啊，假如我是紅色的玫瑰，

爬在光滑的玫瑰藤上面，

我會上去觸摸他的窗戶，

并將它打扮得好看。

假如我是一只小鳥兒，

在樹上不斷地鳴囀

我整天會為他歌唱愛情，

直到他聽見。

但因為我是個少女，

去時低垂著兩眼，

他根本聽不到歌聲，

已經(jīng)轉(zhuǎn)過身發(fā)出感嘆。

因為我是個少女，

我愛的人永遠不會

知道我可以把他親吻——

用比下面的玫瑰更紅的嘴。[1]

A Maiden

Oh if I were the velvet rose

Upon the red rose vine,

I'd climb to touch his window

And make his casement fine.

And if I were the little bird

That twitters on the tree,

All day I'd sing my love for him

Till he should harken me.

But since I am a maiden

I go with downcast eyes,

And he will never hear the songs

That he has turned to sighs.

And since I am a maiden

My love will never know

That I could kiss him with a mouth

More red than roses blow.

注釋

[1]少女是羞澀靦腆的，即使心中有了愛，也不會像詩中的玫瑰、小鳥那樣坦然去表達。于是所愛的人便無法知道。而這也是愛情中有時會出現(xiàn)的情形。