书城外语那些年那些诗
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第52章 He Knows He Has Wings

Victor Hugo

What matter it though life uncertain be

To all? What though its goal

Be never reached? What though it fall and flee—

Have we not each a soul?

Be like the bird that on a bough too frail

To bear him gaily swings;

He carols though the slender branches fail—

He knows he has wings!

他自知有翅膀

维克多·雨果

何必去管它,人生总是无定?

有什么关系壮志难成?

又何必计较你蹉跌并败奔——

我们岂不是各自有灵魂?

要像那鸟儿在柔弱的枝梢,

经不起它欢乐地跳跃;

虽然那细枝折断了它仍歌唱——

因为它知道自己有翅膀!

背景知识

维克多·雨果 (Victor Hugo),法国诗人、剧作家及小说家。19世纪浪漫主义文学运动领袖,人道主义的代表人物,被人们称为“法兰西的莎士比亚”。 雨果一生写过多部诗歌、小说、剧本,各种散文和文艺评论及政论文章。雨果的创作历程超过60年,其作品包括26卷诗歌、20卷小说、12卷剧本、21卷哲理论著,合计79卷之多,给法国文学和人类文化宝库增添了一份十分辉煌的文化遗产。

单词注解

flee [fli:] 逃,逃走

bough [bau] 大树枝

frail [freil] 易损坏的;不坚实的

gaily [5^eili] 快乐地;兴高采烈地

名句诵读

What matter it though life uncertain be to all?

Have we not each a soul?

He carols though the slender branches fail—

He knows he has wings!

第一章 A Farewel to Worldly Joyes

Anne Killigrew

Farewel to Unsubstantial Joyes,

Ye Gilded Nothings,Gaudy Toyes,

Too long ye have my Soul misled,

Too long with Aiery Diet fed:

But now my Heart ye shall no more

Deceive,as you have heretofore:

for when I hear such Sirens sing,

Like lthica’s fore-warned King,

With prudent Resolution I

Will so my Will and Fancy tye,

That stronger to the Mast not he,

Than I to Reason bound will be:

And though your Witchcrafts strike my Ear,

Unhurt,like him,your Charms I’ll hear.

永别了,尘世的欢乐

安妮·基丽格鲁

永别了,空洞的欢乐,你是

涂金的虚无,华丽的玩具,

太久,你使我的灵魂迷途,

太久,给它空气般的米黍:

但是我的心不会再被你迷惑,

虽然以前你曾经迷惑过我:

当我听到这样的塞壬歌唱,

像伊斯卡受到警告的国王,

以谨慎克制的决心,我将

坚决缚住我的意志和想象,

比他把自己缚于桅杆还要紧,

我将使自己钳制于理性:

虽然你的巫术撞击我的耳鼓,

无动于衷,像他,我倾听你的法术。

背景知识

安妮·基丽格鲁(Anne Killigrew),来自一个戏剧世家,她父亲、两位叔父、两位堂兄都是剧作家。她自己既是诗人又是画家。作为约克公爵夫人的高级侍女,她的诗常写宫廷生活、她所服侍的公爵夫人及诗歌理论,也写她自己的绘画。安妮25岁时死于天花,她的诗歌由她父亲于1868年编辑出版。

单词注解

unsubstantial [5QnsEb5stAnFEl] 无实质的;不切实际的

ye [ji:] 【古】你们;你

heretofore [5hiEtu5fC:] 【书】直到此时,迄今为止

prudent [5pru:dEnt] 审慎的,小心的

strike [straik] 打,击,攻击

名句诵读

Farewel to Unsubstantial Joyes,Ye Gilded Nothings,Gaudy Toyes,Too long ye have my Soul misled,Too long with Aiery Diet fed:

for when I hear such Sirens sing,Like lthica’s fore-warned King,With prudent Resolution I Will so my Will and Fancy tye,That stronger to the Mast not he,Than I to Reason bound will be:And though your Witchcrafts strike my Ear,Unhurt,like him,your Charms I’ll hear.