I died for beauty, but was scarce ---- Emily Dickenson

又是時候選譯幾行詩練習一下. 這次不幸被我劣筆選中的仍然是 Emily Dickenson.

I died for beauty, but was scarce

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied."
And I for truth, -the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

以下是我的非專業譯文:

我為美而亡,
但仍未適應墓塚.
為真理而亡的人
就埋葬在我的鄰室.

他輕輕詢問我為何失敗了?
“為了美,” 我回答.
“而我是為了真理, ---- 二者本為一;
我們可是弟兄.” 他說.

於是, 就像夜半相逢的親人,
我們隔室長談,
直至青苔攀上我們的嘴唇,
並掩去我們的名字.


我向來不是個浪漫的女子, 習慣一邊看詩, 一邊澆冷水. 一般人可能會覺得這首詩的意象很幽美, 但我第一時間想到的卻是屍體腐化的過程, 還有就是那些中人欲嘔的灰白色屍蟲.

然後想到的是, 詩人的人生觀似乎頗為簡單:
“美” 等於 “真理”. 而為美 (真理) 而死是很有詩意的.雖然還未想到詳細的反駁, 不過我總是覺得這樣想未免將世界太過簡單化了.