四个四重奏:第40期 小吉丁(10)
The dove descending breaks the air with flame of incandescent terror
鸽子喷吐着炽烈的恐怖的火焰划破夜空,掠飞而下
Of which the tongues declare the one discharge from sin and error.
烈焰的火舌昭吿世间它免除了死者的过错和罪愆。
The only hope, or else despair
那仅有的希望,要不就是失望
Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre —
在于你对焚尸柴堆的选择或者就在于柴堆——
To be redeemed from fire by fire.
通过烈火从烈火中得到涤罪。
Who then devised the torment? Love.
是谁想出这种折磨的呢?是爱。
Love is the unfamiliar Name behind the hands that wove, the intolerable shirt of flame which human power cannot remove.
爱是不熟悉的名字它在编织火焰之衫的那双手后面,火焰使人无法忍耐,那衣衫绝非人力所能解开。
We only live, only suspire
我们只是活着,只是悲叹
Consumed by either fire or fire.
不是让这种火就是让那种火把我们的生命耗完。