思维的中止
A Pause of Thought
by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
英国 克利丝汀娜·罗赛蒂原著
徐家祯翻译
I looked for that which is not, nor can be,
And hope deferred made my heart sick in truth:
But years must pass before a hope of youth
Is resigned utterly.
I watched and waited with a steadfast will:
And though the object seemed to flee away
That I so longed for, ever day by day
I watched and waited still.
Sometimes I said: This thing shall be no more;
My expectation wearies and shall cease;
I will resign it now and be at peace:
Yet never gave it o'er.
Sometimes I said: It is an empty name
I long for; to a name why should I give
The peace of all the days I have to live?—
Yet gave it all the same.
Alas, thou foolish on
For healthy joy and salutary pain:
Thou knowest the chase useless, and again
Turnest to follow it.
我寻找的是不可能有的虚无，
未实现的希望令我心力衰疲，
但一定得经过很多年，
青春的希望才会完全放弃。
我怀着坚定的信念期望、等待，
虽然我的目标似已溜之大吉；
我是多么期待这个目的的实现，
一天又一天地静静等候、待期。
有时我说，我等待的不会再来，
我对期望已经厌倦，应当停息，
现在就要放弃，从此平心静气：
可是，我从未能够摆脱希冀。
有时我说，那仅是个空名，
原本我的生活可以风平波息，
为何因追求一个名字而自怨自艾？
可是，我仍一如既往，毫无变易。
啊，你这笨蛋呀！不管健康的欢乐，
还是有益的苦痛，全都不适合你。
你明知追求的无用，
却一而再地寻求不已！
2016年12月7日
译于澳大利亚刻来佛寺爱闲堂
＊ 十九世纪英国女诗人罗赛蒂的这首诗，主题还是对“爱”的执着的追求，虽然明知这是“不可能有的虚无”、是“个空名”、是“不会再来”的东西；虽然诗人也一再提醒、警告自己，要放弃这种执着而无用的追求，但是，最后的结果还是“一而再地寻求不已”！这是诗人一生悲剧的总结。原诗共五节，每段四句，按abba模式押韵。拙译双句押韵，全诗押［i］韵。
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