BY EMILY DICKINSON
IF you were coming in the fall,
I ’d brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.
If I could see you in a year,
I ’d wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.
If only centuries delayed,
I ’d count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen’s land.
If certain, when this life was out,
That yours and mine should be,
I ’d toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.
But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time’s uncertain wing,
It goads me, like the goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.
如果妳能在秋季來到，
我會用撣子把夏季撣掉，
壹半輕蔑，壹半含笑，
象管家婦把蒼蠅趕跑。
如果壹年後能夠見妳，
我將把月份纏繞成團——
分別存放在不同的抽屜，
免得，混淆了日期——
如果只耽擱幾個世紀，
我會用我的手算計——
把手指逐壹屈起，直到
全部倒伏在亡人國裏。
如果確知，聚會在生命——
妳的和我的生命，結束時——
我願意把生命拋棄——
如同拋棄壹片果皮——
但是現在難以確知
相隔還有多長時日——
這狀況刺痛我有如妖蜂——
秘而不宣，是那毒刺。
然後是壹些短詩，均是先原文後譯文，壹段英文加壹段中文即是壹首（因為好多都沒標題……）
艾米莉.狄金森(Emily Dickinson)(1830～1886) 為美國隱士女詩人，生前寫過壹千七百多首令人耳目壹新的短詩，卻不為人知，死後名聲大噪。她詩風獨特，以文字細膩、觀察敏銳、意象突出著稱。 題材方面多半是自然、死亡、和永生。
I never saw a moor
I never saw a Moor--
I never saw the Sea--
Yet know I how the Heather looks
And what a Billow be.
I never spoke with God
Nor visited in Heaven--
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the Checks were given--
我從未看過荒原--
我從未看過海洋--
可我知道石楠的容貌
和狂濤巨浪。
我從未與上帝交談
也不曾拜訪過天堂--
可我好像已通過檢查
壹定會到那個地方 。
Beclouded
THE sky is low, the clouds are mean,
A travelling flake of snow
Across a barn or through a rut
Debates if it will go.
A narrow wind complains all day
How some one treated him;
Nature, like us, is sometimes caught
Without her diadem.
天低又復雲暗，
飛過雪花壹片。
穿越車轍馬圈，
去留擇決艱難。
誰人這樣待風，
令其整天抱怨。
自然猶如我等，
時常沒戴皇冠。
I’M Nobody! Who are you?
I’M Nobody! Who are you?
Are you--Nobody--too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Dont tell! they’d advertise--you know!
How dreary--to be--Somebody!
How public--like a Frog--
To tell your name--the livelong June--
To an admiring Bog!
我是無名之輩! 妳是誰?
妳也是無名之輩嗎?
那麽我們為壹對!
別說! 他們會傳開去-- 妳知道!
多無聊-- 是-- 某某名人!
多招搖-- 象個青蛙--
告訴妳的名字 -- 漫長的六月--
給壹片贊賞的沼澤!
"Faith" is a fine invention
"FAITH" is a fine invention
When Gentlemen can see--
But Microsopes are prudent
In an Emergency.
" 信念" 是個微妙的發明
當紳士們能看見的時候--
但顯微鏡卻是謹慎的
在緊急的時候。
Escape
I NEVER hear the word "escape"
Without a quicker blood,
A sudden expectation,
A flying attitude.
I never hear of prisons broad
by soldiers battered down,
But I tug childish at my bars--
Only to fail again!
我壹聽說"逃亡"這個詞
血液就加快奔流,
壹個突然的期望,
壹個想飛的沖動。
我從未聽說敞開的監獄
被戰士們攻陷,
但我幼稚的用力拖我的圍欄--
只不過再失敗!
"Hope"
"HOPE" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul，
And sings the tune without the words，
And never stops at all，
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest Sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of Me.
" 希望" 是物長著羽毛
寄居在靈魂裏，
唱著沒有詞的曲調，
絕無絲毫停息，
微風吹送最為甘甜
暴雨致痛無疑
能夠使得小鳥不安
保有此多暖意。
聽它越過奇妙大海
飛遍嚴寒田地
可它不要我面包屑
哪怕饑餓至極。
The heart asks pleasure first
The heart asks pleasure first,
And then, excuse from pain;
And then, those little anodynes
That deaden suffering;
And then, to go to sleep;
And then, if it should be
The will of its Inquisitor,
The liberty to die.
心先要求愉快
再要求免除疼痛；
其後，要那些小止痛片
來減輕苦痛；
然後，要求睡覺；
如它法官的願望
而後應當是
要求去死的自由。
Compensation
For each ecstatic instant
We must an anguish pay
In keen and quivering ratio
To the ecstasy.
