狄更斯诗选 / 四六文摘

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查尔斯·狄更斯（Charles Dickens，1812--1870）是英国批判现实主义文学的奠基人与杰出代表,是继莎士比亚之后对世界文学产生巨大影响的小说家。代表作有《匹克威克外传》（1837）、《雾都孤儿》(又名《奥列弗·特维斯特》1838)、《老古玩店》（1841）、《马丁·朱述尔维特》（1844）、《大卫·科波菲尔》（1850）、《艰难时世》（1854）、《双城记》（1859）、《远大前程》（1861）等。

他一生共创作长篇小说13部半，其中多数是近百万言的大部头作品，中篇小说20余部，短篇小说数百篇，特写集一部，长篇游记两部，《儿童英国史》一部，以及大量演说词、书信、散文、杂诗。他多次去欧洲大陆游历、旅居，两次访问美国，中年以后先后创办《家常话》和《一年四季》期刊两种，发现和培养了一批文学新人。

他的作品主要以写实笔法揭露社会上层和资产阶级的虚伪、贪婪、卑琐、凶残，满怀激愤和深切的同情展示下层社会，特别是妇女、儿童和老人的悲惨处境，并以严肃、审慎的态度描写开始觉醒的劳苦大众的抗争。与此同时，他还以理想主义和浪漫主义的豪情讴歌人性中的真、善、美，憧憬更合理的社会和更美好的人生。

狄更斯以其小说创作篇幅宏大，气势磅礴，内容包罗万象，风格雅俗共赏、丰富多采，生前即已饮誉国内外，是英国19世纪小说繁荣时期最杰出的代表作家，影响遍及欧美以及世界各国。在英语文学世界里，堪称比肩莎士比亚的伟大作家。

下面诗塾推出其部分诗作和小短篇给大家欣赏。

………………………………

这是一个最好的时代

这是一个最好的时代，这是一个最坏的时代；

这是一个智慧的年代，这是一个愚蠢的年代；

这是一个信仰的时期，这是一个怀疑的时期；

这是一个光明的季节，这是一个黑暗的季节；

这是希望之春，这是失望之冬；

人们面前应有尽有，人们面前一无所有；

人们正踏上天堂之路，人们正走向地狱之门。

————《双城记》起首段落

It was the best of times

It was the best of times,it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of light,it was the season of darkness,
it was the spring of hope,it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us,we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to heaven,we were all going direct the other way.

………………………………

这些美好不会消逝

一切纯洁的、辉煌的、美丽的，

强烈地震撼着我们年轻的心灵，

推动着我们做无言的祷告，

让我们梦想着爱与真理；

在失去后感到珍惜的，

使灵魂深切地呼喊着，

为了更美好的梦想而奋斗着——

这些美好不会消逝。

羞怯地伸出援助的手，

在你的兄弟需要的时候，

伤痛、困难的时候，

一句亲切的话

就足以证明朋友的真心；

轻声地祈求怜悯，

在审判临近的时候，

懊悔的心有一种伤感，

这些美好不会消逝。

在人间传递温情，

尽你所能地去做；

别错失了唤醒爱的良机——

为人要坚定，正直，忠诚；

因此上方照耀着你的那道光芒

就不会消失。

你将听到天使的声音在说——

这些美好不会消逝。

These Things Shall Never Die

The pure, the bright, the beautiful,

That stirred our hearts in youth,

The impulses to wordless prayer,

The dreams of love and truth;

The longing after something’s lost,

The spirit’s yearning cry,

The striving after better hopes—

These things can never die.

The timid hand stretched forth to aid

A brother in his need,

A kindly word in grief’s dark hour

That proves a friend indeed ;

The plea for mercy softly breathed,

When justice threatens nigh,

The sorrow of a contrite heart—

These things shall never die.

Let nothing pass for every hand

Must find some work to do;

Lose not a chance to waken love—

Be firm, and just , and true;

So shall a light that cannot fade

Beam on thee from on high.

