莎士比亚十四行诗全集:第38篇

 　　How can my Muse¹ want subject to invent, 我的诗神岂会缺乏诗材与诗思，

　　While thou dost breathe, that pour'st into my verse 只要你活着，你自己就是甜美的主题。

　　Thine own sweet argument, too excellent for every vulgar paper to rehearse? 你踊动于我的诗章，如此美妙，要描摹你，焉能谬托蹩脚诗人的颓笔？

　　O, give thyself the thanks, if aught in me 假如我的诗有聊供垂鉴之处，

　　Worthy² perusal³ stand against thy sight; 那也全是由于你的惠顾。

　　For who's so dumb that cannot write to thee, 正是你点燃了想象的火把，

　　When thou thyself dost give invention light? 才令无动于衷者为体诗情勃发。

　　Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more in worth 你超过你前面的九位老缪斯十倍，

　　Than those old nine which rhymers invocate; 你将名列十位诗神榜中而无愧。

　　And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth⁴ 且让求助你的诗人诗花怒放，

　　Eternal numbers to outlive long date. 写出超迈永恒的不朽篇章。

　　If my slight Muse do please these curious days, 倘这苛求时代容得下我微薄的诗才，

　　The pain be mine, but thine shall be the praise. 我当万苦不辞只写诗将你讴歌礼拜。

1 muse   

n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感

参考例句：

• His muse had deserted him,and he could no longer write.他已无灵感，不能再写作了。
• Many of the papers muse on the fate of the President.很多报纸都在揣测总统的命运。

2 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

3 perusal   

n.细读，熟读；目测

参考例句：

• Peter Cooke undertook to send each of us a sample contract for perusal.彼得·库克答应给我们每人寄送一份合同样本供阅读。
• A perusal of the letters which we have published has satisfied him of the reality of our claim.读了我们的公开信后，他终于相信我们的要求的确是真的。

4 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。