车轮颂
(仿Q.H.弗拉库斯)
【英】鲁迪亚德·吉卜林 著
威廉·熊良銋 译
狄琉丝,那汽车夜以继日,
电闪雷鸣,舞臂挥鞭——
疯狂地驶过亚壁古道——
使速度减缓。
虽然莉蒂雅盲目地要你飞奔,
特里弗斯超车时讥笑,
而且,坐着自信地操纵着
底下的车轮。
他们喊着,大路默许,“赶快!”
就象尘土飞扬般的欢乐——
一直到达(我也这样奔跑过!)
难料的速度。
不仅是牛注定要死亡,
或是不吉利的猎犬,
都会很快把你带到
阎王宝座前,
我不清楚;复仇女神
在射箭前没有警告。
最好到我们选定的目标
晚点还活着。
(注)Q.H.弗拉库斯,即昆图斯·赫拉修斯·弗拉库斯(公元前65年-前8年),古罗马重要的抒情诗人,英语译作贺拉斯。
Carmen Circulare
(Q H Flaccus)
Written by Rudyard Kipling
Translated by William Xiong
Dellius, that car which, night and day,
Lightnings and thunders arm and scourge—
Tumultuous down the Appian Way—
Be slow to urge.
Though reckless Lydia bid thee fly,
And Telephus o’ertaking jeer,
Nay, sit and strongly occupy
The lower gear.
They call, the road consenting,” Haste!”
Such as delight in dust collected—
Until arrives (I too have raced! )
The unexpected.
What ox not doomed to die alone,
Or inauspicious hound, may bring
Thee ‘twixt two kisses to the throne
Of Hades’ King,
I cannot tell; the Furies send
No warning ere their bolts arrive.
‘Tis best to reach our chosen end
Late but alive.
Notes: Q. H. Flaccus, Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65 BC to 8 BC), the leading Roman lyric poet, in English called 'Horace.
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