新浪博客

弥尔顿十四行诗 《哀失明》--On His Blindness

2016-04-25 14:48阅读:
弥尔顿的《十四行诗之十九》


On His Blindness


When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
'Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?'
I fondly ask; But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies 'God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.'




哀失明




想到了在这茫茫黑暗的世界里,
还未到半生这两眼就已失明,
想到了我这个泰伦特,要是埋起来,
会招致死亡,却放在我手里无用,虽然我一心想用它服务造物主,
免得报账时,得不到他的宽容;
想到这里,我就愚蠢地自问,
“神不给我光明,还要我做日工?”但“忍耐”看我在抱怨,立刻止住我:
“神并不要你工作,或还他礼物。
谁最能服从他,谁就是忠于职守,他君临万方,只要他一声吩咐,
万千个天使就赶忙在海陆奔驰,
但侍立左右的,也还是为他服务。”


(殷宝书 译) (出自胡家峦编著的《英国名诗详注》)




杨绛:英国大诗人弥尔顿44岁双目失明,他为自己的失明写了一首十四行诗,大意我撮述如下。他先是怨苦:还未过半生,已失去光明,在这个茫茫黑暗世界上,他惟有的才能无从发挥,真是死一般的难受;他虽然一心要为上帝效劳,却是力不从心了。接下,“忍耐之心”立即予以驳斥:“上帝既不需要人类的效劳,也不需要他赋予人类的才能。谁最能顺从他的驾御,就是最出色的功劳。上帝是全世界的主宰。千千万万的人,无休无止地听从着他的命令,在陆地上奔波,在海洋里航行。仅仅站着恭候的人,同样也是为上帝服务。

我的更多文章

下载客户端阅读体验更佳

APP专享