艾米莉·勃朗特(Emily Bronte),英国著名女作家,《呼啸山庄》是她的代表作。她曾与姐妹合出过一本诗集,直到20世纪她才被公认为英国三大女诗人之一。艾米莉生性内向而孤傲,深居简出,喜欢一个人在荒原上散步。长相平平的她一辈子都没有谈过恋爱。与她的姊妹一样,艾米莉的身体因为当地的气候而显得衰弱。在1848年9月她的兄弟的丧礼期间,艾米莉感染了风寒,并且拒绝服用药物。1848年12月19日,艾米莉因结核病去世。
Hope — Emily Bronte
希望——艾米莉·勃朗特
Hope was but a timid friend;
希望只是个羞怯的友伴,
She sat without the grated den,
她坐在我的囚牢之外,
Watching how my fate would tend,
以自私者的冷眼旁观
Even as selfish-hearted men.
观察我的命运的好歹。
She was cruel in her fear;
她因胆怯而如此冷酷。
Through the bars one weary day,
郁闷的一天,我透过铁栏,
I looked out to see her there,
想看到我的希望的面目,
And she turned her face away!
却见她立即背转了脸!
Like a false guard, false watch keeping,
像一个假看守在假意监视,
Still in strife, she whispered peace;
一面敌对一面又暗示和平;
She would sing while I was weeping,
当我哀泣时她吟唱歌词,
If I listened, she would cease.
当我静听她却噤口无声。
False she was, and unrelenting;
她心如铁石而且虚假。
When my last joys strewed the ground,
当我最后的欢乐落英遍地,
Even Sorrow saw, repenting,
见此悲惨的遗物四处抛撒
Those sad relics scattered round;
就连“哀愁”也遗憾不已;
Hope, whose whisper would have given
而希望,她本来能悄悄耳语
Balm to all my frenzied pain,
为痛苦欲狂者搽膏止痛,
Stretched her wings, and soared to heaven,
却伸展双翼向天堂飞去,
Went, and ne'er returned again!
一去不回,从此不见影踪。