She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!
乔治·戈登·拜伦(George Gordon Byron,1788—1824),英国浪漫主义诗人。世袭男爵,所以也称为Lord Byron。代表作包括有长篇的《唐璜》及《恰尔德·哈罗尔德游记》。
我们说英国浪漫主义诗人的时候,一般都会提到六位诗人:老一派的威廉·布莱克、柯勒律治、华兹华斯,和年轻一派的济慈、雪莱和拜伦。他们看重自然世界,有股神秘主义的劲头,相对于古典派而言,更为自由和个人主义。据说,拜伦的私生活不很检点,以至于当时和他传出绯闻的卡罗林·兰姆女爵(Lady Caroline Lamb)在刚同他邂逅时,称拜伦为“mad, bad, and dangerous to know”。
这首诗是拜伦有名的短篇。据称,诗中的女性是拜伦的表妹威尔莫特夫人。拜伦在一次舞会上偶遇身着黑色丧服的威尔莫特夫人,被她的美丽所打动,便写下这首诗。雪梨觉得译者在翻译的时候,看到“One shade more, one ray less, Had half impaired the nameless grace”这句,一定想到了宋玉描写东家之子的话:“增之一分则太长,减之一分则太短。著粉则太白,施朱则太赤。”