Ⅹ
To N. V. de G. S.
From Underwoods
Robert Louis Stevenson
The unfathomable sea, and time, and tears,
The deeds of heroes and the crimes of kings
Dispart us; and the river of events
Has, for an age of years, to east and west
More widely borne our cradles. Thou to me
Art foreign, as when seamen at the dawn
Descry a land far off and know not which.
So I approach uncertain; so I cruise
Round thy mysterious islet, and behold
Surf and great mountains and loud river-bars,
And from the shore hear inland voices call.
Strange is the seaman's heart; he hopes, he fears;
Draws closer and sweeps wider from that coast;
Last, his rent sail refits, and to the deep
His shattered prow uncomforted puts back.
Yet as he goes he ponders at the helm
Of that bright island; where he feared to touch,
His spirit readventures; and for years,
Where by his wife he slumbers safe at home,
Thoughts of that land revisit him; he sees
The eternal mountains beckon, and awakes
Yearning for that far home that might have been.
深遠な海、そして時、悲しみ、
ヒ―ロウの偉業やキングの罪は
僕達を分かち、出来事という川は
長年の間、東や西へと
更にゆったりと僕達の揺り籠を押して来た。
僕にとって君は、巧まざる異質。
夜明けに船乗り達が遥か彼方に陸地を認めながらも
そうではないと気付く時のように。
だから僕は、不確実に近付く、だから僕は、貴方という謎めいた小鳥の周りを巡回する。
そして寄せる波を、大山脈ややかましい川の―砂州を見る。
すると岸から内陸の島の鳴き声が呼んでいるのが聞こえる。
未知は船乗りの恋人。彼は求め、被は躊躇う。
より近くに引き寄せ、あの海岸から広範に運び去る。
続行する、彼の貨し船は補給し、大海原へ
彼の粉々に砕けた舳先(へさき)が心地悪く押し戻す。
20:15 2016/02/07日曜日
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