The Resolute Courtier
Prithee, say aye or no;
If thou’lt not have me, tell me so;
I cannot stay,
Nor will I wait upon
A smile or frown.
If thou wilt have me, say;
Then I am thine, or else I am mine own.
Be white or black; I hate
Dependence on a checkered fate;
Let go, or hold;
Come, either kiss or not：
Now to be hot,
And then again as cold,
Is a fantastic fever you have got.
A tedious woo is base,
And worse by far than a long grace：
For whilst we stay,
Our lingering spoils the roast,
Or stomach’s lost;
Nor can, nor will I stay;
For if I sup not quickly, I will fast.
Whilst we are fresh and stout
And vigorous, let us to ’t;
Alas, what good
From wrinkled man appears,
Gelded with years,
When his thin wheyish blood
Is far less comfortable than his tears?
我們不能遲遲等待。
只怕爐中的晚餐也會燒焦，
只怕進食的胃口全都敗壞;
若不能馬上品嘗，
我寧可禁食守齋。
趁我們年富力強，
促成這磨人的情愛;
莫讓時光催老容顏，
莫讓頭發(fā)霜打雪蓋。
為何還要久久拖延?
為何還要遲遲等待?
拖到心里滴血萬事已休，
等到眼中落淚青春不再。
托馬斯?希普曼(Thomas Shipman 1632―1680)英國詩人 這首詩雖然是當面口頭求婚，但語言卻古樸高雅，如“aye”、“fast”、“thou”、“grace”及“prithee” 等等，全無口語痕跡。這種詩歌的語言風(fēng)格必須仔細分辨,謹慎移植;否則就會褻瀆詩魂與藝魂,辜負作者與讀者。
