ROBERT BROWNING
罗伯特·布朗宁
（1812—1889）

【作者与作品简介】

陈维杭

My Last Duchess

That's my last Duchess painted on the wall，

Looking as if she were alive. I call

That piece a wonder，now：Frà Pandolf's hands¹

Worked busily a day，and there she stands.²

Will't please you sit and look at her？³ I said

“Frà Pandolf by design，⁴ for never read

Strangers like you that pictured countenance，⁵

The depth and passion of its earnest glance，⁶

But to myself they turned⁷（since none puts by

The curtain I have drawn for you，but I）⁸

And seemed as they would ask me，if they durst，⁹

How such a glance came there； so，not the first

Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir，'twas not

Her husband's presence only，called that spot

Of joy into the Duchess' cheek：¹⁰ perhaps

Frà Pandolf chanced to say，“Her mantle laps

Over my lady's wrist too much，”¹¹ or “Paint

Must never hope to reproduce the faint

Half-flush that dies along her throat：”¹² such stuff

Was courtesy，she thought，and cause enough

For calling up that spot of joy.¹³ She had

A heart — how shall I say？ — too soon made glad，¹⁴

Too easily impressed； she liked whate'er

She looked on，and her looks went everywhere.¹⁵

Sir，'twas all one！¹⁶ my favor at her breast，¹⁷

The dropping of the daylight in the West，

The bough of cherries some officious fool¹⁸

Broke in the orchard for her，the white mule

She rode with round the terrace — all and each

Would draw from her alike the approving speech，

Or blush，at least. She thanked men，— good！¹⁹ but thanked

Somehow — I know not how — as if she ranked

my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name²⁰

With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame

This sort of trifling？²¹ Even had you skill

In speech — （which I have not） — to make your will

Quite clear to such an one，²² and say，“Just this

Or that in you disgusts me； here you miss，

Or there exceed the mark”²³ — and if she let

Herself be lessoned so，nor plainly set

Her wits to yours，forsooth，and made excuse，²⁴

— E'en then would be some stooping；²⁵ and I choose

Never to stoop. Oh，sir，she smiled，no doubt，

Whene'er I passed her； but who passed without

Much the same smile？ This grew； I gave commands；²⁶

Then all smiles stopped together.²⁷ There she stands

As if alive. Will't please you rise？²⁸ We'll meet

The company below²⁹ then. I repeat，

The Count your master's known munificence

Is ample warrant that no just pretence

Of mine for dowry will be disallowed；³⁰

Though his fair daughter's self，as I avowed

At starting，is my object.³¹ Nay，we'll go

Together down，sir. Notice Neptune，though，

Taming a sea-horse，thought a rarity，³²

Which Claus of Innsbruck³³ cast in bronze for me！

【题解】

布朗宁这首《戏剧独白诗》取材于意大利奥尔丰素二世、费拉拉公爵（Alfonso II，Duke of Ferrara）的私生活。费拉拉公爵第一任妻子卢克利齐娅 （Lucrezia）结婚三年后，于1561年死亡。此后，费拉拉公爵通过代理人协商，娶了提洛尔伯爵（Count of Tyrol）的侄女。布朗宁在诗中以公爵的口气向代理人介绍他的情况。诗中暗示的杀妻一事，未必是真事。但是，公爵的冷酷无情和专注于金钱交易的特性，则表露无遗。

【注释】

1.Frà Pandolf's hands：（这幅画） 出自Pandolf之手；Frà Pandolf：an imaginery painter，诗人虚构的画家；Frà：意为 “教兄”，当时许多画家均为教士，故称。

2.there she stands：这幅画现在就挂在这里。

3.Will't please you sit and look at her：Will it please you to sit and look at her.

