The Footsteps Poem by Luo Zhihai

★ The Footsteps
☆ Poetry by Constantine P. Cavafy


Eagles of coral
adorn the ebony bed
where Nero lies fast asleep
callous, happy, peaceful,
in the prime of his body's strength,
in the fine vigour of youth.

But in the alabaster hall that holds
the ancient shrine of the Aenobarbi
how restless the household deities!
The little gods tremble
and try to hide their insignificant bodies.
They've heard a terrible sound,
a deadly sound coming up the stairs,
iron footsteps that shake the staircase;
and, faint with fear, the miserable Lares
scramble to the back of the shrine,
shoving each other and stumbling,
one little god falling over another,
because they know what kind of sound that is,
know by now the footsteps of the Furies.


▲ Chinese Translation

★ 脚步

☆ [美国] 康斯坦丁•皮•卡瓦菲（1863-1933） 诗
☆ [中国] 罗志海 (1954-) 译


珊瑚鹰
装饰乌木床
尼禄躺着很快睡着的床
木然，欢乐，安祥
他旺盛的身体
充满青春活力

在大理石大厅安放
安挪巴比古老神龛
家神躁动坐立不安
小神们打颤
试图隐藏自己微不足道的身体
他们已经听到一个可怕的声音
一个致命的声音正在上楼梯
铁步沉重摇晃着楼梯
守护神痛苦、恐惧、惶恐不安
争先躲在神龛背面
相互推搡跌跌撞撞
一个小神摔倒在另一个身上
因为他们知道那是什么声音来着
知道那是复仇女神的脚步，正当此刻


2015年8月5日翻译
On August 5,2015, Translation