ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNlNG
伊丽莎白·巴莱特·布朗宁
（1806—1861）

【作者与作品简介】

飞白

The Cry of the Children

Do ye hear the children weeping，O my brothers，

　Ere the sorrow comes with years？¹

They are leaning their young heads against their mothers，

　Andthat cannot stop their tears.

The young lambs are bleating² in the meadows，

　The young birds are chirping in the nest，

The young fawns are playing with the shadows，³

　The young flowers are blowing toward the west —

But the young，young children，O my brothers，

　They are weeping bitterly！

They are weeping in the playtime of the others，

　In the country of the free.

Do you question the young children in the sorrow

　Why their tears are falling so？

The old man may weep for his tomorrow

　Which is lost in Long Ago.

The old tree is leafless in the forest，

　The old year is ending in the frost，

The old wound，if stricken，is the sorest，

　The old hope is hardest to be lost：

But the young，young children，O my brothers，

　Do you ask them why they stand

Weeping sore before the bosoms of their mothers，

　In our happy Fatherland？

They look up with their pale and sunken faces，⁴

　And their looks are sad to see，

For the man's hoary anguish draws and presses

　Down the cheeks of infancy；⁵

“Your old earth” they say，“is very dreary，”

　“Our young feet，” they say，“are very weak；

Few paces have we taken，yet are weary —

　Our grave-rest is very far to seek：⁶

Ask the aged why they weep，and not the children，

　For the outside earth is cold，

And we young ones stand without，in our bewildering，

　And the graves are for the old.⁷”

“True，” say the children，“it may happen

　That we die before our time：⁸

Little Alice died last year，her grave is shapen

　Like a snowball，in the rime.⁹

We looked into the pit¹⁰ prepared to take her：

　Was no room for any work in the close clay！¹¹

From the sleep wherein she lieth none will wake her，

　Crying，‘Get up，little Alice！ it is day.’

If you listen by that grave，in sun and shower，

　With your ear down，little Alice never cries；

Could we see her face，¹² be sure we should not know her，

　For the smile has time for growing in her eyes：

And merry go her moments，¹³ lulled and stilled in

　The shroud by the kirk-chime！¹⁴

It is good when it happens，” say the children，

　“That we die before our time.”

Alas，alas，the children！ they are seeking

　Death in life，as best to have：

They are binding up their hearts away from breaking，

　With a cerement from the grave.¹⁵

Go out，children，from the mine and from the city，

　Sing out，children，as the little thrushes¹⁶ do.

Pluck you handfuls of the meadow-cowslips pretty.

　Laugh aloud，to feel your fingers let them through！

But they answer，“Are your cowslips¹⁷ of the meadows

　Like our weeds anear¹⁸ the mine？

Leave us quiet in the dark of the coal-shadows，

　From your pleasure fair and fine！

“For oh，” say the children，“we are weary，

　And we cannot run or leap；

If we cared for any meadows，it were merely

　To drop in them and sleep.

Our knees tremble sorely in the stooping，¹⁹

　We fall on our faces，trying to go；

And，underneath our heavy eyelids drooping，

　The reddest flower would look as pale as snow.

For，all day，we drag our burden tiring

　Through the coal-dark，underground；

Or，all day，we drive the wheels of iron

　In the factories，round and round.

“For all day the wheels are droning，turning；

　Their wind²⁰ comes in our faces，

Till our hearts turn，our heads²¹ with pulses burning，

　And the walls turn in their places：

Turns the sky²² in the high window blank and reeling，

　Turns the long light that drops adown the wall，

Turn the black flies that crawl along the ceiling，

　All are turning，all the day，and we with all.

And all day the iron wheels are droning，

　And sometimes we could pray，

‘O ye wheels’ （breaking out in a mad moaning）²³

　‘Stop！ be silent for to-day！’”

Ay！ be silent！ Let them hear each other breathing

　For a moment，mouth to mouth！

Let them touch each other's hands，in a fresh wreathing

　Of their tender human youth！²⁴

Let them feel that this cold metallic motion²⁵

　Is not all the life God fashions or reveals：

Let them prove their living souls against the notion

　That they live in you，or under you，²⁶ O wheels！

Still，all day，the iron wheels go onward，

　Grinding life down from its mark；

And the children's souls，which God is calling sunward，

　Spin on blindly in the dark.²⁷

Now tell the poor young children； O my brothers，

　To look up to Him²⁸ and pray；

So the blessèd One²⁹ who blesseth all the others，

　Will bless them another day.

They answer，“Who is God that He should hear us，

　While the rushing of the iron wheels is stirred？

When we sob aloud，the human creatures near us

　Pass by，hearing not，or answer not a word.

Andwehear not （for the wheels in their resounding）

　Strangers speaking at the door.

