爱 (III)

爱 (III)
乔治·赫伯特, 1593 - 1633

爱向我招手，我的灵魂却因
肮脏和罪恶而退缩。
但眼光敏锐的爱，察觉到我
自第一次接近就有的懈怠。
爱靠的更近，柔声询问
是否少了什么重要之物。

“一个应该在这里的人。”
然而你就是那个人。
“无情又忘恩的我？
我未敢如此奢望过。”
握住了手，微笑作答，
“除我还有谁创造了眼睛？”

“真理，上帝”可是我却玷污了；
请让我的羞耻躲在无人之处。
“你不会如此，谁又会盯着过失？”
“那请让我臣服于您。”
“你当坐下，这样才是爱”
果然这才是爱。

Love (III)
George Herbert, 1593 - 1633

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.

“A guest," I answered, “worthy to be here”:
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?”

“Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not," says Love, “who bore the blame?”
“My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down," says Love, “and taste my meat.”
So I did sit and eat.