And angel voices say to thee—

These things shall never die.

………………………………

梦

梦,

是诗和神话的光辉杰作。

夜晚,它漫步人间,

当第一缕阳光出现的时候,

便悄然离去,

让太阳照亮这严峻的现实和人间的冷酷。

（薛菲译）

张俊山《古今中外散文诗鉴赏辞典》,
中州古籍出版社,1994年版,第1032页。

………………………………

一个孩子的星星梦

（狄更斯的小短篇）

“从前有一个小男孩，漫步山间田野，四处游荡闲逛，脑子里想着各种各样的事情。他有个姐姐，也是个小孩子，是他形影相随的亲密伙伴。他们常常终日神思遐想，对一切充满好奇。他们惊叹花的美丽，惊叹天空的高远和蔚蓝，惊叹明媚河水的幽深，惊叹上帝——这个可爱世界的缔造者——的仁慈和力量。

他们常常互相问询：‘如果有那么一天，假使世界上的孩子都死了，花和水还有天空，它们会感到难过吗？’他们坚信，它们会感到难过的。‘因为’他们认为，‘蓓蕾是花的孩子，山谷里奔腾的欢快的小溪是河水的孩子；通宵在天空中玩捉迷藏的那些最小的光点，想必是星星的孩子；当它们再也找不到自己的伙伴——人类的孩子，它们肯定都会伤心的。’

每天晚上，在教堂尖顶附近，墓地的上空，就会有一颗闪灵的星星先于其他星星，出现在夜空。在他们的眼里，它比其他所有的星星都更大更美。每天夜晚，他们都手拉手站在窗前守候着它。无论谁先看到那颗星星，都会大喊道：‘我看见星星啦！’而通常的情形是，他们会齐声喊将起来，因为他们太熟悉它升起的时间和地方了。渐渐的，他们和那颗星星成了及其要好的朋友；每天就寝之前，他们都要向窗外再张望一眼，向星星道晚安；当他们转身准备入睡时，就会念上一句：‘上帝保佑星星！’

可是，在那样幼小的年纪，哦，非常非常小的年纪，他们的姐姐就枯萎憔悴了。她变得太虚弱了，以及不再可能夜里站在窗前，于是哪个男孩忧伤地独自望着窗外。每当他看到了那颗星星，他会转过身来对着床上那张苍白的面孔说道：‘我看见星星啦！’这时，一丝微笑会浮现在她的脸上，一个微弱的声音答道：‘上帝保佑我的弟弟和星星！’

不久，不幸的时刻来临了，一切都来的那么突然！从此男孩独自一人望着窗外；从此床上不再有任何面庞；从此墓地中多了一个从前没有的小小的坟墓，每当他泪眼婆娑的望着那颗星星，星星无垠的光芒照耀在他的身上。

如今，这些光芒是那样地明亮，似乎铺就了一条从人间通往天堂的金光大道，当男孩孤独地睡在自己床上，他梦见了那颗星星，他梦见自己躺在窗上，看见一对人在天使的引领下走上了那条金光大道。那颗星星四敞大开着，一个光明神圣的世界展现在他的面前，许多这样的天使在那里迎候他们。

所有这些在此等候的天使，用它们愉快的目光注视着那些被带到星星上来的人们。有些天使从他们站着的长长队列中出来，落到人们的脖子上，温柔地亲吻着，然后和他们一起沿着星光大道离开，他们在一起无比开心，小男孩躺在床上，高兴得哭了。

但有许多天使并没有和他们一起离开，其中有一张小男孩非常熟悉的面孔，那张曾经病恹恹地躺在床上的面孔，如今已变得容光焕发，光彩照人，然而他的确能够在天国所有的主人中找出他的姐姐。

他的天使姐姐在星星的入口处徘徊不前，逗留不去，问那位把人们带到彼岸来的天使长:‘我的弟弟来了吗？’

