女詩人Elizabeth Barrett Browning小傳
Elizabeth Browning是十九世紀英國著名女詩人，生於1806年3月6日。十五歲時，不幸騎馬跌損了脊椎。從此，下肢癱瘓達24年。在她３９歲那年，結識了小她６歲的詩人Robert Browning.她那充滿著哀怨的生命從此開啟了新的一章。她本來是一個殘廢的病人，生命，只剩下一長串沒有歡樂的日子；青春，在生與死的邊緣上黯然消逝。
如今，在遲暮的歲月裏趕上了早年的愛情。然而，她只能流著淚，用無情的沈默來回答一聲聲愛情的呼喚。但是，愛情戰勝了死亡，從死亡的陰影裏救出了一個已經放棄了生命的人。就像神話中的英雄在懸崖邊救出了被供奉給海怪的公主，替公主開啟了裹在她周身的鐵鏈；她那不知疲倦的情人也幫著她擺脫了她的驚慌、她的疑慮、她的哀怨，扶著她一步步來到了陽光底下。她動蕩不安的感情逐漸變得穩定了；她對於人生開始有了信心，產生了眷戀。未來的幸福，不再是一團強烈的幻光，叫她不敢逼視，不敢伸出手去碰一下了。她敢於拿愛情來報答愛情了。
這份愛情使她奇跡班地重新站了起來。在病室中被禁錮了24年之後，她終於可以憑自己的雙腳重新走到陽光下了。
白朗寧夫婦一起度過了15年幸福的生活，在這15年中，從不知道有一天的分離。1861年6月29日，白朗寧夫人永別了她的Robert。臨終之前，她並沒多大病疼，也沒有預感，只是覺得倦；那是一個晚上，她正和白朗寧商量消夏的計劃。她和他談心說笑，用最溫存的話表示她的愛情；後來她感到倦，就偎依在白朗寧的胸前睡去了。她這樣地睡了幾分鐘，頭突然垂了下來；他以為她是一時昏暈，但是她去了，再不回來了。她在他的懷抱中瞑了目。她的容貌，像少女一般，微笑，快樂。
這部感人的詩集就是他們愛情生活的真實寫照。它是英國文學史上的珍品之一。其美麗動人，甚至超過莎士比亞的十四行詩集。有多人譯過這本詩集，如聞一多，查良錚（金庸）等。但我認為方平譯得最好，令人愛不釋手。這裏Post的就是方平譯本。白朗寧夫人最初開始寫這十四行組詩大概是在她答應了白朗寧的求婚以後那一段時期。直到他們婚後住到了披薩，白朗寧才讀到這本詩集。他不敢把這文學上的無價之寶留給他一個人享受。１８５０年白朗寧夫人出版了一卷詩集，把這組十四行詩也收進在內，共四十四首，還取了一個總名，叫做【葡萄牙人十四行詩集】，用以掩飾作者身分，因白朗寧夫人不願意把個人情詩發表今將這本詩集奉獻給大家，希望大家會喜歡。
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第一首
我想起，當年希臘的詩人曾經歌詠：
I thought once how Theocritus had sung
年復一年，那良辰在殷切的盼望中
Of the sweet years, the dear and wished-for years,
翩然降臨，各內建一份禮物
Who each one in a gracious hand appears
分送給世人－－年老或是年少。
To bear a gift for mortals, old or young:
當我這麽想，感嘆著詩人的古調，
And, as I mused it in his antique tongue,
穿過我淚眼所逐漸展開的幻覺，
I saw, in gradual vision through my tears,
我看見，那歡樂的歲月、哀傷的歲月－－
The sweet, sad years, the melancholy years,
我自己的年華，把一片片黑影接連著
Those of my own life, who by turns had flung
掠過我的身。緊接著，我就覺察
A shadow across me. Straightway I was 'ware,
（我哭了）我背後正有個神秘的黑影
So weeping, how a mystic Shape did move
在移動，而且一把揪住了我的發，
Behind me, and drew me backward by the hair;
往後拉，還有一聲吆喝（我只是在掙紮）：
And a voice said in mastery, while I strove, --
「這回是誰逮住了你？猜！」「死，」我答話。
`Guess now who holds thee?' -- `Death.' I said. But, there
聽哪，那銀鈴似的回音：「不是死，是愛！」
The silver answer rang, -- `Not Death, but love.'
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二首
可是在上帝的全宇宙裏，總共才只
But only three in all God's universe
三個人聽見了你那句話：除了
Have heard this word thou hast said, -- Himself, beside
講話的你、聽話的我，就是他－－
Thee speaking, and me listening! and replied
上帝自己！我們中間還有一個
One of us ... _that_ was God, ... and laid the curse
出來答話；那昏黑的詛咒落上
So darkly on my eyelids, as to amerce
我的眼皮，擋了你，不讓我看見，
My sight from seeing thee, -- that if I had died,
就算我瞑了目，放上沈沈的「壓眼錢」，
The death-weights, placed there, would have signified
也不至於那麽徹底隔絕。唉，
Less absolute exclusion. `Nay' is worse
比誰都厲害，上帝的那一聲「不行！」
From God than from all others, O my friend!
要不然，世俗的誹謗離間不了我們，
Men could not part us with their worldly jars,
任風波飛揚，也不能動搖那堅貞；
Nor the seas change us, nor the tempests bend;
我們的手要伸過山嶺，互相接觸；
Our hands would touch for all the mountain-bars
有那麽一天，天空滾到我倆中間，
And, heaven being rolled between us at the end,
我倆向星辰起誓，還要更加握緊。
We should but vow the faster for the stars.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三首
我們原不一樣，尊貴的人兒呀，
Unlike are we, unlike, O princely Heart!
原不一樣是我們的職司和前程。
Unlike our uses and our destinies.
你我頭上的天使，迎面飛來，
Our ministering two angels look surprise
翅膀碰上了翅膀，彼此瞪著
On one another, as they strike athwart
驚愕的眼睛。你想，你是華宮裏
Their wings in passing. Thou, bethink thee, art
後妃的上賓，千百雙殷勤的明眸
A guest for queens to social pageantries,
（哪怕掛滿了淚珠，也不能教我的眼
With gages from a hundred brighter eyes
有這份光彩）請求你擔任領唱。
Than tears even can make mine, to play thy part
那你幹什麽從那燈光輝映的紗窗裏
Of chief musician. What hast _thou_ to do
望向我？－－我，一個淒涼、流浪的
With looking from the lattice-lights at me,
歌手，疲乏地靠著柏樹，吟嘆在
A poor, tired, wandering singer, ... singing through
茫茫的黑暗裏。聖油搽在你頭上－－
The dark, and leaning up a cypress tree?
可憐我，頭上承受著涼透的夜露。
The chrism is on thine head, -- on mine, the dew, --
只有死，才能把這樣的一對扯個平。
And Death must dig the level where these agree.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第四首
Thou hast thy calling to some palace-floor,
你曾經受到邀請，進入了宮廷，
Most gracious singer of the high poems! where
溫雅的歌手！你唱著崇高的詩篇；
The dancers will break footing, from the care
貴客們停下舞步，為了好瞻仰你，
Of watching up thy pregnant lips for more.
