丹·史蒂文斯 | 朗读诗歌《无名的公民》

The Unknown Citizen

《无名的公民》

——by W. H. Auden

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be

他被统计局发现

One against whom there was no official complaint,

是个官方从未指摘过的人，

And all the reports on his conduct agree

而且一切有关他的品行的报告一致赞同——

That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint,

按照一个古老的词儿的现代意义来说， 他是个圣人，

For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.

因为他的所作所为无不为一个较大的社会服务。

Except for the War till the day he retired

除了战时以外， 直到退休那一天，

He worked in a factory and never got fired,

他一直在一家工厂干活， 从未被辞退过，

But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.

而且使他的雇主富奇汽车公司始终感到满意。

Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,

然而他不是拒绝参加工会者， 观点也不怪，

For his Union reports that he paid his dues,

因为他的工会说，他付会费，

(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)

（关于他所在的工会我们的报告认为是个稳健的组织）

And our Social Psychology workers found

而我们的社会心理学工作者们发现

That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.

他受到伙伴们的喜爱，也爱喝一杯。

The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day

新闻界深信，他天天买一份报，

And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.

而他对报纸广告的反应也无不正常。

Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured,

他名下的保险单证明，他是保足了险的，

And his Health-card shows he was once in a hospital but left it cured.

他的病历卡证明，他住过一次医院，可是出院时病已痊愈。

Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare

生产者研究所和高级生活调查报告都宣称，

He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan

他完全体会分期付款购货法的优点

And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,

他完全体会分期付款购货法的优点

A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.

留声机、收音机、汽车和电冰箱一应俱全。

Our researchers into Public Opinion are content

我们的舆论研究者感到满意，

That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;

他根据不同的时势表示恰当的意见：

When there was peace, he was for peace;

和平时他拥护和平；

when there was war, he went.

战争时他去从军作战。

He was married and added five children to the population,

他结过婚，给全国人口添了五个孩子。

Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation.

我们的优生学家说，这个数字对他那代的父亲正好;

And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education.

我们的教师报告说，他从不干涉孩子们的教育。

Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd:

他自由吗？他幸福吗？这问题真荒谬：

Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

如果有什么不对头，我们当然会知道。