颂诗译选
贫民临终
轻步缓行,—低下头,—
恭敬肃靜把头低下,—
沒有敲响丧钟,
但一个不朽的灵魂,
现在临终。
陌生人!不问你如何伟大,
谦卑恭敬把头低下;
有一位在那残破的棚—
在那简陋的床上—
比你更大。
在乞丐的屋顶下,
看哪!死亡的仪式在进行。
进来,沒有群众参加;
进来,沒有侍卫护驾
这个 王宮的大门。
地下阴冷潮湿,
沒有微笑宮廷人士的足跡;
一个靜默的女人站立,
枯瘦的双手举起
首领已经濒死。
沒有混杂的声音,—
独有一个婴孩在哭喊;
低掩的饮泣哽咽,—重现
深而短促的喘,最后—
临去的呻吟。
啊,改变!啊,奇異的改变!
冲破监狱的柵栏,—
此时在那里 那么低贱,
那么悲惨,忽然—
超越星辰之间。
啊,改变!伟大的改变!
那里躺臥着失去灵魂的躯壳;
太阳永远照耀,
新的不朽醒觉,—
醒起与他的神同在。
The Pauper's Death-Bed
Tread softly,— bow the head,—
In reverent silence bow,—
No passing bell doth toll,
Yet an immortal soul
Is passing now.
Stranger! however great,
With lowly reverence bow;
There's one in that poor shed —
One by that paltry bed —
Greater than thou.
Beneath that beggar's roof,
Lo! Death doth keep his state.
Enter, no crowds attend;
Enter, no guards defend
This palace gate.
That pavement, damp and cold,
No smiling courtiers tread;
One silent woman stands,
Lifting with meagre hands
A dying head.
No mingling voices sound,—
An infant wail alone;
A sob suppressed,— again
That short deep gasp, and then —
The parting groan.
O change! O wondrous change!
Burst are the prison bars,—
This moment there so low,
So agonized, and now
Beyond the stars.
O change! stupendous change!
There lies the soulless clod;
The sun eternal breaks,
The new immortal wakes,—
Wakes with his God.
Caroline Bowles, 1786-1854
English Poet