勇敢的老橡树

Henry Fothergill Chorley，1808—1872.He is known chiefly as a musical critic and author；for thirty-eight years he was connected with the “London Athenaeum.”His books are mostly novels.

A song to the oak，the brave old oak，

Who hath ruled in the greenwood long；

Here's health and renown to his broad green crown，

And his fifty arms so strong.

There's fear in his frown，when the sun goes down，

And the fire in the west fades out；

And he showeth his might on a wild midnight，

When the storms through his branches shout.

In the days of old，when the spring with cold

Had brightened his branches gray，

Through the grass at his feet，crept maidens sweet，

To gather the dews of May.

And on that day，to the rebec gay

They frolicked with lovesome swains；

They are gone，they are dead，in the churchyard laid，

But the tree——it still remains.

He saw rare times when the Christmas chimes

Were a merry sound to hear，

When the Squire's wide hall and the cottage small

Were filled with good English cheer.

Now gold hath the sway we all obey，

And a ruthless king is he；

But he never shall send our ancient friend

To be tossed on the stormy sea.

Then here's to the oak，the brave old oak，

Who stands in his pride alone；

And still flourish he，a hale green tree，

When a hundred years are gone.

译文　TRANSLATION

亨利·F·乔利（1808—1872），著名的作家、音乐评论家。乔利曾在《伦敦雅典娜神殿》供职38年，其作品多为小说。

橡树、勇敢的老橡树，

我要他为献上一首歌。

这绿色森林的老国王，

他绿色的王冠多么华美，

他的臂膀多么强壮，

那是康健与声威的象征。

夕阳西下，西天的火萎了，

他的眉宇间锁着重重思虑。

而在狂野的午夜，当风暴在他的枝干间怒吼，

他又是多么孔武有力！

遥想那美好的往昔，料峭的春风

鲜活了他灰色的枝条，

在他足下的草丛间，甜美的少女蹑手蹑脚

收集着五月节的甘露。

那一天，和着欢乐的三弦琴，

她们和情意绵绵的情郎嬉闹、调笑。

而今当日的少男少女都已长眠在墓园，

勇敢的老橡树依旧挺拔如初。

他见证多少美妙的时刻，

当圣诞的钟声飘来欢乐的乐音，

在乡绅宽敞的宅邸，在农户狭小的茅屋

回荡着美好的祝福。

今天黄金成为我们屈从的暴君，

他是多么冷酷无情；

但他不会派遣我们老友

去那浊浪滔天的海上颠簸。

这就是那橡树，那勇敢的老橡树。

一百个春秋寒暑在他身畔流过，

他却独自傲立，依然那么矍铄、

那么葳蕤、那么郁郁葱葱。