《Down by the Salley Garden》最初翻译为《柳园里》,是叶芝早年的诗作。《柳园里》原名为《旧歌新唱》,改编自一首不完整的三行老民谣。诗句质朴,韵律优美,可咏宜唱,形象丰满,感情细腻,伤感袭人,劝喻人生。
或许“salley”一词寡见,但却助于诗情画意的形象表达。柳树多与悲情相思关联,风摆杨柳,雨打芭蕉,倍添伤怀感时的绵绵悔意。
时态贴切独到,全诗除最后半行用现在时之外,全都采用过去时态。刻画出过去对现在的重要作用。
大师小韵,揭示哲理,劝谕人生,举重若轻:爱情或生活,都应顺天从地,顺其自然。效法“春柳发新绿”,“河坝芳草碧”,既“解语”,又“明理”,才不“辜负”,才无“悔泪”,获得幸福,达成圆满。惟有珍惜现在,才能无悔未来!
真是一首能修身养性,静心怡神的美诗好歌,意境悠远。
Down by the salley gardens
my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens
with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy,
as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish,
with her did not agree.
在莎莉花园深处,吾爱与我曾经相遇。
她穿越了莎莉花园,用雪白的双足。
她嘱咐我要爱得轻松,就象新叶在枝桠萌芽。
但我当时年幼无知,不予轻率苟同。
In a field down by the river
my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder
she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy,
as the grass grows on the 1)weirs;
But I was young and foolish,
and now I’m full of tears.
在河边的田野,我和我的爱人曾经驻立。
她将雪白的双手搭在我微倾的肩膀。
她嘱咐我要活得轻松,就象青草在堤岸滋长。
但我当时年幼无知,而今却泪水盈盈。