The DelugeG·K·切斯特顿

大洪水张洁 译


Though giant rains put out the sun,
尽管大雨熄灭了太阳,
Here stand I for a sign.
这里站立着我作为一个记号。
Though earth be filled with waters dark,
虽然地上充满黑暗的大水,
My cup is filled with wine.
我的杯子却斟满了葡萄美酒。
Tell to the trembling priests that here
告诉颤抖的祭司,这里
Under the deluge rod,
在大洪水刑罚之下,
One nameless, tattered, broken man
一个无名的,衣衫褴褛的,破碎的人
Stood up, and drank to God.
站起来,为上帝干杯。

太阳曾照耀现在降雨的地方,
Sun has been where the rain is now,
蜜蜂在炎热中嗡嗡作响,
Bees in the heat to hum,
或许有一位哼唱的少女走来,
Haply a humming maiden came,
现在就让大洪水来吧:
Now let the deluge come:
棕色的光环,绿色的装扮,
Brown of aureole*, green of garb,
笔直仿佛责打的金棒*,
Straight as a golden rod,
现在为雷霆的宝座干杯!
Drink to the throne of thunder now!
为上帝的愤怒干杯。
Drink to the wrath of God.
在沉船的高处,我举着杯子,

抓紧生锈的宝剑,
High in the wreck I held the cup,
我昂起破烂的羽毛
I clutched my rusty sword,
向着上帝的荣耀。
I cocked my tattered feather
天地未了,
To the glory of the Lord.
这个空洞的世界被抛起,
Not undone were the heaven and earth,
在一个人挺直身,
This hollow world thrown up,
像杯子一样把它喝干之前。
Before one man had stood up straight,

And drained it like a cup.

【译注】
1.关于“少女”的描写,可能是指执行上帝洪水刑罚命令的天使,她头上有光环,衣服是绿色的,身体笔直,如同责打的金棒。这些都是诗人的想象。
2. aureole,在神秘学的传说中,及宗教艺术里面,在基督、神像、天使、圣徒等头部及周围部份的光环、光圈、光轮;也就是围绕在他们周围的能量场(Energy Field)。


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