H.D. (Hilda Doolittle, 1886–1961), "海倫" @ 蔗尾蜂房

[海倫]
--H. D. (Hilda Doolittle, 1886–1961), 羅浩原譯

希臘人全都討厭
那白皙面孔上沉靜的雙眼，
那叢叢橄欖煥發之色
她佇立於彼，
連雙手也白皙。

希臘人全都辱罵
她微笑時蒼白的容顏，
當那張臉顯得更蒼涼潔白時
恨得尤其厲害，
這令人想起古代的狐魅
與古代的災異。

希臘人呆呆地望著，
神之女，天生惹人憐愛，
冷而艷的雙足
與最纖細的膝蓋，
無庸置疑會愛上這位少女，
只要她玉體橫陳，
柏木棺槨縫隙間的白膏泥。

[Helen]

All Greece hates
the still eyes in the white face,
the lustre of olives
where she stands,
and the white hands.

All Greece reviles
the wan face when she smiles,
hating it deeper still
when it grows wan and white,
remembering past enchantments
and past ills.

Greece sees unmoved,
God's daughter, born of love,
the beauty of cool feet
and slenderest knees,
could love indeed the maid,
only if she were laid,
white ash amid funereal cypresses.