38

My love, once upon a time your poet launched a great epic in his mind.

Alas, I was not careful, and it struck your ringing anklets and came to grief.

It broke up into scraps of songs and lay scattered at your feet.

All my cargo of the stories of old wars was tossed by the laughing waves and soaked in tears and sank.

You must make this loss good to me, my love.

If my claims to immortal fame after death are shattered, make me immortal while I live.

And I will not mourn for my loss nor blame you.

我的爱人，从前有一天，你的诗人把一首伟大史诗装进他的心里了。

唉，是我不小心，它击在你叮当响的脚镯上而引起悲楚。

它裂成诗歌的碎片散落在你的脚边。

我满载古代战争的货物，被笑浪颠簸，被泪水浸透而下沉。

你必须补偿我的损失，我的爱人。

如果我死后不朽的光荣的希望都破灭了，那就在生前让我不朽吧。

我不会为这损失伤心，也不会责备你。