天使长答道‘没有。’

她满怀希望的转身，准备离去，小男孩连忙伸出手臂喊道：‘噢，姐姐，我在这儿呢！带我走吧！’于是她转头朝小男孩看去，含笑的目光落在他的身上，然后，一切便陷入黑暗。星光在房间里闪耀，当他泪眼婆娑地望着那颗星星，星星无垠的光芒照耀在他身上。

从那次后，小男孩每次看到那颗星星，犹如看到自己大限来临时要回的家。他认为，自己不但属于尘世，也属于那颗星星，因为他的天使姐姐已经去了那里。

一个婴儿诞生了，小男孩添了一个弟弟。他是那么小，还从未说过一句话，在床上伸展着小胳膊小腿儿，死了。小男孩又一次梦到了敞开的星星、成群的天使和一长列的人，一队队的天使用充满喜悦的目光注视着人们的面庞。

他的天使姐姐向天使长问道：‘我的弟弟来了吗？’

天使长答道：‘来了，但不是那个弟弟，而是另一个。’

当小男孩看到天使的的在天使姐姐的怀抱里，便喊道：‘噢，姐姐，我在这儿呢！带我走吧！’

于是她回过身来微笑着注视他。那颗星星在闪耀。

他渐渐长大，成了一个年轻人。一天，他正忙着伏案读书，一位老仆人走了进来，对他说道：‘您的母亲去世了。我带来了她对自己心爱的儿子的祝福！‘

夜里他再一次梦到了星星，以及从前梦里的天使和人群。他的天使姐姐向天使长问道：

‘我的弟弟来了吗？’

天使长答道：‘没有，你的妈妈来了！’

一声喜悦的惊呼响彻了星星的各个角落，因为妈妈又和自己的两个孩子重新团聚了。小男孩伸出双臂喊道：‘哎，妈妈，姐姐，弟弟，我在这儿呢！带我走吧！’

他们答道：‘现在还不行。’那颗星星在闪耀。

渐渐地，他步入中年，点点灰白慢慢爬上他的发际。一天，他心情沉重地坐在炉边的安乐椅上，涟涟泪水濡湿了他哀伤的面庞，这时，星星再一次打开了它的大门。

他的天使姐姐向天使长问道：

‘我的弟弟来了吗？’

天使长答道：‘没有，但是他那没有出嫁的女儿来了。’

于是，这个曾经是小男孩的中年人看到了自己刚刚失去的女儿，一个天国中的生灵，在三位亲人中间。他说道：‘我女儿的头依偎在我姐姐的胸前，她的胳膊环在我妈妈的脖子上，她的脚旁是那位婴儿前辈。我能够忍受和她的别离，赞美上帝！’

那颗星星在闪耀。

就这样小男孩成了一位年迈的老人，他那曾经光滑的面庞如今布满了皱纹，步履迟缓而无力，背也驼了。一天晚上，他躺在床上，四周围站着他的孩子，他大喊了一声，就像他很久很久以前哪样大声喊道：

‘我看见星星了！’

孩子们互相低语道：

‘他快不行了。’

他说道：‘是的。我的寿数就要到了，就像一件滑落的外衣马上就要离我而去了，我就要作为一个孩子走向那颗星星。哦，我的主啊，现在我要感谢您，感谢那颗星星常常开放，收留了那些等待我的亲人！’

那颗星星在闪耀；直到今天，它仍然闪耀在他的坟墓上方。”

（温哲仙　译）

A Child’s Dream of A Star

Charles Dickens

There was once a child and he liked to go for a stroll, and thought of number of things. He had a sister, who was a child, too, and his constant companion. These two used to wonder all day long. They wondered at the beauty of the flowers; they wondered at the height and blueness of the sky; they wondered at the depth of the bright water; they wondered at who made the lovely world.

