孩子们的哭声
The Cry of the Children
伊丽莎白·巴瑞特·布朗宁
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
伊丽莎白·巴瑞特·布朗宁（Elizabeth Barrett Browning，1806-1861），英国维多利亚时期有影响的女诗人。她小时天真、活泼，15岁时坠马受伤，长期卧床。养病期间，她博览群书，写作诗歌。1844年，她的诗集出版，获得成功，成为当时著名的诗人。后与布朗宁相识，产生真挚的爱情，秘密结婚，移居意大利。她的病也因爱情的力量逐渐好转。《葡萄牙人十四行诗》是她写给丈夫的爱情诗，真挚动人，语言优美，才华横溢。她关心社会，《孩子们的哭声》对童工的苦难生活表示极大同情，对资本主义社会发出强烈抗议。
一
1
你们听到孩子们在哭泣吗，我的兄弟？
Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers,
他们还没到发愁的年岁！
Ere the sorrow comes with years?
他们把幼小的头儿靠在妈妈的怀里，
They are leaning their young heads against their mothers,
这也止不住他们流泪。
And that cannot stop their tears.
幼小的羔羊在草地上咩咩叫，
The young lambs are bleating in the meadows,
幼小的鸟雀在窝里叽叽唱，
The young birds are chirping in the nest,
幼小的鹿在跟影子嬉闹，
The young fawns are playing with the shadows ,
幼小的花朵正向西方开放——
The young flowers are blowing toward the west—
可是幼小的、幼小的孩子们，我的兄弟呵，
But the young, young children, O my brothers,
他们正在苦苦地哭泣！
They are weeping bitterly !
当别的孩子们游戏的时候他们哭泣呵，
They are weeping in the playtime of the others,
在这个属于自由人的国度里。
In the country of the free.
二
2
你们可曾问问这些伤心的孩子
Do you question the young children in the sorrow
为什么这样地止不住流泪？
Why their tears are falling so?
老人会为了自己的明天而哭泣——
The old man may weep for his to-morrow
他们的明天远不能追回；
Which is lost in Long Ago;
老树在林子里失落了一身绿叶，
The old tree is leafless in the forest,
老迈的一年结束在漫天的冰雪，
The old year is ending in the frost,
老伤口受到触击疼得最剧烈，
The old wound, if stricken , is the sorest,
老盼着的希望破灭了感到最痛切。
The old hope is hardest to be lost:
可是幼小的，幼小的孩子们，我的兄弟呵，
But the young, young children, O my brothers,
你们不问问他们为什么
Do you ask them why they stand
在自己妈妈的怀里还这样苦苦地哭泣呵——
Weeping sore before the bosoms of their mothers,
在我们这个幸福的祖国？
In our happy Fatherland ?
三
3
他们仰望着，双颊下陷，面色苍白，
They look up with their pale and sunken faces,
那神态叫人看了悲伤，
And their looks are sad to see,
因为成年人久积的痛苦已深深刻画在
For the man's hoary anguish draws and presses
他们童年的面颊之上。
Down the cheeks of infancy ;
他们说：“你们这古老的大地非常阴暗，
Your old earth, they say, "is very dreary,"
我们幼小的脚呵非常虚弱！
Our young feet, they say, "are very weak;
我们只走了几步，就感到疲倦——
Few paces have we taken, yet are weary—
休息的墓地又太远，真难觅得。
Our grave-rest is very far to seek:
去问老人为什么哭泣吧，别问孩子们；
Ask the aged why they weep, and not the children,
坟墓外面的世界太冷酷；
For the outside earth is cold,
我们孩子们站在墓外，困惑不明，
And we young ones stand without, in our bewildering ,
而坟墓只允许老人进入。”
And the graves are for the old."
四
4
孩子们说道：“真的，这完全可能，
True, say the children, "it may happen
时候没到我们就死亡；
That we die before our time:
小阿丽丝去年死了——她的坟堆成
Little Alice died last year, her grave is shapen
一个雪球，蒙上了白霜。
Like a snowball , in the rime.
我们探望过那准备埋她的土坑：
We looked into the pit prepared to take her:
粘结的泥土里没干活的地方！
Was no room for any work in the close clay!
她躺下安睡了，没人再把她唤醒，
From the sleep wherein she lieth none will wake her,
叫‘天亮了，阿丽丝赶快起床！’
Crying, 'Get up, little Alice! it is day.'
无论晴天雨天，如果在坟旁
If you listen by that grave, in sun and shower,
你侧耳倾听，阿丽丝从不哭叫；
With your ear down, little Alice never cries;
如果见到她，一定认不出她的模样，
Could we see her face, be sure we should not know her,
因为她的眼睛里显出了微笑：
For the smile has time for growing in her eyes:
她过得挺愉快，裹着布，听教堂的钟声
And merry go her moments, lulled and stilled in
给她安宁，为她唱催眠曲！”
The shroud by the kirk chime!
