Solitude
Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound, (acres[/eik ])
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire;
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.
Blest, who can unconcern’dly find
Hours, days, and years slide soft away
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day,
Sound sleep by night; study and ease
Together mix’d; sweet creation;
And innocence, which most does please
With meditation.
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.
注释: the first stanza can be rewritten like this: the man is happy, whose wish and care are bound by a few paternal acres, and who is content to breathe his native air in his own ground. 其意思相当于《中庸》上所说的“君子素位而行,不愿乎其外。”Jude The Obscure 中有一句话说:a contented mind is a continual feast.(Jude the Obscure.P378)
Whose herds with milk, /whose fields with bread,/Whose flocks supply him with attire; 前两行省略了“supply him with”。Attire:服装。
unconcern’dly,即unconcernedly:漫不经心,无忧无虑,悠然自得。第三节可以改写成:Blest is the man who can unconcern’dly find Hours, days, and years slide soft away In health of body and in peace of mind 相当于“ I see him leave.”这样的句子。
study and ease /Together mix’d; sweet creation;/And innocence, which most does please/With meditation. 他劳逸结合,有令人欢喜的娱乐活动,还有天真的性情。这天真的性情与沉思结合起来,最使他高兴。
内容解析:避开尘世的烦扰,与世无争,潜心学术,并悠然自得地享受田园生活,这是最幸福的。与《庄子》“恬淡寂寞,虚无无为”(《刻意》)之说有相似之处。陶渊明有几句诗可以与此诗相参:“息交游闲业,卧起弄书琴。园蔬有余滋(生长得很多。滋:生长),旧谷犹储今。营己良有极,过足非所钦。舂秫作美酒,酒熟吾自斟。弱子戏我侧,学语未成吟。此事真复乐,聊用忘华簪(比喻高官厚禄)。”(《和郭主薄》其一)
形式解析:此诗五节,每节四行。韵尾是abab。节奏主要是四音步抑扬格(i/ambic te/trameter),每节四音步:
Happy │the man, │ whose wish │and care
A few │pater│nal a│cres bound,
Content│ to breathe │his na│tive air
In his │own ground.
Whose herds │with milk, │whose fields │with bread,
Whose flocks │supply │him with│ attire;
Whose trees│ in sum│mer yield│ him shade,
In win│ter fire.
Blest, who │can un│concern’d│ly find
Hours, days, │and years │slide soft│ away
In health│ of bo│dy, peace│ of mind,
Quiet │by day,
Sound sleep│ by night; │ study│ and ease
Toge│ther mix’d; │ sweet cre│ation;
And in│nocence, │ which most │does please
With me│ditation.
Thus let │me live, │unseen, │unknown;
Thus un│lamen│ted let│ me die;
Steal from │the world, │ and not│ a stone
Tell where │I lie.
参考译文: 人生如何方为乐,唯有知足不贪心。
只守祖上数亩田,但吸故园气清新。
绵羊产毛制衫袍,乳牛耕地供食饮。
夏来密叶乘浓荫,冬至疏枝做柴薪。
一任岁月轻轻去,那堪忧思处处寻。
白日闲逸夜安眠,一身强健心气平。
读书劳逸相结合,娱乐甜美悦人心。
最佳胜景有冥思,极乐世界属天真。
死后不受世哀悼,生时岂令人见闻。
幽幽偷辞浊世去,不铭何处葬我身。(石瓃)