The Rape of the Lock

原文與注釋(Text and Annotation)

Canto V

She said: the pitying audience melt in tears,

 (1-2)
But Fate and Jove had stopped the Baron's ears.
In vain Thalestris with reproach assails, (3-4)
For who can move when fair Belinda fails?
Not half so fixed the Trojan could remain, 5 (5-6)
While Anna begged and Dido raged in vain.
Then grave Clarissa graceful waved her fan; (7-8)

Silence ensued, and thus the nymph began:

"Say, why are beauties praised and honoured most,

 [9-34] (9-10)

The wise man's passion, and the vain man's toast?

 10
Why decked with all that land and sea afford, (11-12)
Why angels called, and angel-like adored?
Why round our coaches crowd the white-gloved beaux,
Why bows the side box from its inmost rows?
How vain are all these glories, all our pains, 15
Unless good sense preserve what beauty gains:
That men may say, when we the front box grace,
Behold the first in virtue as in face! [18-23]
Oh! if to dance all night, and dress all day,
Charmed the smallpox, or chased old age away; 20
Who would not scorn what housewife's cares produce,
Or who would learn one earthly thing of use?
To patch, nay ogle, might become a saint,
Nor could it sure be such a sin to paint.
But since, alas! frail beauty must decay, 25
Curled or uncurled, since locks will turn to grey;
Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade,
And she who scorns a man, must die a maid,
What then remains but well our power to use,
And keep good humor still whatever we lose? 30
And trust me, dear! good humour can prevail,
When airs, and flights, and screams, and scolding fail.
Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll;

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul."

So spoke the dame, but no applause ensued:

 35 [35-44]
Belinda frowned, Thalestris called her prude.
To arms, to arms! the fierce virago cries,
And swift as lightning to the combate flies.
All side in parties, and begin the attack;
Fans clap, silks rustle, and tough whalebones crack; 40
Heroes' and heroins' shouts confusedly rise,
And base, and treble voices strike the skies.
No common weapons in their hands are found,

Like Gods they fight, nor dread a mortal wound.

So when bold Homer makes the Gods engage,

 45 [45-53]

And heavenly breasts with human passions rage;
'Gainst Pallas, Mars; Latona, Hermes, arms;
And all Olympus rings with loud alarms.
Jove's thunder roars, heaven trembles all around;
Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound; 50
Earth shakes her nodding towers, the ground gives way,

And the pale ghosts start at the flash of day!

Triumphant Umbriel on a sconce's height

 [53-56]
Clapped his glad wings, and sate to view the fight,
Propped on their bodkin spears the sprites survey 55

The growing combat, or assist the fray.

While through the press enraged Thalestris flies,

 [57-66]
And scatters death around from both her eyes,
A beau and witling perished in the throng,
One died in metaphor, and one in song. 60
"O cruel nymph! a living death I bear,"
Cried Dapperwit, and sunk beside his chair.
A mournful glance Sir Fopling upwards cast,
"Those eyes are made so killing"--was his last.
Thus on Meander's flow'ry margin lies 65 (65-66)

Th' expiring swan, and as he sings he dies.

When bold Sir Plume had drawn Clarissa down,

 [67-74]
Chloe stepped in, and killed him with a frown;
She smiled to see the doughty hero slain,

But, at her smile, the beau revived again.

 70

Now Jove suspends his golden scales in air,
Weighs the men's wits against the lady's hair;
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side;

At length the wits mount up, the hairs subside.

See fierce Belinda on the Baron flies,

 75 [75-86]
With more than usual lightning in her eyes:
Nor feared the chief the unequal fight to try,
Who sought no more than on his foe to die.
But this bold lord, with manly strength endued,
She with one finger and a thumb subdued: 80
Just where the breath of life his nostrils drew,
A charge of snuff the wily virgin threw;
The Gnomes direct, to every atom just,
The pungent grains of titillating dust,
Sudden, with starting tears each eye overflows, 85

And the high dome re-ecchoes to his nose.

"Now meet thy fate, incensed Belinda cryed, [87-96]
And drew a deadly bodkin from her side.

(The same, his ancient personage to deck,
Her great great grandsire wore about his neck 90
In three seal rings; which after melted down,
Form'd a vast buckle for his widow's gown:
Her infant grandame's whistle next it grew,
The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew;
Then in a bodkin graced her mother's hairs, 95

Which long she wore, and now Belinda wears.)

"Boast not my fall," he cryed, "insulting foe!

