试译英国/美国著名诗人奥登的诗歌<IfIcouldtellyou>

是英国/美国著名诗人奥登的代表作之一。这几天看到诸多中文译本，我也跟着凑个热闹。

《如果我能告诉你》

时间默然不语除了“我已经告诉你”，

时间只知道我们必须付出的代价；

假如我能告诉你我会让你知晓。

我们是否会为戏谑的表演动容，

我们是否会随优美的旋律起舞，

时间默然不语唯有“我已经告诉你”。

尽管，没有良辰美景可以期许，

我对你的爱难以用言语表达，

假如我能告诉你我会让你知晓。

吹拂而过的风一定起自某个地方，

树叶的枯萎凋零也一定有缘由；

时间默然不语唯有“我已经告诉你”。

或许玫瑰真的想要绽放，

美景当真期望驻足留下；

假如我能告诉你我会让你知晓。

假如所有的狮子都起身离去，

溪流远逝，士兵们四散逃逸；

时间默然不语除了“我已经告诉你”，

假如我能告诉你我会让你知晓。

下面是奥登先生英文原作

 

By： W. H. Auden     1940.10

Time will say nothing but I told you so,

Time only knows the price we have to pay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,

If we should stumble* when musicians play,

Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,

Because I love you more than I can say,

If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,

There must be reasons why the leaves decay;

Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,

The vision seriously intends to stay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose the lions all get up and go,

And all the brooks and soldiers run away;

Will Time say nothing but I told you so?

If I could tell you I would let you know.

译注

*  stagger 和stumble 均指不稳的或身不由己的动作. Stagger and stumble suggest unsteady or uncontrolledmovement.