颂诗译选
亚伯拉罕．林肯
这人从哪里来？像风的翅膀
从神那里吹降！
他昂然在将领和君王中间来往
他未曾学过，卻自己知道
他是邦国之子，或受命自天上？
啊！请说，或者他二者都是！
当风云聚集，人们何尝梦想，
他是怎样的人，又将成就怎样！
当希望的灯光在搖曳，或几乎
要被狂怒的暴风吹熄，
他从那在上永不衰残
更大的光取得光辉：
神引导他在许多患难危险中间
达成荣美的目标
他勇往直前，不畏惧──这坚強
神赐的，英勇的大丈夫！
现在我们知道他的职任何等高贵，
他的远象又是何等清新！
无比坚強的手，最仁慈的心
在众人之中──这人中的巨人！
权力的骄傲或自私的慾望
他丝毫沒有这样卑污存心，
他的自我全消失在大我里
为了他的国家和全人群。
有些人可以称为伟大或良善
但在这长长的名单里面，
不会有几个像他一般
能夠伟大和良善兼全。
持守他的那国家大大蒙福
他不会全然死亡，
他不息的给予智慧和激励，
经历危难的日子久长！
当号角的声音已经停止，
旌旗也已经被卷起，
征战和威风都已被忘记，
当知还有审判的日子，
不论谁何，在那大浪潮中，
会沈沒並全然流逝，
那些对自己灵魂真实的灵魂，
将永远的前进不息！
也有些像这样的人，也曾计画，
我们卻永不会再看见；
但愿神给我们的土地上有更多
如他那样的真实和简单──
他眉宇间有王的印记，
卻像平常人生活行动；
他在世是众人中的一人，
现在已属於永恆！
寇勒（Samuel Valentine Cole, 1851-1925），美国诗人。
Abraham Lincoln
Whence came this man? As if on the wings
Of the winds of God that blew!
He moved, undaunted, mid captians and kings,
And, not having learned, he knew I
Was he son of the soil, or child of the sky?
Or, pray, was he both? Ah me!
How little they dreamed, as the storm rolled high,
What he was, and was to be!
When trembled the lamps of hopes, or quite
Blew out in that furious gale,
He drew his light from the Larger Light
Above him that did not fail:
Heaven-led all trials and perils among,
As unto some splendid goal
He fared right onward, unflinching—this strong
God-gifted, heroic soul!
We know him now how noble his part,
And how clear was his vision then!
With the firmest hand and the kindliest heart
Of them all—this master of men!
Of the pride of power or the lust of self,
Oh never a taint we find:
He lost himself in the larger self
Of his country and all mankind.
There are those called great, or good, by right
But as long as the long roll is,
Not many the names, with the double light
Of greatness and goodness like his.
Thrice happy the nation that holds him dear
Who never can wholly die,
Never cease to bestow of his counsel and cheer,
As the perilous years go by!
For after the trumpets have ceased to blow,
And the banners are folded away,
And the stress and the splendor forgotten, we know,
Of a truth, in that judgment day,
That whatso'er else, in the Stream that rolls,
May sink and be utterly gone,
The souls of the men who were true to their souls
Forever go marching on!
There are those whose like, it was somehow planned,
We never again shall see;
But I would to God there were more in the land
As true and as simple as he,—
As he who walked in our common ways,
With the seal of a king on his brow;
Who lived as a man among men his days,
And belongs to the ages now!
Samuel Valentine Cole, 1851-1925
American poet
