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The Pangolin
作者Author  /  Marianne  Moore  瑪利安˙莫爾

The Pangolin

 

Another armoured animalscale

    Lapping scale with spruce-cone regularity until they

Form the uninterrupted central

    Tail-row! This near artichoke with head and legs and

                                                         grit-equipped gizzard,

 

the night miniature artist engineer is                                                5

        Leonardo’sda Vinci’s replica

              Impressive animal and toiler of whom we

                                                          Seldom hear.

        Armour seems extra. But for him,

              the closing ear-ridge

                    or bare ear lacking even this small                             10

                    eminence and similarly safe

 

contracting nose and eye apertures

    impenetrably closable, are not;a true ant-eater,

not cockroach-eater, who endures

exhausting solitary trips through unfamiliar ground at

                                                                                 night,

    returning before sunrise; stepping in the moonlight,

on the moonlight peculiarly, that the outside

    edges of his hands may bear the weight and

                                                       save the claws

for digging. Serpentined about

    the tree, he draws

        away from danger unpugnaciously,

        with no sound but a harmless hiss; keeping

 

the fragile grace of the Thomas-

      of-Leighton Buzzard Westminster Abbey

                                         wrought-iron vine, or

rolls himself into a ball that has                                                          25

power to defy all effort to unroll it; strongly intailed,

                                                                            neat

head for core, on neck not breaking off, with curled-in

                                                                            feet.

        Nevertheless he has sting-proof scales; and nest

            Of rocks closed with earth from inside, which he

                                                                can thus darken

     Sun and moon and day and night and man and                     30

                                                                            beast           

               each with a splendour

                     which man in all his vileness cannot

                     set aside; each with an excellence!

 

"Fearful yet to be feared," the armoured

        ant-eater met by the driver-ant does not turn back,                35

                                                                                        but

engulfs what he can, the flattened sword--

    edged leafpoints on the tail and artichoke set let-and

                                                                            body-plates

    quivering violently when it retailiates

    and swarms on him. Compact like the furled

                                                              fringed frill

        on the hat-brim of Gargallo’s hollow iron                                 40

                                                              head of a

    matador, he will drop and will

         then walk away

               unhurt, although if unintruded on,

               he cautiously works down the tree, helped

by his tail. The giant-pangolin-                                                          45

          tail, graceful tool, as prop or hand or broom or

                                                              axe, tipped like

the elephant’s trunk with special skin,

      is not lost on this ant-and stone-swallowing uninjur-

                                                                                   able

      artichoke which simpletons thought a living fable

               whom the stones had nourished, whereas ants                50

                                                                                had done

                     so. Pangolins are not aggressive animals;

                                                                               between

            dusk and day they have the not unchain-like

                                                                   machine-like

                    form and frictionless creep of a thing

                    made graceful by adversities, con-

 

versities. To explain grace require                                                    55

           a curious hand. If that which is at all were not

                                                                           forever,

why would those who graced the spires

with animals and gathered there to rest, on cold

                                                                     luxurious

low stone seatsa monk and monk and monk

                                                        between the thus

ingenious roof-supports, have slaved to confuse                        60

      grace with a kindly manner, time in which to

                                                        pay a debt,

the cure for sins, a graceful use

  of what are yet

               approved stone mullions branching out across

               the perpendiculars? A sailboat

was the first machine. Pangolins, made

          for moving quietly also, are models of exactness,

on four legs; or hind feet plantigrade,

      with certain postures of a man. Beneath sun and

                                                         moon, man slaving

to make his life more sweet, leaves half the flowers                         70

                                                                 worth having,

    needing to choose wisely how to use the

                                                              strength;

            a paper-maker like the wasp; a tractor of

                                                                 foodstuffs,

        like the ant; spidering a length

               of web from bluffs

                above a stream; in fighting, mechanicked                          75

                like the pangolin; capsizing in

 

disheartenment. Bedizened or stark

      naked, man, the self, the being we call human,

                                                                     writing-

master to his world, griffons a dark

     Like does not like like that is obnoxious; and                              80

                                                 writes error with four

 

r’s. Among animals, one has a sense of humour,

        Humour saves a few steps, it saves years.

