ALFRED，LORD TENNYSON
阿尔弗雷德·丁尼生
（1809—1892）

【作者与作品简介】

陈维杭

Ulysses

It little profits¹ that an idle king，

By this still hearth，among these barren crags，²

Matched with an aged wife，³ I mete and dole

Unequal laws unto a savage race，⁴

That hoard，and sleep，and feed，⁵ and know not me.⁶

I cannot rest from travel； I will drink

Life to the lees.⁷ All times I have enjoyed

Greatly，have suffered greatly，both with those

That loved me，and alone； on shore，and when

Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades

Vexed the dim sea.⁸ I am become a name；⁹

For always roaming with a hungry heart

Much have I seen and known — cities of men

And manners，climates，councils，governments，

Myself not least，but honored of them all¹⁰ —

And drunk delight of battle with my peers，¹¹

Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.¹²

I am part of all that I have met；¹³

Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough

Gleams that untraveled world whose margin fades

Forever and forever when I move.¹⁴

How dull it is to pause，to make an end.

To rust unburnished，not to shine in use！¹⁵

As though to breathe were life！ Life piled on life

Were all too little，and of one to me

Little remains；¹⁶ but every hour is saved

From that eternal silence，something more，

A bringer of new things；¹⁷ and vile it were

For some three suns to store and hoard myself，¹⁸

And this gray spirit yearning in desire¹⁹

To follow knowledge like a sinking star，

Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

This is my son，mine own Telemachus，²⁰

To whom I leave the scepter and the isle²¹ —

Well-loved of me，²² discerning to fulfill

This labor，by slow prudence to make mild

A rugged people，and through soft degrees

Subdue them to the useful and the good.²³

Most blameless is he，centered in the sphere

Of common duties，decent not to fail

In offices of tenderness，²⁴ and pay

Meet adoration to my household gods，²⁵

When I am gone. He works his work，I mine.

There lies the port； the vessel puffs her sail；

There gloom the dark，broad seas. My mariners，

Souls²⁶ that have toiled，and wrought，²⁷ and thought with me —

That ever with a frolic welcome took

The thunder and the sunshine，²⁸ and opposed

Free hearts，free foreheads²⁹ — you and I are old；

Old age hath yet his honor and his toil.

Death closes all；³⁰ but something ere³¹ the end，

Some work of noble note，³² may yet be done，

Not unbecoming men that strove with gods.³³

The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks；

The long day wanes； the slow moon climbs； the deep³⁴

Moans round with many voices. Come，my friends.

'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off，and sitting well in order smite

The sounding furrows；³⁵ for my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset，and the baths

Of all the western stars，³⁶ until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down；

It may be that we shall touch the Happy Isles，³⁷

And see the great Achilles，³⁸ whom we knew.

Though much is taken，much abides； and though

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven，that which we are，we are³⁹ —

One equal temper of heroic hearts，⁴⁰

Made weak by time and fate，but strong in will

To strive，to seek，to find，and not to yield.

【题解】

丁尼生此诗取材于但丁的《神曲·地狱篇》（The Divine Comedy：The Inferno ）第二十六节。但丁在这诗篇中描述尤利西斯（即希腊神话中的奥德修斯）因在特洛伊战争中所犯的罪愆而在熊熊烈火中烧烤，以及他的自述。据但丁所编的故事，特洛伊战争结束之后，尤利西斯始终没有回到他的故乡伊萨卡岛（Ithaca），他动员一些部下和他一起到直布罗陀海峡以西的海域去探险。他鼓动手下将士说：“Consider your origin：you were not made to live as brutes，but to pursue virtue and knowledge.” 丁尼生对但丁的故事略作改动，结合荷马《奥德修纪》（Odyssey ）第12—24章的内容，编了不同于两者的故事。在这里，尤利西斯回到伊萨卡，和妻子珀涅罗庇、儿子堤莱莫克斯团聚，并重新掌管他的王国的事务。但是，他很快就感到百无聊赖，又想重返冒险生涯。本诗叙述他号召和他一起战斗过的部下，再次出去干一番惊天动地的事业。丁尼生曾说明，在好友亚瑟·哈勒姆（Arthur Hallam）不幸亡故之后，他本身也“需要向前进，直面人生的斗争” （need to going forward and braving the struggle of life）。

【注释】

1.It little profits：这样的情况几乎毫无意义；It：是that an idle king etc. 这个从句的先行词。

2.By this still hearth，among these barren crags：在这草木不长的巉岩之中，坐在家里这安静的壁炉旁边； hearth：常表示安逸舒适的家庭生活； barren crags：伊萨卡岛上尽是巨大的岩石。

3.Matched with an aged wife：一个是百无聊赖的国王（an idle king），守着一个年迈的妻子，正好是一对。

4.I mete and dole ... race：I measure out rewards and punishment，我赏罚岛上未开化的土著居民； mete和dole都表示 to give out by measure，而且都和out组成动词短语，但mete out指处罚 （to mete out punishment），而 dole out指给予或施舍（ to give or distribute as a charity）； unequal laws：不同的法律，指惩罚或奖赏。

5.That hoard，and sleep，and feed：这里表露了尤利西斯对未开化民族的鄙视；hoard：囤积吃的和用的东西。按：比较莎士比亚《哈姆雷特》（Hamlet）4.4.33—35：What is a man，/ If his chief good and market of his time / Be but to sleep and feed？ A beast，no more.

6.know not me：do not know me.

