頌詩譯選

冠冕

凌風 譯

當那荊棘冠冕的刺，太長，
　　加冕在我救主的頭上，
　　造成許多的創傷，
我長願欲，設法作個華冠為錯誤補償：
　　找遍每個花園，每片草場
採集花朵（我的結果不過有花）
　　拆毀所有芳香的花塔，
一度曾為我的牧羊女裝飾頭髮。
現在我傾所有的存積
　　妄想（是我在自欺）
　　如此豐美的花圈編織
榮耀的王所戴的冠冕無一能及；
　　啊呀！我發現那古蛇仇敵
　　盤繞着它斑點的胸皮，
　　彎曲偽裝作類似的花枝，
　　捲纏着名聲和利益。
啊！愚人，必朽的榮耀難以久遠
將要貶抑屬天的皇冠！
但只有你能制伏那古蛇，
解脫它狡滑的結，
斷開它所有網羅曲折；
或同時破碎我的奇心淫妄
讓這些都凋殘，它也就死亡，
雖然用上技巧，選擇復營想；
這樣，當你踐踏兩重的戰利品，
作足下的冠冕，雖不配冠冕在你頭上。

馬衛勒（Andrew Marvell） 英國形上派詩人。
於克倫威爾執政期間，任彌爾敦（John Milton）拉丁秘書助理，相當於外交次長。於英王查理二世 （Charles II） 復辟後，被選為國會議員。彌爾敦因曾參加清教徒革命，並著文指查理一世為叛國暴君，主張處以死刑（1649），為新政府不容，議以監禁；馬衛勒極力營救為之庇護。

The Coronet

When for the Thorns with which I long, too long,
　　With many a piercing wound
　　My Saviour's head have crown'd,
I seek with Garlands to redress that Wrong,
　　Through every Garden, every Mead
I gather flow'rs (my fruits are only flow'rs)
　　Dismantling all the fragrant Towers
That once adorn'd my Shepherdess's head.
And now when I have summ'd up all my store,
　　Thinking (so I my self deceive)
　　So rich a Chaplet thence to weave
As never yet the king of Glory wore,
　　Alas I find the Serpent old
　　That, twining in his speckled breast,
　　About the flow'rs disguis'd does fold,
　　With wreaths of Fame and Interest.
Ah, foolish Man, that would'st debase with them
And mortal Glory, Heaven's Diadem!
But thou who only could'st the Serpent tame,
Either his slipp'ry knots at once untie,
And disintangle all his winding Snare;
Or shatter too with him my curious frame
And let these wither, so that he may die,
Though set with Skill and chosen out with Care;
That they, while Thou on both their Spoils dost tread,
May crown thy Feet, that could not crown thy Head.

Andrew Marvell（1621-1678）
English MP & poet