因為水仙花這首詩,
燃起我對詩人Robert Herrick(1591-1674) 的好奇,
在網站上GOOGLE了一下~
十七世紀英國詩人Robert Herrick(長得不怎麼好看),
出生於倫敦,父親是富有的金匠.
在他父親跳樓自殺後,他跟著叔叔當學徒.
但據說,他並沒有"上學"的記錄,
卻在1613年進入劍橋St John’s College,
還拿了一個碩士學位,
他不是他們家第一位成名的詩人,
卻是最有名的詩人~
1962年,他被任命為牧師,成為神職人員,
1947因為拒絕加入The Solemn League and Covenant,而被趕出Devonshire
在網站上還看到他不少經典之作,今天先來介紹2首~
致水仙(To Daffodils),是在問天借我的書裡看到的,
To Daffodils
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attain’d his noon.
Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the even-song;
And, having pray’d together, we
Will go with you along.
We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you, or anything.
We die
As your hours do, and dry
Away,
Like to the summer’s rain;
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew,
Ne’er to be found again.
致水仙 (尤克強 譯)
美麗的水仙 我流淚看著
你就這樣匆匆離去
日出的朝陽仍然在上升
尚未到達正午的盛頂
且留下 且留下
直到白晝也匆匆忙忙
飛奔到那
黃昏祈禱的時候
待我們把晚課都做完
再陪你一道走
我們的生命短暫 如你一般
我們的春光也匆匆
迅速成長卻迎向腐爛
如你 或萬物
我們死亡
好比你在轉眼間 枯乾
消無
如夏季的驟雨
或如拂曉的珍露
再無覓處
而他的另一名作-TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME,
也是讓我回味無窮~
整首詩看完後,不知會不會讓你想到金鏤衣這首詩?
勸君莫惜金縷衣,勸君惜取少年時。 花開堪折直須折, 莫待無花空折枝。
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may:
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun,
The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.
That age is best, which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.
–Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.
趁你能夠,快摘取玫瑰花蕾,
時光的腳步如箭飛:
今日盛開的嬌艷花朵,明日就將湮滅如灰。
太陽──天庭燦爛的明燈,
當它佔據顯赫的高位,
它的下降便從此開始,
一步步邁向它的墳堆。
最美的年華是青春的歲月,
赤熱的血液在胸中滾沸,
一旦虛擲,便每況愈下,
美好的容顏日漸憔悴。
別害羞,緊抓你的時機,
趁年輕與心上人婚配,
一旦讓青春從手中溜走,
它的腳步你永遠難追。
PS,中文翻譯在網上找來的,
覺得翻得不是太好~
另外還找到以下詩句,
不知是古詩,還是翻譯英文詩之中文化,
看來,這個問題要等我們家中文系碩士SJ從香港回來才有解~
采采薔薇,及其未萎;日月其邁,韶華如飛。
今夕此花,灼灼其姿。翌日如何,將做枯枝