他站在梅锁朗奇(Mesolongion)的滩边(一八二四年,一月,四至二十二日)。海水在夕阳里起伏,周遭静瑟瑟的莫有人迹,只有连绵的砂碛,几处卑陋的草屋,古庙宇残圮的遗迹,三两株灰苍色的柱廊,天空飞舞着几只阔翅的海鸥,一片荒凉的暮景。他站在滩边,默想古希腊的荣华,雅典的文章,斯巴达的雄武,晚霞的颜色二千年来不曾消灭,但自由的鬼魂究不曾在海砂上留存些微痕迹……他独自的站着,默想他自己的身世,三十六年的光阴已在时间的灰烬中埋着,爱与憎,得志与屈辱:盛名与怨诅,志愿与罪恶,故乡与知友,威尼市的流水,罗马古剧场的夜色,阿尔帕斯的白雪,大自然的美景与愤怒,反叛的磨折与尊荣,自由的实现与梦境的消残……他看着海砂上映着的曼长的身形,凉风拂动着他的衣裾—寂寞的天地间的一个寂寞的伴侣—他的灵魂中不由的激起了一阵感慨的狂潮,他把手掌埋没了头面。此时日轮已经翳隐,天上星先后的显现,在这美丽的暝色中,流动着诗人的吟声,像是松风,像是海涛,像是蓝奥孔苦痛的呼声,像是海伦娜岛上绝望的吁欢—
Tistimethisheartshouldbeunmoved,
Sinceothersithathceasedtomove;
Yet,thoughIcannotbebeloved.
stillletmelove!
Mydaysareintheyellowleaf;
Theflowersandfruitsoflovearegone;
Theworm,thecanker,andthegrief;
Areminealone!
Thefirethatonmybosompreys
Isloneassomevolcanicisle;
Notorchiskindledatitsblaze—
Afuneralpile!
Thehope,thefear,thejealouscare,
Theexaltedportionofthepain
Andpoweroflove,Icannotshare,
Butwearthechain.
But’tisnotthus-and’tisnothere—
Suchthoughtsshouldshakemysoul,nornow,Whereglorydecksthehero’sbier
Orbindshisbrow.
Thesword,thebanner,andthefield,
GloryandGrace,aroundmesee!
TheSpartan,bornuponhisshield,
Wasnotmorefree.
Awake!(notGreece—sheisawake!)
Awake,myspirit!Thinkthroughwhom
Thelife—bloodtracksitsparentlake,
Andthenstrikehome!
Treadthoserevivingpassionsdown;
Unworthymanhood!—untothee
Indifferentshouldthesmileorfrown
Ofbeautybe.
Ifthouregret’stthyyouth,whylive;
Thelandofhonorabledeath
Ishere: —uptothefield,andgive
Awaythybreath!
Seekout—lesssoughtthanfound—
Adier’sgravefortheethebest;
Thenlookaround,andchoosethyground,Andtakethyrest.
年岁已经僵化我的柔心,