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编者按：

倘若所有的星星消失或者消亡，

我应该学会仰望空荡的天空，

同时感受天空一片漆黑的崇高，

虽然这样可能要花费一点时间。

The More Loving One

W.H.Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well

That, for all they care, I can go to hell,

But on earth indifference is the least

We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn

With a passion for us we could not return?

If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am

Of stars that do not give a damn,

I cannot, now I see them ,say

I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die

I should learn to look at an empty sky

And feel its total dark sublime,

Though this might take me a little time.

参考译文

仰望星空

/W.H.奥登

仰望群星的时分，我一清二楚，

尽管它们关怀备至，我亦有可能赴地府，

可是尘世间我们丝毫不必畏惧

人类或禽兽的那份冷漠。

倘若群星燃烧着关怀我们的激情，

我们却无法回报，我们作何感想？

倘若无法产生同样的感情，

让我成为更有爱心的人。

尽管我自视为群星的崇拜者，

它们满不在乎，

现在我看群星，我却难以启齿，

说我成天思念一颗星星。

倘若所有的星星消失或者消亡，

我应该学会仰望空荡的天空，

同时感受天空一片漆黑的崇高，

虽然这样可能要花费一点时间。