My Soul is Dark

My soul is dark - Oh! quickly string

The harp I yet can brook to hear;

And let thy gentle fingers fling

Its melting murmurs o'er mine ear.

If in this heart a hope be dear,

That sound shall charm it forth again:

If in these eyes there lurk a tear,

'Twill flow, and cease to burn my brain.

But bid the strain be wild and deep,

Nor let thy notes of joy be first:

I tell thee, minstrel, I must weep,

Or else this heavy heart will burst;

For it hath been by sorrow nursed,

And ached in sleepless silence, long;

And now 'tis doomed to know the worst,

And break at once - or yield to song.

 

我的心灵是阴沉的——噢，快一点

弹起那我还能忍着听的竖琴，

那缠绵的声音撩人心弦，

让你温柔的指头弹给我听。

假如这颗心还把希望藏住，

这乐音会使它痴迷得诉出衷情：

假如这眼睛里还隐蓄着泪珠，

它会流出来，不再把我的头灼痛。

但求你的乐声粗犷而真挚，

也不要先弹出你欢乐的音阶，

告诉你，歌手呵，我必须哭泣，

不然，这沉重的心就要爆裂；

因为它曾经为忧伤所哺育，

又在失眠的静寂里痛得久长；

如今它就要受到最痛的一击，

使它立刻碎裂——或者皈依歌唱。