期待那豐滿的朱唇再吐出清音；
And dost thou lift this house's latch too poor
而你卻抽起我的門閂，你果真
For hand of thine? and canst thou think and bear
不嫌它褻瀆了你的手？沒誰看見，
To let thy music drop here unaware
你甘讓你那音樂飄落在我門前，
In folds of golden fulness at my door?
疊作層層金聲的富麗？你忍不忍？
Look up and see the casement broken in,
你往上瞧，看這窗戶都被闖破－－
The bats and owlets builders in the roof!
是蝙蝠和夜鶯的窠巢盤踞在頂梁，
My cricket chirps against thy mandolin.
是啾啾的蟋蟀在跟你的琵琶應和！
Hush, call no echo up in further proof
住聲，別再激起回聲來加深荒涼！
Of desolation! there's a voice within
那裏邊有一個哀音，它必須深躲，
That weeps ... as thou must sing ... alone, aloof.
在暗裏哭泣－－正象你應該當眾歌唱。
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第五首
我肅穆地端起了我沈重的心，
I lift my heavy heart up solemnly,
象當年希臘女兒捧著那壇屍灰；
As once Electra her sepulchral urn,
眼望著你，我把灰撒在你腳下。
And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn
請看呀，有多大一堆悲哀埋藏在
The ashes at thy feet. Behold and see
我這心坎裏；而在那灰暗的深處，
What a great heap of grief lay hid [1] in me,
那慘紅的灰燼又怎樣在隱約燃燒。
And how the red wild sparkles dimly burn
要是那點點火星給你鄙夷地
Through the ashen greyness. If thy foot in scorn
一腳踏滅、還它們一片黑暗，
Could tread them out to darkness utterly,
這樣也好。可是，你偏不，
It might be well perhaps. But if instead
你要守在我身旁，等風來把塵土
Thou wait beside me for the wind to blow
揚起，把死灰吹活；愛呀，那戴在
The grey dust up, ... those laurels on thine head,
你頭上的桂冠可不能給你做屏障，
O my Beloved, will not shield thee so,
保護你不讓這一片火焰燒壞了
That none of all the fires shall scorch and shred
那底下的發絲。快站遠些呀，快走！
The hair beneath. Stand further off then! go.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第六首
Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand
舍下我，走吧。可是我覺得，從此
Henceforward in thy shadow. Nevermore
我就一直徘徊在你的身影裏。
Alone upon the threshold of my door
在那孤獨的生命的邊緣，從今再不能
Of individual life, I shall command
掌握自己的心靈，或是坦然地
The uses of my soul, nor lift my hand
把這手伸向日光，象從前那樣，
Serenely in the sunshine as before,
而能約束自己不感到你的指尖
Without the sense of that which I forbore --
碰上我的掌心。劫運教天懸地殊
Thy touch upon the palm. The widest land
隔離了我們，卻留下了你那顆心，
Doom takes to part us, leaves thy heart in mine
在我的心房裏搏動著雙重聲響。
With pulses that beat double. What I do
正象是酒，總嘗得出原來的葡萄，
And what I dream include thee, as the wine
我的起居和夢寐裏，都有你的份。
Must taste of its own grapes. And when I sue
當我向上帝祈禱，為著我自個兒
God for myself, He hears the name of thine,
他卻聽到了一個名字、那是你的；
And sees within my eyes the tears of two.
又在我眼裏，看見有兩個人的眼淚。
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第七首
The face of all the world is changed, I think,
全世界的面目，我想，忽然改變了，
Since first I heard of the footsteps of thy soul
自從我第一次在心靈上聽到你的步子
Move still, oh, still, beside me, as they stole
輕輕、輕輕，來到我身旁－－穿過我和
betwixt me and the dreadful outer brink
死亡的邊緣：那幽微的間隙。站在
Of obvious death, where I, who thought to sink,
那裏的我，只道這一回該倒下了，
Was caught up into love, and taught the whole
卻不料被愛救起，還教給一曲
Of life in a new rhythm. The cup of dole
生命的新歌。上帝賜我洗禮的
God gave for baptism, I am fain to drink,
那一杯苦酒，我甘願飲下，贊美它
And praise its sweetness, Sweet, with thee anear.
甜蜜－－甜蜜的，如果有你在我身旁。
The names of a country, heaven, are changed away
天國和人間，將因為你的存在
For where thou art or shalt be, there or here;
而更改模樣；而這曲歌，這支笛，
And this ... this lute and song ... loved yesterday
昨日裏給愛著，還讓人感到親切，
( The singing angels know ) are only dear
那歌唱的天使知道，就因為
Because thy name moves right in what they say.
一聲聲都有你的名字在蕩漾。
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第八首
你那樣慷慨豪爽的施主呀，你把
What can I give thee back, O liberal
你心坎裏金碧輝煌的寶藏、
And Princely giver, who hast brought the gold
原封地掏出來，只往我墻外推，
And purple of thine heart, unstained, untold,
任憑象我這樣的人去揀起，還是
And laid them on the outside of the wall
把這罕見的舍施丟下；教我拿什麽
For such as I to take or leave withal, [1]
來作為你應得的報答？請不要
In unexpected largesse? am I cold,
說我太冷漠、太寡恩，你那許多
Ungrateful, that for these most manifold
重重疊疊的深情厚意，我卻
High gifts, I render nothing back at all?
沒有一些兒回敬；不，並不是
Not so; not cold, -- but very poor instead.
冷漠無情，實在我太寒傖。你問
Ask God who knows. For frequent tears have run
上帝就明白。那連綿的淚雨沖盡了
The colours from my life, and left so dead
我生命的光彩，只剩一片死沈沈的
And pale a stuff, it were not fitly done
蒼白，不配給你當偎依的枕頭。
To give the same as pillow to thy head.
走吧！盡把它踏在腳下，作墊石。
Go further! let it serve to trample on.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第九首
我能不能有什麽、就拿什麽給你？
Can it be right to give what I can give?
該不該讓你緊挨著我，承受
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
我簌簌的苦淚；聽著那傷逝的青春，
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
在我的唇邊重復著嘆息，偶而
Re-sighing on my lips renunciative
浮起一絲微笑，哪怕你連勸帶哄，
Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live
也隨即在嘆息裏寂滅？啊，我但怕
For all thy adjurations? O my fears,
這並不應該！我倆是不相稱的
That this can scarce be right! We are not peers
一對，哪能匹配作情侶？我承認，
So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,
我也傷心，象我這樣的施主
That givers of such gifts as mine are, must
只算得鄙吝。唉，可是我怎能夠讓
Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!
我滿身的塵土玷汙了你的紫袍，
I will not soil thy purple with my dust,
叫我的毒氣噴向你那威尼斯晶杯！
Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,
我什麽愛也不給，因為什麽都不該給。
Nor give thee any love -- which were unjust.
愛呀，讓我只愛著你，就算數了吧！
Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十首
Sonnets from the Portuguese_ No. X
不過只要是愛，是愛，可就是美，
Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed
就值得你接受。你知道，愛就是火，
And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright,
火總是光明的，不問著火的是廟堂
Let temple burn, or flax. And equal light
或者柴堆－－那棟梁還是荊榛在燒，
Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed.
