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死亡,別狂傲,縱或有人稱你
聲勢駭人,然而並非如此;
那些你自信可以推翻的人
是不滅的,可憐的死亡,你未能殺我。
從憩息與睡眠,(這不過是你給人的形象)
產生不少樂趣;這樣,更豐富的還要從你產生,
而瞬間我們當中最好的人都隨你而逝,
他們的身體得安息,靈魂得釋放。
你不過受命運、機緣、帝王、絕望者奴役,
與毒藥、戰爭、疾病為伍,
然而罌粟或符咒也會得使我們入睡,
而且比你的魔力更高明;你為甚麼沾沾自喜?
短短的睡眠過後,我們將永遠醒來,
而死亡遂不再。死亡,你要喪命。

 

〈死亡,別狂傲〉(十四行詩)
─唐約翰

John Donne

“Death be not proud, though some have called thee”

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, 10
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.