《天鹅巢》，1852 年
the Swan’s Nest, 1852
在波罗的海和北海之间有一个古老的天鹅巢，在那里有天鹅出生，而且有些天鹅一旦出生便永生不死。
between the baltic and the North Sea there lies an old swan’s nest, wherein swans are born and have been born that shall never die.
在古代，一群天鹅飞越阿尔卑斯山，来到米兰周围的绿色平原，在那里栖息十分惬意。人们把这群天鹅的迁徙称为伦巴第人（的迁徙）。
In olden times a flock of swans flew over the Alps to the green plains around milan, where it was delightful to dwell. this flight of swans men called the Lombards.
另一群天鹅，羽毛闪亮，眼神诚挚，向南飞往拜占庭；这些天鹅在皇帝的宝座旁安了家，并张开翅膀像盾牌一样护在他上方保护他。它们获得了瓦良格人的称号。
Another flock, with shining plumage and honest eyes, soared southward to byzantium; the swans established themselves there close by the Emperor’s throne, and spread their wings over him as shields to protect him. they received the name of Varangians.
在法国海岸，传来一阵恐惧的呼喊，因为那些来自北方、翅膀下带着火焰的血迹斑斑的天鹅；人们祈祷道：“上天啊，把我们从野蛮的诺曼人手中解救出来吧。”
on the coast of France there sounded a cry of fear, for the blood-stained swans that came from the North with fire under their wings; and the people prayed, “heaven deliver us from the wild Northmen.”
在英格兰鲜嫩的草地上，丹麦天鹅站在开阔的海边，头上戴着三个王国的王冠；它把金色的权杖伸向这片土地。波美拉尼亚海岸的异教徒们屈膝下跪，丹麦天鹅带着十字架旗帜和出鞘的宝剑而来。
on the fresh sward of England stood the dane swan by the open seashore, with the crown of three kingdoms on his head; and he stretched out his golden sceptre over the land. the heathens on the pomerian coast bent the knee, and the dane swans came with the banner of the cross and with the drawn sword.
“那是在很久很久以前的事了。” 你说。
“that was in the very old times,” you say.
在后来的日子里，人们看到有两只强大的天鹅从那个巢里飞了出来。一道光芒远远地穿过空气，照亮了地球上的大片土地；那只天鹅用力地拍打着翅膀，驱散了暮色中的薄雾，人们看到了繁星点点的天空，仿佛天空离大地更近了。那就是第谷?布拉赫这只天鹅。
In later days two mighty swans have been seen to fly from the nest. A light shone far through the air, far over the lands of earth; the swan, with the strong beating of his wings, scattered the twilight mists, and the starry sky was seen, and it was as if it came nearer to the earth. that was the swan tycho brahe.
“是的，那时候，” 你说；“但在我们当今这个时代呢？”
“Yes, then,” you say; “but in our own days?”
我们看到一只又一只天鹅展开壮丽的飞翔翱翔而过。
we have seen swan after swan soar by in glorious flight.
有一只天鹅让它的羽翼在金色竖琴的琴弦上滑过，琴音在北方大地回响。
one let his pinions glide over the strings of the golden harp, and it resounded through the North.
挪威的山峦在往昔的阳光照耀下似乎显得更高了；松树和白桦林间沙沙作响；北方的众神、英雄和高贵的女子们在黑暗的森林深处现身。
Norway’s mountains seemed to rise higher in the sunlight of former days; there was a rustling among the pine trees and the birches; the gods of the North, the heroes, and the noble women, showed themselves in the dark forest depths.
我们看到一只天鹅用翅膀拍打大理石峭壁，以至于峭壁崩裂，被禁锢在石头里的美丽形体迈步走到阳光之下，周围各地的人们都抬起头来瞻仰这些雄伟的形体。
we have seen a swan beat with his wings upon the marble crag, so that it burst, and the forms of beauty imprisoned in the stone stepped out to the sunny day, and men in the lands round about lifted up their heads to behold these mighty forms.
我们看到第三只天鹅在编织着连接世界各国的思想之线，这样话语就能以闪电般的速度在各国之间传递。
we have seen a third swan spinning the thread of thought that is fastened from country to country round the world, so that the word may fly with lightning speed from land to land.
我们的主喜爱波罗的海和北海之间的那个古老的天鹅巢。
And our Lord loves the old swan’s nest between the baltic and the North Sea.
当那些强大的鸟儿振翅高飞想要摧毁它时，即使是羽翼未丰的幼鸟也会在巢边围成一圈，尽管它们的胸脯可能会被击中，鲜血直流，但它们会忍受着，并用翅膀和爪子进行回击。
And when the mighty birds e soaring through the air to destroy it, even the callow young stand round in a circle on the margin of the nest, and though their breasts may be struck so that their blood flows, they bear it, and strike with their wings and their claws.
几个世纪将会过去，天鹅会从巢中飞出，人们会在世间看到它们、听到它们的声音，在人们能从内心深处、真心实意地说出 “这是最后一只天鹅 —— 来自天鹅巢的最后一首歌” 之前，还需要经历漫长的时间。
centuries will pass by, swans will fly forth from the nest, men will see them and hear them in the world, before it shall be said in spirit and in truth, “this is the last swan — the last song from the swan’s nest.”