因為我無法為死亡止步
Because I could not stop for Death
狄艾
Emily Dickinson
因為我無法為死亡止步——
Because I could not stop for Death –
他體貼地為我停在那裏——
He kindly stopped for me –
馬車裏坐著的隻有我倆——
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
還有不朽的生機。
And Immortality.
我們緩慢前進——他不著急
We slowly drove – He knew no haste
而我也已放下了
And I had put away
自己的作息，
My labor and my leisure too,
為了不對他失禮——
For His Civility –
我們路過學堂，學童在努力
We passed the School, where Children strove
課間休息——在圓形表演場裏——
At Recess – in the Ring –
我們路過田野，那裏長滿注視著我們的穀粒——
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
我們看到太陽從地平線消失——
We passed the Setting Sun –
或者——他從我們旁邊走過——
Or rather – He passed Us –
凝露激起寒顫——
The Dews drew quivering and Chill –
因為他衣裝單薄，隻穿著我的絲袍——
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
披著我的薄紗披肩——
My Tippet – only Tulle –
我們在一棟房前暫停，那房子看來像
We paused before a House that seemed
一堆發脹的泥土——
A Swelling of the Ground –
屋頂幾不可見——
The Roof was scarcely visible –
簷飾已然入土——
The Cornice – in the Ground –
從那時——數百年以前——但
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
隻覺不過一朝一夕
Feels shorter than the Day
我始信，群馬的頭部
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
都朝向無極——
Were toward Eternity –
Kirn, let's work together and do justice to ED's masterpiece and the limitless potentials of both languages.
