阿尔杰农·查尔斯·斯温伯恩
帷幕拉开,他们登台演戏两人联袂,
男演国王女演王后最为般配;
泪水化作笑声,笑声却柔如泪水,
这本是她多年的梦想,不料会充满伤悲。
欢乐中唇焦舌燥,痛苦里夜不能寐，
长久的欢乐有刺痛伴随;
当她与半真的情人表演半假的爱情,
她对此一无所知毫无体会。
尽管脚本最后要他们又哭又笑,
让他今天织网明天又去扯碎,
伤害他,作弄他,叫他去死,
他在剧中真的死去,落幕后他满脸热泪。
时光易逝时光无限谁能品出真味?
爱情怎样滋长、欢笑、痛哭又消退?
这一切她开始懂得,开始用心思量,
当取悦一位男士的演出到此收尾。
Stage Love
Algernon Charles Swinburne
When the game began between them for a jest,
He played king and she played queen to match the best;
Laughter soft as tears, and tears that turned to laughter,
These were things she sought for years and sorrowed after.
Pleasure with dry lips, and pain that walks by night;
All the sting and all the stain of long delight;
These were things she knew not of, that knew not of her,
When she played at half a love with half a lover.
Time was chorus, gave them cues to laugh or cry;
They would kill, befool, amuse him, let him die;
Set him webs to weave to-day and break to-morrow,
Till he died for good in play, and rose in sorrow.
What the years mean; how time dies and is not slain;
How love grows and laughs and cries and wanes again;
These were things she came to know, and take their measure,
When the play was played out so for one man’s pleasure.