四个四重奏:第26期 干燥的萨尔维吉斯(7)
I sometimes wonder if that is what Krishna meant —
我有时怀疑克里希纳说的是否就是这个意思——
Among other things — or one way of putting the same thing:
在别种涵义之外——或者同一件事的另一种说法：
That the future is a faded song, a Royal Rose or a lavender spray
未来是一支消寂的歌，一朵殷红的玫瑰，或者是
Of wistful regret for those who are not yet here to regret,
一株为那些还没有到这里来表示悔恨的人们
Pressed between yellow leaves of a book that has never been opened.
留下的永志悔恨的薰衣草，压在一本从未翻开却已发黄的书页之间。
And the way up is the way down, the way forward is the way back.
而向上的路就是向下的路，向前的路就是回头的路。
You cannot face it steadily, but this thing is sure,
你不能面对它而神色自若，但在件事却是确切无疑的，
That time is no healer: the patient is no longer here.
时间不是治病的医生，病人已一去不复返。
When the train starts, and the passengers are settled
当列车启动的时候，旅客们安顿下来
To fruit, periodicals and business letters
开始品尝水果、翻阅书刊和公务函件
(And those who saw them off have left the platform)
（前来给他们送行的人们也离开了月台），
Their faces relax from grief into relief,
随着漫长时刻催人欲睡的节奏
To the sleepy rhythm of a hundred hours.
他们的脸色从悲痛舒展为轻松。
Fare forward, travellers! not escaping from the past
旅人们，向前行进吧！在不是从过去
Into different lives, or into any future;
逃往不同的生活，也不是逃往任何未来；
You are not the same people who left that station
你们不是刚才离开那个车站的人群
Or who will arrive at any terminus,
也不是行将到达终点的人们，
While the narrowing rails slide together behind you;
当渐行渐窄的铁轨在你们后面并成一线；
And on the deck of the drumming liner
当你们的机声隆隆的轮船甲板上
Watching the furrow that widens behind you,
谛视着船首劈开的波浪在你们后面扩展开去，
You shall not think ‘the past is finished’
你们不会想到“往者已矣”
Or ‘the future is before us’.
或者“来者可追”。