作者:泰戈尔
译者:水石山房主人(仗剑书生)
24
If the day is done, if birds sing no more, if the wind has flagged tired, then draw the veil of darkness thick upon me, even as thou hast wrapt the earth with the coverlet of sleep and tenderly closed the petals of the drooping lotus at dusk.
From the traveller, whose sack of provisionsis empty before the voyage is ended, whose garment is torn and dustladen, whose strength is exhausted, remove shame and poverty, and renew his life like a flower under the cover of thy kindly night.
译文:
若白昼已逝,鸟儿不再歌唱,风儿已经吹倦,拉过黑暗的厚纱盖住我,正如黄昏时分,你以睡梦的锦被裹住大地,轻柔地合拢睡莲的花瓣。
旅人的行程未尽,但粮袋已空,衣裳褴褛,一身尘土,筋疲力尽,你消除了他的羞愧与窘迫,让他的生命像花朵一样在你仁慈的夜里复苏。
翻译手记:
孟加拉语原作为《献歌集》第157首。
《飞鸟集》中说,“休憩之于劳作,如眼睑之于眼睛。”泰戈尔不仅在文学上多产,也有多重身份,广泛参与社会活动。作为一个高效的人,他尤其重视休息,认为休息是工作可不分割的一部分。
日出而作,日落而息。夜晚来临,让人和万物在温柔的夜里休息,消除疲惫,积蓄力量,等待复苏。