摩恩山

临晨三点多起来给台湾的供货商回信，既然她敢在周末晚上给我写信，我就敢马上回。不动声色给点压力，不让球落在自己的半场。上周末好像也有同样情况，我当场挂了个电话过去。这次这个的区号不是 02 台北，而是 03 开头，查了一下大约是：桃源、新竹、花莲或宜兰。多好的名字，都和植物相关。

韩寒刚写了篇《我在上海，活的很好》，说的是这个城市，这里的生活。

想起歌手唐·麦卡连。此人最出名的作品是首晦涩难懂的长恨歌《美国饼》和缅怀疯子梵高仰望星空的《文森特》，而此刻我想到的是这首《摩恩山》。



歌词是个爱尔兰诗人写于 1896 年，麦卡连只是翻唱了其中的几段。左右也睡不着，天也差不多亮了，翻译一遍练习语感。

The Mountains of Mourne
by Percy French (1896)

Oh, Mary, this London's a wonderful sight,
哦，玛丽，伦敦好风光
With people all working by day and by night.
人们没日没夜地繁忙
Sure they don't sow potatoes, nor barley, nor wheat,
他们当然不种土豆、大麦或小麦
But there's gangs of them digging for gold in the street.
但是他们成群结队在街上挖金子
At least when I asked them that's what I was told,
至少我问他们时他们是这么告诉我的
So I just took a hand at this digging for gold,
所以我仔细观察这挖金的活计
But for all that I found there I might as well be
可我所见到并无神奇
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
正如摩恩山归入大海


I believe that when writing a wish you expressed
写点你想知道的
As to know how the fine ladies in London were dressed,
关于伦敦的淑女如何装扮
Well if you'll believe me, when asked to a ball,
如果你相信，我被邀请去舞会
They don't wear no top to their dresses at all,
发现她们胸部以上根本啥也没穿
Oh I've seen them meself and you could not in truth,
我亲眼所见你未必相信
Say that if they were bound for a ball or a bath.
会问我到底她们是去舞会还是去洗澡
Don't be starting such fashions, now, Mary mo chroi,
不要错愕于当今时尚，玛丽莫乔里
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
就像摩恩山归入大海


I've seen England's king from the top of a bus
我在公交车顶看到英王
And I've never known him, but he means to know us.
我从不认识他，但他却像认识我们
And tho' by the Saxon we once were oppressed,
还有那些曾经压迫我们的萨克逊人
Still I cheered, God forgive me, I cheered with the rest.
我还是欢呼了，上帝原谅我，我和其他人一起欢呼了
And now that he's visited Erin's green shore
现在他正在访问厄林绿岸
We'll be much better friends than we've been heretofore
我们将成为迄今为止最好的朋友
When we've got all we want, we're as quiet as can be
当我们得到所有想要的，我们会保持安静
Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
如同摩恩山归入大海


You remember young Peter O'Loughlin, of course,
你还记得年轻的彼得奥劳林么？
Well, now he is here at the head of the force.
是的，他现在是这里的部队首长
I met him today, I was crossing the Strand,
我今天在街上遇到他
And he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand.
他一挥手整条街都停止了
And there we stood talkin' of days that are gone,
我们就站在那里聊了起来
While the whole population of London looked on.
仿佛整个伦敦的人都看着我们
But for all these great powers he's wishful like me,
但是所有这些他和我都渴望的权势
To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.
正如摩恩山归入大海


There's beautiful girls here, oh never you mind,
这里有美丽的姑娘们，哦，请你别介意
With beautiful shapes nature never designed,
她们有天造地设不及的体态容貌
And lovely complexions all roses and cream,
和玫瑰奶油混合的可爱肤色
But let me remark with regard to the same:
但是让我郑重提醒：
That if of those roses you venture to sip,
如果你敢尝一口那些玫瑰
The colours might all come away on your lip,
所有的色彩都将从你唇间逝去
So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me
所以我将等待那株等待着我的野玫瑰
In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea..
在那摩恩山归入大海的地方...