颂诗译选
留守的牧人
天使向牧人报信
Jacapo Bassano, 1533
在乐园里的灵魂
並不是伟大也不是智慧，
但忠心的都有冠冕
每个人戴着无逊无愧。
我主人叫我在夜里看守羊群﹔
我的责任是坚守。我不知道
同工们在那大光里见到什么，
我不管那要他们去的语声，
我不知道他们是发狂或是惊惶﹔
我只知道我守住。
山坡上像是着了火﹔我感觉
翅膀从我头上面扫过﹔我跑去
看是否有什么危险惊吓了我的羊群。
虽然我看到他们仍然在圈里安臥，
虽然弟兄们哭泣又拉着我的衣袖，
我也不离开。
林中有盜贼，山上又有狼，
我的责任是留守。虽然有点怪，
我不想留住我的同伴，不愿
要他们待着跟我一同看守。
我沒有听见他们所顺从的呼召﹔
我只知道我守住。
也许天亮时他们就回来
报说伯利恒和他们去的原因。
我只知道独自在这里看守，
我知道一种奇異的满足。
我沒有辜负那加在我身上的托付﹔
我別无所求－我守住。
盖瑞生（Theodosia Garrison, b. 1874-1944）美国诗人。
The Shepherd Who Stayed
There are in Paradise
Souls neither great nor wise,
Yet souls who wear no less
The crown of faithfulness.
My master bade me watch the flock by night;
My duty was to stay. I do not know
What thing my comrades saw in that great light,
I did not heed the words that bade them go,
I know not were they maddened or afraid;
I only know I stayed.
The hillside seemed on fire; I felt the sweep
Of wings above my head; I ran to see
If any danger threatened these my sheep.
What though I found them folded quietly,
What though my brother wept and plucked my sleeve,
They were not mine to leave.
Thieves in the wood and wolves upon the hill,
My duty was to stay. Strange though it be,
I had no thought to hold my mates, no will
To bid them wait and keep the watch with me.
I had not heard that summons they obeyed;
I only know I stayed.
Perchance they will return upon the dawn
With word of Bethlehem and why they went
I only know that watching here alone,
I know a strange content.
I have not failed that trust upon me laid;
I ask no more—I stayed.
Theodosia Garrison （b.1874-1944）
American poet
