我們是七個

（相片來源： jade, www.morgueFile.com）

作者： 威廉．華茲華斯（William Wordsworth）
譯者： 陳杪


親愛的吉姆兄：一個單純孩子，
輕盈地吸進空氣，
四肢都透出生命力，
他怎麼會知道死亡的意思？


我碰見一個鄉村小女孩，
她說她今年八歲；
濃密的髮絲一卷卷在
她的小腦袋上叢聚。


她帶著山林野地的氣息，
衣著也土裡土氣；
她的眼睛美麗，是非常美麗，
－－ 她的美使我歡喜。


「小姑娘，姊妹弟兄，
你有多少個？」
「幾個？一共七個。」她說，
納悶地望著我。


「他們在哪兒？請講我知。」
她答：「我們是七個，
其中兩個在康威住，
兩個出海了。


「其中兩個在教堂墓園躺著，
是我的妹妹和兄長，
我跟媽媽就在墓園的小屋住，
離他們不遠。」


「你說兩個在康威住，
而兩個出海了，
你還是說七個；請講我知，
好姑娘，何以這樣呢？」


然後小姑娘就回答：
「我們是七個男女孩子，
其中兩個在墓園躺著，
在墓園樹底。」


「你跑來跑去，我的小姑娘，
你的手腳都靈光；
既然有兩個在墓園躺，
你們就只是五個。」


小姑娘回答：「我看
得到他們的墳頭青青。
十二步左右就到媽媽門口，
而且他們緊靠著彼此。


「我的長襪我常到那兒織，
我的手帕就在那兒縫邊；
我到那兒的地上坐著 －－
坐著唱歌給他們聽。


「先生，到太陽下山，
要是天氣好，黑得晚，
我常帶上我的小湯碗，
在那兒吃我的晚餐。


「先走的一個是小珍，
在床上她躺著哭叫，
直到上主把她的痛苦解除，
然後她便走掉。


「所以她就在墓園裏躺下，
當夏日草兒乾爽，
我們繞著她的墳一同遊戲，
約翰哥哥和我。


「當地上白茫茫給雪蓋了，
我可以溜滑坡面，
約翰哥哥卻非走不可，
他就躺在她的旁邊。」


我就說：「既然他倆進了天國，
你們是幾個了，那麼？」
小姑娘馬上回說：
「噢！先生，我們是七個。」


「但他們已經死了！他倆已經死了！
他們的靈魂在天國！」
這番話顯然是白說，
因小姑娘意志堅定，照說：
「不！我們是七個！」

---

原文：


"We Are Seven"

-- by William Wordsworth

(Published in Lyrical Ballads, 1798)

A simple child, dear brother Jim,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?

I met a little cottage girl,
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That cluster'd round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad;
Her eyes were fair, and very fair,
— Her beauty made me glad.

"Sisters and brothers, little maid,
"How many may you be?"
"How many? seven in all," she said,
And wondering looked at me.

"And where are they, I pray you tell?"
She answered, "Seven are we,
"And two of us at Conway dwell,
"And two are gone to sea.

"Two of us in the church-yard lie,
"My sister and my brother,
"And in the church-yard cottage, I
"Dwell near them with my mother."

"You say that two at Conway dwell,
"And two are gone to sea,
"Yet you are seven; I pray you tell
"Sweet Maid, how this may be?"

Then did the little Maid reply,
"Seven boys and girls are we;
"Two of us in the church-yard lie,
"Beneath the church-yard tree."

"You run about, my little maid,
"Your limbs they are alive;
"If two are in the church-yard laid,
"Then ye are only five."

"Their graves are green, they may be seen,"
The little Maid replied,
"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door,
"And they are side by side.

"My stockings there I often knit,
"My 'kerchief there I hem;
"And there upon the ground I sit—
"I sit and sing to them.

"And often after sunset, Sir,
"When it is light and fair,
"I take my little porringer,
"And eat my supper there.

"The first that died was little Jane;
"In bed she moaning lay,
"Till God released her of her pain,
"And then she went away.

"So in the church-yard she was laid,
"And all the summer dry,
"Together round her grave we played,
"My brother John and I.

"And when the ground was white with snow,
"And I could run and slide,
"My brother John was forced to go,
"And he lies by her side."

"How many are you then," said I,
"If they two are in Heaven?"
The little Maiden did reply,
"O Master! we are seven."

"But they are dead; those two are dead!
"Their spirits are in heaven!"
'Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, "Nay, we are seven!"