逑思（英诗古译）

First Love
by John Clare 1793-1864)

John Clare 出身贫寒，只受过基本的读写教育，七岁起就给别人放羊放牛。依他的教育，本来当作家无望，但是少年时期发现的一本书, 由James Thomson写的《四季》，彻底改变了他的一生，从此他踏上了写诗的不归路。他的初恋情人是Mary Joyce, 一个有钱的地主的女儿。与她的分开给Clare带来了巨大的痛苦，这些失落感在他的诗歌里有明显的痕迹。 1820他与Martha Turner结婚，并出版了他的第一本诗集，在书的题名页上赫然标着'John Clare，来自Northampton的农民'，使'乡村诗歌'成为当时的时尚，John Clare 也一举成为伦敦的名人。此后他陆续写了许多著名的诗歌，其中在精神病院里写的是他的最佳之作。

其迅若电，其甘若汁 I ne'er was struck before that hour
逑思之萌，弗比斯时 With love so sudden and so sweet.
所谓伊人，颜如蕊芳 Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
魂之失所，魄之失藏 And stole my heart away complete.

若何若何，意其惶惶 My face turned pale, a deadly pale.
欲行且止，心其茫茫 My legs refused to walk away,
在彼伊人，且望且异 And when she looked what could I ail
问吾所病，如僵如毙 My life and all seemed turned to clay.

血其沸沸，颊白复赤 And then my blood rushed to my face
目其玄玄，弗见弗识 And took my eyesight quite away.
蒹葭萋萋，杕林森森 The trees and bushes round the place
霜兮雾兮，昼为夜更 Seemed midnight at noonday.

目其玄玄，弗见弗识 I could not see a single thing,
目其烁烁，是言柔辞 Words from my eyes did start.
若宫若商，琴弦唧唧 They spoke as chords do from the string,
若泣若涕，泪血沥沥 And blood burnt round my heart.

冬之萧萧，焉择春华 Are flowers the winter's choice
雪之皑皑，焉引思发 Is love's bed always snow
顾彼伊人，匪愠匪笑 She seemed to hear my silent voice
明之晦之，不我以晓 Not love's appeals to know.

顾彼伊人，美兮倩兮 I never saw so sweet a face
近止对止，惜其艳兮 As that I stood before.
顾彼伊人，美兮倩兮 My heart has left its dwelling place
思之忧之，心胡归兮 And can return no more.

2004.2.25.