叶芝圣诞诗二首
傅正明译
W.B. 叶芝
一柱香
一阵骚动哪里来?
是空坟还是处女娘胎?1
圣约瑟想到世界将消解,
但他喜欢自己的指头领略的情采。2
1 空坟,指《圣经》记载的耶稣复活后留下空坟。
2 此处可以解读为性爱抚(foreplay)的一种形式,诗人笔下的圣约瑟想象自己是耶稣的亲生父亲。
《三王朝拜》(The Adoration of the Magi),意大利画家波提切利(Sandro Botticelli,1445-1510)作。东方三博士在伯利恒城中一所旧屋找到刚刚诞生的耶稣,并呈送预备好的礼物。
W. B. Yeats
The Magi
Now as at all times I can see in the mind's eye,
In their stiff, painted clothes, the pale unsatisfied ones
Appear and disappear in the blue depths of the sky
With all their ancient faces like rain-beaten stones,
And all their helms of silver hovering side by side,
And all their eyes still fixed, hoping to find once more,
Being by Calvary's turbulence unsatisfied,
The uncontrollable mystery on the bestial floor.
W. B. 叶芝
东方贤士
观物常以心眼,眼前走来三贤,
身披紧身彩袍,沮丧神色黯然,
若现若隐云海里,蓝天边,
古铜脸,好像石头常遭风雨鞭,
银色舵柄转,好像鸟盘旋,
睁大眼睛凝视,期待再次发现――
髑髅地,乱糟糟,世事难遂愿,
马槽边,说不定神迹就在眼前。