我们如何指望群星为我们燃烧
作者:奥登
翻译:王家新
仰望那些星辰,我知道
为了它们的眷顾,我可以走向地狱,
但在这冷漠的大地上
我们不得不对人和兽怀有恐惧。
我们如何指望群星为我们燃烧
带着那我们不能回报的激情?
如果爱不能相等,
让我成为爱的更多的一个。
我想我正是那些毫不在意的
星辰的爱慕者,
我不能,此时此刻看着它们,说
我整天都在思念一个人。
如果所有的星辰都消失或死去,
我得学会去看一个空洞的天空
并感受它那绝对黑暗的庄严,
尽管这得使我先适应一会儿。
The More Loving One
Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.
by W. H. Auden
威斯坦·休·奥登(Wystan Hugh Auden,1907–1973年),英裔美国诗人,是继托马斯·艾略特之后最重要的英语诗人。毕业于牛津大学。30年代崭露头角,成为新一代诗人代表和左翼青年作家领袖。1939年移居美國,後入美國籍並皈依基督教。前期創作多涉及社會和政治題材,後期轉向宗教。以能用從古到今各種詩體寫作著稱。代表作有《西班牙》、《新年書信》、《憂慮的時代》等。