                                                            Unignorant,

         modest and unemotional, and all emotion,

      he has everlasting vigour,

       power to grow,

       though there are few creatures who can

                                                             make one

          breathe faster and make one erecter.

 

Not afraid of anything is he,

    and then goes cowering forth, tread paced to meet

                                                                    an obstacle

at every step. Consistent with the

    formulawarm blood, no gills, two pairs of hands

                                                                                 and

                          a few hairsthat

  is a mammal; there he sits in his own habitat,

    serge-clad, strong-shod. The prey of fear, he,

                                                                     always

          curtailed, extinguished, thwarted by the                       95

                                          dusk, work partly done,

    say a to the alternating blaze,

        “Again the sun!

            anew each day; and new and new and

                                                                     new,

            that comes into and steadies my soul.

 
 
 

 

 

The Pangolin

穿山甲,又名鯉龍,哺乳類爬蟲,穴居食蟻,晝伏夜出,全身除腹部外覆有角質厚鱗。“pangolin”自馬來文演變而來,原意為“roller”,因其遇險時可全身踡成球狀。穿山甲可大別為亞洲種及非洲種,前者為長尾型,後者短尾。Moore此詩中描寫的應為亞洲種之一。

cf.The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Animal kingdom, the Danbury Press, pangolin項目。

1

Another armoured animalMoore曾寫過數篇有關甲冑動物的詩,穿山甲是另一種甲冑動物。armoured:覆有鱗甲的,使人想到身披盔甲的武士(armoured knight),此含義在第8行顯露。

1-2

scale lapping scale:層層相疊的鱗甲。

2

with spruce-cone regularity:像針樅果(spruce)的外殼般規則。穿山甲嘴尖肚圍大,腹部以上呈圓椎體(cone)。

2-4

until……tail-row:其鱗甲直到尾層仍極規則平順(uninterrupted)。centralconcentric;同心圓的。

4

near artichoke:狀似菊芋,即朝鮮薊,其外覆有同心圓的鱗狀葉片。

11

 eminence:凸起的小山脊,即ridge

11-12

similarly safe contracting nose:有類似的安全收縮裝備的鼻子。

12-13

eye apertures impenetrably closable:閉合後無法穿透的眼睛。aperture:開口。

13-14

a true ant-eater, not cockroach-eater:只吃螞蟻,以外連障螂也不吃。

14-16

who……sunrise:穿山甲夜間操作,日出而息。endure:忍受。solitary trips through unfamiliar ground:指其單獨行動,到處探險。

16-17

stepping……peculiarly:尤其在月出的晚上才出來行動,以便看清腳步,找到蟻窩。

17-19

that……digging:穿山甲行進時,足部的長爪(claws)向內蜷起,以免損傷,全身重量靠足部的外緣(the outside edges of his hands)支持。穿山甲前足的銳爪較發達。專為鑿穴及挖蟻窩用。蟻窩長期曝晒在烈日下,常堅如水泥,因此穿山甲的前爪必須保持銳利。

 19-20

 Serpentined……tree:指尾巴像盤在樹上。由此可判定Moore所描寫的應是亞洲長尾型。

20-21

he……unpugnaciously:他避開危險,無意攻擊。unpugnaciously:不好戰地。

22

with……hiss:悄悄地只發出蛇般的嘶嘶聲。“harmless”與上行的“unpugnaciously”相呼應。

22-24

keeping……vine:並保持鐵蔓藤柔弱的(fragile)優雅。Moore註解說Thomas-of-Leighton BuzzardLeighton Buzzard是英國Bedfordshire之一小鎮)製作部份的西敏寺(Westminster Abbey)鐵製蔓藤狀雕花,極為細緻優雅。Moore用蔓藤比喻穿山甲爬行時姿態的優雅(grace),是一種metaphysical手法。鐵蔓藤質地堅硬,但外觀柔美,穿山甲全身披甲,卻行動優雅,這種對比是矛盾法(paradox)。“grace”在詩發展過程中會具有更深的意義。wrought-iron:鍛鐵;熟鐵。

