美女争芳若霸王（七律）❶

亚历山大•蒲伯

傅正明衍译

美女争芳若霸王，老来无友缺忠良，
退朝常惧失皇位，背信更忧归大荒。
病染残花人厌倦，香添初蓓蝶癫狂，
可怜春去谁珍惜，月照秋林薄命亡。

Alexander Pope(1688-1744)

Beauties, like tyrants, old and friendless grown,
Yet hate repose, and dread to be alone,
Worn out in public, weary ev'ry eye,
Nor leave one sigh behind them when they die.

❶ 节译自英国诗人亚历山大.蒲伯《诗函致各种人物：诗函二：致一位女士》（Epistles to Several Persons: Epistle II: To a Lady on the Characters of Women）。