基本內容
食蓮人原文
食蓮人
“鼓起勇氣！”他說，指著前方的陸地，
“潮水很快會送我們靠岸登入。”
下午．他們果然到達了一塊陸地，
這地方的時辰仿佛永遠是下午。
慵懶昏醉的空氣圍著海岸飄浮，
像是在睏倦的夢裡，呼吸微微。
滿月的圓臉升起，映著山谷，
懸崖邊飛落下淙淙的溪水，
像一縷輕煙欲落還停，在半空懸垂。
遍地溪澗！有的像懸垂的煙，
又像蟬翼輕紗，緩緩地落下，
有的穿過飄動的光和影飛濺，
在下方激起一片催眠的水花。
但見閃光的河從內陸奔向海涯，
而內陸深處是三座寂靜的山峰，
千年雪封，映著日落的紅霞；
還有沾滿雨珠的蒼鬱的老松
挺起了身軀，超出那層層交織的樹叢。
被魔力拴住的夕陽欲落不落，
在紅霞里低回；從山口遙望內陸，
能望見棕櫚鑲邊的黃色山坡，
還有平川和許多迂迴的溪谷，
還有草地，有細細的莎草被復，——
這片土地的一切似乎永不變更！
島上的食蓮人來了，把船圍住．
這些憂鬱的人長著溫柔的眼睛，
緋紅的霞光映襯著他們暗淡的面影。
他們帶來具有魔力的蓮花莖枝，
把花和果實向遠方來客分送，
不論是誰，只要嘗一嘗蓮子，
在他耳中這海浪的澎湃洶湧
立即遠遠離去，化為彼岸的嗡嗡；
而夥伴的語聲也漸去漸弱，
變得隱隱約約，有如發自墓中；
他仿佛深深入睡卻又完全醒覺，
自己心音的節律在耳中化作了音樂。
島民請遠方來客在黃沙上就坐，
坐在海邊，太陽與月亮之間；
他們沉入了甜蜜的夢，夢見祖國，
夢死妻子兒女和奴僕．但是永遠
不再操槳掌舵．大海已令人厭倦，
他們己厭倦了動盪荒涼的海洋。
於是有人說道：“我們不再回家園。”
於是大家齊聲唱道；“島上的家鄉
在茫茫大海彼方，我們不願再流浪。”
英文
The Lotus-Eaters by Lord Alfred Tennyson
(1809-1892)
"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.
A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke,
Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go;
And some thro' wavering lights and shadows broke,
Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.
They saw the gleaming river seaward flow
From the inner land: far off, three mountain-tops,
Three silent pinnacles of aged snow,
Stood sunset-flush'd: and, dew'd with showery drops,
Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse.
The charmed sunset linger'd low adown
In the red West: thro' mountain clefts the dale
Was seen far inland, and the yellow down
Border'd with palm, and many a winding vale
And meadow, set with slender galingale;
A land where all things always seem'd the same!
And round about the keel with faces pale,
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,
The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.
Branches they bore of that enchanted stem,
Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave
To each, but whoso did receive of them,
And taste, to him the gushing of the wave
Far far away did seem to mourn and rave
On alien shores; and if his fellow spake,
His voice was thin, as voices from the grave;
And deep-asleep he seem'd, yet all awake,
And music in his ears his beating heart did make.
They sat them down upon the yellow sand,
Between the sun and moon upon the shore;
And sweet it was to dream of Fatherland,
Of child, and wife, and slave; but evermore
Most weary seem'd the sea, weary the oar,
Weary the wandering fields of barren foam.
Then some one said, "We will return no more";
And all at once they sang, "Our island home
Is far beyond the wave; we will no longer roam."
