我曾经认识一个男人

I knew a man once who wished he hadn’t been born.

希望自己从未出生

He meant what he said.

他并不是一个装模作样的人，

He wasn’t a poseur.

这些话完全出于真心。

In the few, radiant years I knew him

我们曾经一起度过几年闪光的日子

He never spoke for effect.

我从没见过他只为装腔说话。

He said what he meant, I remember,

平静地，深沉地，他说出每一句话

quietly, thoughtfully,

他从来说话算数，我记得，

over tea and scrambled eggs on toast

我们在一个个完美的早晨

on one of those perfect mornings

喝着茶，吃着夹碎鸡蛋的吐司

that always follows

然后总是伴随着

a night of rapture.

一晚的狂欢。

He had the bright way of speaking

他总能找到最明亮的语言

of those in the deepest despair.

来谈论最深的绝望。

He made himself a joy to be with.

他总是能发现任何事物搞笑的一面。

He saw the funny side of almost everything.

他让自己成为快乐的源泉，

I knew he had meant what he said

他用他彬彬有礼的离去

when he departed decorously

告诉我他是一个言而有信的人

with sleeping pills and vodka.

他借助于安眠药和伏特加，

No noose, no razor blades, no blood in the bath,

没有绳圈，没有剃刀，没有滴血的浴缸，

And nothing so wickedly inconsiderate

没有给人带来巨大的麻烦，

as a sudden plunge under an oncoming train –

比如冲向一列疾驰的火车

he valued understatement.

他一直喜欢低调。

I shan’t reveal his name.

我不应当透露他的名字。

He wouldn’t have wanted me to.

他不会希望我这么做。

He really did prefer oblivion.

他更喜欢完全的湮灭

It was his chosen habitat.

那是他选择的栖息地。