There was a sound of revelry by night，
And Belgium's capital had gathered then
Her Beauty and her Chivalry，and bright
The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men.
A thousand hearts beat happily；and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell，
Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again，
And all went merry as a marriage bell；
But hush！hark！—a deep sound strikes like a rising knell！
Did ye not hear it？—No；'t was but the wind，
Or the car rattling o'er the stony street；
On with the dance！let joy be unconfined；
No sleep till morn，when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet—
But，hark！—that heavy sound breaks in once mere，
As if the clouds its echo would repeat，
And nearer，clearer，deadlier than before！
Arm！arm ！it is—it is the cannon's opening roar！
Ah！then and there was hurrying to and fro，
And gathering tears，and tremblings of distress，
And cheeks all pale，which，but an hour ago
Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness；
And there were sudden partings，such as press
The life from out young hearts，and choking sighs
Which ne'er might be repeated: who could guess
If ever more should meet those mutual eyes，
Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise.
And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed，
The mustering squadron，and the clattering car
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed，
And swiftly forming in the ranks of war；
And the deep thunder，peal on peal afar；
And near，the beat of the alarming drum
Roused up the soldier ere the morning star；
While thronged the citizens with terror dumb，
Or whispering with white lips—“The foe！They come！They come！”
And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves，
Dewy with nature's tear-drops，as they pass，
Grieving，if aught inanimate e'er grieves，
Over the unreturning brave！—alas！
Ere evening to be trodden like the grass，
Which，now，beneath them，but above，shall grow，
In its next verdure，when this fiery mass
Of living valor，rolling on the foe，
And burning with high hope，shall molder，cold and low
Last noon beheld them full of lusty life，
Last eve in beauty's circle proudly gay，
The midnight brought the signal sound of strife，
The morn，the marshaling in arms，—the day，
Battle's magnificently stern array！
The thunderclouds close o'er it，which when rent，
The earth is covered thick with other clay，
Which her own clay shall cover，heaped and pent，
Rider and horse，—friend，foe，—in one red burial blent.
译文 TRANSLATION
夜色中荡漾着欢宴的笑语喧哗，
布鲁塞尔荟萃了她所有的美和风雅。
华灯照耀着娇美的女子、孔武的男儿。
一千颗心欢快地跳动，醉人的乐声淙淙流淌。
爱与温柔对视着，情话绵绵。
一切是那般惬意，像婚礼的钟声飘荡。
但是，嘘！听！——钟声里似传出丧礼的呜咽！
你可曾听到？——没，什么也没听到。
许是一阵风，或是马车碾过街上的路石。
再舞一曲吧！别给快乐设限！
当青春和快意追逐着享乐的时辰，且把睡意留在明朝。
但是，听！——那沉重的声音又一次响起，
仿佛云端都有它的回音，越来越近，
越来越清晰，一次比一次肃杀。
刀枪！快拿起刀枪！那是加农炮的呼啸。
哦，彼时彼地，推来搡去。
纷落的泪珠，惶恐的战栗，
惨白的脸，就在一小时前，
它还因对它的阿谀而满是娇羞。
突然的离别，似乎榨干了年轻心中盎然的活力。
那哽咽的叹息今生不会再有：谁能预料
彼此能否再次注目凝眸，既然
夜晚那般甜蜜，清晨也可这样糟！
慌乱在升级：萧萧马鸣，
骑队在集结，车声辚辚奔向疆场，
转瞬形成了战斗的序列，迅速向战地进发。
远处，火炮隆隆的雷鸣；近旁，预警的鼓声，
在晨星前唤醒了士兵。而带着无言的恐惧，
市民们三五成群，惨白的嘴唇咕哝着：
“敌人！他们来了！他们来了！”
当兵士走过巍峨的高地，
绿树轻轻挥动被露珠那自然的泪滴
打湿的叶片。如果无灵的一切也会心碎，
那么，一切就在为一去不返的勇士神伤——
啊，当晚他们像青草一样被践踏，
但绿色仆倒的地方，春来，又是一片葱茏。
奋勇杀敌的健儿却已化作冰冷的泥土、却已堕入忘川。
正午，他们还精力弥满，
黄昏，他们还追欢逐乐。
午夜，他们听到一阵纷乱，
清晨，他们就编入行伍——
严整的队列多么威武！
那一天，当密布的雨云裂成碎片，
大地又覆上T一层新土，
骑手与骏马，友与敌，掺在了一起
汇成一个血色葬礼 。
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