火焰裏總跳得出同樣的光輝。當我
And love is fire. And when I say at need
不由得傾吐出：「我愛你！」在你的眼裏，
_I love thee ... mark! ... _I love thee_ -- in thy sight
那榮耀的瞬息，我忽然成了一尊金身，
I stand transfigured, glorified aright,
感覺到有一道新吐的皓光從我天庭
With conscience of the new rays that proceed
投向你臉上。是愛，就無所謂卑下，
Out of my face toward thine. There's nothing low
即使是最微賤的在愛：那微賤的生命
In love, when love the lowest: meanest creatures
獻愛給上帝，寬宏的上帝受了它、
Who love God, God accepts while loving so.
又回賜給它愛。我那迸發的熱情
And what I _feel_, across the inferior features
就象道光，透過我這陋質，昭示了
Of what I _am_, doth flash itself, and show
愛的大手筆怎樣給造物潤色。
How that great work of Love enhances Nature's.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十一首
Selected from _The sonnets from the Portuguese_, No. XI
這麽說，把愛情作為我的名份，
And therefore if to love can be desert,
我還不是完全不配承受。雖然，
I am not all unworthy. Cheeks as pale
你看，兩頰那麽蒼白，那搖晃的
As these you see, and trembling knees that fail
雙膝仿佛負擔不了沈重的心房；
To bear the burden of a heavy heart. --
這疲乏的行吟生涯也曾想望過
This weary minstrel-life that once was girt
把奧納斯山峰攀登，卻只落得一片
To climb Aornus, and can scare avail
辛酸的哀吟，怎好去跟谷鶯競奏？－－
to pipe now 'gainst the valley nightingale
幹嗎提這些來著？啊，親愛的，
A melancholy music, why advert
不用講，我高攀不上，不配在你身邊
To these things? O belov\`ed, it is plain
占一個位置。可是，就因為我愛你，
I am not of thy worth nor for thy place!
這片愛情提拔我，讓我擡起了頭、
And yet, because I love thee, I obtain
承受著光明，許我繼續活下去，
From that same love this vindicating grace,
哪怕是怎樣枉然，也要愛你到底；
To live on still in love, and yet in vain,
也要祝福你－－即使拒絕你在當面。
To bless thee, yet renounce thee to thy face.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十二首
說真的，就是這為我所誇耀的愛吧，
Indeed this very love which is my boast,
當它從胸房湧上眉梢，給我加上
And which, when rising up from breast to brow,
一頂皇冠－－那一顆巨大的紅寶石，
Doth crown me with a ruby large enow
光彩奪目，讓人知道它價值連城
To draw men's eyes and prove the inner cost,
就算我這全部的、最高成就的愛吧，
This love even, all my worth, to the uttermost,
我也不懂得怎樣去愛，要不是你
I should not love withal, unless that thou
先立下示範，教給我該怎麽辦－－
Hadst set me an example, shown me how,
當你懇切的目光第一次對上了
When first time thine earnest eyes with mine were crossed
我的目光，而愛呼應了愛。很明白，
And love called love. And thus, I cannot speak
即使愛，我也不能誇說是我的美德。
Of love even, as a good thing of my own.
是你，把我從一片昏迷的軟乏中
Thy soul hath snatched up mine all faint and weak
抱起，高置上黃金的寶座，靠近在
And placed by thee on a golden throne,
你的身旁。而我懂得了愛，只因為
And that I love (O soul, we must meek!)
緊挨著你－－我唯一愛慕的人
Is by thee only, whom I love alone.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十三首
Sonnets from the Portuguese_, No. XIII
你可是要我把對你湧起的恩情，
And wilt thou have me fashion into speech
形之於言詞，而且還覺得十分充裕；
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
不管有多猛的風，高舉起火炬，
And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough
讓光輝，從兩張臉兒間，把我倆照明？
Between our faces, to cast light on each? --
我卻把它掉在你腳邊，沒法命令
I drop it thy feet. I cannot teach
我的手托著我的心靈，那麽遠距
My hands to hold my spirit so far off
自己；難道我就能借文字作契據，
From myself ... me ... that I should bring thee proof
掏給你看、那無從抵達的愛情
In words, of love hid in me out of reach.
在我的心坎？不，我寧願表達
Nay, let the silence of my womanhood
女性的愛憑她的貞靜，而換來
command my woman-love to thy belief,
你的諒解－－看見我終不曾軟化，
Seeing that I stand unwon, however wooed,
任你怎樣地央求，我只是咬緊著嘴，
And rend the garment of my life, in brief,
狠心撕裂著生命的衣裙；生怕
By a most dauntless, voiceless fortitude,
這顆心一經接觸，就泄露了悲哀。
Lest one touch of this heart convey its grief.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十四首
Elizabeth Barrett Browning _Sonnets from the Portuguese_, No. XIV
如果你一心要愛我，那就別為了麽，
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
只是為了愛才愛我。別這麽講：
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
「我愛她，為了她的一笑，她的模樣，
`I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way
她柔語的聲氣；為了她這感觸
Of speaking gently, ... for a trick of thought
正好合我的心意，那天裏，的確
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought [certes: certainly]
給我帶來滿懷的喜悅和舒暢。」
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day' --
親愛的，這些好處都不能持常，
For these things in themselves, Belov\`ed, may
會因你而變，而這樣唱出的愛曲
Be changed, or change for thee, -- and love, so wrought [wrought: worked]
也將這樣啞寂。也別愛我因為你
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
又憐又惜地給我揩幹了淚腮，
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, --
一個人會忘了哭泣，當她久受你
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
溫柔的慰安－－卻因此失了你的愛。
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
愛我，請只是為了那愛的意念，
But love for love's sake, that evermore
那你就能繼續地愛，愛我如深海。
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十五首
"The sonnets from the Portuguese", No. XV
請不要這樣指責我：我在你面前
Accuse me not, beseech thee, that I wear
露出一副太冷靜、憂郁的面容；
Too calm and sad a face in front of thine;
你我原是面朝著兩個不同的方向，
For we too look two ways, and can not shine
那普照的陽光照不到兩人的前額。
With the same sunlight on our brow and hair.
你看著我，心中沒半點兒不踏實，
On me thou lookest with no doubting care,
象看著一只籠罩在水晶裏的蜜蜂；
As on a bee shut in a crystalline, --
哀怨把我密封在聖潔的愛情中，
Since sorrow hath shut me safe in love's divine,
想張開雙翼，撲向外面的空間、
And to spread wing and fly in the outer air
是絕不可能的失敗－－哪怕我狠著心
Were most impossible failure, if I strove
追求這顛撲和失敗。可是我向你看，
To fail so. But I look on thee -- on thee --
我看見了愛，還看到了愛的結局，
Beholding, besides love, the end of love,
聽到了記憶外層的哪一片寂寥！
Hearing oblivion beyond memory!
就象從千層萬丈之上，你向下眺望，
As one who sits and gazes from above,
只見滾滾的浪濤盡向大海裏流。
Over the rivers of the bitter sea.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十六首
"Sonnets from the Portuguese", No. XVI
然而，因為你完全征服了我，
And yet, because thou overcomest so,
因為你那樣高貴、象尊嚴的帝皇，
Because thou art more noble and like a king,
你能消除我的惶恐，把你的
Thou canst prevail against my fears and fling
紫袍裹繞住我，直到我的心
thy purple round me, till my heart shall grow
跟你的貼得那麽緊，再想不起
Too close against thine heart henceforth to know
當初怎樣獨自在悸動。那宣撫，
How it shook when alone. Why, conquering
就象把人踐踏在腳下，一樣是
May prove as lordly and complete a thing
威嚴和徹底完滿的征服！就象
In lifting upward, as in crushing low!
