我们是七个
我碰见一个乡村小姑娘: 她说才八岁开外;
浓密的发丝一卷卷从四方包裹着她的小脑袋。
她带了山林野地的风味，衣着也带了土气:
她的眼睛很美，非常美; 她的美叫我欢喜。
“小姑娘，你们一共是几个，你们姊妹弟兄,”
“几个,一共是七个，”她说，看着我象有点不懂。
“他们在哪儿,请给我讲讲。” “我们是七个，”她回答，“两个老远的跑去了海上，两个在康威住家。
“还有我的小姐姐、小弟弟，两个都躺在坟园，
我就位在坟园的小屋里，跟母亲，离他们不远。”
“你既说两个跑去了海上，两个在康威住家，
可还说是七个～——请给我讲讲，好姑娘，这怎么说法。”
“我们一共是七个女和男，” 小姑娘马上就回答，
里头有两个躺在坟园
在那棵坟树底下。”
“你跑来跑去，我的小姑娘，你的手脚都灵活;
既然有两个埋进了坟坑，你们就只剩了五个。”
小姑娘回答说，“他们的坟头看得见一片青青，
十二步就到母亲的门口，他们俩靠得更近。
“我常到那儿去织我的毛袜，给我的手绢缝边;
我常到那儿的地上去坐下，唱歌给他们消遣。
“到太阳落山了，刚近黄昏，要是天气好，黑得晚，我常把小汤碗带上一份，上那儿吃我的晚饭。
“先走的一个是金妮姐姐，她躺在床上哭叫，
老天爷把她的痛苦解了结，她就悄悄的走掉。
“所以她就在坟园里安顿; 我们要出去游戏，
草不湿，就绕着她的坟墩——我和约翰小弟弟。
“地上盖满了白雪的时候，我可以滑溜坡面，
约翰小弟弟可又得一走，他就躺到了她旁边。”
我就说，“既然他们俩升了天，
你们剩几个了，那么,” 小姑娘马上又回答一遍: “先生，我们是七个。”
1798
卞之琳译
We are Seven
-------- A SIMPLE Child, 一个单纯的小孩子，
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb(四肢),
What should it know of death?
I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered(聚集) round her head.
She had a rustic质朴的, woodland林地的air,
And she was wildly(土气)clad(穿……的衣服):
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Her eyes were fair(清澈的),and very fair
--Her beauty made me glad.
"Sisters and brothers,little Maid,
How many may you be?"
"How many? Seven in all," she said
And wondering(惊讶地)looked at me.
"And where are they? I pray you tell."
She answered, "Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell(居住),
And two are gone to sea.
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"Two of us in the church-yard (教堂墓地)lie, My sister and my brother;
And, in the church-yard cottage,
Dwell near them with my mother."
"You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven!--I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be."
Then did the little Maid reply,
"Seven boys and girls are we;
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Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree."
"You run about(跑来跑去), my little Maid, Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five."
"Their graves are green, they may be seen," The little Maid replied,
"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door, And they are side by side.
40
"My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief(方头巾)there I hem(缝边);
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.
"And often after sunset, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer(小汤碗),
And eat my supper there.
"The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
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Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.
"So in the church-yard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.
"And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side."
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"How many are you, then," said I,
"If they two are in heaven?"
Quick was the little Maid's reply,
"O Master! we are seven."
"But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!"
'Twas (it was)throwing words away(白费口舌);for still The little Maid would have her will,
And said, "Nay, we are seven!"
1798.