On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic

On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic

                     by William Wordsworth

On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic

Once did She hold the gorgeous east in fee;
And was the safeguard of the west: the worth
Of Venice did not fall below her birth,
Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty.
She was a maiden City, bright and free;
No guile seduced, no force could violate;
And, when she took unto herself a Mate,
She must espouse the everlasting Sea.
And what if she had seen those glories fade,
Those titles vanish, and that strength decay;
Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid
When her long life hath reached its final day:
Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade
Of that which once was great, is passed away.

威尼斯共和国的灭亡

    威廉·华兹华斯

当年她曾掌握豪华的东方的命脉，
又是屏障西方的门户：威尼斯呀！
她诞生以来从未贬低高贵的身价。
自由之神的长女，绰约处子的形态，
威尼斯这光辉灿烂、崇尚自由的古城，
不受任何诡计诱骗，不许任何暴力侵犯
而当她为自己寻找一个终身侣伴，
只有永恒的大海才配得上她的名声，
假如她看到种种的光荣竟然萧疏，
假如她坐视那些头衔消失，民力凋零，
在她悠久的生命面临末日时必须付出
毕生饮恨的代价，那该是多么不幸！
我们是人啊，怎能不悲痛，当我们目睹
一度伟大的事物消逝竟然不留踪影。

（黄宏煦 译）　　　

威廉·华兹华斯简介