantling all the fragrant Towers
That once adorn'd my Shepherdess's head.
And now when I have summ'd up all my store,
　　Thinking (so I my self deceive)
　　So rich a Chaplet thence to weave
As never yet the king of Glory wore,
　　Alas I find the Serpent old
　　That, twining in his speckled breast,
　　About the flow'rs disguis'd does fold,
　　With wreaths of Fame and Interest.
Ah, foolish Man, that would'st debase with them
And mortal Glory, Heaven's Diadem!
But thou who only could'st the Serpent tame,
Either his slipp'ry knots at once untie,
And disintangle all his winding Snare;
Or shatter too with him my curious frame
And let these wither, so that he may die,
Though set with Skill and chosen out with Care;
That they, while Thou on both their Spoils dost tread,
May crown thy Feet, that could not crown thy Head.

Andrew Marvell（1621-1678）
English MP & poet