William Butler Yeats - Cuchulain’s Fight with the Sea 汉译

A man came slowly from the setting sun,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

To Emer, raddling raiment in her dun,

And said, “I am that swineherd, whom you bid

Go dwell upon the cliffs and watch the tide;

But now I have no need to watch it more.”

 

Then Emer cast the web upon the floor,

And raising arms all raddled with the dye;

Parted her lips with a loud sudden cry.

 

That swineherd stared upon her face and said:

“Not any god alive, nor mortal dead,

Has slain so mighty armies, so great kings,

Nor won the gold that now Cuchulain brings.”

 

“Why do you tremble thus from feet to crown?”

 

He caught his breath and cast him weeping down

Upon the web-heaped floor, and thus his word:

“With him is one sweet-throated like a bird.”

 

“You dare me to my face,” and thereupon

She smote with raddled fist, and where her son

Herded the cattle came with stumbling feet,

And cried with angry voice, “It is not meet

To idle life away with flocks and herds.”

 

I have long waited, mother, for those words:

“But wherefore now?”

 

“There is a man to die;

You have the heaviest arm under the sky.”

 

“No, somewhere under daylight or the stars

My father stands amid his battle cars.”

 

“But you have grown to be the taller man.”

 

“Yet somewhere under starlight or the sun

My father stands amid his battle cars.”

 

“But he is old and sad with many wars.”

 

“I only ask what way my journey lies.

For He who made you bitter, made you wise.”

 

“The Red Branch gather a great company

Between the game and the horses of the sea.

Go there, and camp upon the forest’s rim;

But tell your name and lineage to him

Whose blade compels, and bid them send you one

Who has a like vow from their triple dun.”

 

Among those feasting kings Cuchulain dwelt,

And his young dear one close beside him knelt;

Stared like the Spring upon the ancient skies,

Upon the mournful wonder of his eyes,

And pondered on the glory of his days;

And all around the harp-string told his praise,

And Concobar, the Red Branch king of kings,

With his own fingers touched the brazen strings.

 

At last Cuchulain spake, “Some man has made

His evening fire amid the leafy shade.

I have often heard him singing to and fro,

I have often heard the sweet sound of his bow,

Seek out what man he is.”

 

One went and came.

“He bade me let all know he gives his name

At the sword point, and bade me bring him one

Who had a like vow from our triple dun.”

 

“I only of the Red Branch hosted now,”

Cuchulain cried, “have made and keep that

vow.”

 

After short fighting in the leafy shade,

He spake to the young man, “Is there no maid

Who loves you, no white arms to wrap you round,

Or do you long for the dim sleepy ground,

That you have come and dared me to my face?”

 

“The dooms of men are in God's hidden place.”

 

“Your head a while seemed like a woman’s head

That I loved once.”

 

Again the fighting sped,

But now the war rage in Cuchulain woke,

And through that new blade's guard the old blade broke,

And pierced him.

 

“Speak before your breath is done.”

 

“Cuchulain I, mighty Cuchulain’s son.”

 

“I put you from your pain. I can no more.”

 

While day its burden on to evening bore,

With head bowed on his knees Cuchulain stayed;

Then Concobar sent that sweet - throated maid,

And she, to win him, his grey hair caressed;

In vain her arms, in vain her soft white breast.

Then Concobar, the subtlest of all men,

Ranking his Druids round him ten by ten,

Spake thus, “Cuchulain will dwell there and brood,

For three days more in dreadful quietude,

And then arise, and raving slay us all.

Chaunt in his ear delusions magical,

That he may fight the horses of the sea.”

The Druids took them to their mystery,

And chanted for three days.

 

Cuchulain stirred,

Stared on the horses of the sea, and heard

The cars of battle and his own name cried;

And fought with the invulnerable tide.