孩子们这样说，“那将是一件好事情，
It is good when it happens," say the children,
如果我们早早地死去。”
That we die before our time.
五
5
可悲呵，可叹，孩子们！他们在追寻
Alas, alas, the children! they are seeking
生中之死，当作最好的慰藉；
Death in life, as best to have:
他们用坟墓里面的裹尸布裹紧
They are binding up their hearts away from breaking,
自己的心，免得心儿碎裂。
With a ceremen from the grave.
走出去，孩子们，走出矿井和城市吧，
Go out, children, from the mine and from the city,
唱起来，孩子们，像小画眉一样歌唱；
Sing out, children, as the little thrushes do;
大把采摘草地上漂亮的樱草花吧，
Pluck your handfuls of the meadow-cowslips pretty,
大声笑，让樱草花从指缝里撒到地上！
Laugh aloud, to feel your fingers let them through!
可是他们回答说：“你们草地上的樱草花
But they answer, "Are your cowslips of the meadows
像不像我们矿井附近的野草？
Like our weeds anear the mine?
让我们安静地呆在煤层的阴影下吧，
Leave us quiet in the dark of the coal-shadows,
哪管你们的欢乐有多么美好！”
From your pleasures fair and fine!
六
6
“因为呵，”孩子们说，“我们已经太累，
For oh, say the children, "we are weary,
没力气奔跑也不能蹦跳；
And we cannot run or leap;
要是我们想着草地，那只是因为
If we cared for any meadows, it were merely
可以在那里躺倒，睡觉。
To drop down in them and sleep.
我们弯腰，膝盖就酸疼发颤，
Our knees tremble sorely in the stooping,
我们想走，却扑面摔倒在地上；
We fall upon our faces, trying to go;
在我们沉重下垂的眼皮下面，
And, underneath our heavy eyelids drooping,
最红的花儿苍白得像霜雪一样；
The reddest flower would look as pale as snow;
因为，我们整天吃力地拖运重担，
For, all day, we drag our burden tiring
穿过地下黑暗的煤矿巷道——
Through the coal-dark, underground;
要不，我们就整天在厂房里运转
Or, all day, we drive the wheels of iron
铁的轮子，转得没完没了。
In the factories, round and round.
七
7
“因为，铁轮整天转着，隆隆地叫——
For, all day, the wheels are droning, turning, —
卷起的风吹向我们的脸，——
Their wind comes in our faces, —
直到我们的心发慌，头发晕，脉搏燃烧，
Till our hearts turn, our heads with pulses burning,
四面的墙壁也在晃动打旋：
And the walls turn in their places:
高窗外茫茫的天空在动荡摇摆，
Turns the sky in the high window blank and reeling,
射到墙上的长长的光线在摇曳，
Turns the long light that drops adown the wall,
天花板上爬着的黑苍蝇都转了起来，
Turn the black flies that crawl along the ceiling,
一切都在转，整天转，我们和一切。
All are turning, all the day, and we with all.
整天，铁轮子发出隆隆的响声，
And all day, the iron wheels are droning,
有时候我们会这样祈祷，
And sometimes we could pray,
‘轮子呵！’（我们迸发出疯狂的悲鸣）
'O ye wheels.' (breaking out in a mad moaning)
‘停下！安静一天吧，至少！’”
'Stop! be silent for to-day!'
八
8
是的，安静！让他们听见彼此呼吸，
Ay, be silent! Let them hear each other breathing
哪怕一会儿，一口口气息相通！
For a moment, mouth to mouth!
让他们手触着手，在这少年时期，
Let them touch each other's hands, in a fresh wreathing
纯洁温柔的人情水乳交融！
Of their tender human youth!
让他们感到这里钢铁的冷酷运转
Let them feel that this cold metallic motion
并不是上帝塑造揭示的全部人生：
Is not all the life God fashions or reveals:
让他们活生生的灵魂表明否定这概念：
Let them prove their living souls against the notion
他们只是在轮子里、轮子下生存！——
That they live in you, or under you, O wheels!
钢铁的轮子依然整天在滚动奔忙，
Still, all day, the iron wheels go onward,
把生活碾得粉碎，落入底层；
Grinding life down from its mark;
孩子们的灵魂呵，尽管上帝召唤向太阳，
And the children's souls, which God is calling sunward,
仍在黑暗中盲目地冲撞不停。
Spin on blindly in the dark.
九
9
我的兄弟呵，请你们嘱咐可怜的孩子们
Now tell the poor young children; O my brothers,
抬头看上帝，向他祈求；
To look up to Him and pray;
慈悲的上帝既然降福给一切别的人，
So the blessed One who blesseth all the others,
也总会给他们降福保佑。
Will bless them another day.
