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藝文走廊.譯詩 ✐2005-02-01


頌詩譯選

品德

凌風 譯

 

噢,你明亮的珍寶我掙扎企圖
要領悟你。你自己的話宣述
智慧甚高超越愚昧人所能及
我停止驚奇也不復去嘗試
探究你的高或測度你的深奧。
不過我的心啊不要沉入失望。
品德就在近旁並用柔和的手
現在要擁抱你,攀過你的頭。
有屬天生命的人樂與她談論,
尋求她,戀慕她應許的福分。
…陪伴我,品德,在我幼年的歲月!
噢,不要離我給現今虛幻的歡樂!
引導我腳步到永遠生命幸福。

 

On Virtue

Phillis Wheatley

O thou bright jewel in my aim I strive
To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare
Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach
I cease to wonder and no more attempt
Thine height t' explore or fathom thy profound.
But O my soul sink not into despair.
Virtue is near thee and with a gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o'er thine head.
Fain would the heaven born soul with her converse,
Then seek, then court her for her promis'd bliss.
... Attend me Virtue, through my youthful years!
O leave me not to the false joys of time!
But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.

菲莉絲.惠特禮(Phillis Wheatley, 1753-1784 )為美國第一黑人女詩人。生於西非洲,被擄賣到波士頓,為John Wheatley夫人之女奴。十三歲即能詩,享有盛名。嫁於獲自由之黑奴John Peters貧苦以終。
在當時一般的觀念,認為有色人種的智慧低於白人,奴隸所受待遇更不必說了。此詩出版後,不少人以為絕不是一個黑人女奴所作;經過多次測試,方證實不虛。

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