1、Thomas Gray,Thomas Gray (26 December 1716 30 July 1771), was an English poet, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge University.,Sentimentalism 感伤主义,Sentimentalism is one of the important trends in English literature of the middle and later decades of the 18th century. 1. Along with a new visi
2、on of love, sentimentalism presented a new view of human nature which prized feeling over thinking, passion over reason, and personal instincts of “pity, tenderness, and benevolence“ over social duties. 2. Literary work of the sentimentalism, marked by a sincere sympathy for the poverty-stricken, ex
3、propriated peasants, wrote the “simple annals of the poor”.,The poem was first published in 1751. Gray may, however, have begun writing the poem in 1742, shortly after the death of his close friend Richard West. An elegy is a poem which laments the dead. Grays “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard“
4、 is noteworthy in that it mourns the death not of great or famous people, but of common men. The poem invokes the classical idea of memento mori, a Latin phrase which states plainly to all mankind, “Remember that you must die.“ In this poem, the graveyard acts as a memento mori, reminding the narrat
5、or to not place too much value on this life because someday he too will be dead and buried. The speaker of this poem sees a country churchyard at sunset, which impels him to meditate on the nature of human mortality死亡.,Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,Gray did not produce a great deal of poetry
6、; the “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,“ however, has earned him a respected and deserved place in literary history. The poem was written at the end of the Augustan Age and at the beginning of the Romantic period, and the poem has characteristics associated with both literary periods. On one h
7、and, it has the ordered, balanced phrasing and rational sentiments of Neoclassical poetry. On the other hand, it tends toward the emotionalism and individualism of the Romantic poets; most importantly, it idealizes and elevates the common man.Monument inscribed with the Elegy in Stoke Poges,The Styl
8、e,“Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard“ is written in heroic quatrain四行诗. A quatrain is a four-line stanza. Heroic quatrains rhyme in an abab pattern and are written in iambic pentameter. For instance, the first line of Grays “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard“: TheCur / few tolls / the knell
9、/ of part / ing day. Try reading the line aloud: its regular, steady rhythm helps to create a calm and quiet mood one appropriate to the meditative nature of this poem.,Tomb of Thomas Gray in Stoke Poges Churchyard,The 1st stanza,晚钟响起来一阵阵给白昼报丧， 牛群在草原上迂回，吼声起落， 耕地人累了，回家走，脚步踉跄， 把整个世界留给了黄昏与我。,In the fir
10、st stanza, the speaker observes the signs of a country day drawing to a close: a curfew bell ringing, a herd of cattle moving across the pasture, and a farm laborer returning home. The speaker is then left alone to contemplate the isolated rural scene. The first line of the poem sets a distinctly so
11、mber tone: the curfew bell does not simply ring; it “knells“a term usually applied to bells rung at a death or funeral. From the start, then, Gray reminds us of human mortality.,The 2nd stanza,苍茫的景色逐渐从眼前消退， 一片肃穆的寂静盖遍了尘寰， 只听见嗡嗡的甲虫转圈子纷飞， 昏沉的铃声催眠着远处的羊栏。The second stanza sustains the somber tone of the
12、first: the speaker is not mournful, but pensive沉思的, as he describes the peaceful landscape that surrounds him. Even the air is characterized as having a “solemn stillness.“,The 3rd stanza,只听见常春藤披裹的塔顶底下 一只阴郁的柢枭向月亮诉苦， 怪人家无端走进它秘密的住家， 搅扰它这个悠久而僻静的领土。 The sound of an owl hooting叫声 intrudes upon the evenin
