一
1
来得颇有些时日了，秋之潮汐，
Sometime now past in the Autumnal Tide,
一小时后福波斯就要上床休息，
When Phoebus wanted but one hour to bed,
树木色彩纷呈，却无丝毫傲慢，
The trees all richly clad, yet void of pride,
树梢处有一抹太阳金⻩色的瑰丽。
Were gilded o’re by his rich golden head.
树木的叶子与果实宛若画中景，
Their leaves and fruits seem’d painted but was true
绿红⻩三色织成斑斓彩绘，
Of green, of red, of yellow, mixed hew,
胜景宜人，我心深深沉醉。
Rapt were my senses at this delectable view.
二
2
我不知该作何希望，但我看，
I wist not what to wish, yet sure thought I,
如果地上已然如此令人沉醉，
If so much excellence abide below,
高居上界者又该是何等不凡?
How excellent is he that dwells on high?
其作品便已展示其力与美。
Whose power and beauty by his works we know.
他无疑慈善、睿智、荣耀、轻盈，
Sure he is goodness, wisdom, glory, light,
使得人间世界如此色彩纷呈:
That hath this under world so richly dight.
是天堂而非凡间，没有黑夜与严冬。
More Heaven than Earth was here, no winter and no night.
三
3
随后我举目看那威武森然的橡树，
Then on a stately Oak I cast mine Eye,
乌云仿佛在渴盼它那摇曳的树梢;
Whose ruffling top the Clouds seem’d to aspire;
打襁褓中算起你该经历了多少年度?
How long since thou wast in thine Infancy?
我更仰慕你的年轮，不只是力与高。
Thy strength and stature, more thy years admire,
自出生以来你该度过了一百个冬天?
Hath hundred winters past since thou wast born?
打你破壳而出，抑或会有千年?
Or thousand since thou brakest thy shell of horn,
那也不值一提，永恒不会看一眼。
If so, all these as nought, Eternity doth scorn.
四
4
之后我凝视着光芒四射的太阳，
Then higher on the glistering Sun I gaz’d,
其光束被树叶遮挡成片片树荫。
Whose beams was shaded by the leafy Tree.
我看得越久，越是惊异又迷茫，
The more I look’d, the more I grew amaz’d
竟轻声说出，谁的荣耀可堪比您?
And softly said, what glory’s like to thee?
您乃世界的灵魂，宇宙的眼睛，
Soul of this world, this Universe’s Eye,
难怪，颇有些人视您为神灵:
No wonder some made thee a Deity:
我若所知不多，也会作此反应。
Had I not better known (alas) the same had I.
五
5
您仿佛新郎从新房中箭步冲出，
Thou as a Bridegroom from thy Chamber rushes
像强健的男人，乐于加入跑步比赛，
And as a strong man joys to run a race.
早晨满面笑靥与羞赧和您打招呼，
The morn doth usher thee with smiles and blushes.
大地在您的脸庞留下关注的一瞥。
The Earth reflects her glances in thy face.
您用自己的心把⻦儿、动物和昆虫，
Birds, insects, Animals with Vegative,
借助于植物，从死亡和沉寂中唤醒，
Thy heat from death and dullness doth revive:
在大自然丰产的黝黑子宫中潜行。
And in the darksome womb of fruitful nature dive.
六
6
您迅捷短促的年度及每日行程，
Thy swift Annual and diurnal Course,
您每日笔直、年度曲折的行进线路，
Thy daily straight and yearly oblique path,
您灼人的威力和令人愉悦的热情，
Thy pleasing fervour, and thy scorching force,
此处的芸芸众生皆有认知与感触。
All mortals here the feeling knowledge hath.
您来则成就白昼、去便带来黑夜，
Thy presence makes it day, thy absence night,
一年四季无不把您的能量来借:
Quaternal seasons caused by thy might:
众生灵欢迎您，满怀秀美和愉悦。
Hail Creature, full of sweetness, beauty, and delight.
七
7
您的荣耀丰饶，常人之目
Art thou so full of glory that no Eye
焉能承受您那绚丽的光芒?
Hath strength thy shining Rays once to behold?
您精美的宝座居于遥遥高处，
And is thy splendid Throne erect so high?
俗世的模子岂可与之相仿。
As, to approach it, can no earthly mould.
