試譯：〈沒有路〉菲利普·拉金【No Road－Philip Larkin】 淺白

沒有路　　菲利普·拉金（試譯：淺白）
 
衹因當初同意了，且讓彼此間的那條路
日漸荒置；
並用磚頭堵起門柵，植樹以屏隔我們，
再由得時間恣意侵蝕：
寂默、空間，還有外人——我們的遺忽
究竟並未帶來多少效果。
 
落葉無人清掃，興許；雜草
沒被刈除；其餘無甚變化。
它仍發露得如此清楚，蔓生得那樣鮮少，
若今夜再走回那邊的路，當不會顯得有何異樣，
且仍會是被容許的。而再久一點，
時間的作力或就更為摽顯了，
 
草擬一個世界，那裏將不會再有這樣的
道路，由你而通向我；
就這樣睜眼看着該世界升起，如一冷酷的太陽：
報答他者，是我的自由。
不去特意預防它，是我意志的體現。
而許肯它，則無乃吾之痼疾耳。
 
14/1/2024初稿
 

No Road
By Philip Larkin (from his 1955 collection The Less Deceived)
 
Since we agreed to let the road between us
Fall to disuse,
And bricked our gates up, planted trees to screen us,
And turned all time’s eroding agents loose, 

Silence, and space, and strangers – our neglect
Has not had much effect.
 
Leaves drift unswept, perhaps; grass creeps unmown;
No other change.
So clear it stands, so little overgrown,
Walking that way tonight would not seem strange,
And still would be allowed. A little longer,
And time will be the stronger,
 
Drafting a world where no such road will run
From you to me;
To watch that world come up like a cold sun,
Rewarding others, is my liberty.
Not to prevent it is my will’s fulfilment.
Willing it, my ailment.
 

圖片源自網絡。