7.drink ... lees：意为不愿如此消磨时光，而要把生命之酒一饮而尽；lees：the sediment or dregs of liquor （as wine） during fermentation and aging，dregs，酒滓；注意，此词为复数，单数lee很少用。

8.All times I have enjoyed ... sea：第7—11行这一句意为：尤利西斯在家时，既和家人一起享受天伦之乐，又独自忍受煎熬；而他在海上经历惊涛骇浪时，则是完全独自在享受生活，同时又经受磨难；on shore，and when：and连接两个状语结构，即on shore 和when ... sea。按：Hyades是金牛宫的毕星团，据说该星团在日出时出现，天就会下雨，故云rainy Hyades； scudding drifts：driving showers of spray and rain.

9.I am become a name：我已经徒有虚名；am become：have become； 一些特殊联系动词的完成时态不用have 而用be作助动词，是英语较早期的用法。

10.Myself not least，but honored of them all：我虽然不是最微不足道的，但是颇受大家尊重； Myself 与cities of men And manners 等并列； of：by； 参看第35行：Well-loved of me.

11.drunk delight of battle with my peers：和我的同僚们共享战斗的愉悦；和第6—7行I will drink Life to the lees相呼应； peers：companions.

12.ringing plains of windy Troy：烽火连天、干戈震耳的特洛伊平原上；ringing：干戈四起之声；windy：特洛伊城并不见得风特别大，只是表示战火连天的意思。特洛伊王子帕里斯在希腊斯巴达王麦尼劳斯宫中看上其妻海伦之后，将海伦拐走，麦尼劳斯和其兄弟迈西尼国王阿迦门侬兴师讨伐，包围特洛伊城，这一仗打了十年，最后尤利西斯用木马计将城攻陷。在但丁的《神曲·地狱篇》（The Divine Comedy：The Inferno ）第二十六节中，尤利西斯因使用木马计而遭受烈火焚烧。

13.I am part of all that I have met：我和大家同甘苦，共患难。

14.Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough ... move：经验就像一座拱门，通过这道门，我可以看见那个未曾涉足的世界在闪光，而这个世界的边际，却随着我往前移动而永远不停地消退；wherethrough Gleams that untraveled world：through which that untraveled world gleams； whose margin fades Forever and forever when I move：比喻探索的世界永无止境。

15.How dull it is to pause，to make an end ... use：比较莎士比亚《特洛伊斯和克里斯达》（Troilus and Cressida ）中尤利西斯的演说，3.3.150—153：Perseverance，dear my lord，/ Keeps honor bright； to have done，is to hang / Quite out of fashion，like a rusty mail / in monumental mockery.

16.Life piled on life ... remains：人生即使有多次生命也是短暂的，更何况我的一次生命已经剩下不多了。

17.every hour is saved ... things：只要有一些新的动态，带来新东西，那么，每个小时都会得到利用，而不是消失在永久的沉寂之中；eternal silence：指人死后永远沉寂； something more：with something more.

18.vile it were ... myself：第五行鄙视未开化的土著人只知道藏吃的东西（hoard），吃、喝、睡，而此处谴责自己“藏”着三年的岁月不加以利用；vile it were：it would be vile； three suns：三年，一般作三天解。

19.And this gray spirit yearning in desire：with this gray spirit etc.，尤利西斯已经年老，故曰“白头”（gray spirit），颇有“老当益壮，宁移白首之心”的精神。

20.mine own Telemachus：尤利西斯的儿子堤莱莫克斯； mine：my，以元音起首的词前面用mine，不用my。

21.To whom I leave the scepter and the isle：尤利西斯准备把统治伊萨卡的权力交给儿子； scepter：节杖，象征国王的权力。

22.Well-loved of me：well-loved by me； 参看第十五行：honored of them all.

23.discerning to fulfill ... good：堤莱莫克斯非常精明，懂得如何来管理好这个地方（to fulfill This labor），知道要耐心谨慎地（slow prudence）改造这一个粗野的民族（make mild A rugged people）的性格，要用温和的方式，逐步地 （through soft degrees） 教育和约束（Subdue）他们，使他们成为有用之人和好人。

24.In offices of tenderness：温和地处事； offices：an assigned or assumed duty，task，or role.

25.pay ... gods：非常懂规矩地供奉家里敬的保护神； Meet：adj. fitting.

26.Souls：persons，指mariners.

27.wrought：worked.

28.with a frolic welcome took ...sunshine：以欢愉的心情迎接风雷和烈日。

29.opposed ... foreheads：反对空虚的心灵和头脑。下行说，即使年老，也应该有其尊严和劳作；free：having no obligations or commitment，没有任务的或责任的。按：另有解释为opposed 和took并列，其宾语为the thunder and the sunshine，但是，从句子结构来看，关系代词that （i.e. my mariners） 是这个插入语的主语，took和opposed都是其谓语动词，free hearts and free forehead应该是opposed的宾语，如果理解为opposed 的主语，似乎勉强；free这个词，习惯上都作为褒义词，这里更可能是贬义词，谓心灵空虚，无所事事。

30.Death closes all：死亡封闭了一切，即做什么事情都不可能了。

31.ere：before.

32.Some work of noble note：宏伟大业；note：importance，significance.

33.Not unbecoming men that strove with gods：（这种宏伟大业） 和那些敢于和诸神一争高低的人是很相称的。按：古希腊的宗教是泛神论，奥林帕斯山上有很多神，彼此之间斗争不断，人和神也会发生冲突。这和基督教的一神论是不同的，基督教的神是不可挑战的。

34.the deep：the sea.