For each beloved hour
Sharp pittances of years,
Bitter contested farthings
And coffers heaped with tears.
為每壹個狂喜的瞬間
我們必須償以痛苦至極，
刺痛和震顫
正比於狂喜。
為每壹個可愛的時刻
必償以多年的微薄薪餉，
辛酸爭奪來的半分八厘
和浸滿淚水的錢箱。
The Battlefield
They dropped like flakes, they dropped like stars,
Like petals from a rose,
When suddenly across the June
A wind with fingers goes.
They perished in the seamless grass, --
No eye could find the place;
But God on his repealless list
Can summon every face.
他們雪片般落下，他們流星般落下，
象壹朵玫瑰花的花瓣紛紛落下，
當風的手指忽然間
穿劃過六月初夏。
在眼睛不能發現的地方，--
他們雕零於不透縫隙的草叢；
但上帝攤開他無赦的名單
依然能傳喚每壹副面孔。
I had no time to hate, because
I had no time to hate, because
The grave would hinder me,
And life was not so sample I
Could finish enmity.
Nor had I time to love, but since
Some industry must be,
The little toil of love, I thought,
Was large enough for me.
我沒有時間憎恨，因為
墳墓會將我阻止，
而生命並非如此簡單
能使我敵意終止。
我也沒時間去愛，
僅因為必須有點勤奮，
我以為愛的那少許辛苦
對我已是足夠莫大難忍。
My River runs to thee—
Blue Sea! Wilt welcome me?
My River waits reply—
Oh sea—look graciously—
I’ll fetch thee Brooks
From spotted nooks—
Say—Sea—Take me!
我的河兒流向妳--
藍色的海! 會否歡迎我?
我的河兒待回響--
大海啊--樣子親切慈祥--
我將給妳請來小溪
從弄汙的角落裏--
說呀--大海--接納我!
My friend must be a Bird--
Because it flies!
Mortal, my friend must be,
Because it dies!
Barbs has it, like a Bee!
Ah, curious friend!
Thou puzzlest me!
我的朋友肯定是只鳥--
因為它飛翔!
我的朋友肯定是個人,
因它會死亡!
它有倒刺,象蜜蜂壹樣!
哦,古怪的朋友啊!
妳使我迷茫!
Is Heaven a Physician?
Is Heaven a Physician?
They say that He can heal -
But Medicine Posthumous
Is unavailable -
Is Heaven an Exchequer?
They speak of what we owe -
But that negotiation
I’m not a Party to -
天堂是個醫生嗎？
他們說他能治病；
但死後的醫藥
是沒有效用的。
天堂是國庫嗎？
他們談及我們欠的債；
可是那談判
我沒參加。
(71)
A throe upon the features -
A hurry in the breath -
An ecstasy of parting
Denominated “Death” -
An anguish at the mention
Which when to patience grown,
I’ve known permission given
To rejoin its own.
劇痛在於特征上
急切在於那跡象
告別的狂喜
稱之為“死亡”
當去忍受成長
苦惱就因之遭遇
我知道許可已經給予
去與同類團聚
The Mystery of Pain
Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there were
A day when it was not.
It has no future but itself,
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain.
痛有壹個空白的元素；
不能夠記起
當它開始，或如有壹天
當它不是痛時。
它沒有未來只有自己，
包含它無限的領地
它是過去，開明的去感知
新的痛的周期。
It was too late for Man -
But early, yet for God -
Creation - impotent to help -
But Prayer - remained - Our Side -
How excellent the Heaven -
When Earth - cannot be had -
How hospitable - then - the face
Of our Old Neighbor God -
對人類而言太晚
可對於上帝還早
創世，虛弱無力的幫助
可剩下的，我們還能夠祈禱
當地上不能存在
天堂是何等美妙
那時，我們老鄰居上帝的表情
會多麽好客，殷勤，周到
(79)
Going to Heaven!
I don’t know when -
Pray do not ask me how!
Indeed I’m too astonished
To think of answering you!
Going to Heaven!
How dim it sounds!
And yet it will be done
As sure as flocks go home at night
Unto the Shepherd’s arm!
Perhaps you’re going too!
Who knows?
If you should get there first
Save just a little space for me
Close to the two I lost -
The smallest “Robe” will fit me
And just a bit of “Crown” -
For you know we do not mind our dress
When we are going home -
I’m glad I don’t believe it
For it would stop my breath -
And I’d like to look a little more
At such a curious Earth!
