几乎与莎士比亚同一时期,英国一批年轻才俊组成了一个名叫“University Wits”的组织,致力于戏剧和诗歌的创作。他们不是毕业于剑桥,就是毕业于牛津,是一个实实在在的天才团体。但不幸的是,天妒英才,他们几乎都英年早逝,Christopher Marlowe活了29岁,Thomas Nashe活了33岁,George Peele 30岁,Robert Greene 32岁。虽然带着遗憾,但他们的诗歌却散发着文艺复兴年轻人的活力,表达着他们的追求。
Christopher Marlowe克里斯托弗•马洛(Christopher Marlowe)不论在戏剧好还是诗歌中都能体现他人文主义气吞山河的气概。他的代表作当属戏剧《浮士德博士的悲剧》(The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Dr. Faustus),这部戏剧引起了一股“浮士德”的热潮。他的死也众说纷纭,一些学者认为他们团体中的Thomas Kyd背叛了他,告知政府马洛宣扬无神论,最终被政府暗杀。
马洛最著名的诗篇是“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”,译者众多,于是我们将从他另外两首诗来了解他。
Who Ever Loved, That Loved Not at First Sight?
It lies not in our power to love, or to hate,
For will in us is over-ruled by fate.
When two are stript long ere the course begin,
We wish that one should lose, the other win.
And one especially doo we affect,
Of two gold ingots like in each respect,
The reason no man knows, let it suffise,
What we behold is censur’d by our eyes.
Where both deliberat, the love is slight,
Who ever lov’d, that lov’d not at first sight?
谁曾经的爱,不是一见倾心?
我们无权决定爱与恨,
因为我们的决心服从于命运。
在两者开始比赛之前,
我们就企盼一方失败一方获胜。
我们会特别喜欢一块金锭,
纵使两块一模一样,
无人知晓其中的缘故,
就让我们凭着眼睛来判断罢。
通过深思熟虑的爱情是脆弱的,
谁曾经的爱,不是一见倾心?
Nature
Nature that framed us of four elements,
Warring within our breasts for regiment.
Doth teach us all to have aspring minds.
Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend
The wondrous architeculties of the world,
Still climbing sfter knowledge infinite,
And always moving as the restless spheres,
Will us to wear ourselves and never rest,
Until we reach the ripest fruit of all.
自然
自然用四种元素构造我们,
在我们心中交战以达到平衡。
这教会我们拥有昂扬的斗志。
我们的灵魂,有力量理解
整个世界奇妙的构造,
不懈攀登无限的知识高地,
如永不停息转动的星球,
让我们坚持不辍永不停歇,
直到触到最熟的果实。
相比于马洛,托马斯•纳什(Thomas Nashe)的名气就小多了,他主要的成就在讽刺作品和宣传手册上,当时他是一位写小册子的名家。当然他也有漂亮的抒情诗,如“Spring, Sweet Spring”和“Adieu, Farewell, Earth’s Bliss”,其中第二首非常有意思:
夏花绚烂Adieu, Farewell, Earth's Bliss
Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss;
This world uncertain is;
Fond are life’s lustful joys;
Death proves them all but toys;
None from his darts can fly;
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Rich man, trust not in wealth,
Gold cannot buy you health;
Physic himself must fade.
All things to end are made,
The plague full swift goes by;
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Beauty is but a flower
Which wrinkles will devour;
Brightness falls from the air;
Queens have died young and fair;
Dust hath closed Helen’s eye.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Strength stoops unto the grave,
Worms feed on Hector brave;
Swords may not fight with fate,
Earth still holds ope her gate.
“Come, cornel” the bells do cry.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Wit with his wantonness
Tasteth death’s bitterness;
Hell’s executioner
Hath on ears for to hear
What vain art can reply.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
Haste, therefore, each degree,
To welcome destiny;
Heaven is our heritage,
Earth but a player’s stage;
Mount we unto the sky.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us!
此生永诀,人间极乐
此生永诀,人间极乐;
世事总是无常;
人生贪恋的欢喜;
死亡视之若尘埃;
无物逃脱死的箭头;
生老病死。
主啊,赐我以仁慈!
人啊,莫痴于身外之物,
千金难换是韶华;
良药都会成为泥土。
瘟疫来时如山倒,
万物终有结局;
生老病死。
主啊,赐我以仁慈!
美貌譬如夏花
皱纹使其败坏;
光从空中滑落;
女王早殁而玉殒;
海伦双目尘封。
生老病死。
主啊,赐我以仁慈!
威力屈服于墓茔,
蛆虫蚕食赫克托的英勇;
利剑无力与命运交锋,
大地之门敞开着。
“归来吧”,丧钟哀鸣。
生老病死。
主啊,赐我以仁慈!
智慧出有放纵妄为
品味死亡的苦味;
地狱的行刑者
充耳不闻
徒劳无功的辩解。
生老病死。
主啊,赐我以仁慈!
因此,万物快些吧,
来迎接天命;
天国乃是我们的归宿,
大地只是嬉戏的舞台;
让我们爬上去吧。
生老病死。
主啊,赐我以仁慈!
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