35.smite ... furrows：在惊涛骇浪中击浆； furrows：原指犁翻过的地，船在水上航行时留下的波痕。

36.the baths ... stars：古希腊人认为平地的外面都是一片汪洋，西下的星星都沉入海底。

37.the Happy Isles：极乐岛，即Elysium，希腊神话中人死之后去的地方（the abode of the blessed dead），又称the Islands of the Blessed，据说在世界尽头以西的大洋里。

38.Achilles：阿基里斯和尤利西斯一起参加特洛伊战争。他死于帕里斯（Paris）手中。根据希腊人的信念，阿基里斯死后应该住在极乐岛。

39.We are not now that strength which in old days ... are：我们已经不像当年那样如此英勇神武，可以移山填海，可是我们毕竟还是我们。

40.One equal temper of heroic hearts：同样气质的英雄胆略。

Tithonus

The woods decay，the woods decay and fall，

The vapors weep their burthen to the ground，¹

Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath，²

And after many a summer dies the swan.³

Me only cruel immortality

Consumes：⁴ I wither slowly in thine arms，⁵

Here at the quiet limit of the world，⁶

A white-haired shadow⁷ roaming like a dream

The ever-silent spaces of the East，

Far-folded mists，⁸ and gleaming halls of morn.⁹

　Alas！ for this gray shadow，once a man¹⁰ —

So glorious in his beauty and thy choice，¹¹

Who madest him thy chosen，that he seemed¹²

To his great heart none other than a God！

I asked thee，“Give me immortality.”¹³

Then didst thou grant mine asking with a smile，¹⁴

Like wealthy men who care not how they give.

But thy strong Hours indignant¹⁵ worked their wills，

And beat me down and marred and wasted me，

And tho'¹⁶ they could not end me，left me maimed

To dwell in presence of immortal youth，¹⁷

Immortal age beside immortal youth，

And all I was，in ashes.¹⁸ Can thy love，

Thy beauty，make amends，tho' even now，

Close over us，the silver star，thy guide，

Shines in those tremulous eyes¹⁹ that fill with tears

To hear me？ Let me go：take back thy gift：

Why should a man desire in any way

To vary from the kindly race of men，²⁰

Or pass beyond the goal of ordinance²¹

Where all should pause，as is most meet²² for all？

　A soft air fans the cloud apart； there comes

A glimpse of that dark world²³ where I was born.

Once more the old mysterious glimmer steals

From thy pure brows，²⁴ and from thy shoulders pure，

And bosom beating with a heart renewed.²⁵

Thy cheek begins to redden thro' the gloom，

Thy sweet eyes brighten slowly close to mine，

Ere yet they blind the stars，²⁶ and the wild team²⁷

Which love thee，yearning for thy yoke，arise，

And shake the darkness from their loosened manes，

And beat the twilight into flakes of fire.

　Lo！ ever thus thou growest beautiful

In silence，then before thine answer given

Departest，²⁸ and thy tears are on my cheek.

　Why wilt²⁹ thou ever scare me with thy tears，

And make me tremble lest a saying learnt，

In days far-off，on that dark earth，be true？

“The Gods themselves cannot recall their gifts.”

　Ay me！³⁰ ay me！ with what another heart

In days far-off，and with what other eyes

I used to watch — if I be he that watched³¹ —

The lucid outline forming round thee； saw

The dim curls kindle into sunny rings；

Changed with thy mystic change，and felt my blood

Glow with the glow that slowly crimsoned all

Thy presence and thy portals，while I lay，

Mouth，forehead，eyelids，growing dewy-warm

With kisses balmier than half-opening buds

Of April，and could hear the lips that kissed

Whispering I knew not what of wild and sweet，³²

Like that strange song I heard Apollo sing，³³

While Ilion like a mist rose into towers.

　Yet hold me not for ever in thine East：

How can my nature longer mix with thine？

Coldly thy rosy shadows bathe me，cold

Are all thy lights，and cold my wrinkled feet

Upon thy glimmering thresholds，when the steam

Floats up from those dim fields about the homes

Of happy men that have the power to die，

And grassy barrows of the happier dead.³⁴

Release me，and restore me to the ground；

Thou seest all things，thou wilt see my grave：

Thou wilt renew thy beauty morn by morn；

I earth in earth forget these empty courts，³⁵

And thee returning on thy silver wheels.

【题解】

Tithonus，提托诺斯，特洛伊王子，为黎明女神爱欧斯 （Eos，亦称Aurora）所爱。爱欧斯求天神宙斯赐长生于提托诺斯，但因一时疏忽，忘了请求赐予永远年轻。提托诺斯日渐衰老，虽居于天神之宫，却因不能经历正常的由生至死的途径而感到苦恼乏味。他感到只有 “万寿无疆”，而不是死亡，才是 “残酷”的。

【注释】

1.The vapors weep their burthen to the ground：意为水气化为露水而消亡。

2.lies beneath：死后入土。

3.after many a summer dies the swan：有些种类的天鹅至少可以活五十年。

4.Me only cruel immortality Consumes：only cruel immortality consumes me，只有残酷的长生在消耗着我。

5.I wither slowly in thine arms：我在你的怀抱里枯萎； thine：thy，后接以元音起首的名词，如下mine asking。

6.the quiet limit of the world：黎明女神之宫殿。

7.A white-haired shadow：白发苍苍的影子，指年老衰弱的提托诺斯。

8.Far-folded mists：弥漫远近的雾。

9.gleaming halls of morn：早晨的天宫一片光明； morn：morning. 按：第9—10两行都是roaming的宾语。

10.once a man：曾经是一个年轻的男子。

11.thy choice：你的意中人。

12.Who madest him thy chosen，that he seemed：who的先行词为thy （你的）所暗示的 thou （你），这种结构比较古旧； madest是与thou配合的动词形式； thy chosen：你的意中人； that he seemed：that和上行的so呼应。

13.I asked thee，“Give me immortality”：此处诗人把赐予长生的天神宙斯改为黎明神爱欧斯。

14.didst thou grant mine asking with a smile：你微笑着答应了我的请求； didst：did； mine asking：my asking.