13、g quiet. We are told that the owl “complains“ .,Stanza 4:Beneath those rugged粗糙的elms榆树, that yew-trees紫杉木 shade, Where heaves鼓起 the turf草皮 in many a mouldering覆盖的 heap, Each in his narrow cell单间 for ever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet小村落 sleep. （rude: unlearned.） 峥嵘的榆树底下，扁柏的荫里， 草皮鼓起了许多零落的荒
14、堆， 各自在洞窟里永远放下了身体， 小村里粗鄙的父老在那里安睡。,Stanza 5,The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, The cocks shrill clarion号角, or the echoing horn猎号, No more shall rouse them from their lowly地下 bed. 香气四溢的晨风轻松的呼召， 燕子从茅草棚子里吐出的呢喃， 公鸡的尖喇叭，使山鸣谷应的猎号 再不能唤醒他们在地下的长眠。,Stanz
15、a 6,For them no more the blazing hearth炉火 shall burn, Or busy housewife ply忙碌 her evening care: No children复数 run to lisp口齿不清 their sires父亲 return, Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.（几个孩子一块争宠） 在他们，熊熊的炉火不再会燃烧， 忙碌的管家妇不再会赶她的夜活； 孩子们不再会“牙牙”的报父亲来到， 为一个亲吻爬倒他膝上去争夺。,Stanza 7,Oft did the harvest to
16、their sickle镰刀 yield, Their furrow犁 oft the stubborn坚硬的 glebe旱田 has broke;（broke: old strong form of the past participle, broken. ） How jocund高兴 did they drive their team牲口afield下田! How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke猛力砍! 往常是：他们一开镰就所向披靡， 顽梗的泥板让他们犁出了垄沟； 他们多么欢欣地赶牲口下地！ 他们一猛砍，树木就一棵棵低头！,A Sum
17、mary of the 1st 7 stanzas,The speaker of the poem is surrounded by the idea of death, and throughout the first seven stanzas there are numerous images pointing out the contrast between death and life. The speaker considers the fact that in death, there is no difference between great and common peopl
18、e. He goes on to wonder if among the lowly people buried in the churchyard there had been any natural poets or politicians whose talent had simply never been discovered or nurtured怀才不遇. This thought leads him to praise the dead for the honest, simple lives that they lived.,Stanza 8:从下面开始，诗人阐述权势人物与平凡
19、人物的殊途同归。,Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, （metonymy转喻） Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; （homely: domestic.） Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile （metonymy转喻） The short and simple annals编年史 of the poor. （short and simple annals: parish registers of births, christenings, marriages,
20、 and deaths） “雄心”别嘲讽他们实用的操劳， 家常的欢乐，默默无闻的命运； “豪华”也不用带着轻蔑的冷笑 来听讲穷人的又短有简的生平。,Stanza 9:,The boast of heraldry纹章, the pomp夸耀 of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth eer gave, Awaits alike一样地 the inevitable hour死亡. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. 门第的炫耀，有权有势的煊赫， 凡是美和财富所能赋予的好处， 前头都等待着不可避免的时
21、刻： 光荣的道路无非是引导到坟墓。,Stanza 10,Nor you, ye你 proud, impute怪罪 to these the fault, （impute sth. To sb.） If Memory oer their tomb no trophies raise, （metonymy转喻）Trophies: memorials. Where through the long-drawn悠长的aisle走廊 and fretted vault （fretted: adorned with carved or embossed work. ) The pealing anthem
22、 swells the note of praise. 骄傲人，你也不要怪这些人不行， “怀念”没有给这些人建立纪念堂， 没有让悠长的廊道、雕花的拱顶 洋溢着洪亮的赞美歌，进行颂扬。,Stanza 11,Can storied urn瓮 or animated活生生的bust半身像 Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Can Honours voice provoke the silent dust, (provoke: in its original sense, to call forth, to challenge.） Or Fla
23、ttery soothe the dull cold ear of Death? 栩栩的半身像，铭刻了事略的瓮碑， 难道能恢复断气，促使还魂？ “荣誉”的声音能激发沉默的死灰？ “献媚”能叫死神听软了耳根？ （那些纪念碑等物件都不能让死者复生，有没有不重要。）,Stanza 12,Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid Some heart once pregnant with celestial天上的 fire; Hands, that the rod权杖 of empire might have swayed, Or waked拨响了 to ecsta
24、sy the living lyre七弦琴. 也许这一块地方，尽管荒芜， 就埋着曾经充满过灵焰的一颗心； 一双手，本可以执掌到帝国的王芴 或者出神入化地拨响了七弦琴。 （这些人是有才，但是却没有施展出来。）,Stanza 13,But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page Rich with the spoils积累 of time did neer unroll打开; Chill Penury贫寒 repressd their noble rage, (rage: as often in the poetry of the eighteenth cen
