Composed by the Seaside near Calais➀
Wordsworth
Fair Star of evening,Splendour of the west,
Star of my Country!—on the horizon’s brink
Thou hangest,stooping,as might seem,to sink
On England’s bosom;yet well pleased to rest,
Meanwhile,and be to her a glorious crest➁
Conspicuous to the Nations. Thou,I think,
Shouldst be my Country’s emblem;and shouldst wink,
Bright Star! with laughter on her banners,drest
In thy fresh beauty. There! that dusky spot
Beneath thee,that is England;there she lies➂.
Blessings be on you both! one hope,one lot,
One life,one glory!—I,with many a fear
For my dear Country,many heartfelt sighs,
Among men who do not love her,linger here.
➀从这一首起,到《法国兵和西班牙游击队》为止,共13首十四行诗,都选自《献给民族独立和自由的诗》这个集子。这个集子共74首,绝大多数(68首)为十四行诗。基调是维护欧洲各国的独立自由,反对拿破仑的对外扩张和武装侵略。写作时间始于1802年(即拿破仑就任“终身执政”的一年),终于1816年(即拿破仑在滑铁卢大败的次年)。用70多首诗反映了十几年间欧洲的重大历史事件和拿破仑帝国的兴衰,可以说是一部“史诗”。这一首,诗题中的加莱是法国北部名城,与英国多佛尔港隔海相望,从英国到欧洲大陆的旅客多在此登岸。
➁“她”指英格兰。黄昏星(金星)日落后出现于西方,英国也在法国的西方,所以从加莱附近海滨望去,黄昏星仿佛正悬在海峡彼岸的英国国土之上。
➂“你们两者”指黄昏星和英国。
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