15.thy strong Hours indignant：你那威力强大的 “时间” 在一怒之下； indignant：being indignant.

16.tho'：though.

17.immortal youth：指黎明女神。

18.in ashes：指衰弱的身体如灰烬一般。

19.those tremulous eyes：指黎明女神的眼光。

20.To vary from the kindly race of men：和常人不同； kindly：（archaic ） natural，belong to the kind or race，自然的，正常的。

21.beyond the goal of ordinance：超过人类天定的寿数；the goal of ordinance：what is decreed or ordained as human destiny.

22.meet：fitting，合适的；此行意为到了天定的限度（goal），一切都得终止（pause），这是顺理成章的。

23.that dark world：指地球，尘世。

24.the old mysterious glimmer steals ... brows：指曙光从黎明女神的身上散发出来，此处的brows 和 下行的shoulders，bosom都表示女神发光的部位。

25.with a heart renewed：黎明女神每天都有一颗新的心，意为每天都有新生。

26.Ere yet they blind the stars：直到群星在你的光芒下黯然失色； Ere：before.

27.the wild team：the horses that draw Eos's Chariots into the sky at daybreak.

28.Departest：黎明女神不回答我的请求就走了；“请求”指Let me go； take back thy gift.

29.wilt：will.

30.Ay me：alas.

31.if I be he that watched：但愿我还是当年的那位守望者； 虚拟式。

32.I knew not what of wild and sweet：我不知是哪种狂热和甜蜜的语言。

33.that strange song I heard Apollo sing：传说特洛伊城是在阿波罗的音乐的伴奏声中建筑起来的。

34.grassy barrows：长满草的坟墓；barrow：an ancient earth-built grave-mound；happier dead：活人能死 （have the power to die） 是幸福的，死后则更加幸福。

35.I earth in earth forget these empty courts：我这出于土而入于土之人，将会忘记这空虚的宫殿； these empty courts：指黎明女神之宫。《旧约·创世记》（Genesis ）3：19：In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread，till thou return unto the ground； for out of it wast thou taken； for thou art dust，and unto dust shalt thou return. （你必汗流满面才得糊口，直到你归了土，因为你是从土而出的。你本是尘土，仍要归于尘土。）

Break，Break，Break

Break，break，break，

On thy cold gray stones，O Sea！

And I would¹ that my tongue could utter

The thoughts that arise in me.

O，well for² the fisherman's boy，

That he shouts with his sister at play！

O，well for the sailor lad，

That he sings in his boat on the bay！

And the stately ships go on

To their haven under the hill；

But O for the touch of a vanished hand，³

And the sound of a voice⁴ that is still！

Break，break，break，

At the foot of thy crags，O Sea！

But the tender grace of a day⁵ that is dead

Will never come back to me.

【题解】

丁尼生的好友亚瑟·哈勒姆（Arthur Hallam）英年早逝，给他造成很大的心理冲击。这首诗表达了他对朋友的怀念，他对世界和生活的看法。诗写得非常简单，然而感情强烈，题目Break，Break，Break 呼唤海浪猛烈地冲撞海岸边的岩石，就像他自己心中涌起的无数思绪那样。他所描写的海上渔民的孩子的嬉戏，以及青年水手的歌唱未必一定是当时当地的实际情景，可能更多是他的想象，是他所创造的一种意象。一个生命的不幸终止，使他无限惋惜，但悲痛之中，他还是看到了世界的生命力，希望纯朴而美好的生活能够继续。

【注释】

1.would：wish.

2.O，well for：感叹语，意为 “好啊！” 或是 “为……感到高兴”。

3.But O for the touch of a vanished hand：要是能摸到一只消失的手，那多么好啊！诗人哀悼亡友亚瑟·哈勒姆，但愿再次握到他的手。

4.And the sound of a voice：And for the sound of voice etc..

5.the tender grace of a day：意为美好的日子。

Sonnet

How thought you that this thing could captivate？¹

What are those graces that could make her dear，²

Who is not worth the notice of a sneer，

To rouse the vapid devil of her hate？³

A speech conventional，so void of weight，⁴

That after it has buzzed about one's ear，

'Twere rich refreshment for a week to hear

The dentist babble or the barber prate；⁵

A hand displayed with many a little art；

An eye that glances on her neighbor's dress；

A foot too often shown for my regard；⁶

An angel's form — a waiting-woman's heart；⁷

A perfect-featured face，expressionless，

Insipid，as the Queen upon a card.⁸

【题解】

丁尼生曾经爱上一位名叫罗沙·巴林（Rosa Baring）的美丽而高贵的年轻姑娘。后不久即对她失望，此诗疑与这段纠葛有关。

【注释】

1.How thought you that this thing could captivate：how could you think that etc.； this thing：所指不确，或许指这位女士的容貌，或许指下面所述的种种行为。大意是：你怎能以为这种样子可以使人对你入迷呢？

2.What are those graces that could make her dear：她有哪些风采和特点使她高贵呢； grace：a charming or attractive trait or characteristic，a pleasing appearance or effect，charm； dear：highly valued，precious.

3.Who is not worth the notice of a sneer ... hate：此句意为谁都会遭到她的嘲笑和蔑视，使她大动肝火，引发她的刻薄和憎恨；vapid devil of her hate：指她的仇恨心态像一个潜伏的魔鬼，动不动就会被挑逗起来；vapid：lacking liveliness，dull.

