<p class="ql-block">The Secrets of Old</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">鸣谢印白师兄提供四季燕园照片。寒来暑往,诗中的人生和校园的四季景象十分相似。</p> <p class="ql-block">继续翻译小游戏:本周回望到A Man Young and Old : IX The Secrets of the Old. </p><p class="ql-block">弗洛伊德认为人生有两大悲剧,一是没有得到你心爱的东西,另一个是得到了你心爱的东西。诗人在暮年之时的总结似乎也充满了悲凉。</p><p class="ql-block">A Man Young and Old: ix The Secrets of the Old</p><p class="ql-block">William Butler Yeats </p><p class="ql-block">I have old women's secrets now</p><p class="ql-block">That had those of the young;</p><p class="ql-block">Madge tells me what I dared not think</p><p class="ql-block">When my blood was strong,</p><p class="ql-block">And what had drowned a lover once</p><p class="ql-block">Sounds like an old song.</p><p class="ql-block">Though Margery is stricken dumb</p><p class="ql-block">If thrown in Madge's way,</p><p class="ql-block">We three make up a solitude;</p><p class="ql-block">For none alive to-day</p><p class="ql-block">Can know the stories that we know</p><p class="ql-block">Or say the things we say:</p><p class="ql-block">How such a man pleased women most</p><p class="ql-block">Of all that are gone,</p><p class="ql-block">How such a pair loved many years</p><p class="ql-block">And such a pair but one,</p><p class="ql-block">Stories of the bed of straw</p><p class="ql-block">Or the bed of down.</p> <p class="ql-block">A Man Young and Old: ix The Secrets of the Old</p><p class="ql-block">从青年到迟暮:9 老人的私密</p><p class="ql-block">William Butler Yeats </p><p class="ql-block">I have old women's secrets now</p><p class="ql-block">而今我已知晓老妪们的私密</p><p class="ql-block">That had those of the young;</p><p class="ql-block">她们年轻时的秘密</p><p class="ql-block">Madge tells me what I dared not think</p><p class="ql-block">麦琪所言令我难以想象</p><p class="ql-block">When my blood was strong,</p><p class="ql-block">即使当我血气方刚</p><p class="ql-block">And what had drowned a lover once</p><p class="ql-block">曾经一位爱人溺亡</p><p class="ql-block">Sounds like an old song.</p><p class="ql-block">听上去像一首老歌一样。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">Though Margery is stricken dumb</p><p class="ql-block">尽管玛吉瑞被惊到哑口无言</p><p class="ql-block">If thrown in Madge's way,</p><p class="ql-block">若是她处于麦琪的境地</p><p class="ql-block">We three make up a solitude;</p><p class="ql-block">我们三人共守隐私</p><p class="ql-block">For none alive to-day</p><p class="ql-block">因为今天已无存世之人</p><p class="ql-block">Can know the stories that we know</p><p class="ql-block">会知我们所知的往事</p><p class="ql-block">Or say the things we say:</p><p class="ql-block">或者讲我们所讲的故事。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">How such a man pleased women most</p><p class="ql-block">这男人有多会取悦女性</p><p class="ql-block">Of all that are gone,</p><p class="ql-block">尽管她们大多已成过往,</p><p class="ql-block">How such a pair loved many years</p><p class="ql-block">这对爱侣怎会如此相爱多年</p><p class="ql-block">And such a pair but one,</p><p class="ql-block">这对绝无仅有的爱侣</p><p class="ql-block">Stories of the bed of straw</p><p class="ql-block">那些稻草床上</p><p class="ql-block">Or the bed of down.</p><p class="ql-block">或者羽绒床上的故事。</p><p class="ql-block">—Tran by Frances 30/03/25</p> <p class="ql-block">叶芝的诗作受中国古典诗歌影响,有强烈的意象性。稻草床、羽绒床,对比和对仗隐约有中国诗歌或者日本俳句的影子。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">还有这句唯美的we three make up a solitude. 简直就是 对影成三人的英文翻版。</p> <p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">青春与衰老(9):耆英之秘</p><p class="ql-block">—William Butler Yeats </p><p class="ql-block">巾帼奥秘老少同</p><p class="ql-block">热血唯恐思告喻</p><p class="ql-block">一首老歌韵朦胧</p><p class="ql-block">曾经溺死爱情侣</p><p class="ql-block">同行异路杳无声</p><p class="ql-block">三人世界犹孤寂</p><p class="ql-block">今朝活人不知情</p><p class="ql-block">无语言谈旧故事</p><p class="ql-block">淑女痴迷已告终</p><p class="ql-block">两情相悦只剩己</p><p class="ql-block">稻草床上讲故事</p><p class="ql-block">羽绒褥里享安息</p><p class="ql-block">-translated by ZWU 2025.3.28</p> <p class="ql-block">A Man Young and Old : IX </p><p class="ql-block">The Secrets of the Old. </p><p class="ql-block">译:吴以之</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">一个人的一生:第九篇</p><p class="ql-block">老人的秘密</p><p class="ql-block">如今我知道了几位老妇的秘密</p><p class="ql-block">那是她们年轻时候发生的过往</p><p class="ql-block">玛琪告诉我令人震惊的情节</p><p class="ql-block">我顿时感到血脉偾张</p><p class="ql-block">她告诉我一个有情人的溺亡</p><p class="ql-block">听起来好像一个古老的传唱</p><p class="ql-block">如果当时身处玛琪的处境</p><p class="ql-block">玛格丽会吓得目瞪口呆</p><p class="ql-block">但是我们三人都</p><p class="ql-block">把自己封闭起来</p><p class="ql-block">今天活着的人</p><p class="ql-block">没有人会知道我们知道的故事</p><p class="ql-block">没有人会把我们的话传开</p><p class="ql-block">那是怎样的一个会哄女人的男人啊</p><p class="ql-block">他的女人大部分都已经走了</p><p class="ql-block">那是怎样的一对儿啊相亲相爱许多年了</p><p class="ql-block">他们住在稻草铺的床上或者羽绒铺的床上</p><p class="ql-block">无论怎样他们都是绝无仅有的一对儿。 </p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">我的理解</p><p class="ql-block">这是一首叙事诗。三个人,作者,玛琪,玛格丽。他们在一起聊天。玛琪讲了一个秘密。关于一个情人的溺亡。可能情节比较惊悚,玛格丽说,如果她像玛琪一样早就得知此事,会被吓坏了的。</p><p class="ql-block">事情应该很有传奇色彩,听起来像是古老的歌谣传唱的故事。溺亡的情人可能是女人。他们三人相约保守秘密。什么原因不知道。总之是不会告诉别人。</p><p class="ql-block">第三段透露了一点点信息。那个男人很会讨女人的欢心。大部分他爱过的女人都已经亡故。也许玛琪和玛格丽也是他爱过的人?他们对他还有好感,所以不愿散播有关他的过往?他和溺亡的女人曾经是多么相爱的一对儿。简直就是绝无仅有。他们曾经富贵(羽绒床)或者贫穷(稻草床)都无所谓了。</p><p class="ql-block">这个故事有点扑朔迷离,模糊不清。这是作者有意为之。我猜测这个男人有可能就是作者本人。他有一段难以忘怀的情史,既耿耿于怀又不能全然公开。于是写下这样让人捉摸不透的诗,借此抒发胸中的郁闷,表达一点怀念之情。诗中的溺亡也有可能不是真的溺亡而是消失隐匿。</p><p class="ql-block">不直接讲述事情的原委,而是曲折隐晦的表露,留下想象的空间,给人无尽的遐想,这也许就是诗的独特性之处?</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><br></p>