作者ostracize (bucolic)
看板poetry
标题[分享] Steamboats, Viaducts and Railways
时间Mon Oct 20 17:56:02 2025
https://www.writersalmanac.org/index.html%3Fp=5819.html
Steamboats, Viaducts and Railways
by William Wordsworth
Motion and Means, on land and sea at war
With old poetic feeling, not for this,
Shall ye, by Poets even, be judged amiss!
Nor shall your presence, howsoe’ er it mar
The loveliness of Nature, prove a bar
To the Mind’s gaining that prophetic sense
Of future change, that point of vision, whence
May be discovered what in soul ye are.
In spite of all that beauty may disown
In your harsh features, Nature doth embrace
Her lawful offspring in Man’s art; and Time,
Pleased with your triumphs o’er his brother Space,
Accepts from your bold hands the proffered crown
Of hope, and smiles on you with cheer sublime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSZJRSABQEY
好的,我来将这段文字翻译成中文,尽量保留原诗的意境与风格:
---
《汽船、高架桥与铁路》
这是 William Wordsworth 的诗作标题,直译如下:
Steamboats → 汽船
Viaducts → 高架桥
Railways → 铁路
这个标题点明了诗的主题——19世纪工业革命带来的新交通工具与工程建设,以及它们对
自然景观和诗人感受的影响。
「动力与手段,於陆地与海洋上,
虽与古老的诗意相抗,却非因此,
即便是诗人,也不应对你们妄加评断!
你们的存在,纵使或许损毁了
大自然的美丽,也不会阻碍
心灵获得那先知般的洞见——
对未来变化的洞察,从那视角,
便能看清你们灵魂深处的真实。
尽管美可能否认你们
粗犷的形态,自然仍拥抱
人类艺术中的正当创造;而时间,
对你们征服其兄弟——空间的胜利心悦诚服,
接受你们勇敢之手所献的希望之冠,
以崇高的喜悦对你们微笑。」
**1. “Motion and Means, on land and sea at war
With old poetic feeling, not for this,
Shall ye, by Poets even, be judged amiss!”**
* **Meaning:**
“Motion and Means” refers to modern inventions like steamboats, trains,
and engineering works. They operate “on land and sea,” and seem to
challenge or conflict with the traditional ideals of poetry (“old poetic
feeling”).
Wordsworth asserts that despite this apparent conflict, poets should **not
judge these innovations unfairly**.
* **Devices:**
* Personification: “Motion and Means” are addressed as if they can be
judged.
* Contrast: The tension between innovation and “old poetic feeling.”
---
**2. “Nor shall your presence, howsoe’er it mar
The loveliness of Nature, prove a bar
To the Mind’s gaining that prophetic sense
Of future change, that point of vision, whence
May be discovered what in soul ye are.”**
* **Meaning:**
Even if these innovations disrupt the visible beauty of nature (“howsoe’
er it mar / The loveliness of Nature”), they **do not prevent the human
mind** from perceiving their deeper significance.
Wordsworth suggests that the mind can attain a “prophetic sense”—a
vision of the **future impact and purpose** of these inventions—and
understand their true essence (“what in soul ye are”).
* **Devices:**
* Syntax: Long, flowing sentences reflect contemplation.
* Imagery: “Loveliness of Nature” vs. industrial innovations.
* Philosophical tone: Mind as a seer, capable of perceiving deeper truths.
---
**3. “In spite of all that beauty may disown
In your harsh features, Nature doth embrace
Her lawful offspring in Man’s art; and Time,
Pleased with your triumphs o’er his brother Space,
Accepts from your bold hands the proffered crown
Of hope, and smiles on you with cheer sublime.”**
* **Meaning:**
Despite their rough or “harsh” appearance, Nature **accepts human
inventions** as legitimate creations (“lawful offspring in Man’s art”).
Time, as a metaphor for history or progress, **approves of humanity’s
ability to conquer space** through technology. These innovations offer hope
for the future, and the poet envisions them as celebrated and respected by
the larger forces of existence.
* **Devices:**
* Personification: Nature and Time are given conscious approval.
* Metaphor: Time’s “triumphs o’er his brother Space”—human engineering
overcomes physical distance.
* Elevated diction: “Proffered crown of hope,” “cheer sublime”—to give
a sense of grandeur and optimism.
---
**Summary of the passage:**
Wordsworth is reconciling **technological progress with poetic sensibility**.
He acknowledges that steamboats, railways, and viaducts may disrupt natural
beauty, but they are not intrinsically opposed to poetic insight. Instead,
they are part of human creativity embraced by Nature and validated by Time,
symbolizing hope and human mastery over the material world.
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※ 编辑: ostracize (114.36.211.191 台湾), 10/20/2025 17:58:02