評論
打印
Which shall it be? Which shall it be?
選哪一個？選哪一個？
I looked at John—John looked at me;
我看著約翰，約翰正看著我；
Dear, patient John, who loves me yet as well as though my locks were jet.
他對我的愛像我頭發的顏色那么黑。
And when I found that I must speak,
當我發現我不得不說話時，
My voice seemed strangely low and weak:
我的聲音奇怪而微弱：
Tell me again what Robert said!
再說說羅伯特說了什么！
And then I, listening, bent my head.
我聽著，低垂著頭。
This is his letter,
這是他的來信,
I will give a house and land while you shall live,
我會給你一所房子、一塊地，讓你們過下去
If, in return, from out your seven,
條件是把你們七個孩子中的一個，
One child to me for aye is given.
永遠過繼給我。
I looked at John's old garments worn,
看著約翰的舊大衣，
I thought of all that John had borne of poverty, and work, and care,
想著約翰受的苦、貧窮、辛苦、生活的重擔，
Which I, though willing, could not share;
我無法分擔，雖然愿意；
I thought of seven mouths to feed,
想著七張等飯吃的嘴，
Of seven little children's need,
七個孩子的生活需要，
And then of this.
然后想著這封信。
"Come, John," said I,
“來吧，約翰，”我說，
We'll choose among them as they lie asleep;
趁他們睡著，我們挑選一個；
so, walking hand in hand,
手牽著手，
Dear John and I surveyed our band.
親愛的約翰和我
First to the cradle light we stepped,
先來到搖籃邊，
Where Lilian the baby slept,
莉蓮熟睡著，
A glory 'gainst the pillow white.
頭枕在白色的枕頭上。
Softly the father stooped to lay his rough hand down in loving way,
父親彎下腰，把粗糙的手放在孩子身上，
When dream or whisper made her stir,
夢中的她輕輕動了動，
And huskily he said: "Not her!"
爸爸嗓音嘶啞：“不要把她送人！”
We stooped beside the trundle-bed,
我們站在小床邊，
And one long ray of lamplight shed athwart the boyish faces there,
油燈的光照在男孩子臉上，
In sleep so pitiful and fair;
夢中的他們如此讓人憐愛；
I saw on Jamie's rough, red cheek,
杰米紅紅的臉蛋還掛著，
A tear undried. Ere John could speak,
一滴淚水。沒等約翰說話，
"He's but a baby, too," said I,
我已說了出來，“他還是嬰兒，”
And kissed him as we hurried by.
親了他一下，我們繼續向前走。
