我们是七个

林水云风

We are Seven

—A simple Child，
That lightly draws its breath，
And feels its life in every limb，
What should it know of death?

I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old，she said；
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.

She had a rustic，woodland air，
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were fair，and very fair；
—Her beauty made me glad.

‘Sisters and brothers，little Maid，
How many may you be?’
‘How many? Seven in all，’she said，
And wondering looked at me.

‘And where are they? I pray you tell.’
She answered，‘Seven are we；
And two of us at Conway dwell➀，
And two are gone to sea.

‘Two of us in the church-yard lie，
My sister and my brother；
And，in the church-yard cottage，I
Dwell near them with my mother.’

‘You say that two at Conway dwell，
And two are gone to sea，
Yet ye are seven!—I pray you tell，
Sweet Maid，how this may be.’

Then did the little Maid reply，
‘Seven boys and girls are we；
Two of us in the church-yard lie，
Beneath the church-yard tree.’

‘You run about，my little Maid，
Your limbs they are alive；
If two are in the church-yard laid，
Then ye are only five.’

‘Their graves are green，they may be seen，’
The little Maid replied，
‘Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door，
And they are side by side.

‘My stockings there I often knit，
My kerchief there I hem；
And there upon the ground I sit，
And sing a song to them.

‘And often after sunset，Sir，
When it is light and fair，
I take my little porringer，
And eat my supper there.

‘The first that died was sister Jane；
In bed she moaning lay，
Till God released her of her pain；
And then she went away.

‘So in the church-yard she was laid；
And，when the grass was dry，
Together round her grave we played，
My brother John and I.

‘And when the ground was white with snow，
And I could run and slide，
My brother John was forced to go，
And he lies by her side.’

‘How many are you，then，’said I，
‘If they two are in heaven?’
Quick was the little Maid’s reply，
‘O Master! we are seven.’

‘But they are dead；those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!’
'Twas throwing words away；for still
The little Maid would have her will，
And said，‘Nay，we are seven!’


➀康韦，威尔士北部海港，濒爱尔兰海。

林水云风

我们是七个

天真的小孩儿，
你看它那轻畅的呼吸，
就知它全身是充满了活力，
对死根本就不会在意。

我在村里碰见个小女孩儿，
她说她已经八岁了；
她长着一头浓密的卷发，
杂乱地蔓延飘垂。

她一身的乡野气味儿，
穿的那更是土气，
她的眼睛很美，非常的美，
她的美令我欢喜。

“小姑娘，告诉我，
你有几个兄弟姐妹？”
“几个？一共七个，”她说，
她好像要朝我撇嘴。

“那他们都在哪儿？告诉我。”
她说，“我们共七个，
两个搬到康韦去住了，
还有两个出海了。

“还有一个姐姐，一个哥哥，
他俩躺在教堂的墓地；
教堂墓地旁有个小草房，
我跟妈妈就住在那里。

“你说两个住在康韦，
两个出海了，
可你说你们有七个，小姑娘，
可是我怎么没算开？”

“我们兄弟姐妹就是七个，”
小姑娘干脆地回答，
“两个躺在教堂墓地，
就躺在教堂墓地的树底下。”

“小姑娘，你四处的跑，
手脚都非常的灵敏，
要是有两个已进了教堂的墓地，
那么你们就兄妹五人。”

两个坟有青草，一眼就望见，”
小姑娘这样回答道，
“离我家门就十几步，
他俩紧挨着。

“我常在那儿织袜子，
常在那儿缝手帕，
还常坐在那儿的地上，
给他俩唱歌，陪他俩说话。

“先生，经常等太阳下山，
趁着天边那一片晚霞，
我会端着饭碗，
到那儿去吃晚饭。

“先走的是我姐姐珍妮，
她生病躺在床上，
上帝最后解除了她的疼痛，
她就这样去了那地方。

“她躺进了教堂的墓地，
只要她坟旁的草都干了，
我就会跟哥哥约翰
到那儿去玩耍。

“到冬天下了雪，地上结了冰，
我就又能出去跑，打刺溜滑，
可我哥哥约翰又走了，
在姐姐身边躺下。”

“要是两个去了天国，”我说，
“你们兄妹到底是几个？”
小姑娘又是干脆地回答，
“先生，我们是七个。”

“但是有两个死了，两个死了！
他们已经去了天国！”
我知道这话说了也是白说，
因为小姑娘仍然坚持道，
“不，我们是七个！”

林水云风

我认为第一段的小孩儿是泛指，不是具指。

叶如钢

林水云风 发表于 2015-11-29 14:11
我认为第一段的小孩儿是泛指，不是具指。

是泛指。

叶如钢

欣赏. 译得仔细， 流畅。

林水云风

叶如钢 发表于 2015-11-30 08:07
欣赏. 译得仔细， 流畅。

谢谢鼓励。