投降的兵士捧著戰刀呈交給
And as a vanquished soldier yields his sword
把他從血灘裏攙扶起來的主人；
To one who lifts him from the bloody earth, --
親愛的，我終於認了輸，承認：
Even so, Beloved, I at last record,
我的抗拒到此為止。假如你召喚我，
Here ends my strife. If _thou_ invite me forth,
聽著這話，我要從羞愧中站起。
I rise above abasement at the word.
擴大些你的愛，好提高些我的價值。
Make thy love larger to enlarge my worth.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十七首
"Sonnets from the Portuguese", No. XVII
我的詩人，在上帝的宇宙裏，從洪荒
My poet, thou canst touch on all the notes
到終極，那參差的音律，無一不能
God set between His After and Before,
從你的指尖彈出。你一揮手
And strike up and strike off the general roar
就打斷了人世間熙熙攘攘的聲浪，
Of the rushing worlds a melody that floats
奏出清音，在空氣裏悠然蕩漾；
In a serene air purely. Antidotes
那柔和的旋律，象一劑涼藥，把安慰
Of medicated music, answering for
帶給痛苦的心靈。上帝派給你
Mankind's forlornest uses, thou canst pour
這一個職司，而吩咐我伺候你。
>From thence into their ears. God's will devotes
親愛的，你打算把我怎樣安排？－－
Thine to such ends, and mine to wait on thine.
作為一個希望、給歡樂地歌唱？還是
How, Dearest, wilt thou have me for most use?
纏綿的回憶、溶化入抑揚的音調？
A hope, to sing by gladly? ... or a fine
還是棕櫚，還是松樹－－那一樹綠蔭
Sad memory, with thy songs to interfuse?
讓你在底下歌唱；還是一個青冢，
A shade, in which to sing ... of palm or pine?
唱倦了，你來這裏躺下？請挑吧。
A grave, on which to rest from singing? .. Choose.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十八首
我從不曾拿我的卷發送給誰，
I never gave a lock of hair away
除非是這一束，我最親愛的，給你；
To a man, Dearest, except this to thee,
滿懷心事，我把它抽開在指尖，
Which now upon my fingers thoughtfully
拉成棕黃色的一長段；我說：「愛，
I ring out to the full brown length and say
收下吧。」我的青春已一去不回，
`Take it.' My day of youth went yesterday;
這一頭散發再也不跟著我腳步一起
My hair no longer bounds to my foot's glee,
雀躍，也不再象姑娘們，在鬢發間
Nor plant I it from rose- or Myrtle-tree,
插滿玫瑰和桃金娘，卻讓它披垂，
As girls do, any more. It only may
從一個老是歪著的頭兒－－由於
Now shade on two pale cheeks the mark of tears
憂郁的癖性－－披下來遮掩著淚痕。
Taught drooping from the head that hangs aside
原以為理屍的剪刀會先把它收去，
Through sorrow's trick. I thought the funeral-shears
可不想愛情的名份得到了確認。
Would take this first, but Love is justified, --
收下吧，那上面有慈母在彌留時給兒女
Take it thou, ... finding pure, from all those years,
印下的一吻－－這些年始終保持著潔凈。
The kiss my mother left here when she died.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第十九首
心靈跟心靈也有市場和貿易，
The soul's Rialto hath its merchandize;
在那兒我拿卷發去跟卷發交換；
I barter curl for curl upon that mart,
從我那詩人的前額，我收下了
And from my poet's forehead to my heart
這一束，幾根發絲，在我心裏
Receive this lock which outweighs argosies, --
卻重過了飄洋大船。它那帶紫的烏亮，
As purply black, as erst to Pindar's eyes
在我眼裏，就象當初平達所看見的
The dim purpureal tresses gloomed athwart
斜披在繆斯玉額前暗紫色的秀發。
The nine white Muse-brows. From this counterpart, ...
為了媲美，我猜想那月桂冠的陰影
The bay-crown's shade, Beloved, I surmise,
依然逗留在發尖－－愛，你看它
Still lingers on thy curl, it is so black!
有多麽黑！我借輕輕的一吻，吐出
Thus, with a fillet of smooth-kissing breath,
溫柔的氣息，綰住了陰影，不讓它
I tie the shadows safe from gliding back,
溜走；又把禮品放在最妥貼的地方－－
And lay the gift where nothing hindereth,
我的心頭，叫它就象生長在你額上，
Here on my heart, as on thy brow, to lack
感受著體熱，直到那心兒有一天冷卻。
No natural heat till mine grows cold in death.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十首
親愛的，我親愛的，我想到從前－－
Beloved, my Beloved, when I think
一年之前，當時你正在人海中間，
That thou wast in the world a year ago,
我卻在這一片雪地中獨坐，
What time I sat alone here in the snow
望不見你邁步留下的蹤跡，
And saw no footprint, heard the silence sink
也聽不見你的謦咳沖破了這死寂；
No moment at thy voice, ... but, link by link,
我只是一環又一環計數著我周身
Went counting all my chains as if that so
沈沈的鐵鏈，怎麽也想不到還有你－－
They never could fall off at any blow
仿佛誰也別想把那鎖鏈開啟。
Struck by thy possible hand .. why, thus I drink
啊，我喝了一大杯美酒：人生的奇妙！
Of life's great cup of wonder! Wonderful,
奇怪啊，我從沒感覺到白天和黑夜
Never to feel thee thrill the day or night
都有你的行動、聲音在空中震蕩，
With personal act or speech, -- nor even cull
也不曾從你看著成長的白花裏，
Some prescience of thee with the blossoms white
探知了你的訊息－－就象無神論者
Thou sawest growing! Atheists are dull,
那樣鄙陋，猜不透神在神的化外！
Who cannot guess God's presence out of sight.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十一首
Sonnets From the Portuguese'' No. XXI
請說了一遍，再向我說一遍，
Say over again, and yet once over again,
說「我愛你！」即使那樣一遍遍重復，
That thou dost love me. Though the word repeated
你會把它看成一支「布谷鳥的歌曲」；
Should seem `a cuckoo-song,' as thou dost treat it.
可是記著，在那青山和綠林間，
Remember, never to the hill or plain,
那山谷和田野中，縱使清新的春天
Valley and wood, without her cuckoo-strain
披著全身綠裝降臨、也不算完美無缺，
Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed.
要是她缺少了那串布谷鳥的音節。
Beloved, I, amid the darkness greeted
愛，四周那麽黑暗，耳邊只聽見
By a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubt's pain
驚悸的心聲，處於那痛苦的不安中，
Cry, ... `Speak once more ... thou lovest!' Who can fear
我嚷道：「再說一遍：我愛你！」誰嫌
Too many stars, though each in heaven shall roll, --
太多的星，即使每顆都在太空轉動；
Too many flowers, though each shall crown the year?