 24-26

 or……it:如果來不及避開危險,穿山甲便踡成球狀(a ball),能抵抗(defy)任何外力的侵犯。

26-27

strongly……feet:穿山甲成球形時,尾巴緊緊蜷起(strongly intailed),頭在中心(head for core),四足緊縮在內(with curled-in feet)。on neck not breaking off:穿山甲除尾巴外,頭與身軀相連呈圓錐形,中間沒有細瘦的頸子。not breaking off:不中斷的。

28

sting-proof scales:其角質厚鱗可抵擋螞蟻的刺螫(sting)。

28-29

nest……inside:其洞穴用岩石(rocks)築成,進穴後再用泥土(earth)從內將洞口封閉。

29

which……darken:如此穿山甲便可使洞穴變黑。暗示穿山甲的indifference

30

Sun……beast

指穿山甲在黑暗的洞穴內,星辰日夜人獸均與他無關。

 

 30-33行在文法上是一句,“Sun……beast”是主詞,缺動詞。

31-33

each……excellence:指星辰日夜人獸等各自具有神奇之處(splendour, excellence),凡人無論多麼鄙陋(in all his vileness),仍能感受其中奇妙,和穿山甲的indifference成對比。此處人在哲學上的探討。

34

Fearful……feared”:膽法卻又可怖。fearful: timid。穿山甲性不好戰,遇險即避,故說膽怯。遇見螞時卻是可怖的鬥士。此句出處不可考。

35

the driver-ant:即兵蟻(army ant),蜂成群,殺傷力極強。

36

engulfs:吞下。穿山甲無齒,吞下螞蟻後再由沙囊消化。

36-38

the flattened……violently:指穿山甲可隨意豎起全身銳如利劍(sword-edged)的鱗片,,做抵禦武器。

flattened:平順的(見第3行“uninterrupted”)。

 

 

leafpoints:葉狀的鱗片。artichoke:指其頭與身軀。set leg-and body-plates quivering violently:鱗片豎起時,使四肢及軀體劇烈顫動。

38-39

when……him:螞蟻(it)予以反擊(retaliates),並蜂湧到穿山甲(him)身上。

39-41

Compact……matador:用gargallo 1881-1934,西班牙畫家、雕刻家雕刻)雕刻的鬥牛士半身鐵鑄像(iron head of a matador)所戴的捲邊帽(the furled fringed frill on the hat brim)來比喻穿山甲蜷成球形時的固密(compact)。furled:捲起的。fringed:鑲以鐩飾的,frill:(衣飾上的)縐邊。hat-brim:帽緣。

41-43

he……unhurt:在樹上遇險時,他捲成固密的球形,跌落地上(drop)後,再安全地(unhurt)走開。

43-45

although……tail:雖然他可以用上述的方式安全的跌下樹來,假如沒有侵擾(unintruded on),他總是利用尾巴(helped by his tail),謹慎地(cautiously)爬下樹來。

 

46

graceful tool:嫻熟巧妙的工具,指穿山甲的尾巴。

prop:支柱。

46-47

tipped……skin:非洲種的穿山甲尾端有特殊表皮(special skin),如同象鼻的尖端。cf.Encyclopedia Britannica, 1954, pangolin項目。

48-49

is……artichoke:此句的主詞是45行的The giant pangolin-tail。尾巴對穿山甲來說不是沒用的。is not lost on: is not useless to.

49-51

which……so:一般人(simpletons)認為穿山甲靠石頭過活(whom the stone had nourished),是一種活現的神話(a living fable),實際上穿山甲吞砂粒是為了消化螞蟻。

51

Pangolins are not aggressive animals:穿山甲生性不愛攻擊。加強21行的“unpugnaciously”及22行的“harmless”。

 

51-55

 between……conversities:穿山甲在黃昏(dusk)與黎明(day)間行動,他的姿態(form)與爬行(creep)因屢遇逆境(graceful)。如鬥牛士因訓練有素,即使是生死搏鬥當中,仍能保持姿態優雅。

