London,1802➀
Wordsworth
Milton! Thou shouldst be living at this hour➁:
England hath need of thee: she is a fen
Of stagnant waters: altar,sword,and pen,
Fireside,the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
Have forfeited their ancient English dower
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
Oh! raise us up,return to us again;
And give us manners,virtue,freedom,power.
Thy soul was like a Star,and dwelt apart;
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
Pure as the naked heavens,majestic,free,
So didst thou travel on life’s common way,
In cheerful godliness;and yet thy heart
The lowliest duties on herself did lay.
➀在这首著名的十四行诗中,华兹华斯指出当时英国社会弊端百出,有如“死水污池”,希望重新出现弥尔顿那样的革命诗人战士,来力挽颓风,涤瑕荡秽。他似乎隐隐以当代弥尔顿自许。
➁弥尔顿,见《无题》(别小看十四行)注释。他毕生为捍卫民权、反对专制而战。华兹华斯对弥尔顿甚为钦仰,在他的作品中,所受弥尔顿的影响时常可见。
伦敦,1802年
华兹华斯 林水云风译
弥尔顿,你应活在当世,
英格兰需要你:她已是一潭
死水——从教堂,到刀剑文章,
自寻常人家,乃至豪华富艳——
早已失尽内省自怡的古风,
我们是这么一群人,自私,贪婪;
啊,你回来吧,扶我们起身,
给我们教养,美德,自由,勇敢!
你的歌声响如大海,震荡尘宇,
你的灵魂闪若星辰,光照遥远;
你像碧空那样纯净,崇高,奔放,
满怀一腔的虔诚和烂漫
走在人生的旅程上,一颗心
时刻在挂念人间的卑微,平凡。
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