Is it likely God，with angels singing round Him，

　Hears our weeping any more？

Two words，indeed，of praying we remember，

　And at midnight's hour of harm，

“Our Father，” looking upward in the chamber，

　We know no other words except “Our Father，”³⁰

And we think that，in some pause of angels' song，

　We say softly for a charm.³¹

God may pluck them with the silence sweet to gather，

　And hold both within His right hand which is strong.

“Our Father！” If He heard us，He would surely

　（For they call Him good and mild）

Answer，smiling down the steep world³² very purely，

　“Come rest with me my child.”

“But，no！” say the children，weeping faster，

　“He is speechless as a stone：

And they tell us，of His image is the master

　Who commands us to work on.

Go to！”³³ say children，—“up in Heaven，

　Dark，wheel-like，turning clouds are all we find.

Do not mock us； grief has made us unbelieving：

　We look up of God，but tears have made us blind.”

Do you hear the children weeping and disproving，

　O my brothers，what ye preach？³⁴

For God's possible is taught by His world's loving，³⁵

　And the children doubt of each.

And well may the children weep before you！

　They are weary ere they run.

They have never seen the sunshine，nor the glory³⁶

　Which is brighter than the sun.

They know the grief of man，without his wisdom.³⁷

　They sink in man's despair，without its calm；³⁸

Are slaves，without the liberty in Christdom，

　Are martyrs，by the pang without the palm：³⁹

Are worn，⁴⁰ as if with age，yet unretrievingly

　The harvest of its memories cannot reap，—

Are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly.⁴¹

　Let them weep！ let them weep！

They look up with their pale and sunken faces，

　And their look is dread to see，

For they mind⁴² you of the angels in high places，

　With eyes turned on Deity.

“How long，” they say，“how long，O cruel nation，

　Will you stand，to move the world，on a child's heart，—

Stifle down with a mailed heel⁴³ its palpitation，

　And tread onward to your throne amid the mart？⁴⁴

Our blood splashes upward，O gold-heaper，⁴⁵

　And your purple shows your path！

But the child's sob in the silence curses deeper

　Than the strong man in his wrath.”

【题解】

布朗宁夫人的诗代表了维多利亚时期英国诗歌的风格和艺术水准：结构的严谨平衡，音韵的优美和遣词的精准。也正是这些特点，她遭到了二十世纪现代主义的贬斥。但是，艺术欣赏标准一时的变化却不能动摇她在英国诗坛上永久的地位。其实，布朗宁夫人关心的不只是诗艺和技巧，她更关心社会问题，以时弊作为她诗歌创作的题材。1843年，英国议会了解到煤矿和其他工矿企业残酷地剥削和压榨童工，委托何恩（R.H. Horne）写了一份调查报告。布朗宁夫人读了这份报告之后，义愤填膺，写下了《孩子们的哭声》这首诗。诗中许多内容都来自她的朋友何恩的这份调查报告。

【注释】

1.Ere the sorrow comes with years：与年老俱来的悲哀尚未到来之前； Ere：before.

2.bleating：making the natural cry of a sheep or goat，羊咩咩地叫。第5—8行描写大自然中幼小的花草鸟兽尽情享受生活的乐趣，反衬独有儿童在悲伤地哭泣。

3.fawns are playing with the shadows：幼鹿因好奇而试图捕捉阴影；fawn：（未满一岁的）幼鹿。

4.sunken faces：瘦削凹陷的脸。

5.the man's hoary anguish draws and presses ... infancy：此句意为本来是老年人遭受的苦恼，而现在已经折磨儿童了。

6.Our grave-rest is very far to seek：意为儿童离死亡还很远。

7.Ask the aged why they weep，and not the children ... old：老年人很快就可以进入坟墓，避开寒冷的世界，所以，应该问问他们为什么还要哭呢； the outside earth：（相对于坟墓内的）外面的大地； stand without：stand outside，站在坟墓外面的地上。

8.die before our time：夭折。

9.rime：frost.

10.the pit：墓穴。

11.Was no room for any work in the close clay：there was no room etc.，在这狭窄的土坑里没有干活的余地，指Alice死后不必再干苦役了。

12.Could we see her face：if we could see her face.

13.merry go her moments：她日子过得很快活。

14.kirk-chime：教堂的钟声； kirk：（Scottish ） church.

15.They are binding up their hearts away from breaking ... grave：他们用坟墓中的寿衣把心包起来，免得破碎；cerement：shroud.

16.thrushes：画眉鸟，歌喉优美 （any of numerous small or medium-sized birds of an oscine family which are mostly of a plain color often with spotted underparts and many of which are excellent singers）。

17.cowslips：a common European primrose with fragrant yellow flowers，玄金花。

18.anear：near.

