唱 歌(二四)
【英】克里斯蒂娜·罗塞蒂 著
熊良銋 译
093
要钻石,还是要煤炭?
你若高兴,当然要钻石啦:
谁在乎一块难看的煤炭,
在夏天的林荫下。
要煤炭,还是要钻石?
先生,请给我煤炭:
当那流水结冰时,
人们需要烧煤取暖。
094
绿宝石象嫩草般碧绿;
红宝石象血液般殷红;
蓝宝石象天空般蔚蓝;
燧火石深埋在泥土中。
钻石只是闪光的石头,
却吸引着是人的欲望;
燧火石能打出星星火,
欧珀石只能反射萤光。
095
小船行在江河上,
大船飘海过重洋;
浮飘天空的云彩,
却远比它们漂亮。
江河上架起桥梁,
美丽得任你想象;
可那横跨天空的彩虹,
垂挂在山头树顶上,
它铺就的天地通道,
却远比它们漂亮。
096
茎杆平滑的百合花,
决不会伤害你的手;
可长在刺茎上的玫瑰,
却是大地的独秀。
苹果树上长甜果,
玉米粒里多滋味;
可是众美中的美人,
却是带刺的玫瑰。
遇见苔藓和蜂蜜时,
她翻倒弯曲的刺茎;
半露出她那颗炽热的心,
她放火把世界照明。
附录:原诗
Sing-Song (XXIV)
Written by Christina G. Rossetti
Translated by Liangren Xiong
093
A diamond or a coal?
A diamond, if you please:
Who cares about a clumsy coal
Beneath the summer trees?
A diamond or a coal?
A coal, sir, if you please:
On
What time the waters freeze.
094
An emerald is as green as grass;
A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;
A flint lies in the mud.
A diamond is a brilliant stone,
To catch the world's desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;
But a flint holds fire.
095
Boats sail on the rivers,
And ships sail on the seas;
But clouds that sail across the sky
Are prettier far than these.
There are bridges on the rivers,
As pretty as you please;
But the bow that bridges heaven,
And overtops the trees,
And builds a road from earth to sky,
Is prettier far than these.
096
The lily has a smooth stalk,
Will never hurt your hand;
But the rose upon her briar
Is lady of the land.
There's sweetness in an apple tree,
And profit in the corn;
But lady of all beauty
Is a rose upon a thorn.
When with moss and honey
She tips her bending briar,
And half unfolds her glowing heart,
She sets the world on fire.
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