您的创造者该是何等的荣光?
How full of glory then must thy Creator be?
他赐予您晶莹四射的光芒，
Who gave this bright light luster unto thee:
那众生之主必将永受敬仰。
Admir’d, ador’d for ever be that Majesty.
八
8
独自寂寥，渺无人迹、阒无人声，
Silent alone where none or saw, or heard,
我徜徉在无路可循的小径，
In pathless paths I lead my wand’ring feet.
卑微的眼睛仰视着雄伟的天空，
My humble Eyes to lofty Skies I rear’d
一边唱着歌:这会让缪斯吃惊。
To sing some Song my mazed Muse thought meet.
伟大的造物主，我不禁称赞，
My great Creator I would magnifie,
您无比慷慨地装饰了大自然，
That nature had thus decked liberally:
然而，啊，我又是多么的愚顽!
But Ah and Ah again, my imbecility!
九
9
我随后听到草蜢正歌声⻜扬，
I heard the merry grasshopper then sing,
一袭黑衣的蟋蟀在之伴唱，
The black clad Cricket bear a second part.
它们同曲调、趴在同一根草上，
They kept one tune and played on the same string,
似乎为其小小的艺术而自豪。
Seeming to glory in their little Art.
是弱小者可怜无助，才高⻔大嗓?
Shall creatures abject thus their voices raise?
它们从同类觅到造物主的颂扬:
And in their kind resound their maker’s praise:
我虽缄默，歌声不能更加嘹亮?
Whilst I, as mute, can warble forth no higher layes.
十
10
当人们立足现时回首往昔光景，
When present times look back to Ages past
在想象之中追忆远去的先人，
And men in being fancy those are dead,
陈年往事似乎永无止境地发生，
It makes things gone perpetually to last
并追回早已逃遁的岁月与时辰。
And calls back months and years that long since fled
沉于玄想的人因此苍老得更快，
It makes a man more aged in conceit,
远甚于玛士撒拉，或其先代:
Than was Methuselah or’s grand-sire great:
他们的人与事还常在他脑中徘徊。
While of their persons and their acts his mind doth treat.
十一
11
有时他仿佛身处美丽的伊甸乐园，
Sometimes in Eden fair he seems to be,
看着荣耀的亚当在此当家作主，
See glorious Adam there made Lord of all,
幻想着美味的苹果荡漾于树丛间，
Fancies the Apple, dangle on the Tree,
把自己的主宰者变成赤裸的奴仆。
That turn’d his Sovereign to a naked thrall,
从那里，他像异教徒一样被驱除，
Who like a miscreant’s driven from that place
为得到面包他交换了汗水和痛苦:
To get his bread with pain and sweat of face:
这同样是对他堕落的同胞的惩处。
A penalty impos’d on his backsliding Race.
十二
12
我们的女先祖坐在某幽僻的地方，
Here sits our Grandame in retired place,
怀抱着刚出生、血迹未干的该隐，
And in her lap her bloody Cain new born,
哭泣的小精灵不时注视她的脸庞，
The weeping Imp oft looks her in the face,
抱怨他未定的运气和悲苦的命运;
Bewails his unknown hap and fate forlorn;
他的母亲叹口气，当想起伊甸乐土，
His Mother sighs to think of Paradise,
以及她如何了睿智而失去幸福，
And how she lost her bliss, to be more wise,
相信他曾是、且仍是撒谎之始祖。
Believing him that was, and is, Father of lyes.
十三
13
该隐和亚伯来此向上帝献祭，
Here Cain and Abel come to sacrifice,
用幼畜和土地上结出来的果实。
Fruits of the Earth and Fatlings each do bring,
上帝从空中落向亚伯的祭礼，
On Abels gift the fire descends from Skies,
却无迹象出现于该隐的祭祀;
But no such sign on false Cain’s offering;
他阴沉着脸走开，怀恨在心中。
With sullen hateful looks he goes his wayes.
想法多多欲结束兄弟的性命，
Hath thousand thoughts to end his brothers dayes,
希望自己的未来能借此提升。
Upon whose blood his future good he hopes to raise.
十四
14
亚伯继续牧羊，心里纯真无邪，
There Abel keeps his sheep, no ill he thinks,
他的兄弟过来，随后同⻔相残，
His brother comes, then acts his fratricide.
