Thomas Hardy - The Man He Killed 汉译

Had he and I but met<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

  By some old ancient inn,

We should have set us down to wet

  Right many a nipperkin!

  But ranged as infantry,

  And staring face to face,

I shot at him as he at me,

  And killed him in his place.

  I shot him dead because—

  Because he was my foe,

Just so: my foe of course he was;

  That’s clear enough; although

  He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps,

  Off-hand like—just as I—

Was out of work—had sold his traps—

  No other reason why.

  Yes; quaint and curious war is!

  You shoot a fellow down

You’d treat, if met where any bar is,

  Or help to half-a-crown.