頌詩譯選
老之將至
六年又已過去，前面已過四十年紀，
時間開始玩它弄人的老把戲：
曾經在童女眼中俊美的鬢髮，
從全褐的雙鬢，出現入侵的銀絲；
一度激情的熱血，現在開始冷了，
時間強大的壓力把人壓低。
我像往常一樣騎馬或步行，
但現在不再有躍動的心靈；
現在中庸的速度就使我身體發暖，
中庸的距離就感覺雙腳疲軟。
我指給外地的客人壯麗的群山，
卻說：“不必去攀登，景色平凡。”
在朋友的大廈我開始畏怯
那冷然有序的客廳和床華麗的陳設。
在家感覺比較安定的境況，
所有的東西要照我的規矩存放。
我停止去打獵；對我的馬不再滿意，—
我更多愛筵席；我學習着棋。
我帶着狗和槍出去，卻不免叫狗失望，
因為我始終未發一槍。
我早晨的散步現在有時可缺，
稱頌那恩雨叫我不必抉擇。
實際上，我感覺懶散沉悶暗暗襲來，
善動的膀臂和矯捷的腳一去不再；
每天的瑣細活動變成習慣，
新有的厭惡形式和時髦新鮮。
我愛的樹木只是為了丟掉；
我數算着桃子，眼看收藏如何增高；
常說着同有故事，—簡單說，成為老套。
克萊比，英國詩人。
The Approach of Age
From Tales of the Hall
Six years had passed, and forty ere the six,
When Time began to play his usual tricks:
The locks once comely in a virgin's sight,
Locks of pure brown, displayed the encroaching white;
The blood, once fervid, now to cool began,
And Time's strong pressure to subdue the man.
I rode or walked as I was wont before,
But now the bounding spirit was no more;
A moderate pace would now my body heat,
A walk of moderate length distress my feet.
I showed my stranger guest those hills sublime,
But said, "The view is poor, we need not climb."
At a friend's mansion I began to dread
The cold neat parlor and the gay glazed bed;
At home I felt a more decided taste,
And must have all things in my order placed.
I ceased to hunt; my horses pleased me less,—
My dinner more; I learned to play at chess.
I took my dog and gun, but saw the brute
Was disappointed that I did not shoot.
My morning walks I now could bear to lose,
And blessed the shower that gave me not to choose.
In fact, I felt a languor stealing on;
The active arm, the agile hand, were gone;
Small daily actions into habits grew,
And new dislike to forms and fashions new.
I loved my trees in order to dispose;
I numbered peaches, looked how stocks arose;
Told the same story oft,—in short, began to prose.
George Crabbe, 1754-1832
English poet
