颂诗译选

华冠

凌风 译

一个花圈的冠冕配得的颂讚，
颂讚是配得的我向你呈献，
我献给你，你知我所有道路，
我生活的道路就是弯弯曲曲，
实是死的，不是活：因生命是正直，
像一条直线，永远引向你，
向你，你远超过诈欺，
超越诈欺似乎胜於朴实。
求赐我朴实，我就能活出，
活出並像你，我就知你道路，
知道並遵行：我就能呈献，
用这贫乏花圈，献你颂讚冠冕。

A Wreath

A wreathed garland of deserved praise,
Of praise deserved, unto thee I give,
I give to thee, who knowest all my ways,
My crooked winding ways, wherein I live,
Wherein I die, not live: for life is straight,
Straight as a line, and ever tends to thee,
To thee, who art more far above deceit,
Than deceit seems above simplicity.
Give me simplicity, that I may live,
So live and like, that I may know thy ways,
Know them and practise them: then shall I give
For this poor wreath, give thee a crown of praise.

　　　George Herbert, 1593-1633
　　　English religious poet