頌詩譯選
亞伯拉罕．林肯
這人從哪裏來？像風的翅膀
從神那裏吹降！
他昂然在將領和君王中間來往
他未曾學過，卻自己知道
他是邦國之子，或受命自天上？
啊！請說，或者他二者都是！
當風雲聚集，人們何嘗夢想，
他是怎樣的人，又將成就怎樣！
當希望的燈光在搖曳，或幾乎
要被狂怒的暴風吹熄，
他從那在上永不衰殘
更大的光取得光輝：
神引導他在許多患難危險中間
達成榮美的目標
他勇往直前，不畏懼──這堅強
神賜的，英勇的大丈夫！
現在我們知道他的職任何等高貴，
他的遠象又是何等清新！
無比堅強的手，最仁慈的心
在眾人之中──這人中的巨人！
權力的驕傲或自私的慾望
他絲毫沒有這樣卑污存心，
他的自我全消失在大我裏
為了他的國家和全人群。
有些人可以稱為偉大或良善
但在這長長的名單裏面，
不會有幾個像他一般
能夠偉大和良善兼全。
持守他的那國家大大蒙福
他不會全然死亡，
他不息的給予智慧和激勵，
經歷危難的日子久長！
當號角的聲音已經停止，
旌旗也已經被捲起，
征戰和威風都已被忘記，
當知還有審判的日子，
不論誰何，在那大浪潮中，
會沈沒並全然流逝，
那些對自己靈魂真實的靈魂，
將永遠的前進不息！
也有些像這樣的人，也曾計畫，
我們卻永不會再看見；
但願神給我們的土地上有更多
如他那樣的真實和簡單──
他眉宇間有王的印記，
卻像平常人生活行動；
他在世是眾人中的一人，
現在已屬於永恆！
寇勒（Samuel Valentine Cole, 1851-1925），美國詩人。
Abraham Lincoln
Whence came this man? As if on the wings
Of the winds of God that blew!
He moved, undaunted, mid captians and kings,
And, not having learned, he knew I
Was he son of the soil, or child of the sky?
Or, pray, was he both? Ah me!
How little they dreamed, as the storm rolled high,
What he was, and was to be!
When trembled the lamps of hopes, or quite
Blew out in that furious gale,
He drew his light from the Larger Light
Above him that did not fail:
Heaven-led all trials and perils among,
As unto some splendid goal
He fared right onward, unflinching—this strong
God-gifted, heroic soul!
We know him now how noble his part,
And how clear was his vision then!
With the firmest hand and the kindliest heart
Of them all—this master of men!
Of the pride of power or the lust of self,
Oh never a taint we find:
He lost himself in the larger self
Of his country and all mankind.
There are those called great, or good, by right
But as long as the long roll is,
Not many the names, with the double light
Of greatness and goodness like his.
Thrice happy the nation that holds him dear
Who never can wholly die,
Never cease to bestow of his counsel and cheer,
As the perilous years go by!
For after the trumpets have ceased to blow,
And the banners are folded away,
And the stress and the splendor forgotten, we know,
Of a truth, in that judgment day,
That whatso'er else, in the Stream that rolls,
May sink and be utterly gone,
The souls of the men who were true to their souls
Forever go marching on!
There are those whose like, it was somehow planned,
We never again shall see;
But I would to God there were more in the land
As true and as simple as he,—
As he who walked in our common ways,
With the seal of a king on his brow;
Who lived as a man among men his days,
And belongs to the ages now!
Samuel Valentine Cole, 1851-1925
American poet
