阿爾杰農(nóng)·查爾斯·斯溫伯恩
帷幕拉開,他們登臺(tái)演戲兩人聯(lián)袂,
男演國王女演王后最為般配;
淚水化作笑聲,笑聲卻柔如淚水,
這本是她多年的夢想,不料會(huì)充滿傷悲。
歡樂中唇焦舌燥,痛苦里夜不能寐,
長久的歡樂有刺痛伴隨;
當(dāng)她與半真的情人表演半假的愛情,
她對(duì)此一無所知毫無體會(huì)。
盡管腳本最后要他們又哭又笑,
讓他今天織網(wǎng)明天又去扯碎,
傷害他,作弄他,叫他去死,
他在劇中真的死去,落幕后他滿臉熱淚。
時(shí)光易逝時(shí)光無限誰能品出真味?
愛情怎樣滋長、歡笑、痛哭又消退?
這一切她開始懂得,開始用心思量,
當(dāng)取悅一位男士的演出到此收尾。
Stage Love
Algernon Charles Swinburne
When the game began between them for a jest,
He played king and she played queen to match the best;
Laughter soft as tears, and tears that turned to laughter,
These were things she sought for years and sorrowed after.
Pleasure with dry lips, and pain that walks by night;
All the sting and all the stain of long delight;
These were things she knew not of, that knew not of her,
When she played at half a love with half a lover.
Time was chorus, gave them cues to laugh or cry;
They would kill, befool, amuse him, let him die;
Set him webs to weave to-day and break to-morrow,
Till he died for good in play, and rose in sorrow.
What the years mean; how time dies and is not slain;
How love grows and laughs and cries and wanes again;
These were things she came to know, and take their measure,
When the play was played out so for one man’s pleasure.