于是处女地饮了第一滴鲜血，
The Virgin Earth of blood her first draught drinks,
但之后却时常为血腥而腻烦;
But since that time she often hath been cloy’d;
这暴徒想法恐怖，表情可怕阴沉，
The wretch with ghastly face and dreadful mind,
想着不能放过⻅到的每个人，
Thinks each he sees will serve him in his kind,
虽然他迄今在世上还只有亲人。
Though none on Earth but kindred near then could he find.
十五
15
他不去想自己在审判台上的表情:
Who fancies not his looks now at the Barr,
面如死灰，心里充满了恐惧。
His face like death, his heart with horror fraught,
没哪个罪犯会双手欢迎战争，
Nor Male-factor ever felt like warr,
当绝望与生的希望纠缠不已。
When deep despair with wish of life hath fought,
怀着沉重的愧疚和深刻的悲怆，
Branded with guilt, and crusht with treble woes,
他去了挪得，远在那里流浪，
A Vagabond to Land of Nod he goes.
还修了城墻，以免被敌人所伤。
A City builds, that wals might him secure from foes.
十六
16
谁不常常怀想先辈生活的年代，
Who thinks not oft upon the Fathers ages.
对子孙的繁衍他们又作何感慨。
Their long descent, how nephews sons they saw,
智者在繁星点点的高空下观测，
The starry observations of those Sages,
其戒规竟然成为后世的法律，
And how their precepts to their sons were law,
亚当看到后代时唉声叹气直摇头，
How Adam sigh’d to see his Progeny,
(他们和他身着同样的黑色罪服)
Cloath’d all in his black, sinful Livery,
他们虽然自称清白，却难逃惩处。
Who neither guilt not yet the punishment could fly.
十七
17
我们拿人生比作日子的⻓度，
Our Life compare we with their length of dayes
我们是否还只是上路了十天?
Who to the tenth of theirs doth now arrive?
人生短暂，我们仍压缩了旅途，
And though thus short, we shorten many wayes,
在世时我们的经历实在寒酸;
Living so little while we are alive;
吃、喝、睡，以及无谓地作乐，
In eating, drinking, sleeping, vain delight
浑然不觉漫漫⻓夜的不请自到，
So unawares comes on perpetual night,
把空虚的欢愉交给恒久的逃脱。
And puts all pleasures vain unto eternal flight.
十八
18
当我注视着全盛时期的众天体，
When I behold the heavens as in their prime,
地球尽管古老，依然身披绿装，
And then the earth (though old) still clad in green,
石头和树木浑然不觉岁月更替，
The stones and trees, insensible of time,
其表面不⻅苍老和皱折的迹象;
Nor age nor wrinkle on their front are seen;
若冬天到来，绿色便会消褪，
If winter come, and greenness then do fade,
春回大地，绿色则更现生机;
A Spring returns, and they more youthfull made;
人却衰老，在被安置的地方休憩。
But Man grows old, lies down, remains where once he’s laid.
十九
19
其出生比所有的生灵都要高贵，
By birth more noble than those creatures all,
却由于本性与习俗而备受咒骂，
Yet seems by nature and by custom curs’d,
哇哇落地，悲伤和关切中便会
No sooner born, but grief and care makes fall
遭遇扑面而来的遗弃与挞伐:
That state obliterate he had at first:
⻘春、力量和智慧不再奔涌，
Nor youth, nor strength, nor wisdom spring again
名声也不会保持得多么⻓久，
Nor habitations long their names retain,
而是默默无闻直至生命的尽头。
But in oblivion to the final day remain.
二十
20
我是否要夸赞天体、树木和地球
Shall I then praise the heavens, the trees, the earth
因为其美与力量更能持续久⻓，
Because their beauty and their strength last longer
我该希望成其一员、或索性不出丑，
Shall I wish there, or never to had birth,
因为它们远比人类体大而强壮?
Because they’re bigger and their bodyes stronger?
不，它们会黯淡、消褪、腐朽，
Nay, they shall darken, perish, fade and dye,
一俟回归原态，它们便悄无声息，
And when unmade, so ever shall they lye,
而人之意义在于永恒的不朽。
But man was made for endless immortality.
