The Resolute Courtier

Prithee, say aye or no;

If thou’lt not have me, tell me so;

I cannot stay,

Nor will I wait upon

A smile or frown.

If thou wilt have me, say;

Then I am thine, or else I am mine own.

Be white or black; I hate

Dependence on a checkered fate;

Let go, or hold;

Come, either kiss or not：

Now to be hot,

And then again as cold,

Is a fantastic fever you have got.

A tedious woo is base,

And worse by far than a long grace：

For whilst we stay,

Our lingering spoils the roast,

Or stomach’s lost;

Nor can, nor will I stay;

For if I sup not quickly, I will fast.

Whilst we are fresh and stout

And vigorous, let us to ’t;

Alas, what good

From wrinkled man appears,

Gelded with years,

When his thin wheyish blood

Is far less comfortable than his tears?

我們不能遲遲等待。

只怕爐中的晚餐也會燒焦，

只怕進食的胃口全都敗壞;

若不能馬上品嘗，

我寧可禁食守齋。

趁我們年富力強，

促成這磨人的情愛;

莫讓時光催老容顏，

莫讓頭發霜打雪蓋。

為何還要久久拖延?

為何還要遲遲等待?

拖到心里滴血萬事已休，

等到眼中落淚青春不再。

托馬斯?希普曼(Thomas Shipman 1632―1680)英國詩人 這首詩雖然是當面口頭求婚，但語言卻古樸高雅，如“aye”、“fast”、“thou”、“grace”及“prithee” 等等，全無口語痕跡。這種詩歌的語言風格必須仔細分辨,謹慎移植;否則就會褻瀆詩魂與藝魂,辜負作者與讀者。