Yarrow Visited
Wordsworth
And is this—Yarrow?—This the Stream
Of which my fancy cherished，
So faithfully，a waking dream，
An image that hath perished?
O that some Minstrel’s harp were near
To utter notes of gladness
And chase this silence from the air，
That fills my heart with sadness!
Yet why?—a silvery current flows
With uncontrolled meanderings；
Nor have these eyes by greener hills
Been soothed，in all my wanderings.
And，through her depths，Saint Mary’s Lake
Is visibly delighted；
For not a feature of those hills
Is in the mirror slighted.
A blue sky bends o’er Yarrow Vale，
Save where that pearly whiteness
Is round the rising sun diffused，
A tender hazy brightness；
Mild dawn of promise! that excludes
All profitless dejection；
Though not unwilling here to admit
A pensive recollection.
Where was it that the famous Flower
Of Yarrow Vale lay bleeding➀?
His bed perchance was yon smooth mound
On which the herd is feeding:
And haply from this crystal pool，
Now peaceful as the morning，
The Water-wraith ascended thrice，
And gave his doleful warning➁.
Delicious is the Lay that sings
The haunts of happy lovers，
The path that leads them to the grove，
The leafy grove that covers:
And pity sanctifies the verse
That paints，by strength of sorrow，
The unconquerable strength of love➂；
Bear witness，rueful Yarrow!
But thou，that didst appear so fair
To fond imagination，
Dost rival in the light of day
Her delicate creation:
Meek loveliness is round thee spread，
A softness still and holy；
The grace of forest charms decayed，
And pastoral melancholy➃.
That region left，the vale unfolds
Rich groves of lofty stature，
With Yarrow winding through the pomp
Of cultivated nature；
And，rising from those lofty groves，
Behold a ruin hoary!
The shattered front of Newark’s Towers，
Renowned in Border story➄.
Fair scenes for childhood’s opening bloom，
For sportive youth to stray in，
For manhood to enjoy his strength，
And age to wear away in!
Yon cottage seems a bower of bliss，
A covert for protection
Of tender thoughts，that nestle there—
The brood of chaste affection.
How sweeet on this autumnal day
The wild-wood fruits to gather，
And on my True-love’s forehead plant➅
A crest of blooming heather!
And what if I enwreathed my own?
’Twere no offence to reason；
The sober hills thus deck their brows
To meet the wintry season.
I see—but not by sight alone，
Loved Yarrow，have I won thee，
A ray of Fancy still survives—
Her sunshine plays upon thee!
Thy ever-youthful waters keep
A course of lively pleasure；
And gladsome notes my lips can breathe
Accordant to the measure.
The vapours linger round the heights，
They melt，and soon must vanish；
One hour is theirs，nor more is mine—
Sad thought! which I would banish，
But that I know，where’er I go，
Thy genuine image，Yarrow!
Will dwell with me—to heighten joy，
And cheer my mind in sorrow.
➀汉密尔顿在《雅鲁河堤岸》一诗中，曾歌咏一位青年勇士在雅鲁河畔流血捐躯的事迹。这位勇士被称为“雅鲁河谷之花”。
➁洛甘的《雅鲁河堤岸》中有这样两行：
水鬼三次现形于水面，
向雅鲁发出凄惨的呻吟。
➂洛甘的《雅鲁河堤岸》一诗，通过一个哀婉动人的故事，歌颂了生死不渝的坚贞爱情。
➃这一节，主要是对昔日想象的雅鲁与今日目睹的雅鲁加以比较。为此，原诗交错使用了过去时式与现在时式。查尔斯•兰姆在1815年4月28日写给华兹华斯的信中称赞这节诗说：“我想，在诗的广阔世界中，再也找不到比这更美的一节了。”
➄“边境”，指靠近苏格兰与英格兰边界的地方。纽瓦克古堡的遗址在雅鲁河畔，塞尔扣克城以西。
➅“伊人”，指多萝西。
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发表于 2016-3-17 12:09
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