經典重譯： “The Tiger” 老虎 by William Blake (1757-1827)

 
“The Tiger” 
老虎

by William Blake (1757-1827)

文：威廉· 布雷客

Tiger Tiger, burning bright,
老虎，老虎，燒灼光明

In the forests of the night;
在這個夜晚的這些樹林；
What immortal hand or eye,
何種不朽的手，或眼睛，

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
能創造出你可怕的勻稱？
In what distant deeps or skies.
在多麽遠的深淵或天堂，

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
點燃了你的眼睛的火光？

On what wings dare he aspire?
在何羽翼上，他敢渴念？

What the hand, dare seize the fire?
是何聖手，敢抓這火焰？
And what shoulder, and what art,
並何種肩膀，又何巧術，

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
可以扭轉你心髒的筋骨？

And when thy heart began to beat,
又在何時你的心開始躍跳，

What dread hand? and what dread feet?
何等可畏的手？何等可畏的腳？
What the hammer? what the chain,
什麽樣的錘子？什麽樣的鎖鏈，

In what furnace was thy brain?
你的大腦在什麽樣的爐中試煉？

What the anvil? what dread grasp,
何種鐵砧？何等可畏的掌控，
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
敢於握緊它的死亡的驚恐！
When the stars threw down their spears
當那星星扔下他們的長槍
And water’d heaven with their tears:
並用他們的眼淚澆灌天堂：

Did he smile his work to see?
他是否看著他的作品微笑？

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
那造羔羊的是否也將你創造？

Tiger Tiger, burning bright,
老虎，老虎，燒灼光明

In the forests of the night;
在這個夜晚的這些樹林；
What immortal hand or eye,
哪種不朽的手，或眼睛，

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
能創造出你可怕的勻稱？