二十一
21
我依偎着秀丽的河边威严的榆树，
Under the cooling shadow of a stately Elm
享受着清新凉爽的树荫的庇护，
Close sate I by a goodly Rivers side,
潺潺的溪流竟征服了河中的岩石;
Where gliding streams the Rocks did overwhelm;
庄严的快乐洋溢在这幽僻之处。
A lonely place, with pleasures dignifi’d.
我曾经深深热爱着这树木的阴凉，
I once that lov’d the shady woods so well,
此时河流会超越树木而后来居上，
Now thought the rivers did the trees excel,
我愿栖居于此，若能永享阳光。
And if the sun would ever shine, there would I dwell.
二十二
22
我凝视着这悄无声息的流水，
While on the stealing stream I fixt mine eye,
它终将抵达心儿向往的海洋，
Which to the long’d-for Ocean held its course,
我看到，弯曲和障碍都难以
I markt, nor crooks, nor rubs that there did lye
阻挡水流，而只会增其力量:
Could hinder ought but still augment its force:
啊快活的溪流，我说，你奔腾
O happy Flood, quoth I, that holds thy race
不息，向着你心爱的地方，
Till thou arrive at thy beloved place,
岩石和险滩都不能把你阻挡。
Nor is it rocks or shoals that can obstruct thy pace.
二十三
23
一已之力岂能让你径直前行，
Nor is’t enough that thou alone may’st slide,
千百条小溪汇于你清澈的波涛，
But hundred brooks in thy cleer waves do meet,
和你手挽手肩并肩一起向前冲
So hand in hand along with thee they glide
直到海王府，在那里拥抱问好:
To Thetis house, where all imbrace and greet:
你乃真的象征(众品行中它最突出)，
Thou Emblem true of what I count the best,
啊，我能否率众小溪去那儿休整，
O could I lead my Rivolets to rest,
好赶往那宽阔的殿堂并永享祝福。
So may we press to that vast mansion, ever blest.
二十四
24
⻥儿你居住在这液体的区域，
Ye Fish which in this liquid Region ’bide
一年四季，拥有自己的居所。
That for each season have your habitation,
你知道该去咸水区还是淡水区，
Now salt, now fresh where you think best to glide
该去哪个海岸游览，若尚未去过。
To unknown coasts to give a visitation,
在湖和塘里，你留下成群的⻥苗，
In Lakes and ponds, you leave your numerous fry,
此乃自然之天性，你却不知晓，
So Nature taught, and yet you know not why,
你的水族伙计亦不知你的好运道。
You watry folk that know not your felicity.
二十五
25
贪玩的⻥儿跳出水面呼吸空气，
Look how the wantons frisk to tast the air,
然后径直潜回家爽清澈的水底，
Then to the colder bottome streight they dive,
随即赶赴海王晶莹剔透的宫殿，
Eftsoon to Neptun’s glassy Hall repair
看那些大佬们忙活些什么交易:
To see what trade they, great ones, there do drive,
他们在广阔的绿色领地里寻觅，
Who forrage o’re the spacious sea-green field,
捕获的猎物投降前不住地战栗;
And take the trembling prey before it yield,
它的矛是鳞片，盾是张开的鳍。
Whose armour is their scales, their spreading fins their shield.
二十六
26
正当我天⻢行空自在地想象，
While musing thus with contemplation fed,
千头万绪在脑海里嗡嗡作响，
And thousand fancies buzzing in my brain,
嗓音甜美的夜莺住在我的上方，
The sweet-tongu’d Philomel percht ore my head,
歌声曲调舒缓、婉转而悠扬，
And chanted forth a most melodious strain
给我惊奇，喜悦，让我如痴如狂，
Which rapt me so with wonder and delight,
我自知听力远比视力更强，
I judg’d my hearing better than my sight,
多希望⻓出翅膀伴它翱翔。
And wisht me wings with her a while to take my flight.
二十七
27
啊快乐的⻦儿，我说，别怕陷阱，
O merry Bird (said I) that fears no snares,
巢穴里既无华美服装也无钱财，
That neither toyles nor hoards up in thy barn,
既不悲伤，也不必痛苦地企图
Feels no sad thoughts, nor cruciating cares
谋取利益，或竭力避免伤害。
To gain more good, or shun what might thee harm
你服装不磨损、⻝物随处在，
Thy clothes ne’re wear, thy meat is every where,
你卧有树枝，渴则饮清泉，
Thy bed a bough, thy drink the water cleer,
不考虑过往，亦不惧未来。
Reminds not what is past, nor whats to come dost fear.
