1、The Diverting History of John Gilpin 癡漢騎馬歌William Cowper (17311800)1.JOHN GILPIN was a citizen 昔有富家翁， Of credit and renown, 饒財且有名，A train-band captain eke was he 身為團練長， Of famous London town. 家居倫敦城。2.John Gilpins spouse said to her dear, 婦對富翁言， Though wedded we have been 結發同苦艱，These twice ten tediou

2、s years, yet we 悠悠二十載， No holiday have seen. 未得一日閑。3.To-morrow is our wedding-day, 明日是良辰， And we will then repair 城外好風景，Unto the Bell at Edmonton, 愿乘雙馬車， All in a chaise and pair. 與君同游騁。4.My sister, and my sisters child, 阿姨與其女， Myself, and children three, 妾偕三小兒，Will fill the chaise; so you must ride

3、 一家盈車載， On horseback after we. 君當騎馬隨。5.He soon replied, I do admire 富翁對婦言， Of womankind but one, 相敬既如賓，And you are she, my dearest dear, 若不從汝言， Therefore it shall be done. 相愛豈是真？6.I am a linen-draper bold, 我是販布客， As all the world doth know, 聲名馳寰區，And my good friend the calender 有友情更重， Will lend his

4、horse to go. 愿借千里駒。7.Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, Thats well said; 君言誠良是， And for that wine is dear, 還當載美酒，We will be furnished with our own, 沽市酒值昂， Which is both bright and clear. 家醅旨且有。8.John Gilpin kissed his loving wife; 婦言良可欽， Oenjoyed was he to find 富翁喜不禁，That though on pleasure she was bent, 雖懷行樂志， She

5、 had a frugal mind. 猶存節儉心。9.The morning came, the chaise was brought, 詰朝將車來， But yet was not allowed 未許直到門，To drive up to the door, lest all 趨車出庭戶， Should say that she was proud. 恐惹他人論。10.So, three doors off the chaise was stayed, 相去兩三戶， Where they did all get in; 車馬立踟躕，Six precious souls, and all a

6、gog 大小六家口， To dash through thick and thin. 登車任馳驅。11.Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, 鞭聲何得得， Were never folk so glad; 輪影何團團，The stones did rattle underneath, 黃塵匝地起， As if Cheapside were mad. 行人舉首觀。12.John Gilpin at his horses side, 富翁立馬旁， Seized fast the flowing mane, 雙手握馬鬃，And up he got,

7、in haste to ride 上馬不成騎， But soon came down again; 下馬復匆匆。13.For saddle-tree scarce reached had he, 富翁方上鞍， His journey to begin, 去心留不住，When, turning round his head, he saw 回首一顧盼， Three customers come in. 有客來買布。14.So down he came; for loss of time, 欲去不能去， Although it grieved him sore, 欲留心不甘，Yet loss of

8、 pence, full well he knew, 失時雖云苦， Would trouble him much more. 失財更難堪。15.Twas long before the customers 客意實難合， Were suited to their mind, 相將又費時，When Betty, screaming, came downstairs, 秋香忽來報， The wine is left behind! 美酒猶在茲。16.Good lack, quoth heyet bring to me, 富翁大驚異， My leathern belt likewise, 命婢將酒來，

9、In which I bear my trusty sword, 取我佩刀帶， When I do exercise. 佩刀慎莫開。17.Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) 賢婦善綢繆， Had two stone bottles found, 特恐酒味走，To hold the liquor that she loved, 尋有雨玉壺， And keep it safe and sound. 玉壺載美酒。18.Each bottle had a curling ear, 富翁既結帶， Through which the belt he drew, 玉壺各有

10、環，And hung a bottle on each side, 將帶穿環口， To make his balance true. 左右掛腰間。19.Then over all, that he might be 衣冠既齊整， Equipped from top to toe, 長袍復加身，His long red cloak, well brushed and neat; 侃侃意氣揚， He manfully did throw. 顧盼無比倫。20.Now see him mounted once again 富翁復上馬， Upon his nimble steed, 石路多崎嶇，Full

11、 slowly pacing oer the stones, 款款行石路， With caution and good heed. 兢兢防疏虞。21.But finding soon a smoother road 行到康莊道， Beneath his well-shod feet, 漸覺馬蹄忙，The snorting beast began to trot, 馬既適所意， Which galled him in his seat. 哪顧人張皇。22So, Fair and softly, John he cried, 呼馬緩緩行， But John he called in vain; 無

12、奈馬不聽，That trot became a gallop soon, 韁轡勒不住， In spite of curb and rein. 長驅莫與競。23.So stooping down, as needs he must 馬上坐不穩， Who cannot sit upright, 腰折未敢直，He grasped the mane with both his hands 兩手握長鬃， And eke with all his might. 用盡平生力。24.His horse, who never in that sort 名馬事人多， Had handled been before

13、, 未經如此騎，What thing upon his back had got 何物覆背上， Did wonder more and more. 驚疑不可知。25.Away went Gilpin, neck or nought; 任馬狂奔去， Away went hat and wig！ 冠巾隨風飄，He little dreamt, when he set out, 出門意氣高， Of running such a rig. 到此竟悴憔。26.The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, 長袍隨風舞， Like streamer long and gay,

14、飄飄若懸旌，Till, loop and button failing both, 鈕扣支不住， At last it flew away！ 飛去更無情。27.Then might all people well discern 長袍既飄去， The bottles he had slung; 露出雙玉壺，A bottle swinging at each side, 玉壺左右擺， As hath been said or sung. 一若懸葫蘆。28.The dogs did bark, the children screamed, 犬吠雜童呼，Up flew the windows all