 [97-102]
Thou by some other shalt be laid as low.
Nor think, to die dejects my lofty mind:
All that I dread, is leaving you behind! 100
Rather than so, ah, let me still survive,

And burn in Cupid's flames-but burn alive."
"Restore the Lock!" she cries; and all around [103-112]
"Restore the Lock!" the vaulted roofs rebound.
Not fierce Othello in so loud a strain 105 (105-106)
Roared for the handkerchief that caused his pain.

But see how oft ambitious aims are crossed,
And chiefs contend till all the prize is lost!
The lock, obtained with guilt, and kept with pain,
In every place is sought, but sought in vain: 110
With such a prize no mortal must be blest,

So heaven decrees! with heaven who can contest?

Some thought it mounted to the lunar sphere, [113-122]
Since all things lost on earth, are treasured there.
There heroe's wits are kept in ponderous vases, 115
And beaux' in snuffboxes and tweezer cases.
There broken vows, and deathbed alms are found,
And lovers' hearts with ends of riband bound;
The courtier's promises, and the sick man's prayers,
The smiles of harlots, and the tears of heirs, 120
Cages for gnats, and chains to yoak a flea;

Dried butterflies, and tomes of casuistry.

But trust the Muse-she saw it upward rise,

 [123-132]
Though marked by none but quick, poetic, eyes
(So Rome's great founder to the heavens withdrew, 125
To Proculus alone confessed in view);
A sudden star, it shot through liquid air,    

And drew behind a radiant trail of hair.
Not Berenice's locks first rose so bright,
The skies bespangling with disheveled light. 130
The Sylphs behold it kindling as it flies,

And pleased pursue its progress through the skies.

This the beau monde shall from the Mall survey,

 [133-140]
And hail with musicits propitious ray.
This the blest lover shall for Venus take, 135
And send up vows from Rosamonda's Lake.
This Partridge soon shall view in cloudless skies
When next he looks through Gallileo's eyes;
And hence the egregious wizard shall foredoom

The fate of Louis, and the fall of Rome.

 140

Then cease, bright nymph! to mourn the ravished hair

 [141-150]
Which adds new glory to the shining sphere!

Not all the tresses that fair head can boast
Shall draw such envy as the Lock you lost.
For, after all the murders of your eye, 145
When, after millions slain, yourself shall die;
When those fair suns shall set, as set they must,
And all those tresses shall be laid in dust;
This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to fame,

And 'midst the stars inscribe Belinda's Name!

