1 THE BLIND BOY

Colley Cibber

 

  O say what is that thing call'd Light,

  Which I must ne'er enjoy;

  What are the blessings of the sight.

  O tell your poor blind boy !

   

  You talk of wondrous things you see,

  You say the sun shines bright;

  I feel him warm, but how can he

  Or make it day or night?

   

  My day or night myself I make

  Whene'er I sleep or play;

  And could I ever keep awake

  With me 'twere always day.

   

  With heavy sighs I often hear

  You mourn my hapless woe;

  But sure with patience I can bear

  A loss I ne'er can know

   

  Then let not what I cannot have

  My cheer of mind destroy

  Whilst thus I sing, I am a king,

  Although a poor blind boy

   

一 盲孩

 

柯莱·西柏

 

  你们说的"光",是什么东西,

  我永远不可能感觉出来;

  你们能够"看",是什么福气,

  请告诉我这可怜的盲孩!

   

  你们讲到了种种奇景,

  你们说太阳光辉灿烂;

  我感到他温暖,可他怎么能

  把世界分出黑夜和白天?

   

  这会儿我玩耍,待会儿我睡觉,

  这样分我的白天和夜晚;

  假如我老是醒着,睡不着,

  我觉得那就是白天没完。

   

  我听见你们一次又一次

  为我的不幸而叹息:唉……

  可我完全能忍受这损失——

  损失是什么我并不明白。

   

  别让我永远得不到的东西

  把我愉快的心情破坏:

  我歌唱,我就是快乐君王,

  尽管我是个可怜的盲孩。

屠 岸译