I’m glad they did believe it
Whom I have never found
Since the mighty Autumn afternoon
I left them in the ground.
去天堂！
我不知何時-
請千萬別問我怎樣！
我實在太驚訝
想不出回答妳！
去天堂！
多麽黯淡悲涼！
可是必將做到
就象羊群夜晚壹定回家
給牧羊人來關照！
也許妳也正在去！
誰知道呢？
假若妳要先到那裏
就請為我保留壹小塊空間
靠近我失去的兩位親人-
那最小的“睡袍”對我會合適
和僅僅壹點點“花冠”-
妳知道當我們回家
我們不在意穿著
我很高興我不信它
因它會停止我的呼吸-
而我願意多看上壹眼
這樣壹個稀奇古怪的塵世！
我很高興他們信它
他們我再沒有找到過
自從那偉大的秋天的午後
我在地底下離開他們。
Who is the East?
The Yellow Man
Who may be Purple if He can
That carries in the Sun.
Who is the West?
The Purple Man
Who may be Yellow if He can
That lets Him out again.
誰是東方？
金黃之人
他許是紫紅之人
攜帶日出
誰是西方？
紫紅之人
他許是金黃之人
載送日落
(107)
‘Twas such a little - little boat
That toddled down the bay!
‘Twas such a gallant - gallant sea
That beckoned it away!
‘Twas such a greedy - greedy wave
That licked it from the Coast -
Nor ever guessed the stately sails
My little craft was lost!
它是個這樣小的小船
東倒西歪下了港灣！
何等雄渾壯觀的大海
吸引著它離遠！
如此貪婪強烈的波浪
拍打著它離開海岸；
未曾猜到這莊嚴宏偉的風帆
我的手工小船還是迷失不見！
I keep my pledge.
I was not called -
Death did not notice me.
I bring my Rose.
I plight again,
By every sainted Bee -
By Daisy called from hillside -
By Bobolink from lane.
Blossom and I -
Her oath, and mine -
Will surely come again.
我信守我的誓言。
我未曾被召喚-
死神沒有通知我，
我帶著我的玫瑰。
我再次發誓，
以每只神聖的蜜蜂-
以從山坡喚來的雛菊-
以來自小巷的食米鳥的名義。
花朵和我-
她的誓言和我的-
壹定將再來壹次。
Angels, in the early morning
May be seen the Dews among,
Stooping - plucking - smiling - flying -
Do the Buds to them belong?
Angels, when the sun is hottest
May be seen the sands among,
Stooping - plucking - smiling - flying -
Parched the flowers they bear along.
天使，在清晨時分
許在露中看到她們，
彎腰-采摘-微笑-飛翔-
難道這花蕾屬於她們？
天使，當烈日如火
許在沙中看到她們
彎腰-采摘-微笑-飛翔-
她們帶走的花兒已烤成幹身。
Answer July -
Where is the Bee -
Where is the Blush -
Where is the Hay?
Ah, said July -
Where is the Seed -
Where is the Bud -
Where is the May -
Answer Thee - Me -
Nay - said the May -
Show me the Snow -
Show me the Bells -
Show me the Jay!
Quibbled the Jay -
Where be the Maize -
Where be the Haze -
Where be the Bur?
Here - said the year -
七月回答
哪裏是蜜蜂
哪裏是紅色
哪裏是幹草？
啊，七月說
哪裏是種子
哪裏是萌芽
哪裏是五月
我讓妳回答
不-五月說
示我白雪
示我鐘鈴
示我松鴉！
挑剔的松鴉
哪裏是玉米
哪裏是薄霧
哪裏是芒刺？
這裏，年說到。
The Lady feeds Her little Bird
At rarer intervals -
The little Bird would not dissent
But meekly recognize
The Gulf between the Hand and Her
And crumbless and afar
And fainting, on Her yellow Knee
Fall softly, and adore -
女士餵她的小鳥
幾乎毫無間隔
小鳥沒有不同意
而是溫順地認可
鴻溝於這手和她之間
於無碎屑和在遠方之間
昏暈, 輕輕地跌倒在
她黃皮膚的膝上, 懷著崇拜
(377)
To lose one’s faith—surpass
The loss of an Estate—
Because Estates can be
Replenished—faith cannot—
Inherited with Life—
Belief—but once—can be—
Annihilate a single clause—
And Being’s—Beggary—
喪失壹個人的信念，
遠大於失去壹份地產；
因地產能夠再置，
而信念無法重建。
信念可與生承繼，
但卻只有壹次；
廢止個單壹條款做人
實乃乞丐赤貧。
How far is it to Heaven?
As far as Death this way?
