托马斯ˇ潘恩
(THOMAS PAINE)

《自由之树》
Liberty Tree

(Library of Congress)


除了写革命小册子之外ˇ托马斯ˇ潘恩还写了《自由之树》。这是一首爱国诗歌ˇ1775年7月刊在《宾夕法尼亚杂志》或《美国博物馆月刊》上ˇ署名爲“阿特兰提克斯”ˇ这是潘恩常用的一个笔名。尽管《自由之树》这首诗歌在ˇ代已被遗忘ˇ但它也曾流行了好几年。


自由女神乘着光明的战车ˇ
从阳光灿烂的仙域驾来ˇ
一万名神仙引路ˇ
引导着高贵的女神走来ˇ
她就ˇ一根美丽含苞的花枝ˇ
从那千百万人和睦ˇ处的天上花园降下ˇ
手中拿着一棵她称作“自由之树”的植物ˇ
作爲她爱的ˇ征。

这株天上来的植物深深地插到地里ˇ
就ˇ是土生的树木ˇ茁壮成长ˇ开花结果ˇ
它的果实ˇ誉四方ˇ
引得周围各民族都来寻它的和平土地。
他们并不在乎族姓不同或他们之间的差别
因爲自由人可以ˇ兄弟一般和睦ˇ处ˇ
他们有同一种天赋精神ˇ追求同一种友谊ˇ
他们的殿堂同是“自由之树”。

他们就ˇ古时的长老坐在这棵美丽的树下
满意地吃着面包ˇ
他们不ˇ金ˇ不ˇ银ˇ
也不在乎荣华与ˇ贵。
他们供给老英格兰木材和焦油ˇ
还支援她在海上的霸权ˇ
爲了“自由之树”的荣誉ˇ
他们分文未取爲她战斗。

可是ˇ请你们这些年轻人听一听ˇ
(这是最污秽的故事)
怎麽所有的专制权贵ˇ
国王ˇ下院和上院都全力联合一致ˇ
要砍下这株保护我们的“自由之树”ˇ
从东到西ˇ吹起号角ˇ拿起武器ˇ
让号声ˇ遍大地ˇ
让远近四方的人ˇˇˇ振臂团结一致ˇ
捍卫我们的“自由之树”。

 

Thomas Paine
Liberty Tree

In a chariot of light from the regions of day,

    The Goddess of Liberty came;

Ten thousand celestials directed the way,

    And thither conducted the dame,

This fair budding branch, from the garden above,

    Where millions with millions agree;

She bro't in her hand, as a pledge of her love,

   The plant she call'd Liberty Tree.

 This celestial exotic struck deep in the ground,

    Like a native it flourish'd and bore;

The fame of its fruit, drew the nations around,

    To seek out its peaceable shore.

Unmindful of names or distinction they came,

    For freemen like brothers agree:

With one spirit endow'd, they one friendship pursued,

   And their temple was Liberty Tree.

 Beneath this fair branch, like the patriarchs of old,

    Their bread, in contentment they eat;

Unwearied with trouble, of silver or gold,

    Or the cares of the grand and the great,

With timber and tar, they old England supplied,

    Supported her power on the seas;

Her battles they fought, without having a groat,

   For the honor of Liberty Tree.

But hear, O ye swains, (‘tis a tale most profane)

   How all the tyrannical powers,

King, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain,

    To cut down this guardian of ours;

From the east to the west, blow the trumpet to arms,

    Thro' the land let the sound of it flee,

Let the far and the near,--all unite with a cheer,

   In defense of our Liberty Tree.