他们回答说，“上帝是谁？铁轮在滚转，
They answer, "Who is God that He should hear us,
轰响，我们的话他听得出来？
While the rushing of the iron wheels is stirred?
我们高声哭诉，可人类从我们身边
When we sob aloud, the human creatures near us
走过，充耳不闻，根本不理睬。
Pass by, hearing not, or answer not a word.
我们听不见（因为铁轮在隆隆地响）
And we hear not (for the wheels in their resounding)
陌生人在门边说什么话语。
Strangers speaking at the door:
那么上帝，既然有天使围着他歌唱，
Is it likely God, with angels singing round Him,
还能再听到我们的泣诉？
Hears our weeping any more?
十
10
“祷词中只有两个字我们记得，
Two words, indeed, of praying we remember,
在午夜那个凶险的时刻，
And at midnight's hour of harm,
‘父亲，’我们在房里轻轻地这样说，
'Our Father,' looking upward in the chamber ,
像念咒语，我们向上望着。
We say softly for a charm.
除了‘父亲’，我们不知道说别的什么，
We know no other words except 'Our Father',
我们想，有时候天使们暂停歌颂，
And we think that, in some pause of angels' song,
上帝会摘取这两个字和温柔的沉默，
God may pluck them with the silence sweet to gather,
把两者握在他有力的右手掌中。
And hold both within His right hand which is strong.
‘父亲！’如果他听见了，他必定会应声
'Our Father!' If He heard us, He would surely
（因为人们说他慈祥和蔼）
(For they call Him good and mild)
带着真情的微笑，俯视险峻的红尘：
Answer, smiling down the steep world very purely,
‘孩子，跟我一同休息吧，快来。’
'Come and rest with me, my child.'
十一
11
“但是，不！”孩子们说，哭得更厉害，
But, no!" say the children, weeping faster,
“上帝像石头一样不言不语；
He is speechless as a stone:
有人告诉我们，上帝的形象实在
And they tell us, of His image is the master
就是命令我们拼命干活的厂主。
Who commands us to work on.
算了吧！”孩子们说，——“就是在天堂
Go to! say the children, —"up in Heaven,
也只能找到轮子般转动的黑云。
Dark, wheel-like, turning clouds are all we find.
别嘲弄我们了；苦难使我们失去了信仰——
Do not mock us; grief has made us unbelieving :
我们仰望上帝，却已经哭瞎了眼睛。”
We look up for God, but tears have made us blind."
哦，我的兄弟呵，你们可听见孩子们
Do you hear the children weeping and disproving,
在哭泣，在驳诘你们宣讲的教义？
O my brothers, what ye preach?
上帝的博爱教人信奉上帝的万能，
For God's possible is taught by His world's loving,
这两者孩子们都不再深信不疑。
And the children doubt of each.
十二
12
在你们面前，孩子们哭泣，这很自然！
And well may the children weep before you!
他们还没有奔跑就已经疲惫；
They are weary ere they run;
他们从没见过太阳光，更不曾看见
They have never seen the sunshine, nor the glory
比太阳更灿烂的天国光辉。
Which is brighter than the sun.
他们有成人的悲伤，缺乏成人的智力；
They know the grief of man, without its wisdom ;
陷入成人的绝望，没有成人的镇静；
They sink in man's despair, without its calm;
是奴隶，没有基督教世界的自由权利，
Are slaves, without the liberty in Christdom,
是殉难者，极度痛苦，却毫无荣名，——
Are martyrs, by the pang without the palm:
仿佛老人耗尽了精力，却无法回顾，
Are worn as if with age, yet unretrievingly
不能收获多少回忆的产物，——
The harvest of its memories cannot reap, —
他们是被剥夺了尘世和天堂之爱的遗孤。
Are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly.
让他们啼哭吧！让他们啼哭！
Let them weep! let them weep!
十三
13
他们苍白而凹陷的面孔向上仰视，
They look up with their pale and sunken faces,
那些脸都显出骇人的模样，
And their look is dread to see,
他们使你想起他们的守护天使
For they mind you of their angels in high places,
在天上抬眼向上帝凝望！——
With eyes turned on Deity.
他们说，“残酷的国家呵，为了推动地球，
How long, they say, "how long, O cruel nation,
你将多久地踏在孩子的心上？
Will you stand, to move the world, on a child's heart, —
还将扼杀孩子的心跳，任铁蹄驰骤。
Stifle down with a mailed heel its palpitation ,
带你走向王座，在市场中央？
And tread onward to your throne amid the mart?
我们的鲜血迸溅着！堆积金元的人呵，
Our blood splashes upward, O gold-heaper,
紫衣华衮表明了你们的道路！
And your purple shows your path!
但是静寂中孩子的哭泣却诅咒得深呵，
But the child's sob in the silence curses deeper
远远超过了壮汉的冲天暴怒。”
Than the strong man in his wrath."