Of River or of Ridge beyond
Was no discovery.
How far is it to Hell?
As far as Death this way?
How far left hand the Sepulchre
Defies Topography.
多遠至天堂?
其遙如死亡;
越過山與河,
不知路何方.
多遠至地獄?
其遙如死亡;
多遠左邊墳,
地形學難量.
(1090)
I am afraid to own a Body—
I am afraid to own a Soul—
Profound—precarious Property—
Possession, not optional—
Double estate—entailed at pleasure
Upon an unsuspecting Heir—
Duke in a moment of Deathlessness
And God, for a Frontier.
我害怕擁有靈魂--
我害怕擁有肉身--
深奧的危險的財產--
擁有--沒有選擇的成分--
雙倍資產--愉快限定繼承的財產
給壹個未想到的繼承人--
壹個永恒瞬間的君主
壹個統轄新疆土的神
(1292)
Yesterday is History,
‘Tis so far away—
Yesterday is Poetry—
‘Tis Philosophy—
Yesterday is mystery—
Where it is Today
While we shrewdly speculate
Flutter both away.
昨天是歷史,
它是如此久遠--
昨天是詩歌--
它是哲學理念--
昨天是迷團--
哪裏又是今天
而我們精明思索時
兩者振翅飛遠.
Ashes (1063)
Ashes denote that Fire was—
Revere the Grayest Pile
For the Departed Creature’s sake
That hovered there awhile—
Fire exists the first in light
And then consolidates
Only the Chemist can disclose
Into what Carbonates.
灰燼代表有過火--
最灰的那堆使人敬畏
因死去的生物之緣故
它們曾在那片刻盤旋迂回--
火先以光的形式存在
然後則旺火強焰
唯有化學家能夠透露
變成了什麽碳酸鹽。
He forgot—and I—remembered (203)
He forgot—and I—remembered—
’Twas an everyday affair—
Long ago as Christ and Peter—
"Warmed them" at the "Temple fire."
"Thou wert with him"—quoth "the Damsel"?
"No"—said Peter, ’twasn’t me—
Jesus merely "looked" at Peter—
Could I do aught else—to Thee?
他忘了—而我—卻記得—
這是作為基督和彼得
許久以前的壹件日常事物—
“溫暖他們”以“聖殿之火”。
“妳和他”—談論“少女”？
“不”—彼得說，“那不是我—”
基督只是看著彼得—
對妳—我豈能別有所做？
He was weak, and I was strong—then (190)
He was weak, and I was strong—then—
So He let me lead him in—
I was weak, and He was strong then—
So I let him lead me—Home.
’Twasn’t far—the door was near—
’Twasn’t dark—for He went—too—
’Twasn’t loud, for He said nought—
That was all I cared to know.
Day knocked—and we must part—
Neither—was strongest—now—
He strove—and I strove—too—
We didn’t do it—tho’!
他弱，而我強—於是—
他讓我帶他走進—
我弱，而他強，於是—
我讓他領我回家。
路不遠—門就在附近—
天也不黑—由於他去了—
聲不高—因他沒說話—
那就是我想知道的壹切。
白晝敲門—我們必須分別—
現在—沒有人是最強的—
他努力了—而我也努力了—
盡管我們不曾做啥！
Because I could not stop for Death
Because I could not stop for Death--
He kindly stopped for me--
The Carriage held but just Ourselves--
And Immortality.
We slowly drove--He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility--
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess--in the Ring--
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain--
We passed the Setting Sun--
Or rather--He passed us--
The Dews drew quivering and chill--
For only Gossamer, my Gown--
My Tippet--only Tulle--
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground--
The Roof was scarcely visible--
The Cornice--in the Ground--
Since then--’tis Centuries--and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ Heads
Were toward Eternity--
因為我不能夠停下等死--
他為我停下友善和氣--
四輪馬車只載著我倆--
和不死。
我們慢慢驅車--他知道不急
而我也揮去了
我的工作和安逸，
緣他彬彬有禮--
我們經過學校，值課間休息
孩子們圍成圓環--打逗遊戲--
我們經過農田凝望五谷
我們經過落日--
確切地說--是他經過了我們--
那露水引來了冷顫寒氣--
因我的女禮服--僅為纖細的薄紗織物
我的披肩--不過是絹網而已
我們暫停於壹幢建築物前
它看上去好似壹片地面隆起--
那屋頂幾乎看不見--
宛如飛檐裝飾著大地--
自那以後--若幹個世紀--
可還是感覺比那天短，
我第壹次猜測到那馬頭
是朝向永恒之地--