Not The Painted Veil Which Those Who Live
Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread,--behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadows, o';er the chasm, sightless and drear.
I knew one who had lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.
别揭开这画帷
作者:雪莱
别揭开这画帷：呵，人们就管这
叫作生活，虽然它画的没有真象；
它只是以随便涂抹的彩色
仿制我们意愿的事物——而希望
和恐惧，双生的宿命，在后面藏躲，
给幽深的穴中不断编织着幻相。
曾有一个人，我知道，把它揭开过——
他想找到什么寄托他的爱情，
但却找不到。而世间也没有任何
真实的物象，能略略使他心动。
于是他飘泊在冷漠的人群中，
成为暗影中的光，是一点明斑
落上阴郁的景色，也是个精灵
追求真理，却象“传道者”①一样兴叹。
1818年
①《旧约·传道书》载：柯希列（或传道者）说：“凡事都是虚空。”
查良铮 译