 150
Line / No.
Word or Phrase
Annotation
1-2
 Belinda講完話後，可憐她的朋友都流下眼淚來，但是鐵石心腸的Baron卻把她的話置若罔聞，無動於衷。[back]
1
 melt in tears 心軟而流淚。[back]
2
 Jove 即Juptier（羅馬神話中的主神）。此處作者模仿Aeneid中的一句話："Fate, and the God, stop'd his Ears to Love."[back]
3-4
 Belinda本人都沒法感動他，Thalestris罵他更是沒用。[back]
3
 Thalestris assails (the Baron) in vain with reproach. = who can move (him) when Belinda (herself) cannot move (him).[back]
4
 who can move (him) when Belinda (herself) cannot move (him).
Move 感動之意。[back]
5-6
 Trojan的狠心尚不及Baron的一半。[back]
5
 Trojan…vain 典故群見Virgil's Aeneid III, 437-43。Jupiter 命令Trojan（或稱Aeneas，為故事中之主角）必須不顧Dido（迦太基女皇）和女皇妹妹 Anna請求，毅然離開迦太基。Virgil而且還把 Trojan比擬為一棟橡樹在暴風雨中屹立不搖。[back]
7-8
 Clarrisa搖著扇子，要大家安靜，然後她便開始說話。[back]
8
 Silence ensued Silence followed接著就靜下來了。
nymph 指Clarissa。[back]
[第9-34節大意]:第九行至第三十四行為Clarissa要大家安靜後所說的話，內容可分兩段說明：第一段(9-18)，女人只有美貌(beauty)尚不夠，一定還要有good sense ，換句話說除了美貌而外，還要有美德(virtue)；第二段(19-34)，女人唯具姿色是無用的，還得去學點有用的東西，媚力只能吸引男人來看她，德性卻能贏得男人的靈魂。[back]
9-10
 Say why are beauties praised and honored most by the wise man's passion and vain man's toast?[back]
9
 beauties 美人。[back]
10
 vain 虛榮自負的。
toast 飲酒祝頌；乾杯。[back]
11-12
 Why decked with…, / Why angels called…? / Why are we (beauties) decked…, / Why are we called angels…?[back]
11
 decked decorated裝飾或打扮。
all that land and sea afford 世上應有盡有的飾物。[back]
13
 the white-glove beaux 帶白手套的情郎或追求者，指英俊瀟灑的男人。[back]
14
 the side box from the inmost rows 戲院中最前排側面的包廂，指的是戲院中最佳坐位上的男士。[back]
16
 good sense 才能保留住美色所吸引來的榮耀。[back]
[第18-23節大意]:若大家徹夜歌舞，竟日只注意衣著，誰要來做家事和學點有用的東西呢？[back]
20
 Charmed the smallpox could cure the smallpox.據載Petre一家在前後二十七年間死於天花者有十八人之多。本詩的男主角Lord Petre也於一七一三年死於天花。[back]
22
 of use useful有用的。[back]
23
 To patch 見Canto I, 138行註。
ogle 拋媚眼。[back]
24
 Nor could it sure be such a sin to paint. To paint could not surely be such a sin.
to paint 化粧。[back]
28
 maid virgin maid，處女。[back]
29
 our power to use our power to work.[back]
30
 good humor 好脾氣。[back]
32
 airs…flights…screams …scolding 指女人情感上所容易出現的壞脾氣。[back]
33
 Beauties (美人) may roll their pretty eyes in vain. [back]
34
 Charms 媚力；迷力。
strike 吸引。[back]
[第35-44節大意]:Clarissa說完無人鼓掌稱好，Thalestris向在場的女仕大呼「動武！動武！」，隨即男男女女打成一團，就像天神們互鬥一般的兇猛。[back]
37
 virago 潑婦，指Thalestris。[back]
39
 All side in parties side為動詞，即take sides。在場的男女都參入了惡鬥的行列。[back]
40
 whalebone 當時女人裙內常襯有鯨魚骨做的架子使裙子能泡起來。[back]
[第45-53節大意]:荷馬史詩中，描述天神惡鬥的場面，真所謂戰得天昏地暗。
[back]
47
 荷馬史詩Iliad二十章，描述Mars與Pallas; Hermes與Latona兩組分別互鬥。本行句法曲折，在表現兩組大戰方酣的情景。應為： Mars (arms) against Pallas; Hermes arms (against) Latona.[back]
50
 海神Neptune狂風大作，海上便波濤洶湧起來。[back]
[第53-56節大意]:Umbriel高居壁上，得意地從旁觀戰，其他小精靈有的也靠在打針上觀戰，有的則參與了惡鬥的行列。[back]
53
 sconce 一枝高高按在壁上的臘燭。[back]
56
 fray fight.[back]
[第57-66節大意]:Thalestris在亂軍中衝殺，她顧盼之間，許多男士們便一命鳴呼。[back]
57
 the press the crowd. [back]
59
 witling 自作聰明的人。[back]
62
 Dapperwit 一個杜撰的名字，Dapper：漂亮整潔， wit就是指59行的witling。[back]
63
 Fopling 也是一個杜撰的名字，指59行的beau。 Fop紈糸夸子。[back]
