Dylan Thomas

 

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Wild men, who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late，they grieved it on its way;

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

 

[英] 狄兰·托马斯 作/ 陈德民 译

 

别顺从地走进那告别的夜晚，

长者生命终日应如熊熊烈火；

面对光芒将尽奋力而起迎战。

 

智者明白黑暗降临乃是必然，

虽其慧语未如闪电霹雳惊世

决不顺从走进那告别的夜晚。

 

仁者在生命余波前竭力呼喊

其行止原本有可能一展风采，

面对光芒将尽奋力而起迎战。

 

狂者追逐下山落日放声咏叹，

哀逝者如斯夫，惜知晓已太迟，

决不顺从走进那告别的夜晚。

 

肃者弥留之际昏眼朦胧望见

眇目犹似流星，瞬间照亮天地，

面对光芒将尽奋力而起迎战。

 

而你，我父，已在天堂那一端，

谨祷用滚烫泪水诅咒、祝福我，

决不顺从走进那告别的夜晚。

面对光芒将尽奋力而起迎战。

 

 

　　狄兰·托马斯（1914~1953）　英国当代著名诗人，生于威尔士，年轻时就立志当一名作家，他在20岁时即出版第一部诗集《诗十八首》并获好评。除了诗歌以外，他还写过小说、戏剧和电影剧本。二战期间当过高射炮手。1950年后，他数次赴美作巡回讲演和朗诵，广受听众欢迎。1953年因过度劳累和嗜酒在纽约去世。他的诗歌常以生命、死亡、爱情等为主题，语言不凡，形象奇特，讲究音韵。此诗是他在父亲重病期间所写，希望父亲能够与命运奋力抗争，迎接死神的挑战，绝不无声无息地向死亡屈服。

 

　　陈德民　上海交通大学外国语学院英语系教授，上海翻译家协会会员，上海外语口译证书考试委员会英语专家组成员，《英语高级口译证书考试大纲》主设计者，翻译出版社会科学类、文学类、管理科学类等译著共20余册600多万字，编写各类英语教材数种，曾获全国图书金钥匙奖、华东地区高校出版社优秀教材二等奖、上海市高校优秀教学成果一等奖。