颂诗译选

何如今夜是世界尽头

凌风 译

何如今夜是世界尽头？
噢，灵魂，记得我心你的住处，
基督钉十字架的画像，告诉我
你的面是否变色惊惧。
祂眼中的淚息灭了那奇異的光，
受伤的头流血满了祂紧蹙的眉宇。
那舌头曾为恨祂的仇敌求饶恕
怎能夠判定你坠入地狱？
不，不；像我在崇拜的时刻
对我所有庸俗的情妇说过：
“怜惜看为美丽，憎嫌丑恶
只表明是严酷”，因此我向你说：
对邪恶的灵被棄绝不蒙眷顾，
美好的形象肯定是由於你恩怜。

　　但恩（John Donne, 1572-1631）英国诗人，作家。曾任国会议员，后经雅各一世（King James I）属意，任圣公会圣保罗座堂首牧，常在雅各一世及查理一世（Charles I）前讲道。

What if this present were the world's Last Night?

What if this present were the world's last night?
Mark in my heart, O Soul, where thou dost dwell,
The picture of Christ crucified, and tell
Whether that countenance can thee affright.
Tears in his eyes quench the amazing light,
Blood fills his frowns, which from His pierc'd head fell.
And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell
Which pray'd forgiveness for His foes' fierce spite?
No, no; but as in my idolatry
I said to all my profane mistresses,
"Beauty, of pity, foulness only is
A sign of rigour", so I say to thee:
To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign'd,
This beauteous form assures a piteous mind.

John Donne, 1572-1631
English poet