第5章 在柳园边

威廉·巴特勒·叶芝[1]

在柳园边我的爱人与我初次相见，

她雪白的纤足轻轻穿过柳园。

她说爱情要顺其自然，像树上长出新叶，

但我啊，年轻又无知，对此并不以为然。

在河边的田野我的爱人与我并肩而立，

她的纤弱素手搭在我瘦削的肩。

她说生活该顺其自然，像水草长在河堤，

但我啊，年轻又无知，而今却满目悲戚。

Down by the Sally Gardens

W. B. Yeats

Down by the sally gardens my love and I did meet;

She passed the sally gardens with little snow—white feet.

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;

But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.

In a field by the river my love and I did stand,

And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow—white hand.

She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;

But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

注释：

[1]威廉·巴特勒·叶芝1865—1939，爱尔兰重要诗人、剧作家、散文家，对20世纪英语文学有重要影响，爱尔兰文艺复兴的领袖。主要诗集包括《苇间风》《库尔的野天鹅》《钟楼》等。