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Alcuin of York
Works 7
Latin original · 2 verses · some words can be tapped for a gloss
7:1
Hic, rogo, pauxillum veniens subsiste, viator. et mea scrutare pectore dicta tuo, ut tua deque meis agnoscas fata figuris: vertitur o species, ut mea, sique tua. quod nunc es fueram, famosus in orbe, viator, et quod nunc ego sum, tuque futurus eris. delicias mundi casso sectabar amore, nunc cinis et pulvis, vermibus atque cibus. quapropter potius animam curare memento, quam carnem, quoniam haec manet, illa perit. cur tibi rura paras? quam parvo cernis in antro me tenet hic requies: sic tua parva fiet. cur Tyrio corpus inhias vestirier ostro quod mox esuriens pulvere vermis edet? ut flores pereunt vento veniente minaci, sic tua namque, caro, gloria tota perit.
Here, I pray, traveller, coming by, stop a little while, and ponder my words in your heart, that from my image you may recognize your own destiny: O how appearance is changed — as mine, so also yours. What you now are, I once was, famous in the world, traveller; and what I now am, you too shall one day be. I pursued the delights of the world in vain love; now I am ash and dust, and food for worms. Therefore remember rather to care for the soul than for the flesh, since this remains, but that perishes. Why do you prepare estates for yourself? In how small a cave you see this rest holds me here: so shall yours also become small. Why do you long to clothe your body in Tyrian purple, which soon the hungry worm will devour into dust? As flowers perish when the menacing wind comes, so likewise, O flesh, all your glory perishes.
行路的人哪，我求你，從這裡經過時稍停片刻，在你心中思想我的話，好叫你從我的形像認出你自己的命運：看哪，外貌如何改變——我怎樣，你也怎樣。行路的人哪，你現今是甚麼，我從前也是甚麼，在世上享有名聲；我現今是甚麼，你將來也必是甚麼。我曾以虛妄的愛追逐世界的歡樂；如今我是灰、是塵土，是蟲子的食物。所以你當記得，寧可顧念魂，不要顧念肉體，因為這魂存留，那肉體卻要朽壞。你為何為自己預備田產？看哪，這安息把我留在何等狹小的洞穴中：你的也必照樣變得狹小。你為何渴望用推羅的紫袍披裹身體？那身體不久就要被飢餓的蟲子吃成塵土。如同花朵在那威嚇的風來臨時凋謝，肉體啊，你一切的榮耀也照樣消逝。
7:2
tu mihi redde vicem, lector, rogo, carminis huius et dic: 'da veniam, Christe, tuo famulo.' obsecro, nulla manus violet pia iura sepulcri, personet angelica donec ab arce tuba: 'qui iaces in tumulo, terrae de pulvere surge, magnus adest iudex milibus innumeris.' Alchuine nomen erat sophiam mihi semper amanti, pro quo funde preces mente, legens titulum. Hic requiescit beatae memoriae domnus Alchuinus abba, qui obiit in pace XIV. Kal. Iunias. Quando legeritis, o vos omnes, orate pro eo et dicite, 'Requiem aeternam donet ei dominus.' Amen.
Repay me my turn, reader, I beg, for this song, and say: 'Grant pardon, O Christ, to your servant.' I beseech you, let no hand violate the holy rights of the tomb, until the angelic trumpet shall sound from the citadel on high: 'You who lie in the grave, rise up from the dust of the earth; the great Judge is at hand for countless thousands.' Alcuin was my name, ever loving wisdom; for which pour out prayers in your mind, you who read this inscription. Here rests the lord Alcuin, abbot of blessed memory, who died in peace on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of June. When you read this, O all of you, pray for him and say, 'May the Lord grant him eternal rest.' Amen.
讀者啊，我求你為這首詩回報我，說：「基督啊，求你赦免你的僕人。」我懇求，在天使的號角從至高的城樓響起以先，不可有手侵犯這墳墓神聖的權利——那號角必說：「躺臥在墳墓中的，從地上的塵土中起來罷；偉大的審判者已臨近那無數的千萬人。」我名叫阿爾昆，素來愛慕智慧；讀這碑文的人哪，求你在心中為我獻上禱告。此處安息的，是有福記念的阿爾昆院長，他在六月初一之前第十四日平安去世。你們眾人讀到這話時，求你們為他禱告，說：「願主賜他永遠的安息。」阿們。