不静之坟,是哈佛学者James Child(1876年获任,成为第一位哈佛大学英文教授)收录的一首英文民谣,据载成诗于1400年以后。 《The Unquite Grave》被广泛承认为是《Child Ballads》集子(共收305首)里最美的几首之一。在我看来,该是最凄美的了。因为它本来也是民谣,故仿古诗十九首风格,译为五言格式。
The Unquiet Grave---an English folk song, anonymous,dated from 1400
“The wind doth blow today, my love,
And a few small drops of rain;
I never had but one true-love,
In cold grave she was lain.
“I’ll do as much for my true-love
As any young man may;
I’ll sit and mourn all at her grave
For a twelvemonth and a day.”
The twelvemonth and a day being up,
The death began to speak:
“Oh who sits weeping on my grave,
And will not let me sleep?”
“’T is I, my love, sits on your grave,
And will not let you sleep;
For I crave one kiss of your clay-cold lips,
And that is all I seek.”
“You crave one kiss of my clay-cold lips,
But my breath smells earthy strong;
If you have one kiss of my clay-cold lips,
Your time will not be long.
“’T is down in yonder garden green,
Love, where we used to walk,
The finest flower that e’re was seen
Is withered to a stalk.
“The stalk is withered dry, my love,
So will our hearts decay;
So make yourself content, my love,
Till God calls you away.”