The Chain I Gave 我给你的项链
The chain I gave was fair to view,
我给你的项链玲珑精致,
The lute I added sweet in sound;
我赠你的诗琴悦耳动听;
The heart that offer'd both was true,
向你献礼的心儿也忠实,
And ill deserved the fate it found.
谁知碰上了倒霉的命星。
These gifts were charm'd by secret spell
这两件礼品有神奇法力,
Thy truth in absence to divine;
能占卜我走后你是否忠贞;
And they have done their duty well,—
它们的责任尽到了,——可惜
Alas! they could not teach thee thine.
没能教会你尽你的责任。
That chain was firm in every link,
项链挺结实,环环扣紧,
But not to bear a stranger's touch;
但生人的抚弄它不能忍受;
That lute was sweet—till thou could'st think
琴声也甜美——但你莫相信
In other hands its notes were such.
在别人手里它同样温柔。
Let him, who from thy neck unbound
他摘你项链,项链就断折,
The chain which shiver'd in his grasp,
他弹这诗琴,琴哑口无言;
Who saw that lute refuse to sound,
它们抗拒他,看来,他只得
Restring the chords, renew the clasp.
换新的链扣,上新的琴弦。
When thou wert changed, they alter'd too;
既然你变了,它们也得变:
The chain is broke, the music mute.
项链碎裂,琴韵无声。
'Tis past—to them and thee adieu—
罢了!和它们、和你再见——
False heart, frail chain, and silent lute.
哑琴,脆链,欺诈的心灵!
我给你的项链玲珑精致,
我赠你的诗琴悦耳动听;
向你献礼的心儿也忠实,
谁知碰上了倒霉的命星。
这两件礼品有神奇法力,
能占卜我走后你是否忠贞;
它们的责任尽到了,——可惜
没能教会你尽你的责任。
项链挺结实,环环扣紧,
但生人的抚弄它不能忍受;
琴声也甜美——但你莫相信
在别人手里它同样温柔。
他摘你项链,项链就断折,
他弹这诗琴,琴哑口无言;
它们抗拒他,看来,他只得
换新的链扣,上新的琴弦。
既然你变了,它们也得变:
项链碎裂,琴韵无声。
罢了!和它们、和你再见——
哑琴,脆链,欺诈的心灵!
The chain I gave was fair to view,
The lute I added sweet in sound;
The heart that offer'd both was true,
And ill deserved the fate it found.
These gifts were charm'd by secret spell
Thy truth in absence to divine;
And they have done their duty well,—
Alas! they could not teach thee thine.
That chain was firm in every link,
But not to bear a stranger's touch;
That lute was sweet—till thou could'st think
In other hands its notes were such.
Let him, who from thy neck unbound
The chain which shiver'd in his grasp,
Who saw that lute refuse to sound,
Restring the chords, renew the clasp.
When thou wert changed, they alter'd too;
The chain is broke, the music mute.
'Tis past—to them and thee adieu—
False heart, frail chain, and silent lute.