How Thought You That This
Thing Could Captivate
[英國] 阿爾弗萊德·丁尼生 Alfred Tennyson
作者簡介
阿爾弗萊德·丁尼生Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892),英國維多利亞時代最走紅的大詩人。丁尼生繼承了浪漫派詩人華茲華斯、拜倫和濟慈的傳統,同時受到古希臘、羅馬文學的影響。他早期的詩作清新、生動,富於想象力,著名詩篇《尤利西斯》描述了年老的尤利西斯追求新境界永不止息的精神。1833年他的摯友早逝,他經過17年的構思,寫成組詩《悼念》表示紀念。這部組詩被認為是英國文學中最優秀的哀歌之一,給作者帶來極大的聲譽。維多利亞女王因而與他結交,並封他為“宮廷桂冠詩人”。
你怎麽認為這能打動你的心?
怎樣的優雅讓她如此可愛?
她無聊地嘲弄,
沒有根由地怨恨。
嚶嚶低語,
在耳邊回響,
能讓你在牙醫與理發師的聒噪之後,
一周內精神煥發。
纖手舞動揮搖,花樣萬千,
眼睛瞟著鄰人的衣裝;
玉足浮擺,牽引我的視線;
天使的容顏——侍女的心意,
美妙絕倫的臉,
沒有一絲表情,猶如撲克上的女王。
How thought you that this thing could captivate?
What are those graces that could make her
Who is not worth the notice of a sneer
To rouse the vapid devil of her hate?
A speech conventional, so void of weight
That after it has buzzed about one’s ear,
‘T were rich refreshment for a week to hear
The dentist babble or the barber prate.
A hand display with many a little art;
An eye that glances on her neighbour’s dress;
A foot too often shown for my regard;
An angel’s form—a waiting-woman’s heart;
A perfected-featured face, expressionless,
Insipid, as the Queen upon a card.