4.weight：importance，分量。

5.'Twere rich refreshment for a week to hear ... prate：听了她陈词滥调，言之无物的讲话之后，即使整整一个星期听牙医和理发师喋喋不休地吹牛，也会感到是一种莫大的享受；'Twere：it were，it would be，虚拟式。

6.A hand displayed with many a little art ... regard：这三行描写的情形都说明了姑娘的浅薄。

7.a waiting-woman's heart：女佣的心态；和天使的形体（angel's form） 形成对比，女佣的心无非是平常人的心，并无突出之处。

8.the Queen upon a card：扑克牌上的王后。

FromTHE PRINCESS

Tears，Idle Tears

Tears，idle tears，I know not what they mean，

Tears from the depth of some divine despair

Rise in the heart，and gather to the eyes，

In looking on the happy Autumn-fields，

And thinking of the days that are no more.

Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail，

That brings our friends up from the underworld，

Sad as the last¹ which reddens over one

That sinks with all we love below the verge；

So sad，so fresh，the days that are no more.

Ah，sad and strange as in dark summer dawns

The earliest pipe² of half-awakened birds

To dying ears，when unto dying eyes

The casement³ slowly grows a glimmering square；

So sad，so strange，the days that are no more.

Dear as remembered kisses after death，

And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned

On lips that are for others； deep as love，

Deep as first love，and wild with all regret；

O Death in Life，the days that are no more.

【题解】

选自长篇叙事诗《公主》（The Princess ）中的若干插曲短歌之一。诗人自注：“This song came to me on the yellowing autumntide at Tintern Abbey，full for me of its bygone memories.” （我在丁登寺的金黄色的秋景中想起忘却的往事，命笔成诗。） 又云：“It is what I have always felt even from a boy，and what as a boy I called the ‘passion of the past.’ And it is so always with me now； it is the distance that charms me in the landscape，the picture and the past，and not the immediate today in which I move.” （ 即使我在少年时代，都曾有此感受，并在当时称为 “往昔的热情”。我现在依然如故。使我醉心的是风景、图画和往事中的距离，而不是我活动于其中的当今。） 丁尼生在此处可能联想到华兹华斯的诗《丁登寺旁》（Tintern Abbey），以及葬在布里斯托尔（Bristol） 海峡对面的亡友亚瑟·哈勒姆（Arthur Hallam）。

【注释】

1.the last：the last beam.

2.pipe：鸟鸣声。

3.casement：（poetic ） window，窗扉。按：此节关于仲夏鸟鸣，幽暗阴郁，以及将死的感官（dying ears，dying eyes） 等等的描写，颇受济慈《夜莺颂》（Ode to a Nightingale ） 的影响。尤其是casement一词，与济慈该诗中的浪漫主义名句有关：The same that oft-times hath / Charm'd magic casements，opening on the foam / Of perilous seas，in faery lands forlorn. 参见本书关于这首诗的注释。

The Woman's Cause Is Man's

“Blame not thyself too much，”I said，“nor blame

Too much the sons of men and barbarous laws；

These were the rough ways of the world till now.

Henceforth thou hast¹ a helper，me，that know

The woman's cause is man's：they rise or sink

Together，dwarfed or godlike，bond or free：

For she that out of Lethe scales with man

The shining steps of Nature，² shares with man

His nights，his days，moves with him to one goal，

Stays all the fair young planet in her hands³ —

If she be small，slight-natured，⁴ miserable，

How shall men grow？ but work no more alone！

Our place is much：as far as in us lies

We two will serve them both in aiding her⁵ —

Will clear away the parasitic forms

That seem to keep her up but drag her down⁶ —

Will leave her space to burgeon out of all

Within her — let her make herself her own

To give or keep，to live and learn and be

All that not harms distinctive womanhood.

For woman is not undevelopt⁷ man，

But diverse：could we make her as the man，

Sweet Love were slain：⁸ his dearest bond is this，

Not like to like，but like in difference.⁹

Yet in the long years liker must they grow；¹⁰

The man be more of woman，she of man；¹¹

He gain in sweetness and in moral height，

Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world；¹²

She mental breadth，nor fail in childward care，¹³

Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind；¹⁴

Till at the last she set herself to man，

Like perfect music unto noble words；¹⁵

And so these twain，upon the skirts of Time，¹⁶

Sit side by side，full-summed in all their powers，¹⁷

Dispensing harvest，sowing the To-be，¹⁸

Self-reverent each and reverencing each，¹⁹

Distinct in individualities，

But like each other even as those who love.

Then comes the statelier Eden back to men：²⁰

Then reign the world's great bridals，chaste and calm：

Then springs the crowning race of humankind.

May these things be！”²¹

　　　　　　　　　　　　Sighing she spoke “I fear

They will not.”

　　　　　　　　“Dear，but let us type them now

In our own lives，²² and this proud watchword²³ rest

Of equal； seeing either sex alone

Is half itself，and in true marriage lies

Nor equal，nor unequal：²⁴ each fulfils

Defect in each，and always thought in thought，

Purpose in purpose，will in will，they grow，²⁵

The single pure and perfect animal，

The two-celled heart²⁶ beating，with one full stroke，

Life.”

　And again sighing she spoke：“A dream

That once was mind！ what woman taught you this？”

【题解】

长篇叙事诗《公主》（The Princess ） 描写一位王子追求美丽的公主艾达（Ida），但是艾达另有追求，办了一所女子大学，男生不得介入。她还发誓终身不嫁。最后，她不得不承认她这场女性运动的实验归于失败。王子努力劝她相信，建立男女之间一种完美理想关系，是有可能的。此处选自第七章中王子劝慰艾达的一段关键的话。

【注释】

1.thou hast：you have.

