Let the Brothels of Paris be Opened
让巴黎的妓院开放吧
'Let the brothels of Paris be opened,
“让巴黎的妓院开放吧，
With many an alluring dance,
让很多诱人的舞蹈
To awake the physicians through the city,'
把瘟疫传到全城里去，”
Said the beautiful Queen of France.
美丽的法国皇后说道。
The King awoke on his couch of gold,
国王在他的金榻上醒来，
As soon as he heard these tidings told:
听见了这消息，就说道：
'Arise and come, both fife and drum,
“来呀，让鼓乐手都来弹奏，
And the [famine] shall eat both crust and crumb.'
让饥荒吃光面包心和壳。”
The Queen of France just touched this globe,
法国的皇后刚落上地球，
And the pestilence darted from her robe;
瘟疫就从她的袍里冲出；
But our good queen quite grows to the ground,
但我们的好皇后站得很牢，
And a great many suckers grow all around.
一大群傻瓜把她围住。
Fayette beside King Louis stood:
法耶特站在路易王身边： [法耶特，即拉法耶特，在法国革命初期赞助革命，但主张君主立宪，所以革命深入以后，便背叛了革命，投向反动阵营。]
He saw him sign his hand;
他看着他签了字；
And soon he saw the famine rage
而不久，他就看见饥荒
About the fruitful land.
在肥沃的土地上放肆。
Fayette beheld the Queen to smile,
法耶特看着皇后微笑，
And wink her lovely eye;
又眨着她可爱的眼睛；
And soon he saw the pestilence
而不久，他就看见瘟疫
From street to street to fly.
在条条的大街上流行。
Fayette beheld the King and Queen
法耶特看着国王和王后
In curses and iron bound;
被眼泪和铁链缚住；
But mute Fayette wept tear for tear,
无言的法耶特陪他们落泪，
And guarded them around.
并且在周围把他们守护。
Fayette, Fayette, thou'rt bought and sold,
法耶特，法耶特，你被卖了，
For well I see thy tears;
你快乐的明天已被卖出；
Of pity are exchanged for those,
你以你怜悯的眼泪，
Of selfish slavish fears.
换来了哀伤的泪珠。
Who will exchange his own fireside
谁肯把他火热的阵线
For the stone of another's door?
换取别人门前的阶梯？
Who will exchange his wheaten loaf
谁肯把他小麦做的面包
For the links of a dungeon floor?
去把地牢里的锁链换取？
Oh, who would smile on the wintry seas,
哦，谁会笑对冬季的海洋，
And pity the stormy roar?
并且怜悯风涛的狂吼？
Or who will exchange his newborn child
谁肯以他新生的幼儿
For the dog at the wintry door?
去换取冬日门外的狗？
- 拓展学习：熟词僻义 | dog 能带来怎样的困扰？
作者简介
威廉·布莱克（William Blake，1757年11月28日—1827年8月12日），英国第一位重要的浪漫主义诗人、版画家，英国文学史上最重要的伟大诗人之一，虔诚的基督教徒。