太多的花，即使每朵洋溢著春意？
Say thou dost love me, love me, love me -- toll
說你愛我，你愛我，一聲聲敲著銀鐘！
The silver iterance! -- only minding, Dear,
只是記住，還得用靈魂愛我，在默默裏。
To love me also in silence with thy soul.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十二首
"Sonnets from the Portuguese", No. XXII
當我倆的靈魂壯麗地挺立起來，
When our two souls stan up erect and strong,
默默地，面對著面，越來越靠攏，
Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,
那伸張的翅膀在各自彎圓的頂端，
Util the lengthening wings break into fire
迸出了火星。世上還有什麽苦惱，
At each curved point, -- what bitter wrong
落到我們頭上，而叫我們不甘心
Can the earth do to us, that we should not long
在這裏長留？你說哪。再往上，就有
Be here contented? Think. In mounting higher,
天使抵在頭上，為我們那一片
The angels would press on us and aspire
深沈、親密的靜默落下成串
To drop some golden orb of perfect song
金黃和諧的歌曲。親愛的，讓我倆
Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay
就相守在地上吧－－人世的爭吵、熙攮
Rather on earth, Beloved, -- where the unfit
都向後退隱，留給純潔的靈魂
Contrarious moods of men recoil away
一方隔絕，容許在這裏面立足，
And isolate pure spirits, and permit
在這裏愛，愛上一天，盡管昏黑的
A place to stand and love in for a day,
死亡，不停地在它的四圍打轉。
With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十三首
真是這樣嗎？如果我死了，你可會
Is it indeed so? If I lay here dead,
失落一些生趣、由於失去了我？
Wouldst thou miss any life in losing mine?
陽光照著你，你會覺得它帶一絲寒意，
And would the sun for thee more coldly shine
為著潮濕的黃土已蓋沒了我的臉？
Because of grave-damps falling round my head?
真沒想到啊！我體味到你這份情意
I marvelled, my Beloved, when I read
在信中。愛，我是你的，可就這樣
Thy thought so in the letter. I am thine --
給珍重？我能用我那雙發抖的手
But ... _so_ much to thee? Can I pour thy wine
為你斟酒？好吧，那我就拋開了
While my hands tremble? Then my soul, instead
死的夢幻，重新捧起來那生命。
Of dreams of death, resumes life's lower range.
愛我吧，看著我，用暖氣呵我吧！
Then, love me, Love! look on me ... breathe on me!
多少閨秀，為著愛不惜犧牲了
As brighter ladies do not count it strange,
財富和身份；我也要放棄那墳墓－－
For love, to give up acres and degree,
為了你；把我那迫近而可愛的天國的
I yield the grave for thy sake, and exchange
景象、來跟載著你的土地交換！
My near sweet view of heaven, for earth with thee!
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十四首
讓世界象一把摺刀，把它的鋒芒
Let the world's sharpness like a clasping knife
在自身內斂藏，埋進在愛情的
Shut in upon itself and do no harm
掌握內、溫柔的中心，而不再為害。
In this close hand of Love, now soft and warm,
讓嗒的一聲，刀子合上之後，
And let us hear no sound of human strife
我們就此再聽不見人世的爭吵。
After the click of the shutting. Life to life --
親愛的，我緊挨著你，生命貼戀著
I lean upon thee, Dear, without alarm,
生命，什麽也不怕，我只覺得安全，
And feel as safe as guarded by a charm
象有了神符的保護，世人的刀槍
Against the stab of worldlings, who if rife
怎麽稠密也不能傷害毫發。我們
Are weak to injure. Very whitely still
生命中的素蓮，依然能開出純潔
The lilies of our lives may reassure
雪白的花朵；那底下的根，只仰賴
Their blossoms from their roots, accessible
天降的甘露，從山頭往上挺伸，
Alone to heavenly dews that drop not fewer:
高出世間的攀折。只有上帝，
Growing straight, out of man's reach, on the hill.
他賜我們富有，才能叫我們窮。
God only, who made us rich, can make us poor.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十五首
親愛的，年復一年，我懷著一顆
A heavy heart, Beloved, have I borne
沈重的心，直到我瞧見了你的面影。
From year to year util I saw thy face,
一個個憂傷已相繼剝奪了我所有的
And sorrow after sorrow took the place
歡欣－－象一串輕貼在胸前的珍珠，
Of all those natural joys as lightly worn
在跳舞的當兒，給一顆跳動的心兒
As the stringed pearls, ... each lifted in its turn
逐一地撥弄。希望隨即轉成了
By a beating heart at dance time. Hopes apace
漫長的失望，縱使上帝的厚恩，
Were changed to long despairs, til God's own grace
也沒法從那淒涼的人世舉起來
Could scarcely lift above the world forlorn
我這顆沈甸甸的心。可是你，
My heavy heart. Then thou didst bid me bring
你當真命令我捧著它，投到
And let it drop adown thy calmly great
你偉大深沈的跟前！它立即往下沈，
Deep being! Fast it sinketh, as a thing
就象墮落是它的本性；而你的心，
Which its own nature does precipitate,
立即緊跟著，貼在它上面，擋在
While thine doth close above it, mediating
那照臨的星辰和未完功的命運間。
Betwixt the stars and the unaccomplished fate.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十六首
是幻想--並不是男友還是女伴，
I lived with visons for my company
多少年來，跟我生活在一起，做我的
Instead of men and women, years ago,
親密的知友。它們為我而奏的音樂，
And found them gentle mates, nor thought to know
我不想聽到還有比這更美的。
A sweeter music than they played to me.
可是幻想的輕飄的紫袍，免不了
But soon their trailing purple was not free
沾上人世的塵土，那琴聲終於逐漸
Of this world's dust, -- their lutes did silent grow,
消歇，而我也在那些逐漸隱滅的
And myself grew faint and blind blow
眸子下頭暈眼花。於是，親愛的，
Their vanishing eyes. Then THOU didst com ... to be,
你來了--仿佛來接替它們。就象
Boloved, wha they seemed. their shining fronts,
河水盛入了洗禮盆、水就更聖潔，
Their songs, their splendours, ( better, yet the same,
它們的輝煌的前額、甜蜜的歌聲，
As river-water hallowed into fonts )
都聚集在你一身，透過你而征服了我，
Met in thee, and from out thee overcame
給予我最大的滿足。上帝的禮物
My soul with satisfaction of all wants --
叫人間最絢爛的夢幻失落了顏色。
Because God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十七首
愛人，我親愛的人，是你把我，
My own Beloved, who hast lifted me
一個跌倒在塵埃的人，扶起來，
From this drear flat of earth where I was thrown,
又在我披垂的鬢發間吹入了一股
And, in betwixt the languid ringlets, blown
生氣，好讓我的前額又亮光光地
A life-breath, till the forehead hopefully
閃耀著希望--有所有的天使當著
Shines out again, as all the angels see,
你救難的吻為證！親愛的人呀，
Before thy saving kiss! My own, my own,
當你來到我跟前，人世已舍我遠去，
Who camest to me when the world was gone,
而一心仰望上帝的我、卻獲得了你！
And I who looked for only God, found thee!
我發現了你，我安全了，強壯了，快樂了。
I find thee; I am safe, and strong, and glad.