二十八
28
你用歌声来迎接黎明的曙光，
The dawning morn with songs thou dost prevent,
为振翅欲⻜的同类定下曲调，
Sets hundred notes unto thy feathered crew,
使其每一位皆可调弦定音，
So each one tunes his pretty instrument,
旧歌悠扬之际又谱新曲的美妙:
And warbling out the old, begin anew,
它们的⻘春消磨于炎炎盛夏，
And thus they pass their youth in summer season,
然后伴随你进入更好的地域，
Then follow thee into a better Region,
以便⻜翔的歌者逃避冬的可怕。
Where winter’s never felt by that sweet airy legion.
二十九
29
充其量，人只是羸弱虚荣的生物，
Man at the best a creature frail and vain,
他知识上贫乏，力量又单薄，
In knowledge ignorant, in strength but weak,
受制于悲伤、失落、疾病和痛楚，
Subject to sorrows, losses, sickness, pain,
每次⻛暴都使其更加身心贫弱，
Each storm his state, his mind, his body break,
这其中的一些从不曾让他喘息，
From some of these he never finds cessation,
而没日没夜，内外交困，他烦恼于
But day or night, within, without, vexation,
对手、朋友和走得最近的亲戚。
Troubles from foes, from friends, from dearest, near’st Relation.
三十
30
然而有罪的人，羸弱而虚荣，
And yet this sinfull creature, frail and vain,
这不幸的笨汉，负罪而愁苦，
This lump of wretchedness, of sin and sorrow,
这饱经⻛霜的帆船历经磨难，
This weather-beaten vessel wrackt with pain,
并不因无尽的明日而受鼓舞;
Joys not in hope of an eternal morrow;
他所有的失落、沮丧和厌烦，
Nor all his losses, crosses and vexation,
无论程度、次数和时间⻓短，
In weight, in frequency and long duration
他都不抱怨，因志在升天。
Can make him deeply groan for that divine Translation.
三十一
31
水手在平静的水波中滑行，
The Mariner that on smooth waves doth glide,
他欢唱着，自如地驾着小船，
Sings merrily and steers his Barque with ease,
仿佛他能指挥波浪与海⻛，
As if he had command of wind and tide,
摇身一变成为大海的主管;
And now becomes great Master of the seas;
突然，一场⻛暴毁了这表演，
But suddenly a storm spoils all the sport,
使他渴望更加静谧的港湾，
And makes him long for a more quiet port,
充当堡垒将扑面的劲⻛阻拦。
Which ’gainst all adverse winds may serve for fort.
三十二
32
他将在这欢愉的世界里航行，
So he that faileth in this world of pleasure,
这里没有酸楚，他又加些蜜糖，
Feeding on sweets, that never bit of th’ sowre,
这世界充满了朋友、荣誉和财富，
That’s full of friends, of honour and of treasure,
傻瓜，他甚至当地球是天堂的闺房。
Fond fool, he takes this earth ev’n for heav’ns bower,
然而悲哀的伤痛到来，让他明白
But sad affliction comes and makes him see
这里并无荣耀、安全和钱财;
Here’s neither honour, wealth, nor safety;
只有在天上才能保障这一切。
Only above is found all with security.
三十三
33
啊时光，你将世间万物致命摧毁，
O Time the fatal wrack of mortal things,
为帝王贵胄们披了层遗忘的外衣，
That draws oblivions curtains over kings,
其奢华的纪念碑，人们无从知晓，
Their sumptuous monuments, men know them not,
甚至名字，若无记录也被人忘掉，
Their names without a Record are forgot,
其才华和豪奢无不深埋于尘土，
Their parts, their ports, their pomp’s all laid in th’ dust.
才情、财富和宫殿皆难逃锈腐;
Nor wit, nor gold, nor buildings scape times rust;
然而那些名字刻于白石上的人
But he whose name is grav’d in the white stone
将流芳百世，当一切成为过往烟云。
Shall last and shine when all of these are gone.