25、tury, poetic fire.) And froze the genial亲切的 current of the soul. 可是“知识”从不曾对他们展开 它世代积累而琳琅满目的书卷； “贫寒”压制了他们高贵的襟怀， 冻结了他们从灵府涌出的流泉。,Stanza 14:下面打比方。,Full many a gem宝石 of purest ray serene, The dark unfathomed深不可测的 caves of ocean bear埋在: Full many a flower is born to blush吐艳 unseen, And waste its sweetness
26、 on the desert荒凉的 air. 世界上多少晶莹皎洁的珠宝 埋在幽暗而深不可测的海底； 世界上多少花吐艳而无人知晓， 把芳香白白地散发给荒凉的空气。 （玉带林中挂，金钗雪里埋。）,Stanza 15,Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless不屈不挠的breast胸襟 The little tyrant of his fields withstood反抗; Some mute inglorious默默无闻的 Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless无罪的 of his countrys blo
27、od. （讽刺克伦威尔） 也许有乡村汉普顿在这里埋身， 反抗过当地的小霸王，胆大，坚决； 也许有缄口的米尔顿，从没有名声； 有一位克伦威尔，并不曾害国家流血。,Stanza 16,The applause of listning senates元老 to command, The threats of pain and ruin to despise, To scatter plenty oer a smiling land, （transferred epithet）And read their histry in a nations eyes, 要博得满场的元老雷动的鼓掌， 无视威胁，全不
28、顾存亡生死， 把富庶，丰饶遍播到四处八方， 打从全国的笑眼里读自己的历史,Stanza 17,Their lot forbade禁止: nor circumscribed拘禁 alone Their growing发挥 virtues, but their crimes confind; Forbade to wade through跋涉 slaughter to a throne, And shut the gates of mercy on mankind, 他们的命运可不许：既不许罪过 有所放纵，也不许发挥德行； 不许从杀戮中间涉登宝座 从此对人类关上仁慈的大门；,Stanza 18,T
29、he struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide, To quench the blushes of ingenuous shame, Or heap the shrine of Luxury and Pride With incense kindled at the Muses flame. 不许掩饰天良在内心的发作， 隐瞒天真的羞愧，恬不红脸； 不许用诗神的金焰点燃了香火 锦上添花去塞满“骄”“奢”的神龛。,Stanza 19,Far from the madding crowds ignoble strife, (madding: outrag
30、ed. ) Their sober wishes never learnd to stray; Along the cool sequesterd vale of life, They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. 远离了纷纭人世的勾心斗角， 他们有清醒愿望，从不学糊涂， 顺着生活的清凉僻静的山坳， 他们坚持了不声不响的正路。,Stanza 20,Yet evn these bones from insult to protect, Some frail memorial still erected nigh, With uncouth rhym
31、es and shapeless sculpture deckd, Implores the passing tribute of a sigh. 可是叫这些尸骨免受到糟踏， 还是有脆弱的碑牌树立在近边， 点缀了拙劣的韵语、凌乱的刻划， 请求过往人就便献一声婉叹。,Stanza 21,81 Their name, their years, spelt by th unletterd muse, 82 The place of fame and elegy supply: 83 And many a holy text around she strews, 84 That teach the r
32、ustic moralist to die. 无闻的野诗神注上了姓名、年份， 另外再加上地址和一篇悼词； 她在周围撒播了一些经文， 教训乡土道德家怎样去死。,Stanza 22-23,85 For who to dumb Forgetfulness a prey, 86 This pleasing anxious being eer resignd, 87 Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, 88 Nor cast one longing, lingring look behind? 要知道谁甘愿舍身哑口的“遗忘”， 坦然撇下了忧喜交织的此
33、生， 谁离开风和日暖的明媚现场 而能不依依地回头来顾盼一阵？ 89 On some fond breast the parting soul relies, 90 Some pious drops the closing eye requires; 91 Evn from the tomb the voice of Nature cries, 92 Evn in our ashes live their wonted fires. 辞世的灵魂还依傍钟情的怀抱， 临闭的眼睛需要尽哀的珠泪， 即使坟冢里也有“自然”的呼号 他们的旧火还点燃我们的新灰。 92 Grays note refers to
34、 Petrarchs sonnet 169: Ch i veggio nel pensier, dolce mio fuoco, Fredda una lingua, et due begli occhi chiusi Rimaner doppo noi pien di faville.,Stanza 24-25,93For thee, who mindful of th unhonourd Dead 94 Dost in these lines their artless tale relate; 95 If chance, by lonely contemplation led, 96 S
35、ome kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate, 至于你，我关心这些默默的陈死人， 用这些诗句讲他们质朴的故事， 假如在幽思的引导下，偶然有缘分， 一位同道来问起你的身世 97 Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, 98 “Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn 99 Brushing with hasty steps the dews away 100 To meet the sun upon the upland lawn. 也许会有白头的乡下人对他说， “我们常常看见他，
