登陆注册
5410600000002

第2章 The Gardener(2)

Says the free bird,“Among bars,where is there room to spread one's wings?”

“Alas,”cries the cage bird,“I should not know where to sit perched in the sky.”

The free bird cries,“My darling,sing the songs of the woodlands.”

The cage bird says,“Sit by my side.I'll teach you the speech of the learned.”

The forest bird cries,“No,ah no!Songs can never be taught.”

The cage bird says,“Alas for me,I know not the songs of the woodlands.”

Their love is intense with longing,but they never can fly wing to wing.

Through the bars of the cage they look,and vain is their wish to know each other.

They flutter their wings in yearning,and sing,“Come closer,my love!”

The free bird cries,“It cannot be,I fear the closed doors of the cage.”

The cage bird whispers,“Alas,my wings are powerless and dead.”

7

O mother,the young Prince is to pass by our door,—how can I attend to my work this morning?

Show me how to braid up my hair;tell me what garment to put on.

Why do you look at me amazed,mother?

I know well he will not glance up once at my window;I know he will pass out of my sight in the twinkling of an eye;only the vanishing strain of the flute will come sobbing to me from afar.

But the young Prince will pass by our door,and I will put on my best for the moment.

O mother,the young Prince did pass by our door,and the morning sun flashed from his chariot.

I swept aside the veil from my face,I tore the ruby chain from my neck and flung it in his path.

Why do you look at me amazed,mother?

I know well he did not pick up my chain,I know it was crushed under his wheels leaving a red stain upon the dust,and no one knows what my gift was nor to whom.

But the young Prince did pass by our door,and I flung the jewel from my breast before his path.

8

When the lamp went out by my bed I woke up with the early birds.

I sat at my open window with a fresh wreath on my loose hair.

The young traveller came along the road in the rosy mist of the morning.

A pearl chain was on his neck and the sun's rays fell on his crown.He stopped before my door and asked me with an eager cry,“Where is she?”

For very shame I could not say,“She is I,young traveller,she is I.”

It was dusk and the lamp was not lit.

I was listlessly braiding my hair.

The young traveller came on his chariot in the glow of the setting sun.

His horses were foaming at the mouth,and there was dust on his garment.

He alighted at my door and asked in a tired voice,“Where is she?”

For very shame I could not say,“She is I,weary traveller,she is I.”

It is an April night.The lamp is burning in my room.

The breeze of the south comes gently.The noisy parrot sleeps in its cage.

My bodice is of the colour of the peacock's throat,and my mantle is green as young grass.

I sit upon the floor at the window watching the deserted street.

Through the dark night I keep humming,“She is I,despairing traveller,she is I.”

9

When I go alone at night to my love-tryst,birds do not sing,the wind does not stir,the houses on both sides of the street stand silent.

It is my own anklets that grow loud at every step and I am ashamed.

When I sit on my balcony and listen for his footsteps,leaves do not rustle on the trees,and the water is still in the river like the sword on the knees of a sentry fallen asleep.

It is my own heart that beats wildly—I do not know how to quiet it.

When my love comes and sits by my side,when my body trembles and my eyelids droop,the night darkens,the wind blows out the lamp,and the clouds draw veils over the stars.

It is the jewel at my own breast that shines and gives light.I do not know how to hide it.

10

Let your work be,bride.Listen,the guest has come.

Do you hear,he is gently shaking the chain which fastens the door?

See that your anklets make no loud noise,and that your step is not over-hurried at meeting him.

Let your work be,bride,the guest has come in the evening.

No,it is not the ghostly wind,bride,do not be frightened.

It is the full moon on a night of April;shadows are pale in the courtyard;the sky overhead is bright.

Draw your veil over your face if you must,carry the lamp to the door if you fear.

No,it is not the ghostly wind,bride,do not be frightened.

Have no word with him if you are shy;stand aside by the door when you meet him.

If he asks you questions,and if you wish to,you can lower your eyes in silence.

Do not let your bracelets jingle when,lamp in hand,you lead him in.

Have no word with him if you are shy.

Have you not finished your work yet,bride?Listen,the guest has come.

Have you not lit the lamp in the cowshed?

Have you not got ready the offering-basket for the evening service?

Have you not put the red lucky mark at the parting of your hair,and done your toilet for the night?

O bride,do you hear,the guest has come?

Let your work be!

11

Come as you are;do not loiter over your toilet.

If your braided hair has loosened,if the parting of your hair be not straight,if the ribbons of your bodice be not fastened,do not mind.

Come as you are,do not loiter over your toilet.

Come,with quick steps over the grass.

If the raddle come from your feet because of the dew,if the rings of bells upon your feet slacken,if pearls drop out of your chain,do not mind.

Come,with quick steps over the grass.

Do you see the clouds wrapping the sky?

Flocks of cranes fly up from the further riverbank and fitful gusts of wind rush over the heath.

The anxious cattle run to their stalls in the village.

Do you see the clouds wrapping the sky?

In vain you light your toilet lamp—it flickers and goes out in the wind.