象一個人站立在幹潔的香草地上
As one who stands in dewless aspodel,
回顧他曾捱過來的苦惱的年月；
Looks backward on the tedious time he had
我擡起了胸脯，拿自己作證：
In the upper life, -- so I, with bosom-swell,
這裏，在一善和那一惡之間，愛，
Make witness, here, between the good and bad,
象死一樣強烈，帶來了同樣的解脫。
That Love, as strong as death, retrieves as well.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十八首
我的信！一堆堆死沈沈的紙，蒼白又無聲，
My letters! all dead paper, ... mute and white!
可是它們又象具有生命、顫動在
And yet they seem alive and quivering
我拿不穩的手內--是那發抖的手
Against my tremulous hands while loose the string
解開絲帶，讓它們今晚散滿在
And let them drop down on my knee to-night.
我膝上。這封說：他多盼望有個機會，
This said, ... he wished to have me in his sight
能作為朋友，見一見我。這一封又訂了
Once, as a friend: this fixed a day in spring
春天裏一個日子，來見我，跟我
To come and touch my hand ... a simple thing,
握握手--平常的事，我可哭了！
Yet I wept for it! -- this, ... the paper's light ...
這封說（不多幾個字）：「親，我愛你！」
Said, _Dear I love thee_; and I sank and quailed
而我卻惶恐得象上帝的未來在轟擊
As if God's future thundered on my past.
我的過去。這封說：「我屬於你！」那墨跡，
This said, _I am thine_ -- and so its ink has paled
緊貼在我悸跳的心頭，久了，褪了色。
With lying at my heart that beat too fast.
而這封。。。愛啊，你的言詞有什麽神妙，
And this ... O Love, thy words have ill availed
假如這裏吐露的，我敢把它再說！
If, what this said, I dared repeat at last!
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第二十九首
我想你！我的相思圍抱住了你，
I think of thee! -- my thoughts do twine and bud
繞著你而抽芽，象蔓藤卷纏著樹木、
About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
遍發出肥大的葉瓣，除了那蔓延的
Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see
青翠把樹身掩藏，就什麽都看不見。
Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
可是我的棕櫚樹呀，你該明白，
Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood
我怎願懷著我的思念而失去了
I will not have my thoughts instead of thee
更親更寶貴的你！我寧可你顯現
Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
你自己的存在；象一株堅強的樹
Renew thy presence. As a strong tree should,
沙沙地搖撼枝杈，掙出了赤裸的
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,
軀幹來，叫這些重重疊疊的綠葉
And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee,
都給摔下來狼藉滿地。因為在
Drop heavily down, ... burst, shattered, everywhere!
看著你、聽著你、在你蔭影裏呼吸著
Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee
清新的空氣，洋溢著深深的喜悅時，
And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
我再不想你--我是那麽地貼緊你。
I do not think of thee -- I am too near thee.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十首
今晚，我淚眼晶瑩，恍惚瞧見了
I see thine image through my tears to-night,
你的形象；然而不是今朝，我還看到
And yet to-day I saw thee smiling. How
你在笑？愛人，這是為什麽？是你，
Refer the cause? -- Beloved, is it thou
還是我--是誰叫我黯然愁苦？
Or I, who makes me sad? The acolyte
一個浸沈在歡頌和崇拜中的僧侶
amid the chanted joy and thankful rite
把蒼白無知覺的額頭投在祭壇下，
May so fall flat, with pale insensate brow
或許就這樣俯伏。正象他耳內轟響著
On the alter-stair. I hear thy voice and vow,
「阿門」的歌聲；我聽得你親口的盟誓，
Perplexed, uncertain, since thou art out of sight,
心裏卻一片怔忡不安，因為不見你
As he, in his swooning ears, the choir's amen.
在我的眼前。親愛的，你當真愛我？
Beloved, dost thou love? or did I see all
我當真看見了那恍如夢境的榮光，
The glory as I dreamed, and fainted when
並且經不起那強烈的逼射而感到了
Too vehement light dilated my ideal,
眩暈？這光可會照臨，就象那
For my soul's eyes? Will that light come again,
盈盈的淚，一顆顆滾下來，又熱又真？
As now these tears come ... falling hot and real?
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十一首
"Sonnets from the Portuguese", No. XXXI
你來了！還沒開口，心意都表明了。
Thou comest! all is said without a word.
我坐在你的容光下，象沐浴在陽光中的
I sit beneath thy looks, as children do
嬰孩，那閃爍的眸子無聲地泄露了
In the noon-sun, with souls that tremble through
顫動在那顆小心裏的無比的喜悅。
Their happy eyelids from an unaverred
看哪，我這最後的疑慮是錯了！
Yet prodigal inward joy. Behold, I erred
可是我不能只埋怨自己，你想，
In that last doubt! and yet I cannot rue
這是怎樣的情景，怎樣的時辰？
The sin most, but the occasion ... that we two
這一刻，我倆競輕易地並站在一起。
Should for a moment stand unministered
啊，靠近我，讓我挨著你吧；當我
By a mutal presence. Ah, keep near and close,
湧起了疑慮，你寬坦的心胸給我
Thou dove-like help! and, when my fears would rise,
清澈而溫柔的慰撫；用你崇高的
With thy broad heart serenely interpose.
光輝來孵育我那些思念吧；失了
Brood down with thy divine sufficiencies
你的庇護，它們就要戰栗－－就象
These thoughtswhich tremble when berest of those,
那羽翼未豐的小鳥給撇下在天空裏。
Like callow birds left desert to the skies.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十二首
"Sonnets from the Portuguese", no. XXXII
當金黃的太陽升起來，第一次照上
The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
你愛的盟約，我就預期著明月
To love me, I looked forward to the moon
來解除那情結、系的太早太急。
To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon
我只怕愛的容易、就容易失望，
And quickly tied to make a lasting troath.
引起悔心。再回顧我自己，我哪象
Quick-loving hearts, I thought, may quickly loathe;
讓你愛慕的人！－－卻象一具啞澀
And, looking on myself, I seemed not one
破損的弦琴、配不上你那麽清澈
For such man's love! -- more like an out-of-tune
美妙的歌聲！而這琴，匆忙裏給用上，
Worn voil, a good singer would be wroth
一發出沙沙的音，就給惱恨地
To spoil his song with, and which, snatched in haste,
扔下。我這麽說，並不曾虧待
Is laid down at the first ill-sounding note.
自己，可是我冤了你。在樂聖的
I did not wrong myself so, but I placed
手裏，一張破琴也可以流出完美
A wrong on _thee_. For perfect strains may float
和諧的韻律；而憑一張弓，真誠的
'Neath master-hands, from instruments defaced, --
靈魂，可以在勒索、也同時在溺愛。
And great souls, at one stroke, may do and dote.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十三首
對啦，叫我的小名兒呀！讓我再聽見
Yes, call me by my pet-name! let me hear
我一向飛奔著去答應的名字－－那時，
The name I used to run at, when a child
還是個小女孩，無憂無慮，沈浸於
From innocent play, and leave the cowslips piled,
嬉戲，偶爾從一大堆野草野花間
To glance up in some face that proved me dear
擡起頭來，仰望那用和藹的眼
With the look of its eyes. I miss the clear
撫愛我的慈顏。我失去了那仁慈
Fond voices which, being drawn and reconciled
親切的呼喚，那靈襯給我的是
Into the music of Heaven's undefiled,
一片寂靜，任憑我高呼著上天，
Call me no longer. Silence on the bier,
那慈聲歸入了音樂華嚴的天國。
While I call God ... call God! -- So let thy mouth
讓你的嘴來承繼那寂滅的清音。
Be heir to those who are now exanimate.