2.she that out of Lethe scales with man ... Nature：女人和男人一起沿着自然界闪光的阶梯从冥间来到人间； Lethe：冥间一条河，人在出生之前饮其水则忘却过去的一切； scales：mounts，攀登。

3.Stays all the fair young planet in her hands：在她的手中呵护着所有幼小美丽的星球；指生儿育女，把他们抚养大； planet：形式是单数，但有复数之意。

4.slight-natured：心胸狭窄。

5.Our place is much：as far as in us lies ... her：意为我们的天地很广阔，只要我们之间有这块天地，我们就可以通过帮助女性来帮助男女双方。

6.the parasitic forms ...down：这里似乎指缠绕在树上的各种寄生植物，似乎在扶着大树，其实是在拖累它；同样，女性在社会上也受到各种牵制，看起来是在扶持她们，其实是在限制她们。

7.undevelopt：undeveloped.

8.could we make her as the man ... slain：如果我们把女人变成男人，那么甜蜜的爱情就会被扼杀。

9.Not like to like，but like in difference：意为男人和女人不是完全相同的，而是在不同之中有相似之处。

10.liker must they grow：他们必将变得更加相似。

11.The man be more of woman，she of man：The man would be more of woman，she would be more of man，男人将会具有更多的女人的特性，女人亦将具有更多的男人的特性。以下一系列动词前均省去would。

12.Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world：也不会失去摔跤手那种强健的征服世界的力量； thews：muscle，sinew，usually used in plural，肌肉，筋腱； throw：摔跤比赛中把对方摔倒在地，此处意为征服。

13.She mental breadth，nor fail in childward care：她的心胸和精神境界将变得更加开阔，而在照料孩子方面却毫不逊色； She mental breadth：she would gain mental breadth.

14.Nor lose the childlike in the larger mind：心胸宽广却又不失赤子之心。

15.she set herself to man ... words：她和男人密切地配合，犹如为崇高的词语配上乐曲。

16.twain：一对男女；the skirts of Time：时间的裙边，喻良辰美景。

17.full-summed in all their powers：他们所有的力量都结合在一起。

18.Dispensing harvest，sowing the To-be：分享收获，播种未来； To-be：future.

19.Self-reverent each and reverencing each：各人都尊重自己，各人都尊重对方； reverence：动词，即revere。

20.Then comes the statelier Eden back to men：更加雄伟庄严的伊甸乐园回到了人间。Eden：《圣经》所载人类始祖居住的乐园。

21.May these things be：但愿这一切成为现实。

22.let us type them now ... lives：让我们在自己的生活中先做出表率； type：to symbolize，to exemplify.

23.this proud watchword：即 “let us type them now In our own lives” 这句话。

24.in true marriage lies ... unequal：在真正的婚姻中无所谓平等或不平等，意为双方各有的都只是互相补充对方之不足。

25.thought in thought ... grow：男女在成长过程中的思想、目标和意志都是相同的。

26.The two-celled heart：意为男女两颗结合在一起的心脏。

FromIN MEMORIAM A. H. H.

8

A happy lover who has come

To look on her that loves him well，

Who 'lights¹ and rings the gateway bell，

And learns her gone and far from home；

He saddens，all the magic light

Dies off at once from bower and hall，

And all the place is dark，and all

The chambers emptied of delight：

So find I every pleasant spot

In which we two were wont to meet，

The field，the chamber，and the street，

For all is dark where thou art² not.

Yet as that other，wandering there

In those deserted walks，may find

A flower beat with³ rainand wind，

Which once she fostered up with care；

So seems it in my deep regret，

O my forsaken heart，with thee

And this poor flower of poesy

Which little cared for fades not yet.

But since it pleased a vanished eye，

I go to plant it on his tomb，

That if it can it there may bloom，

Or，dying，there at least may die.

11

Calm is the morn without a sound，

Calm as to suit a calmer grief，

And only thro' the faded leaf

The chestnut pattering to the ground：

Calm and deep peace on this high world，¹

And on these dews that drench the furze，²

And all the silvery gossamers³

That twinkle into green and gold：

Calm and still light on yon great plain

That sweeps with all its autumn bowers，

And crowded farms and lessening towers，

To mingle with the bounding main：

Calm and deep peace in this wide air，

These leaves that redden to the fall；

And in my heart，if calm at all，

If any calm，a calm despair：

Calm on the seas，and silver sleep，

And waves that sway themselves in rest，

And dead calm in that noble breast

Which heaves but with the heaving deep.⁴

19

The Danube to the Severn gave

The darkened heart that beat no more；¹

They laid him by the pleasant shore，

And in the hearing of the wave.

There twice a day the Severn fills；²

The salt sea-water passes by，

And hushes half the babbling Wye，³

And makes a silence in the hills.

The Wye is hushed nor moved along，

And hushed my deepest grief of all，

When filled with tears that cannot fall，

I brim with sorrow drowning song.

The tide flows down，the wave again

Is vocal in its wooded walls；

My deeper anguish also falls，

And I can speak a little then.

27

I envy not in any moods

The captive void of noble rage，¹

The linnet² born within the cage，

That never knew the summer woods：

I envy not the beast that takes

His license in the field of time，³

Unfettered by the sense of crime，

To whom a conscience never wakes；

Nor，what may count itself as blest，

The heart that never plighted troth⁴

But stagnates in the weeds of sloth；

Nor any want-begotten rest.⁵

I hold it true，whate'er befall；

I feel it，when I sorrow most；

'Tis⁶ better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all.