19.knees tremble sorely in the stooping：因在矿里弯腰屈背劳动而双膝颤抖。

20.Their wind：轮子转动时发出的风。

21.our hearts turn，our heads：心跳头晕。

22.Turns the sky：the sky turns，以下两行的结构相同。

23.breaking out in a mad moaning：疯狂痛苦地喊叫起来。

24.touch each other's hands，in a fresh wreathing ... youth：让他们携起手来，使幼弱的青春结合成鲜艳的花环。

25.this cold metallic motion：冰冷的机器的转动。

26.prove their living souls against the notion ... you：证明他们活生生的灵魂并不是要生活在机器轮子之中，或被压在底下。

27.Spin on blindly in the dark：（儿童的灵魂）在黑暗中随着机器盲目地转动。

28.Him：指上帝。

29.the blessèd One：神圣者，亦指上帝。

30.Father：上帝，（三位一体中的）圣父。

31.for a charm：（呼吁上帝）作为消除痛苦的符咒。

32.the steep world：陡峭的世界，喻人世道路巉岩，难以登天。

33.Go to：（archaic ）去你的！

34.what ye preach：what do you preach.

35.God's possible is taught by His world's loving：that God's possible is taught etc.，上帝的世界赐以的仁爱，使人们相信上帝的存在是可能的。换言之，儿童既得不到爱，也就自然而然地怀疑上帝的存在。

36.the glory：the presence of God，the manifestation of God to the blessed in heaven，上帝的显形，天国之福。此句为儿童在矿井里劳动见不到阳光，更得不到比太阳更光彩夺目的上帝的赐福了。

37.They know the grief of man，without his wisdom：他们懂得成人的悲哀，却没有应对哀伤的智慧； his：指grief。儿童不知道如何经受和减轻他们的悲哀。

38.They sink in man's despair，without its calm：他们陷于成人的绝望之中，却没有真正绝望时的那种平静； its：指despair。

39.by the pang without the palm：殉道者遭受苦难，却没有荣誉； palm：象征胜利或荣誉的棕榈叶。

40.Are worn：（they are） worn out.

41.Are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly：they are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly love，他们是人间之爱和天堂之爱的孤儿。

42.mind：remind.

43.a mailed heel：戴上铠甲的脚跟。

44.tread onward to your throne amid the mart：在商业市场上独霸一切。

45.gold-heaper：黄金的积聚者，和上文cruel nation同指剥削压迫童工的统治阶级。

FromSONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE

1

I thought once how Theocritus¹ had sung

Of the sweet years，the dear and wished-for years，

Who each one in a gracious hand appears

To bear a gift for mortals，old or young：

And，as I mused it in his antique tongue，²

I saw，in gradual vision through my tears，³

The sweet，sad years，the melancholy years，

Those of my own life，⁴ who by turns had flung

A shadow across me. Straightway I was 'ware，⁵

So weeping，how a mystic Shape⁶ did move

Behind me，and drew me backward by the hair；

And a voice said in mastery，⁷ while I strove，—

“Guess now who holds thee？”— “Death，” I said. But，there，

The silver answer rang，— “Not Death，but Love.”⁸

10

Yet，love，mere love，is beautiful indeed

And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright，

Let temple burn，or flax；¹ and equal light

Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed：²

And love is fire. And when I say at need³

I love thee... mark！ ...I love thee — in thy sight

I stand transfigured，glorified aright，

With conscience of the new rays that proceed

Out of my face toward thine.⁴ There's nothing low

In love，when love the lowest：⁵ meanest creatures

Who love God，God accepts⁶ while loving so.

And what Ifeel，across the inferior features

Of what Iam，⁷ doth flash itself，and show

How that great work of Love enhances Nature's.⁸

21

Say over again，and yet once over again，

That thou dost love me.¹ Though the word repeated

Should seem “a cuckoo song”，² as thou dost treat it，

Remember，never to the hill or plain，

Valley and wood，without her cuckoo-strain

Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed.³

Belovèd，I，amid the darkness greeted

By a doubtful spirit-voice，in that doubt's pain，

Cry，“Speak once more — thou lovest！”⁴ Who can fear

Too many stars，though each in heaven shall roll，⁵

Too many flowers，though each shall crown the year？

Say thou dost love me，love me，love me — toll

The silver iterance！⁶— only minding，Dear，

To love me also in silence with thy soul.