采得北方的花，好完成南方的花束，
Gather the north flowers to complete the south,
在遲暮的歲月裏趕上早年的愛情。
And catch the early love up in the late.
對啦，叫我的小名兒吧，我，就隨即
Yes, call me by that name, -- and I, in truth,
答應你，懷著當初一模樣的心情。
With the same heart, will answer and not wait.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十四首
懷著當初一模樣的心情，我說，
With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
我要答應你，當你叫我的小名。
As those, when thou shalt call me by my name --
唉，這分明是空的願心！我的心
Lo, the vain promise! Is the same, the same,
還能是一模樣－－飽受了人生的磨折？
Perplexed and ruffled by life's strategy?
從前，我聽得一聲喊，就扔下花束，
When called before, I told how hastily
要不，從遊戲裏跳起，奔過去答應，
I dropped my flower or brake off from a game,
一路上都是我的笑容笑聲在致敬，
To run and answer with the smile that came
眼星裏還閃爍著方才那一片歡樂。
At play last moment, and went on with me
現在我應你，我舍下一片沈重的
Through my obedience. When I answer now,
憂思，從孤寂裏驚起。可是，我的心
I drop a grave thought, break from solitude;
還是要向你飛奔，你不是我一種的
Yet still my heart goes to thee ... ponder how ...
善，而是百善所鐘！我最可愛的人，
Not as to a single good, but all my good!
你把手按著我的心口，同意嗎：孩童的
Lay thy hand on it, best one, and allow
小腳從沒跑得這麽快－－象這血輪。
That no child's foot could run fast as this blood.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十五首
要是我把一切都交給你，你可願意
If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange
作為交換，把什麽都歸給我？
And be all to me? Shall I never miss
我可是永不會缺少家常的談笑、
Home-talk and blessing and the common kiss
互酬接吻、彼此的祝福？也不會
That comes to each in turn, nor count it strange,
感到生疏、當我擡起頭來打量
When I look up, to drop on a new range
新的墻壁和地板－－家以外另一個家？
Of walls and floors, ... another home than this?
不，我還要問，你可願頂替那一雙
Nay, wilt thou fill that place by me which is
瞑合了的柔眼在我身旁留下的位置
Filled by dead eyes too tender to know change?
而一樣地不懂得變心？這可是難！
That's hardest. If to conquer love, has tried,
征服愛如果費事，征服怨，那就更難。
To conquer grief, tries more ... as all things prove,
怨是，愛不算，再得加上個怨。我的怨，
For grief indeed s love and grief beside.
唉，那麽深，就那麽不輕易愛。可是，
Alas, I have grieved so I am hard to love.
你依然愛我－－你願？敞開些你的心，
Yet love me -- wilt thou? Open thine heart wide,
好讓你那羽翼濕透的鴿子撲進來！
And fold within, the wet wings of thy dove.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十六首
當初我倆相見、一見而傾心的時光，
When we met first and loved, I did not build
我怎敢在這上面，建起大理石宮殿，
Upon the event with marble. Could it mean
難道這也會久長－－那來回搖擺在
To last, a love set pendulous between
憂傷與憂傷間的愛？不，我害怕，
Sorrow and sorrow? Nay, I rather thrilled,
我信不過那似乎浮泛在眼前的
Distrusting every light that seemed to gild
一片金光，不敢伸出手指去碰一下。
The onward path, and feared to overlean
到後來才坦然、堅定了；可我又覺得，
A finger even. And, though I have grown serene
上帝總該另有恐懼安排在後面。
And strong since then, I think God has willed
愛啊，要不然，這雙緊握著的手
A still renewable fear ... O love, O troth ...
就不會接觸；這熱熱的親吻，一旦
Lest these enclasped hands should never hold,
從嘴唇上冷卻了，何以不變成虛文？
This mutual kiss drop down between us both
愛情啊，你快變了心吧！要是命運
As an unowned thing, once the lips being cold.
這樣註定：他，為了信守一個盟誓
And Love, be false! if _he_, too keep one oath,
就非得拿犧牲一個喜悅作代價。
Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十七首
原諒我，啊，請原諒吧，並非我無知，
Pardon, oh, pardon, that my soul should make
不明白一切德性全歸於你、屬於你；
Of all that strong divineness which I know
可是，你在我心裏構成的形象，
For thine and thee, an image only so
卻就象一堆虛浮不實的泥沙！
Formed of the sand, and fit to shift and break.
是那年深月久的孤僻，象遭了
It is that distant years which did not take
當頭一棒，從你面前盡往後縮，
Thy sovranty [1], recoiling with a blow,
迫使我眩暈的知覺湧起了疑慮和
Have forced my swimming brain to undergo
恐懼，盲目地舍棄了你純潔的面目，
Their doubt and dread, and blindly to forsake
最崇高的愛給我歪曲成最荒謬的
Thy purity of likeness and distort
形狀。就象一個沈了船的異教徒，
Thy worthiest love to a worthless counterfeit.
安然脫險，上了岸，酬謝保佑他的
As if a shipwrecked Pagan, safe in port,
海神，獻上了一尾木雕的海豚--
His guardian sea-god to commemorate,
那兩腮呼呼作響、尾巴掀起了
Should set a sculptured porpoise, gills a snort
怒浪的龐大的海族--在廟宇的門墻內。
And vibrant tail, within the temple-gate.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十八首
第一次他親我，他只是親了一下
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed
在寫這詩篇的手，從此我的手就越來
The fingers of this hand wherewith I write;
越白凈晶瑩，不善作世俗的招呼，
And ever since, it grew more clean and white, ...
而敏於呼召：「啊，快聽哪，快聽
Slow to the world-greetings, quick with its `Oh, list,'
天使在說話哪！」即使在那兒戴上一個
When the angels speak. A ring of amethyst
紫玉瑛戒指，也不會比那第一個吻
I could not wear here, plainer to my sight,
在我的眼裏顯現得更清楚。
Than that first kiss. The second passed in height
第二個吻，就往高處升，它找到了
The first, and sought the forehead, and half missed,
前額，可是偏斜了一些，一半兒
Half falling on the hair. O beyond meed!
印在發絲上。這無比的酬償啊，
That was the chrism of love, which love's own crown
是愛神擦的聖油！－－先於愛神的
With sanctifying sweetness, did precede.
