《Down by the Salley Garden》最初翻譯為《柳園里》,是葉芝早年的詩作。《柳園里》原名為《舊歌新唱》,改編自一首不完整的三行老民謠。詩句質樸,韻律優美,可詠宜唱,形象豐滿,感情細膩,傷感襲人,勸喻人生。
或許“salley”一詞寡見,但卻助于詩情畫意的形象表達。柳樹多與悲情相思關聯,風擺楊柳,雨打芭蕉,倍添傷懷感時的綿綿悔意。
時態貼切獨到,全詩除最后半行用現在時之外,全都采用過去時態。刻畫出過去對現在的重要作用。
大師小韻,揭示哲理,勸諭人生,舉重若輕:愛情或生活,都應順天從地,順其自然。效法“春柳發新綠”,“河壩芳草碧”,既“解語”,又“明理”,才不“辜負”,才無“悔淚”,獲得幸福,達成圓滿。惟有珍惜現在,才能無悔未來!
真是一首能修身養性,靜心怡神的美詩好歌,意境悠遠。
Down by the salley gardens
my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens
with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy,
as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish,
with her did not agree.
在莎莉花園深處,吾愛與我曾經相遇。
她穿越了莎莉花園,用雪白的雙足。
她囑咐我要愛得輕松,就象新葉在枝椏萌芽。
但我當時年幼無知,不予輕率茍同。
In a field down by the river
my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder
she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy,
as the grass grows on the 1)weirs;
But I was young and foolish,
and now I’m full of tears.
在河邊的田野,我和我的愛人曾經駐立。
她將雪白的雙手搭在我微傾的肩膀。
她囑咐我要活得輕松,就象青草在堤岸滋長。
但我當時年幼無知,而今卻淚水盈盈。