作品原文
闻一多 《红烛》
“蜡炬成灰泪始干”
——李商隐
红烛啊!
这样红的烛!
诗人啊
吐出你的心来比比,
可是一般颜色?
红烛啊!
是谁制的蜡——给你躯体?
是谁点的火——点着灵魂?
为何更须烧蜡成灰,
然后才放光出?
一误再误;
矛盾!冲突!
红烛啊!
不误,不误!
原是要“烧”出你的光来——
这正是自然的方法。
红烛啊!
既制了,便烧着!
烧罢!烧罢!
烧破世人的梦,
烧沸世人的血——
也救出他们的灵魂,
也捣破他们的监狱!
红烛啊!
你心火发光之期,
正是泪流开始之日。
红烛啊!
匠人造了你,
原是为烧的。
既已烧着,
又何苦伤心流泪?
哦!我知道了!
是残风来侵你的光芒,
你烧得不稳时,
才着急得流泪!
红烛啊!
流罢!你怎能不流呢?
请将你的脂膏,
不息地流向人间,
培出慰藉的花儿,
结成快乐的果子!
红烛啊!
你流一滴泪,灰一分心。
灰心流泪你的果,
创造光明你的因。
红烛啊!
“莫问收获,但问耕耘。”
英文译文
Red Candle
Wen Yiduo
In tears of wax the candle melts
—Li Shangyin (813-858)
Red candle!
So red a candle!
Ah, poet,
Pour out your heart
And let us see which is brighter.
Red candle,
Who made your wax—gave you form?
Who lit the fire—kindled the soul?
Why must your wax burn away
Before you can give light?
Here is some mistake;
Some contradiction, strife!
Red candle,
There is no mistake;
Your light must come from “burning,”
This is Nature’s way.
Red candle,
Being made, burn!
Burn on and on
Till men’s dreams are destroyed by your flame,
Till men’s blood seethes in your flame;
And save their souls,
Break down their prison walls!
Red candle,
The day that your heart’s fire gives light
Your tears start flowing.
Red candle,
The craftsman who made you
Made you for burning.
Now that you are burning,
Why shed bitter tears?
Ah, I can guess,
The cruel wind has meddled with your light,
When your flame wavers
You shed tears of anguish.
Red candle,
Weep! Weep on!
Let your wealth of wax
Flow, unstinted, out to men,
To grow flowers of comfort,
To bear fruit of joy.
Red candle,
With each tear shed you lose heart,
Disheartenment and tears are your fruit,
The creation of life you cause.
Red candle,
Never mind the harvest—till the soil!