52

not unchain-like 等於chain-like;像盔甲一般。口疑 有如4行的“near artichoke”。

52

machine-like:可能暗示穿山甲有如坦克(tank)。

53

frictionless creep:機器如坦克乃基於磨擦原理才能行動。既說穿山甲“machine-like”,又說他爬行時“frictionless”,可能指他在月夜中活動,有如船漂浮水面(floating)般優雅。參考65行“sailboat”的意象。

55-56

To……hand:欲解釋“grace”的含義,需要異常的手法。curious:異於尋常的。hand:指詩人的生花妙手,亦可指建築師靈巧的手。“grace”含義深刻,用在穿山甲身上是外在的(physical)含義,指他行動嫻雅、熟練,參考234654行註解。用人在身上,則兼具外在與內在的(spiritual, inner)含義;既可形容鬥牛士的嫻熟技巧及建築藝術的靈巧,又可說是上帝賜人的moral gift,因此這句話可以這樣解釋:人了解上帝的優厚恩寵,建築教堂來表達他的感激之情。

56-65

此九行在文法結構上是一句,簡化後可看得更清楚:If that which is at all were not forever, why would those……have slaved to confuse grace with……?中間插入的“who graced the spires……between the thus ingenious roof-supports”是形容詞子句,修飾主詞“those”大意是:如果現有的一切並非永恆,人為什麼要建教堂呢?是虛擬語氣。

56

If……forever: If what exist on earth were not forever. 人子解上帝保佑永生(eternity),因此建教堂來崇拜祂。基督教義認為世上萬物無論多麼微小,都是反映上帝心中的eternal ideas。這種講法與Platonic idea相通。

57-60

who……roof-supports:此形容詞子句描寫的是歌德式教堂(gothic church),其特徵為高聳入雲的尖頂(spires),代表對天堂的追尋。

57

graceddecorated歌德式教堂常用動物形象來裝飾承霤口(gargoyle,滴露雨水的裝置)。

58-59

 

 

luxurious low stone seats:雕飾豐美的石座,上置有諸聖徒(monk, saint)的石像。

Low:接近地面,與spires的高聳相對。歌德式教堂的創意是physical reality pointing to heaven

59-60

the thus ingenious roof-supports:指支撐屋頂的石柱(pillars),因安置其間的聖徒像而更富有頂天立地的象徵意義。“a monk and monk and monk”的重覆使人聯想到穿山甲層層相疊的鱗甲。

60

have slaved to:辛勤地工作。

60

Confuseput together;溶合。指教堂的建築溶合了下列四種觀念。

61

a kindly manner:睦鄰(love of neighbor)。

61

time in which to pay a debt:恕道(forgiveness for neighbor),不逼債之意。

62

the cure for sins:指grace of God,只有上帝的恩寵才能洗刷人的罪。

62-65

a graceful……perpendiculars:指教堂建築上窗戶直櫺(mullions)的巧妙運用。

62-63

a graceful use of:……的靈活運用。此處又指physical grace,窗櫺的設計使大扇窗戶不易破損。

63-64

are yet approved: are still considered beautiful;

 

 

are still admired。歌德式教堂年代久遠,而其窗戶直櫺的設計仍使人嘆為觀止。

64-65

Stone mullions branching out across the perpendiculars:石製的直櫺上半部為樹枝狀分叉,與垂直線(the perpendicular)呈十字形。這種直櫺有十字架(cross)的象徵意味,因此說a graceful use

65-66

A sailboat was the first machineMoore由教堂忽而想到帆船,也許是由cross而聯想及crosstrees,船桅頂的橫桁。教堂中供民眾謨拜的場地稱nave,拉丁文意思是船。機器如帆船是基於世俗實際的需要,教堂是基於精神需要。人總是能化腐朽為神奇,利用鐵、木料、石頭等等,製造出各種graceful things來滿足他各方面的需求。帆船行動時的grace,見53行註解。

