頌詩譯選

破曉

凌風 譯

 

一陣風從海面吹來，
說：“霧啊，給我讓開！”

它向船招呼，喊說：“前駛，
水手們，黑夜已經逃避。”

又匆忙的朝遙遠的陸地呼喚：
“醒來吧！已經是白天。”

它對樹林說：“呼喊！
挂出你所有多葉的旂幡！”

它撫着林鳥斂起的翅膀，
說：“鳥兒， 醒來並歌唱！”

它越過農莊，“雄雞啊，
白晝將近，把你的號角吹起！”

它向麥田低語用輕微的聲音，
“低下頭，歡呼清晨的來臨！”

它高喊穿越那鐘樓，“醒起，
鐘啊！宣告現在的定時。”

它嘆息着越過教堂的墓園，
說：“時候未到，繼續靜眠。”

 

Daybreak

A wind came up out of the sea,
And said, "O mists, make room for me."

It hailed the ships, and cried, "Sail on,
Ye mariners, the night is gone."

And hurried landward far away,
Crying, "Awake! it is the day."

It said unto the forest, "Shout!
Hang all your leafy banners out!"

It touched the wood-bird's folded wing,
And said, "O bird, awake and sing!"

And o'er the farms, "O chanticleer,
Your clarion blow; the day is near."

It whispered to the fields of corn,
"Bow down, and hail the coming morn."

It shouted through the belfry-tower,
"Awake, O bell! proclaim the hour."

It crossed the churchyard with a sigh,
And said, "Not yet! in quiet lie."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882
American Poet & Educator