65
 Maeander's flowery margins Maeander為小亞細亞一河名，以婉延曲折著稱。margins河岸。[back]
65-66
 混戰中一位男士就像天鵝似的，臨終前叫了一聲，然後便死在蜿蜒的河岸上。[back]
[第67-74節大意]: Sir Plume把Clarrisa拉倒。Chloe介入，以一個顰眉便取了Sir Plume的性命。Chloe因得勝而失笑，結果她的笑容反使Sir Plume死裏復活。天神 Jove裁決戰況，認為女方獲勝。[back]
68
 Chloe 為一女牧羊人。[back]
69
 doughty 勇猛的。[back]
71
 golden scales 金質的天秤。[back]
73
 秤桿兩頭忽上忽下，戰鬥的勝負一時難判定。[back]
74
 終於男方上昇，女方下降，女方重於男方，故女方獲勝。[back]
[第75-86節大意]:Belinda眼中射出異常的電光，追襲男爵，雙方各不示弱， Belinda用兩指把鼻煙粉彈人男爵鼻孔中（因土精Gnome從中指引，煙粉方能粒粒中的）。頓時，男爵淚珠四溢，噴啑之聲響徹宮中穹屋。[back]
77
 the chief 指男爵，暗示史詩中兩軍對陣的將領。
the unequal fight 一面倒，或實力懸殊的戰鬥，因為Jove已經判定女方獲勝。[back]
78
 On his foe to die 是一雙關語，除戰死在敵人身上之外，另含有男女性愛的意思，此行暗示男爵心存不軌。his foe指Belinda。[back]
82
 wily virgin 足智多謀的Belinda。[back]
83
 to every atom just （土精從中指引）使每粒煙粉命中目標。[back]
84
 The pungent grains 刺激的煙粉。
titillating dust 令人發痴的煙灰。[back]
[第87-96節大意]:盛怒中的Belinda大吼道：「現在送你上西天！」。然後從身邊（或頭側）取下一個致命的扣針（也是短刀）。這個扣針是她的傳家之寶，已變了好幾次外型。最先在她高曾祖父手中，是三個有印章的指環，掛在老人的脖子上，老人死後又鑄成他寡妻衣袍上的一個大型釦子。其後再鑄成小兒玩的口哨。傳到 Belinda母親手中時，卻變成了一個髮針，如今Belinda使用的正是這個髮針。[back]
87
 meet thy fate 送你上西天。[back]
89
 his ancient personage to deck 裝飾他那衰老的容貌。[back]
91
 In three seal rings 三個有印章的指環。[back]
[第97-102節大意]:Baron喊道：「別以我的敗亡而沾沾自喜，總有人會把妳也壓垮，死並不足使我頹喪志氣，惟離妳而去令我不安，讓我仍留人間活活焚燒在愛火之中。」[back]
97
 insulting foe 指Belinda。[back]
98
 shalt be laid as low low又是一雙關語，除解作「敗倒」而外，也含有「人下人」之意。[back]
[第103-12節大意]:Belinda大叫「還我秀髮來！」眾人齊聲應和，其聲宏亮勝過奧賽羅向妻子要手帕的怒吼，但秀髮遍不著，這是天意使然，人何能與天相爭？ [back]
105-06
 奧賽羅(Othello)懷疑妻子Desdemona把自己珍視的手帕給了Cassio ，而怒吼要妻子繳出手帕來。[back]
107
 常見壯志受挫。[back]
108
 chiefs 指參與爭執的雙方主要人物。[back]
[第113-22節大意]:有人認為秀髮已昇上月球，因為人間一切虛假、瑣碎、無用的東西都何存在月球上。[back]
116
 tweezers cases 鉗子盒。[back]
122
 tomes of casuistry tome大冊。Casuistry決疑論。尤指那些過份小題大作的論作。[back]
[第123-32節大意]:具有敏銳慧眼的詩神親見秀髮臨空而去，變成一顆明星，拖著光芒的髮尾劃過長空，Sylphs尾隨其後臨空飛去。[back]
123
 the Muse 指Pope自己。[back]
125
 Rome's great founder 即Romulus，為戰神Mars之子，據說在狂風暴雨之中被戰神帶上天去，羅馬人奉 Romulus為神明。[back]
126
 Proculus 為羅馬的一名國會議員，據說Romulus昇天之前曾只向他一人表明自己有被羅馬人奉為神明的願望。[back]
129
 Berenice's locks Berenice一埃及皇后，為使丈夫從征戰中平安歸來，把自己的秀髮獻給愛神Venus。其秀髮變成一顆慧星。在北半球有個叫做 Coma Berenicis (=Berenice's hair)的星座，其名即得自此典故。[back]
130
 bespangling with disheveled light飾有凌亂的光亮。Disheveled是特指頭髮亂。這顆由Belinda秀髮變成的慧星，光芒四射，仍以頭髮的蓬亂狀。[back]
[第133-40節大意]: 這顆慧星因來歷不明，故有各種不同的惴測。[back]
133
 the beau monde 時髦的少年。
the Mall 為St. James宮附近一遊樂場，詳情參見「緒言」部分。[back]
136
 Rosamonda's Lake 倫敦市內St. James公園內一長方形的溝，請參見「緒言」部分。[back]
137
 Partridge John Partridge (1644-1715)為一星象專家兼著書製作人，他預言法王和羅馬教皇都將崩潰。即140行所提及的事。[back]
138
 Galileo's eyes 伽利略（Galilei Galileo 1564-1642意大利物理及天文學家）的天文觀察鏡。[back]
139
 egregious wizard 卓越的（過份的）巫師（妖術家）指137行的Partridge。[back]
140
 Louis 法王。
Rome 羅馬教皇，參見137說明。[back]
[第141-50節大意]:詩人向Belinda央求，勿再為失去的秀髮而悲憾，因為美女死後其秀髮能昇天成星者，百萬中不過一人而已。Belinda的秀髮因神之助，得以昇天永駐群星之中。[back]
145
 murders of your eye 死於Belinda顧盼之間的人。[back]
147
 fair suns 眾姝。[back]

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