乔治·戈登·拜伦(George Gordon Byron),英国浪漫主义文学的杰出代表。出生于伦敦破落的贵族家庭,10岁继承男爵爵位。他曾在哈罗中学和剑桥大学读书,深受启蒙主义的熏陶。他是19世纪初欧洲革命运动中争取民主自由和民族解放的一名战士。也是英国诗坛上有争议的“怪人”和“浪子”。德国诗人歌德称之为“本世纪最伟大的才子诗人”。
这首诗回忆了与爱人分别时的情景和感受,以及后来的心情。"In silence and tears"的重复,前后呼应,真切感人;此外,较短的诗节和断开的句子,也暗示出难以压抑,无法平静的痛苦心境。
When We Two Parted—George Gordon Byron
我们俩分别时——乔治·戈登·拜伦
When we two parted,
昔日依依别,
In silence and tears,
泪流默无言;
Half broken-hearted,
离恨肝肠断,
To sever for years,
此别又几年。
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
冷颊何惨然,
Colder thy kiss;
一吻寒更添;
Truly that hour foretold
日后伤心事,
Sorrow to this!
此刻已预言。
The dew of the morning,
朝起寒露重,
Sunk chill on my brow,
凛冽凝眉间,
It felt like the warning,
彼时已预告:
Of what I feel now.
悲伤在今天。
Thy vows are all broken,
山盟今安在?
And light is thy fame:
汝名何轻贱!
I hear thy name spoken,
吾闻汝名传,
And share in its shame.
羞愧在人前。
They name thee before me,
闻汝名声恶,
A knell to mine ear;
犹如听丧钟。
A shudder comes o'er me,
不禁心怵惕,
Why wert thou so dear?
往昔情太浓。
They know not I knew thee,
谁知旧日情,
Who knew thee too well:
斯人知太深。
long, long shall I rue thee,
绵绵长怀恨,
Too deeply to tell.
尽在不言中。
In secret we met,
昔日喜幽会,
In silence I grieve,
今朝恨无声。
That thy heart could forget,
旧情汝已忘,
Thy spirit deceive.
疾心遇薄幸。
If I should meet thee,
多年离别后,
After long year,
抑或再相逢,
How should I greet thee?
相逢何所语?
With silence and tears.
泪流默无声。