36、天还刚亮， 就用匆忙的脚步把露水碰落， 上那边高处的草地去会晤朝阳； 100 lawn: meadow. In the Eton MS. after lne 100 there is the following stanza: “Him have we seen the greenwood side along, /While oer the heath we hied, our labours done, /Oft as the woodlark pipd her farewell song,/With wistful eyes pursue the setting sun.“ Mason
37、is puzzled by Grays rejection of this stanza for the published text. Sometimes compared to another elegy, John Miltons “Lycidas,“ lines 25-31: Together both, ere the high lawns appeard Under the opening eyelids of the morn, We drove afield, and both together heard What time the gray-fly winds her su
38、ltry horn, Battning our flocks with the fresh dews of night, Oft till the star that rose at evning bright Toward heavns descent had slopd his westering wheel.,Stanza 26-27,101“There at the foot of yonder nodding beech 102 That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, 103 His listless length at noon
39、tide would he stretch, 104 And pore upon the brook that babbles by. “那边有一棵婆娑的山毛榉老树， 树底下隆起的老根盘错在一起， 他常常在那里懒躺过一个中午， 悉心看旁边一道涓涓的小溪。 105 “Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, 106 Muttring his wayward fancies he would rove, 107 Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn, 108 Or crazd with care, or c
40、rossd in hopeless love. “他转游到林边，有时候笑里带嘲， 念念有词，发他的奇谈怪议， 有时候垂头丧气，像无依无靠， 像忧心忡忡或者像情场失意。,Stanza 28 -29,109 “One morn I missd him on the customd hill, 110 Along the heath and near his favrite tree; 111 Another came; nor yet beside the rill, 112 Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; “有一天早上，在他惯去的山头， 灌木丛，
41、他那棵爱树下，我不见他出现； 第二天早上，尽管我走下溪流， 上草地，穿过树林，他还是不见。 113 “The next with dirges due in sad array 114 Slow thro the church-way path we saw him borne. 115 Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay, 116 Gravd on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.“ “第三天我们见到了送葬的行列， 唱着挽歌，抬着他向坟场走去 请上前看那丛老荆棘底下的碑碣， （你是识字的）请念念这些
42、诗句”： 113 next: following morning. sad: serious. 116 In some of the first editions of the poem, the following stanza preceded the epitaph: “There scatterd oft, the earliest of the year,/By hands unseen are showrs of violets found;/The redbreast loves to build and warble there,/And little footsteps li
43、ghtly print the ground.“ According to a marginal note of Gray, it was “omitted in 1753.“ Mason explains the omission by saying that Gray found it formed “too long a parenthesis in this place.“ The epitaph is not in the early Eton manuscript of the poem.,THE EPITAPH墓 铭,117Here rests his head upon the
44、 lap of Earth 118 A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown. 119Fair Science frownd not on his humble birth, 120 And Melancholy markd him for her own. 这里边，高枕地膝，是一位青年， 生平从不曾受知于“富贵”和“名声”； “知识”可没轻视他出身的微贱， “清愁”把他标出来认作宠幸。 117 Here lies: the Latin “hic jacet.“ 118 Cf. John Oldmixons “Epistle V: Queen Elizabe
45、th to the Earl of Essex“ (1703), lines 37-40: Warmd by my Smiles, and kindled into Man, Thy Soul to feel Heroick Flames began: Till then to Fortune, and to Fame, unknown, Who since defended, and adornd the Throne. 119 Science: knowledge in the general sense. Cf. Ode on Eton College, 3, and note. 121
46、 Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, 122 Heavn did a recompense as largely send: 123He gave to Misry all he had, a tear, 124 He gaind from Heavn (twas all he wishd) a friend. 他生性真挚，最乐于慷慨施惠， 上苍也给了他同样慷慨的报酬： 他给了“坎坷”全部的所有，一滴泪； 从上苍全得了所求，一位朋友。 125 No farther seek his merits to disclose, 126 Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, 127 (There they alike in trembling hope repose) 128 The bosom of his Father and his God.别再想法子表彰他的功绩， 也别再把他的弱点翻出了暗窖 （他们同样在颤抖的希望中休息）。 那就是他的天父和上帝的怀抱。 127 Grays note to this line refers to Petrarch, Sonnet 114: “paventosa speme.“ 卞之琳译/size,
