內戰
“步槍手，給我開漂亮的一槍
對正遠處那游動騎哨兵的心房；
目標是那護身符般的東西
在他的胸前閃爍發亮！”
“啊，隊長！這射出美好的光，
從我槍膛中發出如音樂妙響！”
頃刻！槍彈的使者飛去，
那騎兵從馬背上栽下死亡。
“步槍手，現在，從樹叢中潛過去，
取個初次流血的彩頭從死者身上；
一個鈕扣，帶子，或那晶亮的東西
在月下像是鑽石的領章！”
“啊，隊長，我一路上驚愕緊張，
當我注視那死去騎兵的面龐，
他仰臥着，看來跟你那樣的相像，
到現在我的心還升到口腔。
但是，我扯下來這金項鍊盒，
隔我射的彈孔僅僅一吋距離；
只瞥見裏面的相片那樣美麗，
一個漂亮女子新娘的裝飾。”
“哈！步槍手，丟給我那項鍊盒！—
是她，我弟弟年輕的妻子，—
那死騎兵是她丈夫，—這是天意，
來！月光下我們把他埋在那裏！
但，聽！遠方響起他們警告的號角，
戰爭是道德，—軟弱是罪跡；
今夜在周圍有潛伏和躍進的行動，
步槍手，彈再上膛，手保持在扳機！”
Civil War
"Rifleman, shoot me a fancy shot
Straight at the heart of yon prowling vidette;
Ring me a ball in the glittering spot
That shines on his breast like an amulet!"
"Ah, captain! here goes for a fine-drawn bead,
There's music around when my barrel's in tune!"
Crack! went the rifle, the messenger sped,
And dead from his horse fell the ringing dragoon.
"Now, rifleman, steal through the bushes, and snatch
From your victim some trinket to handsel first blood;
A button, a loop, or that luminous patch
That gleams in the moon like a diamond stud!"
"O captain! I staggered, and sunk on my track,
When I gazed on the face of that fallen vidette,
For he looked so like you, as he lay on his back,
That my heart rose upon me, and masters me yet.
"But I snatched off the trinket,—this locket of gold;
And inch from the centre my lead broke its way,
Scarce grazing the picture, so fair to behold,
Of a beautiful lady in bridal array."
"Ha! rifleman, fling me the locket!—'t is she,
My brother's young bride,—and the fallen dragoon
Was her husband—Hush! soldier,'t was heaven's decree,
We must bury him there, by the light of the moon!
"But, hark! the far bugles their warning unite;
War is a virtue,—weakness a sin;
There's a lurking and loping around us to-night;
Load again, rifleman, keep your hand in!"
Anonymous