-卡瓦菲斯，1900
冬去夏来，了望者一直坐在
阿特柔斯宫的屋顶上向远方眺望。
此时，他兴奋如潮地大喊出来——他看见了
远方火光的闪亮。
他欢呼，因为他的劳累就要结束；
不论寒暑，日夜站立守望
等待远方阿拉克内昂山巅的烽火
真的辛苦。现在，翘望已久的信号终于出现，
好运带来的欢乐却比预想的
要小。然而，毕竟也有所
收获：我们终于不再抱有
任何希望和幻想。那些事情
终将降临到阿特柔斯宫，
这无需任何智慧就能猜到，现在
烽火已经燃起，因此也无需任何夸张。
那火光也好，那些要来的人也好；
他们所说所做的一切都是好的。
我们可以期待一切都好。但即便
没有阿特柔斯宫，亚戈斯城也能存在下去。
没有一座宫殿能屹立永远。总会有人
议论纷纷。我们不妨聆听，
但决不会被“命定”、“唯一”、“伟大”
之类的词语蒙蔽，因为还会有别的
命定、唯一而伟大者骤然兴起。
When the Watchman Saw the Light
Winter and summer, up on the Atreides’ roof,
the Watchman has been sitting lookout.
Now he shouts glad tidings - he has seen
the lighting of a distant fire.
And he rejoices, for his labour’s at an end;
it’s hard to stand watch day and night,
in heat and cold, for flames on far-off
Arachnaion. Now the long-awaited signal has appeared.
Good fortune brings less joy than
was expected. Yet something’s clearly
been achieved: we have been saved
from hopes and expectations. Many things
will happen to the house of Atreus -
that’s a guess that needs no wisdom, now the
watchman’s seen the light. So no exaggeration.
Good is the light, and those who come are good;
good, too, their words and deeds.
And we would wish that all be fair. But
Argos could survive without Atreides.
Royal houses aren’t immortal.
Of course there’ll be a lot of people
with a lot to say - and we should listen.
But we shan’t be taken in by words like
‘Indispensable’, ‘Unique’, or `Great’.
For someone indispensable, unique, and great
invariably turns up straightaway.