They used to say to one another sometimes, supposing all the children upon earth were to die, would the flowers, and the water, and the sky be sorry? They believed they would be sorry. For, said they, the buds are the children of the flowers, and the little playful streams that gambol down the hillsides are the children of the water; and the smallest bright specks playing at hide-and-seek in the sky all night, must surely be the children of the stars; and they would all be heart-broken to see their playmates, the children of men, no more.

There was one clear shining star that used to come out in the sky before the rest, near the church spire, above the graves. It was larger and more beautiful, they thought, than all others. And every night they watched for it, standing hand in hand at the window. Whoever saw it first, cried out, “I see the star!” And often they cried out both together, knowing so well when it would rise, and where. So they grew to be such friends with it, that before lying down in their beds, they always looked out once again, to bid it good night; and when they were turning around to sleep, they used to say, “God bless the star!”

But while she was very young, oh, very, very young, the sister drooped, and came to be so weak that she could no longer stand in the window at night; and then the child looked sadly out by himself, and when he saw the star, turned round and said to the patient, pale face on the bed, “I see the satr!” And then a smile would come upon the face, and a little weak voice used to say, “God bless my brother and the star!”

And so the time came, all too soon! When the child looked out alone, and when there was no face on the bed; and when there was a little grave among the graves; and when the star made long rays down toward him, as he saw it through his tears.

Now, these rays were so bright, and they seemed to make such a shining way from earth to heaven that when the child went to his lonely bed, he dreamed about the star; and dreamed that, he saw a train of people taken up that sparkling road by angels. And the star, opening, showed him a great world of light, where many more such angels waited to receive them.

All these angels who were waiting turned their beaming eyes upon the people who were carried up into the star; and some came out from the long rows in which they stood, and fell upon the people’s necks, and kissed them tenderly, and were so happy in their company, that lying in his bed he wept for joy.

But there were many angels who did not go with them, and among them one he knew. The patient face that once had lain upon the bed was radiant, but his heart fuond out his sister among these angels.

His sister’s angel lingered near the entrance of the star, and said to the leader among those who had brought the people:

“Does my brother come?”

And he said, “No.”

She was turning hopefully away, when the child stretched out his arms, and cried, “O sister, I am here! Take me!” And then she turned her beaming eyes upon him; and the star long rays down toward him as he saw it through his tears.

From that hour the child looked out upon the star as on the home he was to go to, when his time should come; and he thought that he did not belong to the earth alone, but to the star, too, because of his sister’s angel gone before.

There was a baby born to be a brother to the child; and while he was so little that he never yet had spoken word, he died.

Again the child dreamed of the opened star, and of the company of angels, and the train of people, and the angels with their beaming eyes all turned upon those people’s faces.

Said his sister’s angel to the leader:

“Does my brother come?”

And he said, “Not that one, but another.”

As the child beheld his brother’s angel in her arms, he cried: “O sister, I am here! Take me!” And she turned and smiled upon him, and the star was shining.

He grew to be a young man, and was busy at his books, when an old servant came to him and said:

“Your mother is no more.”

Again at night he saw the star, and all that former company. Said his sister’s angel to the leader: “Does my brother come?”

And he said, “Your mother!”

A cry of joy went forth through the star, because the mother was reunited to her two children. And he stretched out his arms and cried: “O mother, sister, and brother, I am here! Take me!” And the star was shining.

He grew to be a man whose hair was turning gray, and he was sitting in his chair by the fireside, heavy with grief, when the star opened once again.

Said his sister’s angel to the leader, “Does my brother come?”

And he said, “No, but his daughter.”

And the man who had been the child saw his daughter, newly lost to him, among those three, and the star was shining.

And the star was shining, slow and feeble, and his back was bent. And one night as he lay upon his bed, his chikdren standing round, he reied, as he had cried so long age:

“I see the star!”

They whispered one another, “He is dying.”

And he said: “I am. My age is falling from me like a garment, and I move toward the star as a child.”

And the star was shining; and it shines upon his grave.