274'

偶然在图书馆翻到Alexander Pope （1688-1744）的“An Essay on Criticism”，很不错。有感于较之过往，今人更爱评论、议论，然却人云亦云、发泄情绪者居多。故摘录部分，以期反思：

'Tis hard to say, if greater Want of Skill
Appear in Writing or in Judging ill;
But, of the two, less dangerous is the Offence
To tire our Patience, than mis-lead our Sense;
Some few in that, but Numbers err in this,
Ten Censure wrong for one who Writes amiss;
A Fool might once himself alone expose,
Now One in Verse makes many more in Prose.
'Tis with our Judgements as our Watches, none
Go just alike, yet each believes his own.
天下诗文，品判鉴赏，
孰尤乏术，实属难言；
但文词枯燥犹可忍，点评讹误害无穷：
文章瑕疵可数，评判谬言无边；
行文一疏，引来十句错误诟病，
诗中一愚，造就几多缪蠢论说。
评判如钟，自家为准，
慢行快走，各司其时。

In poets as true Genius is but rare,
True Taste as seldom is the Critic's Share,
Both must alike from Heaven derive their Light,
These born to Judge, as well as those to Write.
Let such teach others who themselves excell,
And censure freely who have written well.
Authors are partial to their Wit, 'tis true,
But are not Criticks to their Judgment too?
Yet if we look more closely, we shall find
Most have the Seeds of Judgment in their Mind;
Nature affords at least a glimm'ring Light;
But as the slightest Sketch, if justly trac'd,
Is by ill Colouring but the more disgrac'd,
So by false Learning is good Sense defac'd;
Some are bewilder'd in the Maze of Schools,
And some made Coxcombs Nature meant but Fools.
In search of Wit these lose their common Sense,
And then turn Criticks in their own Defence.
Each burns alike, who can, or cannot write,
Or with a Rival's or a Eunuch's spite.
诗坛天才不常见，慧眼品家何处寻？
论家地生，岂容平庸之辈！
诗才天降，承蒙上天灵光。
故欲教人者必先超越自我，
善作文者然后品头论足也。
作家虑有所失，论者思能无过？
然若悉心探察，多具论者天分；
天赐弱微之光亮，笔绘纤细之小图；
一如画家蒙羞，皆因色彩混沌，
莫若大义遭耻，盖自谬学张狂；
学院流派，深似迷宫，且让愚钝人等有惑，
焚香沐猴，弹冠相庆，妄欺上天法眼无门。
无知者丧失常识于寻智，低能儿冒充论家免受攻。
不论文章高低手，心潮共澎湃，
貌似强敌装尤那，藐蔑说若何。

All Fools have still an Itching to deride,
And fain wou’d be upon the Laughing Side;
If Moevius Scribble in Appollo's spight,
There are, who judge still worse than he can write.
Some have at first for Wits, then Poets past,
Turn'd Criticks next, and prov'd plain Fools at last;
Some neither can for Wits nor Criticks pass,
As heavy Mules are neither Horse nor Ass.
Those half-learn'd Witlings, num'rous in our Isle,
As half-form'd Insects on the Banks of Nile;
Unfinish'd Things, one knows ont what to call,
Their Generation's so equivocal:
To tell 'em, wou'd a hundred Tongues require,
Or one vain Wit's that might a hundred tire.
But you who seek to give and merit Fame,
And justly bear a Critick's noble Name,
Be sure your self and your own Reach to know,
How far your Genius, Taste, and Learning go;
Launch not beyond your Depth, but be discreet,
And mark that Point where Sense and Dulness meet.
榆木疙瘩讥松节，墙头乌鸦笑猪墨；
不懂文章写作者，竟发洋洋高论，
犹如弥威斯为阿波罗捉刀，滑天下之大稽也；
有天生聪颖者，诗词歌赋，无不通晓，
然涉足论坛，语顿辞蹇，终归平庸；
更有不知者，无天分，无慧眼，
骡子一匹，即非马，又非驴。
此乃半桶水，三脚猫，遍及英伦岛，
又如蝗幼虫，未成形，密布尼罗堤；
人走轻狂不入类，物未成名难命名：
需费百舌才能告知其真相，累死千人方可揭开其画皮。
故凡有志树德立言者，应不愧于赏家崇高之名，
拈量权衡，扪心自问，
天才几许，品位几何，学识几成，德行何如？
探不达丈深，则自应审慎；
明智与乏味分野，品行和轻浮不容。

以上节选自《读名诗学英语》，陈浩东编译，中国戏剧出版社2007年8月北京第1版