評論
打印
The Human Abstract
人的抽象觀念
Pity would be no more
那就無須有什么憐憫，
If we did not make somebody poor,
若是我們并沒有使人窮困：
And Mercy no more could be
也不必再施什么恩德，
If all were as happy as we.
若是所有的人都像我們這樣快樂：
And mutual fear brings Peace,
互相的畏懼帶來了和平，
Till the selfish loves increase;
直到自私的愛與日倶增。
Then Cruelty knits a snare,
于是殘酷織成一張羅網(wǎng)，
And spreads his baits with care.
小心翼翼地把釣餌裝上。
He sits down with holy fears,
他坐下來，懷著神圣的敬畏，
And waters the ground with tears;
地面沾濕了他的眼淚：
Then Humility takes its root
然后謙遜便生了根
Underneath his foot.
就在他的腳下生存。
Soon spreads the dismal shade
不久奧秘在他的頭頂
Of Mystery over his head,
籠罩下陰暗的黑影；
And the caterpillar and fly
而幼蟲和虻蠅
Feed on the Mystery.
就靠奧秘喂養(yǎng)為生。
And it bears the fruit of Deceit,
結(jié)出了奸詐的果實
Ruddy and sweet to eat,
紅紅的，又甜又好吃：
And the raven his nest has made
而烏鴉把他的巢筑成，
In its thickest shade.
就在它那最濃密的樹陰。
The gods of the earth and sea
大地與海洋的諸神，
Sought through nature to find this tree,
在大自然中把這棵樹遍尋，
But their search was all in vain:
但他們的搜尋毫無所得；
There grows one in the human Brain.
在人類的頭腦里就長著一棵。
