我翻译过的奥登一首诗的取材背景

武夷山

《读书》2024年第10期发表了梁斌的文章“奥登的变与不变”。文章有一处写道：

“（奥登的诗作）《哦，那是什么声音》（一九三二）是从一幅画《耶稣山园祈祷》中取材，此画描述了耶稣在生命的最后一个晚上备尝心灵煎熬的场景，而远方正有士兵慢慢靠近，准备逮捕他。”

我年轻时翻译过奥登的这首诗，于2008年6月24日贴出。翻译的时候完全不知道此诗的背景，只觉得此诗读起来很好听，就尝试着翻译了一下。下面重贴这首译作。

奥登诗一首：那是什么声音（武夷山译）

已有 5663 次阅读 2008-6-24 06:43 |个人分类:译海扁舟|系统分类:诗词雅集

'O What Is That Sound'

O what is that sound which so thrills the ear

    Down in the valley drumming, drumming?

Only the scarlet soldiers, dear,

   The soldiers coming.

O what is that light I see flashing so clear

    Over the distance brightly, brightly?

Only the sun on their weapons, dear,

    As they step lightly.

O what are they doing with all that gear,

    What are they doing this morning, this morning?

Only their usual manoeuvres, dear.

    Or perhaps a warning.

O why have they left the road down there,

    Why are they suddenly wheeling, wheeling?

Perhaps a change in their orders, dear.

    Why are you kneeling?

O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care,

    Haven't they reined their horses, their horses?

Why, they are none of them wounded, dear.

    None of these forces.

O is it the parson they want, with white hair,

    Is it the parson, is it, is it?

No, they are passing his gateway, dear,

    Without a visit.

O it must be the farmer who lives so near.

    It must be the farmer so cunning, so cunning?

They have passed the farmyard already, dear,

    And now they are running.

O where are you going? Stay with me here!

    Were the vows you swore deceiving, deceiving?

No, I promised to love you, dear,

    But I must be leaving.

O it's broken the lock and splintered the door,

    O it's the gate where they're turning, turning;

Their boots are heavy on the floor

    And their eyes are burning.

    W. H. Auden

那是什么声音？

      W. H. Auden（1907年——1973年），英国出生的著名美国诗人

武夷山译

那如此刺耳的是什么声音

在那山谷中轰鸣？

亲爱的，那不过是穿红制服的士兵

士兵正在开进。

 那如此清晰的是什么光

在那远方灿闪闪？

亲爱的，那不过是太阳照在兵器上，

他们正轻捷向前。

 他们干吗荷枪实弹？

他们今天上午要干啥？

亲爱的，不过是小小操练很平凡，

要么是警戒演习吧！

为什么他们突然转弯？

他们为什么在那边离开大道？

亲爱的，或许是队形的变换，

可你干吗要跪倒？

他们是不是停下让医生治疗？

他们是不是勒住了马？

哦，亲爱的，这里面没有伤号，

这些人都没挂花。

 那是不是他们请的牧师，满头白发？

那是不是牧师，到底是不是呀？

不，亲爱的，他们走过了牧师的家，

但并没有请他。

 那一定是邻家的那位老乡

一定是那位农夫，他很精明。

亲爱的，他们已经过了农庄，

他们正跑步前行。

 哎呀你到哪儿去？呆在这儿跟我在一起！

难道你发的誓都是骗人？

不是骗人，亲爱的，我说过要爱你，

可现在不走不行。

 哦，锁已破，门已裂，

队伍就在这里转弯，

他们的脚步重如铁，

他们的目光如火燃。