在临时兵营的一个冷僻角落
If, in an odd angle of the hutment,
罐头瓶里插着花,而小狗在舐
A puppy laps the water from a can
罐头里的水,喝醉的军曹刮脸
Of flowers, and the drunk sergeant shaving
吹着《哦,天堂!》 1 ——难道我能否认
Whistles O Paradiso! —shall I say that man
人对人是豺狼这句常言?
Is not as men have said: a wolf to man?
别的杀人者鱼贯而入,呵欠连天;
The other murderers troop in yawning;
三个人掷钱游戏,一个睡觉,
Three of them play Pitch, one sleeps, and one
一个计算飞行次数,躺着流汗,
Lies counting missions, lies there sweating
直到他的心也跳着数:一、一、一。
Till even his heart beats: One; One; One.
《哦,杀人者!》……但事情就是这么做的:
O murderers !... Still, this is how it's done:
这是战争……既然他们在死之前,
This is a war... But since these play, before they die,
还像小狗跟小狗一样玩;既然作为人
Like puppies with their puppy; since, a man,
我跟他们一样行事,却能身免——
I did as these have done, but did not die—
我尽我所能让大家高兴,
I will content the people as I can
让他们各自取乐:瞧这人!
And give up these to them: Behold the man!
为了他我在梦中吃多少苦,
I have suffered, in a dream, because of him,
为了人,这最后的救世主,
Many things; for this last saviour, man,
我过去撒谎,现在撒谎。但什么是谎?
I have lied as I lie now. But what is lying?
人用血洗手,尽量洗清楚:
Men wash their hands, in blood, as best they can:
这正直的人,我看不出有何错处。
I find no fault in this just man.