15、; 窗牖家家開，And every soul cried out, Well done! 同聲齊喝彩，As loud as he could bawl. 仿佛聽春雷。29.Away went Gilpinwho but he? 富翁去如飛，His fame soon spread around: 四鄰盡傳謠，He carries weight! He rides a race! 此人賽走馬，Tis for a thousand pound! 欲得千金標。30.And still, as fast as he drew near, 行到北市關，Twas wonderful to view, 守者

16、望馬來，How in a trice the turnpike men 急急起歡迎，Their gates wide open threw. 將門大張開。31.And now, as he went bowing down 低首伏馬上，His reeking head full low, 汗流竟浹背，The bottles twain behind his back 背后雙玉壺，Were shattered at a blow! 一時盡破碎。32.Down ran the wine into the road, 酒流滿道路，Most piteous to be seen; 美酒最可憐，Whic

17、h made his horses flanks to smoke 馬身灌美酒，As they had basted been. 氣蒸如出煙。33.But still he seemed to carry weight 富翁仍負重，With leathern girdle braced; 走馬興未闌，For all might see the bottle necks 壺碎頸猶在，Still dangling at his waist. 飄零系腰間。34.Thus all through merry Islington 如此顛狂態，These gambols he did play, 行遍城郭

18、外，Until he came unto the Wash 直到清溪邊，Of Edmonton so gay; 風景美如繪。35.And there he threw the Wash about 隨馬入清溪，On both sides of the way, 左右拂溪水，Just like unto a trundling mop, 如球滾水中，Or a wild goose at play. 如禽戲水里。36.At Edmonton his loving wife 婦立倚闌干，From the balcony spied 遙望眼欲穿，Her tender husband, wonderin

19、g much 忽見狂馳馬，To see how he did ride. 心中如火煎。37.Stop, stop, John Gilpin!Heres the house! 齊聲呼停馬，They all at once did cry; 午餐已過時，The dinner waits, and we are tired; 富翁遠回答，Said GilpinSo am I! 晚餐未有期。38.But yet his horse was not a whit 馬懸主家廄，Inclined to tarry there; 直奔不肯止，For why?his owner had a house 主家在鄰

20、村，Full ten miles off, at Ware. 相去三十里。39.So like an arrow swift he flew, 馬飛如矢箭，Shot by an archer strong; 富翁真癡漢，So did he flywhich brings me to 狂態寫長歌，The middle of my song. 到此得一半。40.Away went Gilpin, out of breath, 富翁氣喘喘，And sore against his will, 狂奔不回顧，Till at his friend the calenders 直到主人家，His horse

21、 at last stood still. 馬足始停駐。41.The calender, amazed to see 主人聞客至，His neighbour in such trim, 出門來相迎，Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, 見是富家翁，And thus accosted him: 心中喜且驚。42.What news? what news? your tidings tell; 問君何處來，Tell me you must and shall 問君欲何之，Say why bareheaded you are come, 不巾亦不冠，Or why

22、 youve come at all! 問君欲何為？43.Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, 富翁善戲謔，And loved a timely joke; 出語多詼諧，And thus unto the calender 既辱見問詢，In merry guise he spoke: 敢陳下鄙懷：44.I came because your horse would come; 君馬懷主人，And, if I well forebode, 我故來相望，My hat and wig will soon be here 冠巾行不遠，They are upon the road

23、. 已在道路上。45.The calender, right glad to find 主人聞客言，His friend in merry pin, 故亦不張皇，Returned him not a single word, 不待答言語，But to the house went in; 轉身入室堂。46.Whence straight he came with hat and wig; 入室取冠巾，A wig that flowed behind, 頭巾何連連，A hat not much the worse for wear, 冠猶舊家樣，Each comely in its kind.

24、不新亦不鮮。47.He held them up, and in his turn 主人亦滑稽，Thus showed his ready wit: 奉冠立道傍；My head is twice as big as yours, 君之頭顱小，They therefore needs must fit! 自然能戴上。48.But let me scrape the dirt away 君面滿灰塵，That hangs upon your face; 敢請為君撲，And stop and eat, for well you may 且住加餐飯，Be in a hungry case. 聊以充枵腹。

25、49.Said John, It is my wedding day, 富翁轉回答，And all the world would stare 夫妻同出門，If wife should dine at Edmonton, 半途各西東，And I should dine at Ware. 豈不被人論？50.So turning to his horse, he said, 回首向馬耳，I am in haste to dine; 我腹已苦饑，Twas for your pleasure you came here, 我既為爾來，You shall go back for mine. 爾曷為我歸？

26、51.Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast! 侈口何容易，For which he paid full dear; 自來滿招損，For, while he spake, a braying ass 正在言語間，Did sing most loud and clear; 有驢鳴近苑。52.Whereat his horse did snort, as he 馬聞驢聲嘶，Had heard a lion roar, 仿佛聞獅吼，And galloped off with all his might, 又發狂逸性，As he had done before!

27、 往前直奔走。53.Away went Gilpin, and away 任馬狂奔逸，Went Gilpins hat and wig! 冠巾又飄去，He lost them sooner than at first, 冠大頭顱小，For why?they were too big! 飄去更忽遽。54.Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw 婦見富翁去，Her husband posting down 遙遙未得還，Into the country far away, 急切無計較，She pulled out half a crown; 探囊取金錢。55.And th

28、us unto the youth she said, 持金謂童仆，That drove them to the Bell, 若得藁砧旋，This shall be yours, when you bring back 旋歸且無恙，My husband safe and well. 賞汝此金錢。56.The youth did ride, and soon did meet 童仆去未遠，John coming back amain: 富翁來倉皇，Whom in a trice he tried to stop, 為欲止馬住，By catching at his rein; 伸手捉馬韁。57.But not performing what he might 本欲止馬住，And gladly would have done, 奈力不從心，The frighted steed