布莱希特诗一首 Fragen eines lesenden Arbeiters / A Worker Reads History

Karldeutsch

某个英文译本


A Worker Reads History
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; r% Q# C, a$ x4 q7 bWho built the seven gates of Thebes?
The books are filled with names of kings.
) c# h$ H4 W7 \% ]' F, z9 z/ Q: i1 {) W, mWas it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time? In which of Lima's houses,
- p. }- e4 o) H; m/ iThat city glittering with gold, lived those who built it?
In the evening when the Chinese wall was finished
Where did the masons go? Imperial Rome
Is full of arcs of triumph. Who reared them up? Over whom
. G$ S0 ?6 ^) o, A0 o) p4 GDid the Caesars triumph? Byzantium lives in song.
Were all her dwellings palaces? And even in Atlantis of the legend
2 z$ F  `9 u9 |7 Y1 G' BThe night the seas rushed in,
- o9 u1 a0 }3 }The drowning men still bellowed for their slaves.

  r  W5 M( L# f! _  u1 bYoung Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
$ o' w+ |0 S7 ]2 @' XWas there not even a cook in his army?
Phillip of Spain wept as his fleet
+ E$ n/ |+ V8 L9 t1 E  D( dwas sunk and destroyed. Were there no other tears?
# Z$ `. Z2 R- c' ?( L! g2 LFrederick the Greek triumphed in the Seven Years War.
Who triumphed with him?
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Each page a victory
At whose expense the victory ball?
Every ten years a great man,
% T& n& a* @8 E6 g: g8 pWho paid the piper?

So many particulars.
So many questions.

此诗为耶鲁大学John Merriman历史202（现代欧洲史）第一堂大课所提，引人深思。历史到底是个啥？