這首詩在徐陵的《玉臺(tái)新詠》中題作《留別妻》,舊傳為蘇武初出使時(shí)留別妻子之作。然而今讀詩中“征夫懷往路”、“行役在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)”諸語,詩中的主人公應(yīng)是一個(gè)即將應(yīng)征出戰(zhàn)的青年男子,作品所表現(xiàn)的也是漢代末期常見的征夫別妻的主題。
《別妻》 蘇武
結(jié)發(fā)為夫妻,恩愛兩不疑。
歡娛在今夕,燕婉及良時(shí)。
征夫懷遠(yuǎn)路,起視夜何其。
參晨皆已沒,去去從此辭。
行役在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng),相見未有期。
握手一長歡,淚為生別滋。
努力愛春華,莫忘歡樂時(shí)。
生當(dāng)復(fù)來歸,死當(dāng)長相思。
A Soldier's Farewell to His Wife
My dear wife, you and I have been as one,
No doubt has marred the faith, which love has won,
Our chief desire throughout the married state
Has been of love and joy to give and take.
But now, alas! the Joy of Spring departs,
And sorrow's shafts must enter both our hearts;
I cannot sleep; I must arise and see
The time; ah, me, how quick the hours so flee!
Awake, my dearest, for the stars have set,
The grief of parting must be bravely met;
And yet the dreary marches weight my mind;—
As though defiles and desert plains they wind.
And then, at last the awful battle-field,
Where I must fight and naught to foemen yield;
But, oh! the bitter, paralyzing pain—
To think that we may never meet again!
I must let fall the long restrained tears
As, clasping hand, you calm my anxious fears;
If not, my heart will break with sighs repressed
To hear your love so tenderly confessed.
But courage, we will think of Young Love's day,
And all the pleasures which therein did stay;
And this shall cheer me on the toilsome road,
And help you here to bear your weary load.
Then with what joy we shall renew our life,
When I return safe from the dreadful strife;
But if, alas! the Fates should death decree,
My spirit will for ever live with thee.