The divine comedy — Page 2

一只豹子，身手敏捷，轻盈灵动，

a panther, nimble, light,

身披斑斓花纹的皮毛，突然出现在我面前，

And cover'd with a speckled skin, appear'd,

它见到我却没有逃走，反而竭力阻挡我前行；

Nor, when it saw me, vanish'd, rather strove To check my onward going;

以至于我多次不得不回头，打算原路返回。

that ofttimes With purpose to retrace my steps I turn'd.

那时正是清晨初光乍现之际，太阳正沿着它的轨迹高升，

The hour was morning's prime, and on his way Aloft the sun ascended with those stars,

伴随着那些与它同升的星辰——正是在这样的星辰下，神圣的爱最初推动了那些美好的造化：

That with him rose, when Love divine first mov'd Those its fair works:

因此万物都在激励着我心怀喜悦与希望——那只迅捷动物的斑斓皮毛，

so that with joyous hope All things conspir'd to fill me, the gay skin Of that swift animal,

晨曦的朝光，以及这甜美的季节。然而那份喜悦很快便被驱散，

the matin dawn And the sweet season. Soon that joy was chas'd,

随之而来的是新的恐惧——一头狮子出现在我眼前，向我逼近，

And by new dread succeeded, when in view A lion came, 'gainst me, as it appear'd,

高昂着头颅，饥怒交加，连空气都似乎为之战栗。

With his head held aloft and hunger-mad, That e'en the air was fear-struck.

紧随其后的是一头母狼，她的消瘦之躯仿佛充满了无尽的贪欲，

A she-wolf Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem'd Full of all wants,

曾令许多土地在此之前陷入绝望与凄凉。

and many a land hath made Disconsolate ere now.

她以如此巨大的恐惧将我压倒，我见到她时惊骇万分，

She with such fear O'erwhelmed me, at the sight of her appall'd,

以至于我对攀登高处的所有希望都彻底消失了。

That of the height all hope I lost.

就像一个人，因收获而欣喜若狂，却眼睁睁看着一切在不知不觉中失去，

As one, Who with his gain elated, sees the time When all unwares is gone,

他在内心深处为之悲痛，被揪心的苦楚所折磨；我也正是如此，

he inwardly Mourns with heart-griping anguish; such was I,

被那凶残的野兽所纠缠，永无宁日，

Haunted by that fell beast, never at peace,

它步步向我逼来，渐渐将我推向那太阳沉默栖息之处。

Who coming o'er against me, by degrees Impell'd me where the sun in silence rests.

当我倒退着步伐跌落到低处之时，我的目光辨认出一个身影，

While to the lower space with backward step I fell, my ken discern'd the form of one,

他的声音因长久不言而显得微弱而模糊。

Whose voice seem'd faint through long disuse of speech.