71. First Love

——J. Clare

I ne'er was struck before that hour

With love so sudden and so sweet,

Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower

And stole my heart away complete.

My face turned pale as deadly pale.

My legs refused to walk away,

And when she looked, what could I ail?

My life and all seemed turned to clay.

And then my blood rushed to my face

And took my eyesight quite away,

The trees and bushes round the place

Seemed midnight at noonday.

I could not see a single thing,

Words from my eyes did start——

They spoke as chords do from the string,

And blood burnt round my heart.

Are flowers the winter's choice?

Is love's bed always snow?

She seemed to hear my silent voice,

Not love's appeals to know.

I never saw so sweet a face

As that I stood before.

My heart has left its dwelling-place

And can return no more.

71　初恋

克莱[1]

在那以前，我从未感受过爱情，

它来得那么突然，那么甜美！

她的脸鲜花般艳丽动人，

我的灵魂早被它勾摄出窍。

我的脸苍白得好生可怕，

我的腿已难以动弹半步。

在她的目光下，这苦恼无以复加，

我的生命和一切似乎已凝固！

我的脸转眼间又涌起红潮，

我的眼前已模糊一片：

周围的树和那灌木

都成了正午的深夜。

我已看不见任何物体，

我的目光代替了声音——

就好像从琴弦弹出。

血液在我心中沸腾！

鲜花是不是冬天的奇珍？

难道爱情的眠床意味着严寒？

她似乎听见了我默默的提问，

但仍不知爱情的呼喊。

我从未见过有谁的脸

如此动人地在我眼前显现，

我的心早已飞出它的栖息地，

从此再不回来。

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[1]约翰·克莱（John Clare，1793—1864），诗人。生于北安普顿的一个劳动者家庭。代表作有《乡村的吟游诗人》《牧羊人日历》《乡野缪斯》等。1837年，曾因精神病住院。在世时，他的诗无人欣赏，去世后才拥有较多读者。诗集有《描述乡村生活和风光的诗》。