75. Ruth

——T. Hood

She stood breast-high amid the corn,

Clasp'd by the golden light of morn,

Like the sweetheart of the sun,

Who many a glowing kiss had won.

On her cheek an autumn flush,

Deeply ripen'd;——such a blush

In the midst of brown was born,

Like red poppies grown with corn.

Round her eyes her tresses fell,

Which were blackest none could tell,

But long lashes veil'd a light,

That had else been all too bright.

And her hat, with shady brim,

Made her tressy forehead dim;

Thus she stood amid the stooks,

Praising God with sweetest looks:——

Sure, I said, Heav'n did not mean,

Where I reap thou shouldst but glean,

Lay thy sheaf adown and come,

Share my harvest and my home.

75　露丝

霍德[1]

她站在齐胸高的麦田里，

金色的晨曦把她紧紧抱起，

她就像太阳的心上人，

赢得了无数闪光的吻。

她的脸像秋天的果实，

泛着红晕——如此的颜色

在枯黄的原野上显现，

犹如红罂粟开在田间。

眼睛两侧披散着她的乌发，

那黑的极致，无人能表达，

长长的睫毛挡住一丝光芒，

那光辉闪耀，无比的明亮。

头上戴的帽子饰有花边，

给披发的前额留下一片阴影；

她就这样站在麦捆丛中，

带着甜美的笑将上帝歌颂。

我敢断言，上天并没有规定：

我收割麦子而你只能拾穗，

把麦捆放下吧，来到我身边，

与我分享丰收，共组家庭。

* * *

[1]托马斯·霍德（Thomas Hood，1799—1845），诗人。生于伦敦的一个书商家庭，一生在艰难困顿中度过：少年丧父，得不到正常的教育。做过多份文学杂志的编辑，写过一些机智幽默的诗歌作品，但经济始终拮据。代表作有《衬衫之歌》《叹息桥》《劳工之声》等。