66-67

Pangolins, made for moving quietly also:穿山甲也是天生就行動安祥。also:和帆船一樣。

67

exactness:精確。

68

on four legs穿山甲平時用四足爬行。

68-69

or……man:有時用後足蹠行(plantigrade),姿勢像人一樣。

 69

 Beneath……moon:指人日以繼夜的工作。與2930行穿山甲的無視日月相對。

69-70

slaving……sweet:辛勤工作以美化人生。既說slaving,又說sweet,是矛盾語(paradox)的用法。

70

leaves……having:遺忘了半數珍貴的花兒。指人為美化人生而做苦工,卻常有遺珠之憾,忽略了掬手可得的幸福。

71

needing……strength:人因為有選擇的餘地,必須明智地抉擇(choose wisely),如何有效的運用勞力,而且有得就難免有失,有遺憾。與穿山甲的依本能(instinct)作息相對。

72

a paper-maker like the wasp:黃蜂(wasp)所產之蜜(wax)薄細如紙,此處指人和黃蜂一樣善於精密工作。或者暗示paper-work,指人與黃蜂般長於行政組織。

72-73

a tractor……ant:終日為食忙碌,有如蟻類。tractor:運輸工具。

 

 

his kind,”同類之意。obnoxiousnasty;可憎的。整句為;「人厭惡他可憎的同類」(Human being does not like his kind who is obnoxious)。形容人類常彼此憎惡,違反教義“a kindly manner”,見61行註釋。

80-81

writes……r’s:指人不輕易諒解他人的錯誤,違反恕道,見61行“time in which to pay a debt.error只有三個r’s而寫成四個,顯示出怒不可、咆哮不已。79行影射的a griffoned sentence必然也是怒吠貌。

81

Among……humour:動物中唯一具有幽默感者。而80行卻充份顯示出人的毫無幽默感。人真是充滿矛盾(paradox)的動物。

82

Humour……years幽默感可以減少人際磨擦,亦可使人安於貧困,因此說可以省去不少的困擾和時間。

82

Unignorant:並非無知,只是稍具知識而已。

83

unemotional, and all emotion:有時十分理智,有時卻全然感情用事。又是paradox

84

everlasting vigour:不屈不撓的毅力。

85

power to grow:進步的能力。從經驗中學習的能力。

 

86-87

there……erecter:能使其他動物呼吸加速(breathe faster)、寒毛豎立(erecter)的動物(creatures)並不多。人是其中之一。指to be feared,比較34行。

erecter: erect itself in self-defense.

88-90

Not……step.人有時毫無所懼,有時膽怯無比(goes cowering forth),有時步履(tread)謹慎,好像隨時會遭遇阻礙。coweringlowering the body.paced……step”是過去分詞片語,形容“tread.paced to:調整步伐。

90-93

consistent……mammal:人吻合(consistent with)哺乳類的公式,溫血、無腮、四肢及少許毛髮。穿山甲也是哺乳類。

93

habitat:(動物的)棲息地。指人的居所。

94

serge-clad:穿著毛嗶嘰。cladclothe的過去分詞。

 

 

 strong-shod:穿厚重的鞋。shodshoe的過去分詞。與穿山甲天生的scales成對比。The prey of fear:被恐懼追逐的犧牲者。指人對死亡的恐懼。見下行註解。

95

curtailed:縮頭縮腦,害怕的樣子。亦可解釋為“cut short,”指人常常計劃受阻。比較26行穿山甲的“strongly intailed.extinguished:暗淡失色。thwarted by the dusk:因黑夜的籠罩而膽怯。“the dusk”暗示死亡的威脅。比較1516行穿山甲的黑夜出行。動物不會預期死亡。

95

work partly done:人在黑夜來臨前或面對死亡時,總有未意之業。

96

says to……blaze:此句主詞是93行的“he.”向交替黑夜(alternating)的白晝光輝(blaze)說道。白晝象徵新生(rebirth)、得救(salvation)、及復活(resurrection),引申為:人不只感受到死亡的威脅,也感受到新生代的交替。

98

anew each day:日日新之意。

99

that……soul:形容詞子句,修飾96行的“the sun”陽光進入我的心靈,平撫我的靈魂。人的靈魂(soul)是與動物最大的區別。動物只為求生(survive),人卻須要追求心靈、精神方面的希望及寄託。the sun: picture of God; grace.

 
   
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