墙上的这幅画是我的前公爵夫人，

That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,

看起来就像她活着一样。如今，

Looking as if she were alive. I call

我称它为奇迹：潘道夫师的手笔

That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands

经一日忙碌，从此她就在此站立。

Worked busily a day, and there she stands.

你愿坐下看看她吗？我有意提起

Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said

潘道夫，因为外来的生客（例如你）

“Fra Pandolf” by design, for never read

凡是见了画中描绘的面容、

Strangers like you that pictured countenance,

那真挚的眼神的深邃和热情，

The depth and passion of its earnest glance,

没有一个不转向我（因为除我外

But to myself they turned (since none puts by

再没有别人把画上的帘幕拉开），

The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)

似乎想问我可是又不大敢问：

And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,

是从哪儿来的——这样的眼神？

How such a glance came there; so, not the first

你并非第一个人回头这样问我。

Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not

先生，不仅仅是她丈夫的在座

Her husband’s presence only, called that spot

使公爵夫人面带欢容，可能

Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek; perhaps

潘道夫偶然说过：“夫人的披风

Fra Pandolf chanced to say, “Her mantle laps

盖住她的手腕太多，”或者说：

Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint

“隐约的红晕向颈部渐渐隐没，

Must never hope to reproduce the faint

这绝非任何颜料所能复制。”

Half-flush that dies along her throat.” Such stuff

这种无聊话，却被她当成好意，

Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough

也足以唤起她的欢心。她那颗心——

For calling up that spot of joy. She had

怎么说好呢？——要取悦容易得很，

A heart—how shall I say?— too soon made glad,

也太易感动。她看到什么都喜欢，

Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er

而她的目光又偏爱到处观看。

She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

先生，她对什么都一样！她胸口上

Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast,

佩戴的我的赠品，或落日的余光，

The dropping of the daylight in the West,

过分殷勤的傻子在园中攀折

The bough of cherries some officious fool

给她的一枝樱桃，或她骑着

Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule

绕行花圃的白骡——所有这一切

She rode with round the terrace—all and each

都会使她同样地赞羡不绝，

Would draw from her alike the approving speech,

或至少泛起红晕。她感激人，好的！

Or blush, at least. She thanked men—good! but thanked

但她的感激（我说不上怎么搞的）

Somehow—I know not how—as if she ranked

仿佛把我赐她的九百年的门第

My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name

与任何人的赠品并列。谁愿意

With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame

屈尊去谴责这种轻浮举止？即使

This sort of trifling? Even had you skill

你有口才（我却没有）能把你的意志

In speech—which I have not—to make your will

给这样的人儿充分说明：“你这点

Quite clear to such an one, and say, “Just this

或那点令我讨厌。这儿你差得远，

Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,

而那儿你超越了界限。”即使她肯听

Or there exceed the mark”—and if she let

你这样训诫她而毫不争论，

Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set

毫不为自己辩解，——我也觉得

Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse—

这会有失身份；所以我选择

E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose

绝不屈尊。哦，先生，她总是在微笑，

Never to stoop. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,

每逢我走过；但是谁人走过得不到

Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without

同样慷慨的微笑？发展至此，

Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;

我下了令：于是一切微笑都从此制止。

Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands

她站在那儿，像活着一样。请你起身，

As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet

客人们在楼下等。我再重复一声：

The company below, then. I repeat,

你的主人——伯爵先生闻名的大方

The Count your master’s known munificence

足以充分保证：我对嫁妆

Is ample warrant that no just pretense

提出任何合理要求都不会遭拒绝；

Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;

当然，如我开头声明的，他美貌的小姐

Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed

才是我追求的目标。别客气，让咱们

At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go

一同下楼吧。但请看这海神尼普顿

Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,

在驯服海马，这是件珍贵的收藏，

Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,

是克劳斯为我特制的青铜铸像。

Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!