4.by design：有意识地； 意为知你必然要问画家是谁，故不等你发问，事先告诉你。

5.never read ... countenance：Strangers like you never read that pictured countenance； read：理解，领会； pictured countenance：画像上的面容。

6.The depth and passion of its earnest glance：its：指countenance，面容上的目光所流露的那深沉的情意。

7.But to myself they turned：意为客人们总是不能理解画像的表情，而总是转过身来问我。

8.since none puts by ... but I：因为除我以外，无人可以为客人拉开遮盖画像的帷幕。暗示公爵爱护此画是因为它是一件艺术品而不是对夫人的怀念。

9.if they durst：如果他们有勇气（问我）； durst：dare的过去式，主要用于虚拟式中，现已不常用。

10.'twas not ... cheek：it was not her husband's presence only which called etc.，公爵夫人脸上之所以露出那片喜悦的红晕，不只是因为有丈夫在旁； 'twas：it was； called：唤起，使露出，前面省略that （关系代词）。

11.Her mantle laps ... much：夫人的外套将她的手盖得太多了； 这是假想画家在为公爵夫人画像时对她说的话； Her和my lady均是画家对公爵夫人的称呼，用第三人称来称呼表示尊敬。

12.dies along her throat：（那片淡淡的红晕） 沿着喉部逐渐消失； die在此有暗示公爵杀妻。

13.such stuff ... joy：公爵夫人以为画家的那番话是礼貌的表示，因而值得为之（cause enough） 感到高兴。此处讲夫人脸上红晕的来历，公爵认为她大可不必为这种恭维话激动，似乎有失尊严。

14.how shall I say：我该怎么说才好；too soon made glad：要使她心里高兴十分容易。

15.she liked whate'er ... everywhere：她什么都爱看，看到了什么都喜欢。

16.'twas all one：指以下列举的一切在写公爵夫人的眼中都是同等之物。

17.my favor at her breast：我送给她的胸饰； favor：a thing given or worn as a token of favor.

18.some officious fool：某个多事的蠢才； officious：volunteering one's services where they are neither asked nor needed，meddlesome.

19.She thanked men，— good：她向人道谢——那好啊！ 语含讽刺。

20.a nine-hundred-years-old name：公爵家系有九百年的光荣历史。公爵不满意他夫人把普通人（anybody）的礼品和他名门望族的悠久历史的荣誉同等看待。

21.Who'd stoop to blame ... trifling：谁能降低身份去指责这种鸡毛蒜皮的小事呢？

22.such an one：指公爵夫人。

23.here you miss ... mark：这儿你做得不够，那儿你又太过分； mark：是miss和exceed的宾语。

24.be lessoned so，nor plainly set ... excuse：要是她能够听从教训，也不公然和你顶嘴，一争高低，找个台阶下，那倒也罢了； forsooth：in truth，certainly，“真是！”

25.E'en then would be some stooping：即便如此，（对我来说） 也有点屈尊降格； E'en：even.

26.This grew：这种情况变本加厉，愈来愈严重；I gave commands：我下了命令。

27.Then all smiles stopped together：一般认为这是暗示公爵下令将其妻杀掉。布朗宁在答Corson问时说：“Yes，I meant that the commands were that she be put to death.” 停了会又说：“Or he might have had her shut up in a convent.” 但是，这是布朗宁的发挥，并不是真事。

28.Will't please you rise：Will it please you to rise； 结构和第5行一样。

29.We'll meet ... below：公爵转过话题，提示应该到楼下去和代理人的公司进行谈判了。

30.The Count your master's known munificence ... disallowed：你主人伯爵大人素以慷慨闻名 （munificence），这可以保证（ample warrant） 他不会拒绝我对于嫁妆的正当要求 （just pretence）； 刚说完杀死前妻之事，即对来客提出嫁妆的要求； Count：the Count of Tyrol.

31.Though his fair daughter's self，as I avowed ... object：虽然如我一开始就已申明，我所追求的是他美丽的女儿本人。公爵要娶的原是提洛尔伯爵的侄女，这里改为他的女儿。

32.Notice Neptune，though ... rarity：不过，请你看看海神驯服海马的铜像，据说是绝世的杰作； thought：which is thought.

33.Claus of Innsbruck：Innsbruck地方的艺术家Claus，也是虚构的雕塑家； Innsbruck：在今奥地利境内，为当时提洛尔邦的首府，以当雕刻家著称。

Meeting at Night