By Toshiaki Fukuhara, Professor Emeritus, SＵ

Professor Fukuhara has contributed to the YOUTH FORUM his Japanese translation of Rossetti's "SONG" with brief notes. She was a celebrated English poet (Dec.5,1830 - Dec.29,1894).

Professor Fukuhara remarks: "This poem composed on December 12, 1848, ranks one of my favorites. How fascinated you would be to leave this earthly existence and enter another hereafter with such a serene and peaceful state of mind as is presented by this charming little piece!"

Please enjoy and appreciate this masterpiece of young Christina's in the original by way of notes and Japanese translation.

SONG 　　　　「歌」

Christina G. Rossetti クリスティナ　Ｇ．ロセッティ

When I am dead, my dearest, 君よ、我みまかるとても

Sing no sad songs for me: 悲しみの歌な歌いそ。

Plant thou no roses at my head, 墓の辺(へ)にうばらも植えず、

　Nor shady cypress tree; 蔭おとす杉も植えじな。

Be the green grass above me 緑なす草こそ覆え、

With showers and dew drops wet; しとど雨露に濡れつつ。

And if thou wilt, remember, 想いでよ、み心あらば、

And if thou wilt, forget. されど君忘るるもよし。

I shall not see the shadows, 影も見ず雨にも触れず、

I shall not feel the rain; 　 やるせなき小夜啼き鳥の　

I shall not hear the nightingale 苦しみにむせぶが如き

Sing on, as if in pain; 　 啼く音(ね)も聞かず、

And dreaming through the twilight とこしえにたゆとう

That doth not rise nor set, 　 たそがれに夢みつ、

Haply I may remember, たまゆらに想いいずるや、

And haply may forget. はたやはた忘るるや我。

　　　　　・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Japanese Translation w/Notes:

By Toshiaki Fukuhara, Professor Emeritus SU

Notes:

Source: The Poetical Works of Christina Georgia Rossetti with Memoir and Notes by William Michael Rossetti MacMillan & Co. Ltd., London (1924).

thou = you; plant thou… = you plant… (これは一種の命令文);　be the green grass… (同) = let the green grass be…; with showers…wet = wet with showers…; if thou wilt = if you will; 第2聯(stanza)の3〜４行目は所謂 run-on verse; doth=does; haply=perhaps; rise/set: cf. sunrise/sunset

SONG is among the most beloved poetical works by Christina Georgia Rossetti, an English poet (1840-1894), as is attested by his brother William Michael in his notes to the anthology above listed.

He remarks: “This celebrated lyric composed on December 7,1848 has perhaps been oftener quoted, and certainly oftener set to music, than anything else by Christina . . .” Dante Gabriel, another brother of hers, was also a distinguished poet.