朋 友
（巴西小调，1927年）
【英】鲁迪亚德·吉卜林 著
威廉·熊良銋 译
我有几个朋友——可我梦见他们都已死去——
他们惯常手提灯笼围着床上的小男孩跳舞；
绿灯笼白灯笼交错起伏来来往往飘荡在空中：
但是从那以后许久我再也没有看见过萤火虫！
我有几个朋友——他们的冠冕高耸在天上——
每当小男孩路过时，他们总是点头低声谈讲，
因为坚果已成熟开始掉落，微风开始吹拂：
打从那以后许久我再也没有看见过可可树！
我有一位朋友——他来自合恩角，
当小男孩出生时，他肩扛着一个大煤包。
他惯听我学说话，他帮扶我茁壮成长：
那以后许久我再也没有看见南十字星闪光！
我有一条小船——我在船外，让她逐流随波，
直到发现我那梦多荒唐，因为我的朋友都活着。
可可树全是真的，南十字星座确实在天:
萤火虫都在飞舞——所以我也起舞翩翩！
The Friends
Brazilian Sketches, 1927
Written by Rudyard Kipling
Translated by William Xiong
I had some friends-but I dreamed that they were dead-
Who used to dance with lanterns round a little boy in bed;
Green and white lanterns that waved to and fro:
But I haven’t seen a Firefly since ever so long ago!
I had some friends-their crowns were in the sky-
Who used to nod and whisper when a little boy went by,
As the nuts began to tumble and the breeze began to blow:
And I haven’t seen a Cocoa-palm since ever so long ago!
I had a friend-he came up from Cape Horn,
With a Coal-sack on his shoulder when a little boy was born.
He heard me learn to talk, and he helped me thrive and grow:
But I haven’t seen the Southern Cross since ever so long ago!
I had a boat- I out and let her drive,
Till I found my dream was foolish, for my friends were all alive.
The Cocoa-palms were real, and the Southern Cross was true:
And the Fireflies were dancing-so I danced too!
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