馬爾代夫鯊魚
The Maldive Shark
麥爾維爾
Herman Melville
麥爾維爾(Herman Melville,1819-1891),美國浪漫主義小說家、詩人。代表作為長篇小說《白鯨》。出身望族,幼年喪父,家境衰微,從小出外謀生。從事過多種職業(yè),航海生涯使他獲得浪漫傳奇式的經(jīng)歷,成為他創(chuàng)作的源泉。他起初在英國取得聲望,后來才在美國享譽(yù)。又曾受到誤解,冷落。直到二十世紀(jì)二十年代才重享盛譽(yù)。他的詩《馬爾代夫鯊魚》取材于海洋,是他的名作之一。
繞著那粘液質(zhì)的冷血動物:鯊魚——
About the Shark, phlegmatical one,
馬爾代夫海里蒼白的酒糊涂,
Pale sot of the Maldive sea,
藍(lán)色的、細(xì)長滑溜的小舟??
The sleek little pilot-fish, azure and slim,
多么警覺地在四周衛(wèi)護(hù)。
How alert in attendance be.
那鋸齒形嘴的深洞,積尸骨的腸胃,
From his saw-pit of mouth, from his charnel of maw
對舟??來說是無害的,并不可怖,
They have nothing of harm to dread,
舟??們滑游在鯊魚慘白的脅腹旁邊,
But liquidly glide on his ghastly flank
或游過鯊魚的戈根 式的頭部;
Or before his Gorgonian head;
或潛隱在鋸形巨齒圍繞的港口,
Or lurk in the port of serrated teeth
在三重白色的閃閃發(fā)光的洞門深處,
In white triple tiers of glittering gates,
在那兒找到了沒有危險(xiǎn)的安全地帶,
And there find a haven when peril's abroad,
命運(yùn)的鬼門關(guān)里正好是避難的去處!
An asylum in jaws of the Fates!
他們是朋友;舟??們友好地引導(dǎo)鯊魚去捕掠,
They are friends; and friendly they guide him to prey,
但是從來不分享鯊魚的獵物——
Yet never partake of the treat—
蒼白的鯊魚,貪吃那可怕的肉食,
Eyes and brains to the dotard lethargic and dull,
而眼睛和頭腦近于昏聵,遲鈍又冷酷。
Pale ravener of horrible meat.