The Bee Meeting
蜜蜂会议
Who are these people at the bridge to meet me? They are the villagers——
桥上迎接我的那些人是谁？他们是村民——
The rector, the midwife, the sexton, the agent for bees.
教区长，助产婆，教堂司事，蜜蜂代理商。
In my sleeveless summery dress I have no protection,
我穿着夏天无袖的连衣裙，我没有任何保护，
And they are all gloved and covered, why did nobody tell me?
而他们都戴着手套，全身遮住，为何没人告诉我？
They are smiling and taking out veils tacked to ancient hats.
他们微笑着，拿出脸罩固定在老式的帽子上。
I am nude as a chicken neck, does nobody love me?
我像鸡脖子那样光裸，有人喜欢我吗？
Yes, here is the secretary of bees with her white shop smock,
有，穿着白色商店工作服的养蜂会秘书，
Buttoning the cuffs at my wrists and the slit from my neck to my knees.
扣上我双腕袖口上的纽扣，拉上脖子到膝盖的缝口。
Now I am milkweed silk, the bees will not notice.
我像乳草般单薄，蜜蜂不会注意。
They will not smell my fear, my fear, my fear.
它们不会嗅出我的害怕，我的害怕，我的害怕。
Which is the rector now, is it that man in black?
哪位是教区长，穿黑衣的男子？
Which is the midwife, is that her blue coat?
哪位是助产婆，穿蓝衣的那位？
Everybody is nodding a square black head, they are knights in visors,
每个人都在点着方形的黑头，他们像带着面罩的骑士，
Breastplates of cheesecloth knotted under the armpits.
干酪包布做成胸甲在腋窝下打结。
Their smiles and their voices are changing. I am led through a beanfield.
他们的微笑和声音在变化。他们领着我穿过豆田。
Strips of tinfoil winking like people,
一条条闪光的锡纸好像在眨眼，
Feather dusters fanning their hands in a sea of bean flowers,
羽毛掸子在大片豆花中煽动它们的手，
Creamy bean flowers with black eyes and leaves like bored hearts.
乳色豆花嵌着黑色的眼，而叶子像疲惫的心。
Is it blood clots the tendrils are dragging up that string?
卷须在那根藤向上拖着的是血块吗？
No, no, it is scarlet flowers that will one day be edible.
不，不是，而是将来可食用的深红色花。
Now they are giving me a fashionable white straw Italian hat
他们给我戴上时尚的白色意大利草帽
And a black veil that molds to my face, they are making me one of them.
黑色的脸罩遮盖脸，我成为他们中的一员。
They are leading me to the shorn grove, the circle of hives.
他们带我到山楂树丛，蜂巢围成圈。
Is it the hawthorn that smells so sick?
是山楂闻起来如此恶心？
The barren body of hawthorn, etherizing its children.
山楂赤裸的身体，迷醉它的孩子们。
Is it some operation that is taking place?
正在进行某种手术？
It is the surgeon my neighbors are waiting for,
外科医生正是我邻居等待的人，
This apparition in a green helmet,
戴着绿色头盔的幽灵，
Shining gloves and white suit.
闪亮的手套，白色的套装。
Is it the butcher, the grocer, the postman, someone I know?
是屠夫，杂货商，邮递员，我认识的某个人？
I cannot run, I am rooted, and the gorse hurts me
我不能跑，我已长根，金雀花伤了我。
With its yellow purses, its spiky armory.
以其黄色的小包，带刺的锦囊。
I could not run without having to run forever.
我一旦奔跑就永远地跑下去。
The white hive is snug as a virgin,
白色的蜂巢舒适像处女，
Sealing off her brood cells, her honey, and quietly humming.
封隔她的孵房，她的蜜，轻声嗡嗡响。
Smoke rolls and scarves in the grove.
烟雾萦绕，树丛里的头巾。
The mind of the hive thinks this is the end of everything.
聪明的蜂巢以为一切都结束了。
Here they come, the outriders, on their hysterical elastics.
它们挪动着，先驱者，情绪激动仿佛松紧带。
If I stand very still, they will think I am cow-parsley,
若我站着不动，它们认为我是峨参植物，
A gullible head untouched by their animosity,
轻信的头脑不为它们的憎恨所打动，
Not even nodding, a personage in a hedgerow.
即使点头也不，树篱里的名人。
The villagers open the chambers, they are hunting the queen.
村民们打开小房，他们在找寻蜂后。
Is she hiding, is she eating honey? She is very clever.
她藏起来了？她在吃蜜？她非常聪明。
She is old, old, old, she must live another year, and she knows it.
她太老了，老了，老了，她必须再活一年，她知道。
While in their fingerjoint cells the new virgins
而在它们指关节宽的蜂房里，新的处女蜂
Dream of a duel they will win inevitably,
梦想一场它们必然会赢的决斗，
A curtain of wax dividing them from the bride flight,
一道蜡帘将它们与新娘腾飞阻隔，
The up flight of the murderess into a heaven that loves her.
女凶手向上飞进天堂去爱她。
The villagers are moving the virgins, there will be no killing.
村民们在移动处女蜂，不会有残杀。
The old queen does not show herself, is she so ungrateful?
老蜂后没有现身，她这样不懂感激吗？
I am exhausted, I am exhausted——
我筋疲力尽，我筋疲力尽——
Pillar of white in a blackout of knives.
白色的柱仿佛刀光中的昏暗。
I am the magician’s girl who does not flinch.
我是魔术师的女儿，我不会退缩。
The villagers are untying their disguises, they are shaking hands.
村民们在脱去他们的保护装，他们在握手。
Whose is that long white box in the grove, what have they accomplished, why am I cold.
树林里的白色长箱是谁的，他们完成了什么，为何我发冷。
(1962/10/03. pp.211—212. No. 176)
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