頌詩譯選
孩童時間
在黑暗將接續白天,
當夜開始降下,
一天事工完畢的休閒,
那叫作孩童時間。
我聽到上面的房中,
有輕促的小腳步聲,
有開房門的聲響,
語音甜而柔輕。
從我書房的燈光可以看見
寬闊的樓梯上降下,
莊重的愛莉,嘻笑雅麗歌拉,
還有伊滌慈金黃的頭髮。
先是耳語,接着是安靜:
但我知道從頑皮的眼睛
他們在商議一同定計
為要使我意外驚奇。
忽然間奔跑經過走道,
忽然間突擊衝過廳堂!
這三道門都未曾設防,
他們衝進我堡壘的牆!
他們爬上了我的角樓
上了旁手和我的椅脊;
他們包圍我無處可逃避,
好像他們遍處都是。
他們的親吻幾乎把我吞掉,
他們擁抱我交互纏繞,
叫我想起那濱鎮的主教,
在萊茵鼠樓被群鼠所咬。
噢,藍眼睛的強盜們,豈不想,
因為你們爬越了牆,
一個老鬍子像我這樣
那能夠同你們較量!
我緊困你們在我的城堡裏,
絕不讓你們逃奔,
要把你們放在牢獄中囚禁
在那圓樓裏—我的心。
我要永遠把你們放在那裏,
是的,永遠到一天,
到那牆壁變成頹垣,
與塵土一同歸於衰殘!
The Children's Hour
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour.
I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
Tho sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.
From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.
A whisper, and then a silence:
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise.
A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall!
They climb up into my turret
O'er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.
They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!
Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!
I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.
And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)