Four Quartets: Burnt Norton
四个四重奏:焚毁的诺顿
Time present and time past
现在的时间和过去的时间
Are both perhaps present in time future,
也许都存在于未来的时间,
And time future contained in time past.
而未来的时间又包容于过去的时间。
If all time is eternally present
假若全部时间永远存在
All time is unredeemable.
全部时间就再也都无法挽回。
What might have been is an abstraction
过去可能存在的是一种抽象
Remaining a perpetual possibility
只是在一个猜测的世界中,
Only in a world of speculation.
保持着一种恒久的可能性。
What might have been and what has been
过去可能存在和已经存在的
Point to one end, which is always present.
都指向一个始终存在的终点。
Footfalls echo in the memory
足音在记忆中回响
Down the passage which we did not take
沿着那条我们从未走过的甬道
Towards the door we never opened
飘向那重我们从未打开的门
Into the rose-garden. My words echo
进入玫瑰园。我的话就和这样
Thus, in your mind.
在你的心中回响。
But to what purpose disturbing the dust on a bowl of rose-leaves? I do not know.
但是为了什么 更在一缸玫瑰花瓣上搅起尘埃?我却不知道。
Other echoes inhabit the garden. Shall we follow?
还有一些回声栖身在花园里。我们要不要去追蹑?
Quick, said the bird, find them, find them,
快,鸟儿说,快去寻找它们,去寻找它们
Round the corner. Through the first gate,
在花园角落里。穿过第一道门,
Into our first world, shall we follow the deception of the thrush? Into our first world.
走进我们的第一个世界,我们要不要听从画眉的欺骗?进入我们的第一个世界。