54

O，yet we trust that¹ somehow good

Will be the final goal of ill，²

To pangs of nature，sins of will，

Defects of doubt，and taints of blood；

That nothing walks with aimless feet；

That not one life shall be destroyed，

Or cast as rubbish to the void，

When God hath made the pile complete；³

That not a worm is cloven in vain；

That not a moth with vain desire

Is shriveled in a fruitless fire，

Or but subserves another's gain.⁴

Behold，we know not anything；

I can but trust that good shall fall

At last — far off — at last，to all，

And every winter change to spring.

So runs my dream：but what am I？

An infant crying in the night：

An infant crying for the light：

And with no language but a cry.

55

The wish，that of the living whole

No life may fail beyond the grave，¹

Derives it not from what we have

The likest God within the soul？²

Are God and Nature then at strife，³

That Nature lends such evil dreams？

So careful of the type she seems，⁴

So careless of the single life；

That I，considering everywhere

Her secret meaning in her deeds，

And finding that of fifty seeds

She often brings but one to bear，

I falter where I firmly trod，

And falling with my weight of cares

Upon the great world's altar-stairs

That slope thro' darkness up to God，⁵

I stretch lame hands of faith，and grope，⁶

And gather dust and chaff，and call

To what I feel is Lord of all，

And faintly trust the larger hope.⁷

56

“So careful of the type？”but no.

From scarped cliff and quarried stone¹

She² cries，“A thousand types are gone：

I care for nothing，all shall go.

“Thou makest thine appeal to me：

I bring to life，I bring to death：

The spirit does but mean the breath：³

I know no more.” And he，shall he，⁴

Man，her last work，who seemed so fair，

Such splendid purpose in his eyes，

Who rolled the psalm to wintry skies，⁵

Who built him fanes⁶ of fruitless prayer，

Who trusted God was love indeed

And love Creation's final law⁷ —

Tho' Nature，red in tooth and claw

With ravine，shrieked against his creed⁸ —

Who loved，who suffered countless ills，

Who battled for the True，the Just，

Be blown about the desert dust，

Or sealed within the iron hills？⁹

No more？ A monster then，a dream，

A discord. Dragons of the prime，

That tare each other in their slime，¹⁰

Were mellow music matched with¹¹ him.

O life as futile，then，as frail！

O for thy voice to soothe and bless！

What hope of answer，or redress？

Behind the veil，behind the veil.

118

Contèmplate all this work of Time，

The giant labouring in his youth；¹

Nor dream of human love and truth，

As dying Nature's earth and lime；

But trust that those we call the dead

Are breathers of an ampler day

For ever nobler ends. They² say，

The solid earth whereon we tread

In tracts of fluent heat began，

And grew to seeming-random forms，

The seeming prey of cyclic storms，

Till at the last arose the man；

Who throve and branch'd from clime to clime，³

The herald of a higher race，

And of himself in higher place，

If so he type this work of time

Within himself，from more to more；⁴

Or，crown'd with attributes of woe

Like glories，⁵ move his course，and show

That life is not as idle ore，

But iron dug from central gloom，

And heated hot with burning fears，

And dipt in baths of hissing tears，

And batter'd with the shocks of doom

To shape and use. Arise and fly

The reeling Faun，⁶ the sensual feast；

Move upward，working out the beast，⁷

And let the ape and tiger die.

123

There rolls the deep where grew the tree.¹

O earth，what changes hast thou seen！²

There where the long street roars，hath been

The stillness of³ the central sea.

The hills are shadows，and they flow

From form to form，and nothing stands；

They melt like mist，the solid lands，

Like clouds they shape themselves and go.

But in my spirit will I dwell，

And dream my dream，and hold it true；

For tho' my lips may breathe adieu，

I cannot think the thing farewell.

130

Thy voice is on the rolling air；¹

I hear thee where the waters run；

Thou standest in the rising sun，²

And in the setting³ thou art fair.

What art thou then？ I cannot guess；

But tho'⁴ I seem in star and flower

To feel thee some diffusive power，

I do not therefore love thee less：

My love involves the love before；

My love is vaster passion now；

Tho' mix'd with God and Nature thou，

I seem to love thee more and more.

Far off thou art，but ever nigh；⁵

I have thee still，and I rejoice；

I prosper，circled with thy voice；

I shall not lose thee tho' I die.

【题解】

丁尼生的《悼念集》是怀念亡友亚瑟·哈勒姆 （Arthur Hallam） 的一部长篇诗组，共131首，诗情深沉庄重。诗中表达的对亡友的深切情谊升华为对人类的博爱，对生命和苦难的疑问，以及对来世的憧憬。诗人缅怀男友的情感，无疑受到莎士比亚《十四行诗》的影响。而作为挽歌，《悼念集》也继承了弥尔顿《利西达斯》（Lycidas ） 和雪莱《阿多尼斯》（Adonais ） 的传统。诗的结构则像抒情民歌，富有清醒和质朴的气息。

【注释】

第8首

1.'lights：alights，下马或下车等。

2.thou art：you are.

3.beat with：beaten，今罕用； with：by.