華美的皇冠。那第三個，那麽美妙，
The third upon my lips was folded down
正好按在我嘴唇上，從此我就
In perfect, purple state; since when, indeed,
自傲，敢於呼喚：「愛，我的愛！」
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第三十九首
為著你的魄力和盛德－－你那樣
Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace
犀利地望著我，透過我那給淚雨
To look through and behind this mask of me,
沖洗得成了灰白的面具、照徹了
( Against which, years have beat thus blanchingly
我靈魂的真實面目（灰暗疲乏的
With their rains, ) and behold my soul's true face,
人生的證明！）也為著你只知道忠誠，
The dim and weary witness of life's race! --
只知道愛，只是朝我看，透過我那
Because thou hast the faith and love to see,
麻木的靈魂，看到了那忍耐的天使
Through that same soul's distracting lethargy,
一心期待著天堂裏的位置；又為著
The patient angel waiting for a place
無論是罪惡、是哀怨、甚至上帝的譴責，
In the new heavens! -- Because nor sin nor woe,
死神的逼近的威脅－－不管這一切，
Nor God's infliction, nor death's neighbourhood,
叫人們一看就掉首而去，叫自己
Nor all which others viewing, turn to go, ...
想著都厭惡。。。卻沒什麽能嚇退你；
Nor all which makes me tired of all, self-viewed, ...
親愛的，那你教我吧，教我怎麽樣
Nothing repels thee, ... Dearest, teach me so
把感激盡量傾吐，正象你把恩惠布施。
To pour out gratitude, as thou dost, good.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第四十首
是啊，咱們這世道，談情說愛，多的是！
Oh, yes! They love through all this world of ours!
我不想問：真有愛這回事嗎？有就有吧--
I will not gainsay love, called love forsooth.
從小，我就聽慣了人們嘴裏的「愛」，
I have heard love talked in my early youth,
直到才不久--那會兒采來的鮮花
And since, not so long back but that the flowers
香味還沒散呢。不管是回教徒、「外教徒」，
Then gathered, smell still. Mussulmans and Giaours
笑一笑，手絹兒就摔過來；可是一哭，
Throw kerchiefs at a smile, and have no ruth
誰也不理了。「獨眼龍」的白牙齒咬不緊
For any weeping. Polypheme's white tooth
硬果子，假使淋過了幾陣驟雨，
Slips ib the nut if, after frequent showers,
果殼變得滑嘟嘟--從沒想把這稱做
The shell is over-smooth, -- and not so much
「愛」的東西，也跟他們的「恨」、以至
Will turn the thing called love, aside to hate
跟「淡漠」並列。可是你，親愛的，你不是
Or else to oblivion. But thou art not such
那樣的情人！你從那哀怨和疾病裏
A lover, my Beloved! Thou canst wait
伺候了過來，教心靈終於接通了心靈，
Through sorrow and sickness, to bring souls to touch
人家會嫌「太晚」了，而你想還沒想到。
And think it soon when others cry `Too late.'
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第四十一首
我滿懷著感激和愛，向凡是在心裏
I thank all who have loved me in their hearts,
愛過我的人們道謝。深深的感謝啊，
With thanks and love from mine. Deep thanks to all
好心的人們，打牢墻外經過，駐足
Who paused a little near the prison-wall
聽取我三兩聲稍微響亮些的音樂，
To hear my music in its louder parts
這才繼續趕路，奔赴市場或是聖殿、
Ere they went onward, each one to the mart's
各自的前程，再無從召喚。可是你，
Or temple's occupation, beyond call.
當我的歌聲低落了、接不上了，代之以
But thou, who, in my voice's sink and fall
哭泣，你卻叫神的最尊貴的樂器
When the sob took it, thy divinest Art's
掉在腳下，傾聽我那夾雜在淚珠裏的
Own instrument didst drop down at thy foot
怨聲。。。啊，指點我，該怎麽報答
To harken what I said between my tears, ...
你的恩情吧！怎麽能把這一片
Instruct me how to thank thee! -- Oh, to shoot
回旋蕩漾的情意奉獻給未來的
My soul's full meaning into future years,
歲月，由它來給我表白，向耐久的
That _they_ should lend it utterance, and salute
愛情致敬，憑著那短暫的人生！
Love that endures, from Life that disappears!
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第四十二首
「未來啊，任你怎樣臨摹，也描不成
`_My future will not copy fair my past_' --
我過去的樣本了，」我曾這麽寫過，
I wrote that once; and think at my side
以為守護在我身畔的天使會同意
My ministerig life-angel justified
這話，把仰天呼籲的眼光瞥向那
The word by his appealing look upcast
高踞玉座的上帝。待我回過頭來，
To the white throne of God, I turned at last,
看見的卻是你，還有你我的天使
And there, instead , saw thee, not unallied
結伴在一起！一向為哀怨、病痛
To angels in thy soul! Then I, long tried
所折磨的我，就把幸福抱得那麽緊。
By natural ills, received the comfort fast,
一見了你，我那朝拜的手杖
While budding, at thy sight, my pilgrim's staff
抽了芽、發出了綠葉，承受著
Gave out green leaves with morning dews impearled.
清晨的露珠。如今，我再不追尋
I seek no copy now of life's first half:
我生命中前半的樣本，讓那些反復
Leave here the pages with long musing curled,
吟嘆、卷了角的書頁放過在一邊，
And write me new my future's epigraph,
我給我重寫出新的一章生命！
New angel mine, unhoped for in the world!
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第四十三首
我是怎樣地愛你？讓我逐一細算。
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
我愛你盡我的心靈所能及到的
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
深邃、寬廣、和高度－－正象我探求
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
玄冥中上帝的存在和深厚的神恩。
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
我愛你的程度，就象日光和燭焰下
I love thee to the level of everyday's
那每天不用說得的需要。我不加思慮地
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
愛你，就象男子們為正義而鬥爭；
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
我純潔地愛你，象他們在贊美前低頭。
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
我愛你以我童年的信仰；我愛你
I love thee with the passion put to use
以滿懷熱情，就象往日滿腔的辛酸；
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith
我愛你，抵得上那似乎隨著消失的聖者
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
而消逝的愛慕。我愛你以我終生的
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
呼吸，微笑和淚珠－－假使是上帝的
Smiles, tears, and all my life -- and, if God choose,
意旨，那麽，我死了我還要更加愛你！
I shall but love thee better after death.
白朗寧夫人抒情十四行詩集第四十四首
親愛的，你從一整個夏天到冬天，
Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
從園子裏采集了那麽多的花
Plucked in the garden, all the summer through
送給我；而這幽閉的小室裏，它們
And winter, and it seemed as if they grew
繼續生長，仿佛並不缺少陽光和
In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers.
雨水的滋養。那麽同樣地憑著
So, in the like name of that love of ours,
這愛的名義－－那愛是屬於我倆的，
Take back these thoughts which here unfold too,
也請收下了我的回敬；那在熱天，
And which on warm and cold days I withdrew
在冷天，發自我心田的情思的花朵。
From my heart's ground. Indeed, those beds and bowers
不錯，在我那園圃裏確是長滿著
Be overgrown with bitter weeds and rue,
野草和苦艾，有待於你來耘除；Instruct thine eyes to keep their colours true,
向你自己說，它們的根都埋在我的深心。
And tell thy soul, their roots are left in mine.
And wait thy weeding; yet here's eglantine,
可這兒也有白玫瑰，也有常春藤！
Here's ivy! -- take them, as I used to do
請收下吧，就象我慣常接受你的花。
Thy flowers, and keep them where they shall not pine.
好生地護養著，別讓它褪落了顏色，
【年輕的時候，特別喜歡讀詩，席慕蓉、普希金、布朗寧夫人……今天無意間看到這組詩，就發這裏了。有喜歡的，轉走，不謝！
