【波兰】切斯拉夫·米沃什 Czeslaw Milosz

Ⅰ

只有这桌子是确定的。沉重。大块木料所制。

在其上我们饮宴一如前人。

感受漆下面他人手指的触摸。

其他的一切都是可疑的。我们亦然，显现

一瞬间，披着男人或女人的装束

（为何是“或”呢？），披着预定的外衣。

我盯视她，仿佛初见。

盯视他。还有她。好让我念想起他们

在何种非尘世的疆域或王国？

预备我自己等待何种时刻？

等待何种离开灰烬的告别？

若我在这里，全然地在，若我正切肉

在这个小酒馆，临近的大海光华摇曳。

Ⅱ

在这个小酒馆，临近的大海光华摇曳，

我游移恍在水族馆，察觉到消逝。

因我们都如此短暂，仿佛从未活过。

我欣喜于这种视觉、姿态、触觉的协和，

纵然哀恸，在如今与往昔。

我曾相信我的恳求会给时间带来一次停顿。

我学会了顺服，一如我的前人。

而在这里，我只省察有什么在持续：

带角柄的刀具，锡盆，

蓝瓷器，坚强尽管易碎，

还有这张沉重木料所做的桌子，

就像一块岩石，被围在水流中，

被磨成一种光辉。

TABLE I

Only this table is certain. Heavy. Of massive wood.

At which we are feasting as others have before us,

Sensing under the varnish the touch of other fingers.

Everything else is doubtful. We too, appearing

For a moment in the guise of men or women

(Why either-or?), in preordained dress.

I stare at her, as if for the first time.

And at him. And at her. So that I can recall them

In what unearthly latitude or kingdom?

Preparing myself for what moment?

For what departure from among the ashes?

If I am here, entire, if I am cutting meat

In this tavern by the wobbly splendor of the sea.

Table  II

In a tavern by the wobbly splendor of the sea，

I move as in an aquarium, aware of disappearing,

For we are all so mortal that we hardly live.

I am pleased by this union, even if funereal,

Of sights, gestures, touches, now and in ages past.

I believed my entreaties would bring time to a standstill.

I learned compliance, as others did before me.

And I only examine what endures here:

The knives with horn handles, the tin basins,

Blue porcelain, strong though brittle,

And, like a rock embattled in the flow

And polished to a gloss, this table of heavy wood.

Berkeley, 1983