Lopburi, Tailàndia. Una persona allibera un ocell de la gàbia en senyal de bona sort. Fotografia: Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters.
Ode On Solitude
Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
Whose herds with milk, whose fields with [bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.
Blest, who can unconcern’dly find
Hours, days, and years slide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day;
Hours, days, and years slide soft away,
In health of body, peace of mind,
Quiet by day;
Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
Together mix’d; sweet recreation;
And innocence, which most does please,
With meditation.
Together mix’d; sweet recreation;
And innocence, which most does please,
With meditation.
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
Thus unlamented let me die,
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.
Thus unlamented let me die,
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.
Alexander Pope (1688-1744), Ode On Solitude, 1700.
Oda sobre la solitud
Feliç l’home el desig i cura del qual
és limitat per alguns pocs acres paterns,
i s’acontenta tot respirant l’aire nadiu,
en son terreny.
A qui la vacada dóna llet, i pa els camps
i els seus ramats proporcionen abillament,
a qui, a l’estiu, donen ombra els seus arbres,
foc a l’hivern.
Beneït qui pot, despreocupat, veure com hores,
dies i anys s’esmunyen suaument,
amb salut de cos i pau mental,
tranquil de dia,
ben adormit de nits; estudi i lleure,
ben conjuntats; i dolç esbarjo;
i innocència, que complau més
tot meditant.
Així vull viure, desapercebut, desconegut;
i així morir sense que em planyin;
robat al món, i ni una pedra
per dir on sóc.
Poesia anglesa i nord-americana. Traducció de Francesc Parcerisas. Barcelona: Ed. 62, 1885, p. 220.