突然地，悄声地，悲伤起来

题图 / Akira Kusaka

斗篷，船和鞋子

“你在做什么，如此美好和明亮？”

“我在做一件悲伤的斗篷：

每个人都会看见它，

哦悲伤的斗篷，

每个人都会爱上它。”

“你在做什么，白帆高扬，凌风欲飞？”

“我在为悲伤造一条船：

不分昼夜在海上疾驰

哦悲伤这个海上的浪人

不分昼夜疾驰。”

“你在织什么，用如此洁白的羊毛？”

“我在编织一双悲伤的鞋子：

让两脚落地轻捷无声

突然地，悄声地落下

落在人们悲伤的耳朵里。”

作者 / [爱尔兰]威廉·巴特勒·叶芝

翻译 / 光诸

The Cloak, the Boat, and the Shoes

'What do you make so fair and bright?'

'I make the cloak of Sorrow:

O lovely to see in all men's sight

Shall be the cloak of Sorrow,

In all men's sight.'

'What do you build with sails for flight?'

'I build a boat for Sorrow:

O swift on the seas all day and night

Saileth the rover Sorrow,

All day and night.'

What do you weave with wool so white?'

'I weave the shoes of Sorrow:

Soundless shall be the footfall light

In all men's ears of Sorrow,

Sudden and light.'

William Butler Yeats