Who can know that your eyelids have not been touched with lampblack?For your eyes are darker than rain-clouds.

In vain you light your toilet lamp—it goes out.

Come as you are;do not loiter over your toilet.

If the wreath is not woven,who cares;if the wrist-chain has not been linked,let it be.

The sky is overcast with clouds—it is late.

Come as you are;do not loiter over your toilet.

同类推荐
  • 一本书读懂消失的文明

    一本书读懂消失的文明

    《一本书读懂消失的文明(英汉对照)》主要内容包括世界上已经消失的14大古代文明,它们是古希腊文明、古罗马文明、古埃及文明、古巴比伦明、古印度文明、奥尔梅克文明、印加文明、玛雅文明、阿兹特克文明、吴哥文明、波斯波利斯文明、蒲甘文明、楼兰古国文明。曾经的它们抑或奇特璀璨,抑或神奇飘渺,抑或深蕴着乡土文化,抑或笼罩着城市风采,这些早已逝去的文明却留下了醉人的印记,带领着我们走进古老神秘的文明探索之旅。
  • 从零开始学德语,“袋”着走

    从零开始学德语,“袋”着走

    《从零开始学德语,“袋”着走》恰恰满足了初学者的诉求。不仅封面大方美观,内容更是丰富多彩。从基础字母入门,到日常生活、青春校园、职场风云、特色文化等,几乎涵盖了所有你能想到的,以及你若是有机会去德国旅游、生活或是工作能够用到的各个方面。
  • 我的最后一本日语单词书:看这本真的够了

    我的最后一本日语单词书:看这本真的够了

    这本包含几千词汇的单词书,不仅按照日语五十音图顺序排列,且每个单词都会附上相应音调和例句,保证你学一个会一个记住一个。
  • 带本英语书游世界

    带本英语书游世界

    本书章节分为 Chapter 1 万事俱备 Chapter 2 快乐出发 Chapter 3 平安到达 Chapter 4 享受美食 Chapter 5 遨游世界 Chapter 6 疯狂购物每个章节详细描写了相关旅游出行的细节,词汇补给、旅游应急句、实用情景对话帮助读者轻松出行。
  • Zhongshan Road 中山路:追寻近代中国的现代化脚印

    Zhongshan Road 中山路:追寻近代中国的现代化脚印

    《中山路:追寻近代中国的现代化脚印》讲述了孙中山先生将中华民族引上了一条民族、民权、民生三大主义并重的现代化之路的历程。回顾了中国在追求现代化过程中的艰难与曲折,试图洞彻历史的幽微。
热门推荐
  • 太上金柜玉镜延生洞玄烛幽忏

    太上金柜玉镜延生洞玄烛幽忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 游称心寺

    游称心寺

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 益寿全书

    益寿全书

    本书收集了古今中外、各地区、各民族益寿的经验和方法、集益寿资料、验方、益寿经验之大全。该书从人体基本知识、人的生理、病理、疾病的发生到人体的衰老及寿命都作了详细的阐述。
  • 大宋封神传

    大宋封神传

    封神一战过后两千年,佛道相争,风云再起。圣人不仁,以万物为刍狗,以苍生为棋子。前1046年,商末封神之战,是为道统之争。过五百年,前544年,释迦牟尼证道,佛教建立。又过五百年,公元446年,北魏太武帝发起灭佛,佛道之争正式开始。又过五百年,公元954年,周世宗灭佛成功,距封神之战两千年整。此谓佛道千年之争。一个身怀气运之人的降生,如何挣脱圣人的摆布,借佛道相争之机,成就大道。道门南下,再起封神。
  • 佛说三归五戒慈心厌离功德经

    佛说三归五戒慈心厌离功德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新婚难眠,慕少女人不许抢

    新婚难眠,慕少女人不许抢

    婚后几年,丈夫对她的恨依旧深入骨髓。而她为了救身患血癌的儿子,不惜亲自送女人讨丈夫欢心。“慕先生,还满意吗?”她心口滴血地问道。“唐九月,我对你更感兴趣……”他笑容阴沉。他变着法子折磨她:“我怎么可能让你生个孩子去救那个野种……”等她绝望的转身,他却深情的抱着她,“别走,月儿……”情节虚构,请勿模仿--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 殿下,君四爷来了!!

    殿下,君四爷来了!!

    身为血族三亲王的萧钰被一个人类害死了(当然,最主要的是她本身的懦弱),重生之十六岁时,女扮男装,步步为营。但,谁告诉她,这个君四爷是神马情况!!!!!!
  • 只是想爱你

    只是想爱你

    爱与被爱,到底该如何选择,明知道自己爱的人永远都不会有回应,是否该选择放弃,去珍惜那个为自己付出一切的人,把握眼前的幸福,我不知道该如何抉择,
  • 农女嫁错夫日常

    农女嫁错夫日常

    简介:特工出身的孟云舒遭遇上司暗算,一睁眼,发现自己回到了古代,成了一个人人厌烦的孟大妞……
  • 梦中缘

    梦中缘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。