Sonnet 34

Like as a ship, that through the ocean wide

　By conduct of some star doth make her way,

　Whenas* a storm hath dimmed her trusty guide,

　Out of her course doth wander far astray,

So I whose star, that wont* with her bright ray　　　　　　       5 

　Me to direct, with clouds is overcast,

　Do wander now in darkness and dismay

　Through hidden perils round about me placed.

Yet hope I well that, when this storm is past,

　My Helice, the lodestar of my life,　　　　　　　　　　　　　10

　Will shine again, and look on me at last,

　With lovely light to clear my cloudy grief.

Till then I wander careful* comfortless,

　In secret sorrow and sad pensiveness.

 

 

 

如同一只船驶在茫茫的海面，
　　凭靠某一颗星辰来为它导航，
　　当风暴把它可靠的向导遮暗，
　　它就会远离自己的航道飘荡：
　　我的星辰也常常用它的亮光
　　为我指路，现已被乌云笼罩，
　　我在深深的黑暗和苦闷中彷徨，
　　穿行于周围重重的险滩暗礁。
　　但是我希望，经过这一场风暴，
　　我的赫利刻，我那生命的北极星，
　　将重放光芒，最终把我来照耀，
　　用明丽的光辉驱散我忧郁的阴云。
　　在这以前，我忧心忡忡地徘徊，
　　独自儿暗暗地悲伤，愁思满怀。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 胡家峦　　译

3 Whenas: at the time when

5 wont: used to

13 careful: full of care

 

  

 

Sonnet 54

Of this world's theatre in which we stay,

　My love like the spectator idly sits

　Beholding me that all the pageants* play,

　Disguising diversely my troubled wits.

Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fits,　　　　　 5

　And mask in mirth like to a comedy:

　Soon after when my joy to sorrow flits,

　I wail and make my woes a tragedy.

Yet she, beholding me with constant eye,

　Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart:　　　10

　But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry

　She laughs and hardens evermore her heart.

What then can move her? if nor mirth nor moan,

　She is no woman, but a senseless stone.

 

  

 

3 pageants: roles

 

 

 

Sonnet 67 

 

Like as a huntsman after weary chase,

　Seeing the game from him escapt away,

　Sits down to rest him in some shady place,

　With panting hounds beguiled of their prey,

So after long pursuit and vain assay,　　　　　　　　　　5

　When I all weary had the chase forsook,

　The gentle dear returned the self-same way,

　Thinking to quench her thirst at the next brook.

There she beholding me with milder look,

　Sought not to fly, but fearless still did bide,　　　       10

　Till I in hand her yet half trembling took,

　And with her own goodwill her firmly tied.

Strange thing me seemed to see a beast so wild,

　So goodly won with her own will beguiled*.

 

 

 

14 beguiled: entangled

 

  

 

Sonnet 75 

 

One day I wrote her name upon the strand,

　But came the waves and washed it away:

　Again I wrote it with a second hand,

　But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.

"Vain man," said she, "that dost in vain assay,　　　　　　　　　5

　A mortal thing so to immortalize!

　For I my self shall like to this decay,

And eke my name be wiped out likewise."

"Not so," quod I, "let baser things devise

　To die in dust, but you shall live by fame;　　　　　　　　　　10

　My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,

　And in the heavens write your glorious name.

Where, whenas death shall all the world subdue,

　Our love shall live, and later life renew."

 

 

 

有一天，我把她名字写在沙滩，
　　但海浪来了，把那个名字冲跑；
　　我用手再一次把它写了一遍，
　　但潮水来了，把我的辛苦又吞掉。
　　“自负的人啊，”她说，“你这是徒劳，
　　妄想使世间凡俗的事物不朽；
　　我本身就会像这样云散烟消，
　　我的名字也同样会化为乌有。”
　　“不，”我说，“让低贱的东西去筹谋
　　死亡之路，但你将靠美名而永活：
　　我的诗将使你罕见的美德长留，
　　并把你光辉的名字写天国。
　　死亡可以征服整个的世界，
　　我们的爱将长存，生命永不灭。”
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　胡家峦 译

1 strand: beach

5 assay: attempt

8 eke: also

9 quod: quoth; said

9 devise: manage