43

How do I love thee？ Let me count the ways.¹

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach，when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.²

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need，by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely，as men strive for Right；³

I love thee purely，as they turn from Praise.⁴

I love thee with a passion put to use

In my old griefs，⁵ and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints，— I love thee with the breath，

Smiles，tears，of all my life！ — and，if God choose，

I shall but love thee better after death.⁶

【题解】

《葡萄牙十四行诗》是布朗宁夫人假托从葡萄牙文翻译过来的，其实是她真正心灵的写照。在这四十四首诗中，她倾注了全部感情，记录了她和罗伯特·布朗宁历久弥深的爱情。布朗宁夫人从小受过良好的教育，但是，得不到真情。其父过于严酷，死死地看护着他的十一个孩子，都不让他们结婚。伊莉莎白·巴莱特·布朗宁从小体弱，久病在家，对爱情本无指望。爱情的突然到来，她始料未及，她甚至误认为是死亡将她拖离人世（第1首）。病体使她多少有一点自卑感，故她安慰自己只要是火焰，不管来自何种燃烧物，都是光辉耀眼的（第10首）。爱的表示虽然显得单调而重复，但是催成春满人间的杜鹃，其歌声岂不也是如此（第21首）。她表达爱的八种方式，是她感情最强烈的表露（第43首）。也许只有久病不愈而突然枯木逢春的心灵才会有这样炽烈的情感。布朗宁夫人不见得是唯一有此经历的人，但她是绝无仅有的诗才，能将深切的体会和迸发的爱情诉诸笔端，留给后人。

【注释】

第1首

1.Theocritus：忒奥克托斯（310？—250BC），古希腊诗人，流传下来的诗作中最主要的有三十首《田园诗》（Idylls ），带有自然主义的倾向。《田园诗》第十五首的第103—104行的英译文为：Tardiest of Immortals are the beloved Hours，but eagerly looked — for do they come，ever bringing some gift to all mortals. 在希腊神话中，Hours是三位女神，司一年四季之变迁，守护并给人的劳动带来成果。本诗中the years即为三女神，故用who 作为years的关系代词。

2.mused it in his antique tongue：沉思于忒奥克托斯古老的原著之中。

3.in gradual vision through my tears：泪眼朦胧中逐渐看清。

4.Those of my own life：即以上所说的the sweet，sad years，the melancholy years不同于那位古希腊人所描绘的years，而是诗人自己生活的岁月。

5.'ware：aware.

6.a mystic Shape：一个神秘的幽灵。此处暗示诗人早年生活不幸福，而现在又感到一种神秘的力量要把她拖回到当年。

7.And a voice said in mastery：一个威严的声音说。

8.The silver answer rang，—“Not Death，but Love”：诗人以为是死神揪住她的头发，把她拖离人世，但是，原来是爱情要让她恢复青春；The silver answer和a voice said in mastery恰成对比。

第10首

1.Let temple burn，or flax：Let temple or flax burn，不管是神圣的殿堂，还是平凡的亚麻，都让它们烧吧！

2.and equal light ... weed：雪松板或杂草，价值不同，但燃烧时的火焰是一样的。

3.at need：at thy need，in answer to thy urgings，应你的要求。

4.I stand transfigured，glorified aright ... thine：此三行意为我一旦说出 “I love thee”，我在你的心目中立刻出现了一种光辉的形象，意识到自己脸上发出新的光芒射向你的脸上； aright：rightly； conscience：consciousness.

5.when love the lowest：even when the lowest love，此处 love为动词，主语是the lowest。

6.God accepts：宾语是meanest creatures.

7.what Ifeel，the inferior features ...am ：诗人自惭形秽，认为自己容貌平平，但自己的情感炽烈。

8.that great work of Love enhances Nature's：爱情的伟力使大自然给予的容貌变得更加美丽。

第21首

1.thou dost love me：you do love me.

2.a cuckoo song：杜鹊的歌声，重复单调的声音。

3.never to the hill or plain ... completed：the fresh Spring in all her green completed neven comes to the hill or plain，valley or wood，without her cuckoo strain； strain：曲调；in all her green completed：通体披上绿装。

4.thou lovest：you love.

5.roll：（星星的）循环运行。

6.toll ... iterance：用银铃般的噪音再说一遍； silver：表示声音如银铃般清脆，如上面第1首 The silver answer rang。

第43首

1.Let me count the ways：让我来点数爱你的各种方式。以下列举八种I love thee的方式，感情炽烈。

2.feeling out of sight ... Being：groping into infinity to find the purpose of the Universe，在冥冥之中探求宇宙的目标； out of sight：在视程之外； the ends of Being：宇宙存在的目的；ideal Grace：理想（上天的）的恩惠。

3.I love thee freely，as men strive for Right：据惠勒（C.B. Wheeler）注：the efforts of those who are working “to make the crooked straight” are prompted by no outside compulsion，but are the service freely given at the dictates of their own hearts. 意为人们追求正直是出于内心自发的力量，布朗宁夫人的爱情也不是来自任何外力。

4.I love thee purely，as they turn from Praise：爱得纯洁，因而不求得到对方的赞扬，不求报酬。

5.with a passion put to use griefs：用我过去悲伤时所发泄的那种强烈的感情（来爱你）；put to use：使用。此行意为爱情和悲伤的强烈程度是一样的。

6.I shall but love thee better after death：此行总结以上八个I love thee，表明布朗宁夫人死而爱情弥坚的强烈感情。