第11首

1.high world：high and open countryside，地势高而开阔的农村。

2.furze：荆豆。

3.gossamers：蛛丝，游丝。

4.Calm on the seas，and silver sleep ... deep：诗人想象哈勒姆的遗体从海上运回英国。此节描写的是秋天的景色，实际死者是在年底运回国内的。

第19首

1.The Danube to the Severn gave ... more：哈勒姆死于多瑙河流经的维也纳，葬在英格兰西南部的塞汶河 （Severn）畔，故称多瑙河把停止跳动的失色的心脏送到塞汶河。

2.twice a day the Severn fills：塞汶河是一条潮水河，一日涨潮两次 （fills），故云。

3.Wye：怀河，这是塞汶河的支流。当潮水上涨时，怀河被阻，流水声咽 （hushes half the babbling Wye，又第9行The Wye is hushed nor moved along）； 退潮时，怀河再次浪起，流水哗哗 （第13—14行）。

第27首

1.The captive void of noble rage：字面意思为因受束缚而无法表达的高昂的悲愤； 意为悲愤而无法发泄。

2.linnet：红雀。

3.takes ... time：在时间的田野里有特许权，意为能活得自由自在。

4.plighted troth：订立山盟海誓。

5.want-begotten rest：由于某种缺陷 （want，deficiency） 引起的自满情绪； rest在此处意为complacency。

6.'Tis：it is.

第54首

1.we trust that：以下两节that所引导的都是we trust 的宾语从句。

2.good ... ill：“好事”是“坏事”的最终目标；以下所列举的都是所谓“坏事”：人性易受的痛苦（pangs of nature，如嫉妒），用心不良 （sins of will），多疑（defects of doubt），血液污染 （taints of blood，如疾病）。

3.not one life shall be destroyed ... complete：一旦上帝要摧毁的都已经摧毁（when the pile is complete），那就不会再毁灭任何一个生命，把它像废物那样丢弃。

4.Or but subserves another's gain：除非为了服务于另类的利益；Or but：except.

第55首

1.that of the living whole ... grave：that no life of the living whole may fail beyond the grave是The wish的同位语；此句意为希望生命有来生，而不是进入坟墓便算告终。

2.Derives it not from what we have ... soul：Does it （the wish） not derives from etc.，产生这种愿望是因为我们心中似乎有上帝存在？

3.Are God and Nature then at strife：上帝希望生命的存在而自然将其扼杀。

4.So careful of the type she seems：自然（she） 十分关心 （保持） 物种（type），而毫不在乎单一生命（的存亡）； type：species，物种。

5.Upon the great world's altar-stairs ... God：此句意为自己在黑暗中逐级攀登通向上帝的祭坛的阶梯。

6.I stretch lame hands of faith，and grope：表示自己的信仰并不坚定。这是因为他对发生的很多事情感到迷茫。

7.larger hope：即第1—2两行The wish，that of the living whole etc.

第56首

1.scarped cliff and quarried stone：垂直向下劈削而成的峭壁和开采的石块； 前者是自然形成，而后者是人为造成的。

2.She：Nature.

3.The spirit does but mean the breath：精神只不过是呼吸而已；does but mean：only means.

4.And he，shall he：下接Be blown about the desert dust，Or sealed within the iron hills，中间都是修饰he的定语从句。

5.Who rolled the psalm to wintry skies：对着冬天的天空唱起雅歌；roll：to sound with a full reverberating tone.

6.fanes：temples.

7.love Creation's final law：love was Creation's final law.

8.Tho' Nature，red in tooth and claw ... creed：此处形容大自然和上帝创造万物成对比，牙齿和爪子鲜血淋淋，大地上划出深沟险壑；shrieked against his creed：大声尖利地反对上帝的训令；his：指God；creed：指Creation's final law。

9.sealed within the iron hills：preserved like fossils in rock，像化石那样僵化其中。

10.Dragons of the prime ... slime：精力充沛的巨龙，互相厮打，黏液满身； tare：（archaic ） tore； slime：爬行类动物身上分泌的黏液。

11.matched with：in comparison with.

第118首

1.The giant labouring in his youth：“时间”这个巨人在他年轻时的劳作；his：Time.

2.They：指地质学家和天文学家。

3.Who throve and branch'd from clime to clime：人类努力奋斗，移居到各种不同的气候条件下；clime：climate.

4.If so he type this work of time ... more：虚拟式； 意为：（“时间”使地球上形成千姿百态）人也随着年月的推移不断在内心塑造自己； type：emulate，prefigure as a type.

5.crown'd with attributes of woe ... glories：比喻人一生的成就其实是各种苦难和磨练造就的，和荣耀一样，组成人的冠冕。

6.Faun：古代罗马传说中半人半羊的农牧神。

7.working out the beast：这个半人半羊的农牧神要把体内的兽性剔出去，（就像矿要经过提炼，才能成为金属）。

第123首

1.There rolls the deep where grew the tree：昔日是森林，今日是波涛汹涌的大海； the deep：大海。

2.hast thou seen：have you seen.

3.There where the long street roars，hath been ... of：昔日沉寂的大海现在成了喧闹的马路，即苍海桑田之变。丁尼生十分熟悉查尔斯·赖尔爵士（Sir Charles Lyell）的《地质学原理》 （The Principles of Geology，1832） 一书，其中有一段话：“In the Mediterranean alone，many flourishing inland towns and a still greater number of ports now stand where the sea rolled its waves since the era when civilized nations first grew in Europe.” （参见Norton Anthology of English Literature，II，1979，p. 1170）

第130首

1.Thy voice is on the rolling air：比较雪莱诗《阿多尼斯》（Adonais ） 第370—371行：He is made one with Nature：there is heard / His voice in all her music. （他和自然结为一体，在她的音乐中可听到他的声音。）

2.Thou standest in the rising sun：比较《新约·启示录》（Revelations ） 19：17：And I saw an angel sanding in the sun. （我又看见一位天使站在日头中。）

3.in the setting：i.e. in the setting of the sun.

4.tho'：though.

5.nigh：（archaic ） near in place，time or relationship，靠近。