莎士比亚十四行诗第十一首
全文如下:
SONNET 11
As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou growest
In one of thine, from that which thou departest;
And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow'st
Thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest.
Herein lives wisdom, beauty and increase:
Without this, folly, age and cold decay:
If all were minded so, the times should cease
And threescore year would make the world away.
Let those whom Nature hath not made for store,
Harsh featureless and rude, barrenly perish:
Look, whom she best endow'd she gave the more;
Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish:
She carved thee for her seal, and meant thereby
Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.
主题:诗人再次敦促美男子生个儿子来延续他的生命活力,而不要埋葬了他的天分。美男子得天独厚的美使得他必须珍惜和延续自己的美貌。
以下是分析:
第一小节:
As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow’st
In one of thine, from that which thou departest;
And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow’st
Thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest.
第一、二行:你衰老得越快,成长得也越快,在你离开了的一个(妻子)体内。
第三、四行:在年轻的你赋予的新鲜血液中。当你青春不在,你便可称他为你的(儿子)。
这里的一至三行必须合起来理解:“你衰老得越快,成长得也越快,在你离开了的一个(妻子)体内,在年轻的你赋予的新鲜血液中。” “新鲜血液”指精子。
第二小节:
Herein lives wisdom, beauty, and increase;
Without this, folly, age, and cold decay.
If all were minded so, the times should cease,
And threescore year would make the world away.
第五、六行:智慧、美丽与丰饶皆源于此(生儿育女);若无此,则愚昧、衰老与冰冷的凋蔽。
第七、八行:若人人皆如此(和你看法相同),时间便会终结,六十年便足以让世界消逝(因为没有人类)。
第三小节:
Let those whom nature hath not made for store,
Harsh, featureless, and rude, barrenly perish.
Look whom she best endowed, she gave the more,
Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish.
She carved thee for her seal, and meant thereby
Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.
第九、十行:让自然未曾造出来来繁育后代的、那些粗鲁、丑陋、野蛮的生灵们,就此凋亡吧。
第十一、十二行:天分越丰厚,自然女神的馈赠就越多。你应当慷慨(生养)以珍惜这份馈赠。
第十三、十四行:她(自然女神)将你刻成她的封印,其用意在于:你应当印制更多,别让美消逝。
最后,附上全诗的翻译:
你衰老得越快,成长得也越快:
在你离开了的一个(妻子)体内,
在年轻的你赋予的新鲜血液中。
当你青春不在,你便可称他为你的(儿子)。
智慧、美丽与丰饶皆源于此;
无此,只有愚昧、衰老与冰冷的凋蔽。
若人人皆无子女,时间便会终结,
六十年便足以让世界消逝。
让自然未曾造出来繁育后代的、
那些粗鲁、丑陋、野蛮的生灵们,就此凋亡吧。
天分越丰厚,自然女神的馈赠就越多。
你应当慷慨生养以珍惜这份馈赠。
她将你刻成她的封印,其用意在于:
你当印制更多,别让美就此消逝。
