Robert Frost (1874-1963) was born in San Francisco. He was one of America's leading 20th-century poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. An essentially pastoral poet often associated with rural New England, Frost wrote poems with philosophical dimensions transcend any region.

佛洛斯特(1874-1963) 生于旧金山，是美国最受爱戴广被阅读的诗人之一。基本上他是个田园诗人，多写同新英格兰州乡间有关的事物，但他诗中的哲思却不受地域的限制。

Acquainted with the Night

夜的知心

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain─and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-by;
And further still at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.
			

我曾是夜的知心。
我曾往雨里去──又从雨中来。
我曾把最远的街灯走尽。

我曾下顾最悲惨的市巷。
我曾走过巡更人的身边
而低垂我眼，不愿开腔。

我曾站定且踩息足音
当远处一声断呼
从另一条街传过屋顶，

但不是叫我回去或说再见；
而更远处高入云霄，
一座夜光的钟顶着天

宣称这时辰既不幻也不真。
我曾是夜的知心。


(非马  译)
			

The Pasture

牧场

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;
I'll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may)
I sha'n't be gone long.─You come too.

I'm going out to fetch the little calf
That's standing by the mother.  It's so young
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I sha'n't be gone long.─You come too.
			

我正要去清理牧场的泉水；
只去耙耙叶子
(等着看水清，也许)
我不会待太久──你也来吧。

我正要去捉小牛
它站在母亲的身边。那么幼小
她用舌头舔它都会使它站不稳。
我不会待太久──你也来吧。


(非马  译)
			

A Minor Bird

小鸟

I have wished a bird would fly away,
And not sing by my house all day;

Have clapped my hands at him from the door
When it seemed as if I could bear no more.

The fault must partly have been in me.
The bird was not to blame for his key.

And of course there must be something wrong
In wanting to silence any song.
			

我曾希望一只鸟飞开，
别尽在我屋旁磨他的声带；

在门口对他大拍其手
当我到了忍无可忍的时候。

错处必多少在我。
鸟的音调没有罪过。

而想让歌声静止
当然也有点谬误。


(非马  译)