From you have I been absent in the spring,
我离开你的时候正好是春天,
When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trim
当绚烂的四月,披上新的锦袄,
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,
把活泼的春心给万物灌注遍,
That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him.
连沉重的土星也跟着笑和跳。
Yet nor the lays of birds nor the sweet smell of different flowers in odour and in hue
可是无论小鸟的歌唱,或万紫千红、芬芳四溢的一簇簇鲜花,
Could make me any summer's story tell,
都不能使我诉说夏天的故事,
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew;
或从烂熳的山洼把它们采掐:
Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
我也不羡慕那百合花的洁白,
Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
也不赞美玫瑰花的一片红晕;
They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
它们不过是香,是悦目的雕刻,
Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
你才是它们所要摹拟的真身。
Yet seem'd it winter still, and, you away,
因此,于我还是严冬,而你不在,
As with your shadow I with these did play.
像逗着你影子,我逗它们开怀。
威廉·莎士比亚
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蝴蝶一词自带深邃又迷人的意境,那些和蝴蝶有关的词语也染上了神秘的色彩:
Leippya
缅甸语中的蝴蝶,有“死者的灵魂”的意思。
Kerlap
在马来语中是闪烁、闪光的意思,形容蝴蝶飞行时翅膀闪耀。
Papalotl
阿兹特克语中的蝴蝶,是农神霍奇皮利的标志之一,也象征闪烁的火光。
Itzpapalotl
阿兹特克神话中的夜神、黑曜石蝴蝶,与流星有关,也象征死于难产的妇女的灵魂。
Sommerfugl
挪威语中的蝴蝶,挪威冬天阴冷不会出现蝴蝶,到了夏天时,蝴蝶才会破茧而出,挪威人称它们为summer-birds。
Kilig
菲律宾的塔加拉族语,形容那种喜欢一个人喜欢得好像胃里正有成千上万只蝴蝶翩翩,一张嘴就要全部飞出来一样的醉醺醺、麻酥酥感。
Psyche
古希腊语中“灵魂”的意思,Psyche在希腊神话和罗马神话中是人类灵魂的化身,常以带有蝴蝶翅膀的少女形象出现,因此Psyche又从“灵魂”引申出“蝴蝶”之意。