The Unknown Citizen
W .H. Auden [1907-1973]
(To JS/07/M/378 This Marble Monument Is Erected by the State)
He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint,
For in everything he did he served the Greater Community. 5
Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired,
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.
Yet he wasn’t a scab or odd in his views,
For his Union reports that he paid his dues, 10
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)
And our Social Psychology workers found
That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.
The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day
And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way. 15
Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured,
And his Health-card shows he was once in a hospital but left it cured.
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man， 20
A phonograph， a radio， a car and a frigidaire.
Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year；
When there was peace，he was for peace：when there was war，he went.
He was married and added five children to the population， 25
Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his
generation,
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education.
Was he free？ Was he happy？ The question is absurd：
Had anything been wrong，we should certainly have heard.
无名的公民
(献给JS/07 M 378该大理石纪念碑为本州所立)
他被统计局发现是
一个官方从未指摘过的人，
而且所有有关他品行的报告都表明：
用一个老式词儿的现代含义来说，他是个圣徒，
因为他所作所为都为一个更大的社会服务。
除了战时，直到退休
他都在一家工厂干活，从未遭到辞退，
而且他的雇主——福济汽车公司始终满意。
他并不拒绝加入工会，观点也不怪奇，
因为他的工会认为他会按期缴费，
（关于他所属工会我们的报告显示是可信的）
我们的社会心理学工作者发现
他很受同事欢迎，也喜欢喝上几杯。
新闻界深信他每天买份报纸
并且对那上面的广告反映正常。
他名下的保险单也证明他已买足了保险，
他的健康证上写着住过一次院，离开时已康复。
生产者研究所和高级生活部都宣称
他完全了解分期付款购物的好处
并拥有一个现代人必需的一切：
留声机，收音机，小汽车，电冰箱。
我们的舆论研究者甚感满意，
他能审时度势提出恰当的看法：
和平时拥护和平，战时就去打仗。
他结了婚，为全国人口添了五个孩子，
我们的优生学家说这对他那一代父母正好合适。
我们的教师报告也说他从不干预子女教育。
他自由吗？他幸福吗？这个问题太可笑：
如果真有什么错了，我们当然知道。
（范倍译） 】
这首诗的赏析是比较文学的课程作业。我觉得奥登的诗写得很好，和大家分享一下
[ 此贴被肖惠文在2012-06-30 21:02重新编辑 ]
