《羅馬帝國衰亡史》簡介 （下）

人文經典從來不乏絕妙好辭，正如尼採在《悲劇的誕生》中對酒神狂歡的恣縱張揚，丹納在《藝術哲學》中對尼德蘭風光的繪飾點染，《羅馬帝國衰亡史》作為文學名作，更是鏤金錯彩，辭藻繽紛。

這是教化未被，尚待文明的不列顛：

The masters of the fairest and most wealthy climates of the globe turned with contempt from gloomy hills assailed by the winter tempest, from lakes concealed in a blue mist, and from cold and lonely heaths, over which the deer of the forest were chased by a troop of naked barbarians.

這裡陰風怒號，雨雪在茫茫的山丘間肆虐，湖泊上煙嵐橫鎖，霧靄沉沉，原野一片荒寒蕭瑟，林間麋鹿成群，赤裸的蠻民在其間奔突驅馳。世間風調雨順的沃野膏壤盡為羅馬所有，面諸此景，他們滿臉鄙夷，掉頭而去。

這是野性盎然，人工未施的烏克蘭：

…… a country of considerable extent and uncommon fertility, intersected with navigable rivers, which, from either side, discharge themselves into the Borysthenes; and interspersed with large and lofty forests of oaks. The plenty of game and fish, the innumerable beehives, deposited in the hollows of old trees, and in the cavities of rocks, and forming, even in that rude age, a valuable branch of commerce, the size of the cattle, the temperature of the air, the aptness of the soil for every species of grain, and the luxuriancy of the vegetation, all displayed the liberality of Nature, and tempted the industry of man.

那是一方廣袤寥廓的大地，沃野膏壤非同尋常，碩大高聳的橡樹森林隨處可見，適於舟航的河流蜿蜒穿行，分向奔涌匯入波利斯蒂尼斯河。這裡獵物豐饒，魚類充沛，群蜂嚶嚶，或築巢於古樹空干，或寄居於岩穴罅隙，即便在樸野的時代，這也是上佳的貿易資源。大量的牛群，宜人的氣候，繁茂的草木，以及宜於各類穀物生長的土壤，無不顯示出上蒼的嘉惠，歆動著人類的勞作。

羅馬大帝戴克里先棄置權杖，歸隱田園：

The soil was dry and fertile, the air is pure and wholesome, and, though extremely hot during the summer months, this country seldom feels those sultry and noxious winds to which the coasts of Istria and some parts of Italy are exposed. The views from the palace are no less beautiful than the soil and climate were inviting. Towards the west lies the fertile shore that stretches along the Adriatic, in which a number of small islands are scattered in such a manner as to give this part of the sea the appearance of a great lake. On the north side lies the bay, which led to the ancient city of Salona; and the country beyond it, appearing in sight, forms a proper contrast to that more extensive prospect of water which the Adriatic presents both to the south and to the east. Towards the north the view is terminated by high and irregular mountains, situated at a proper distance, and in many places covered with villages, woods, and vineyards.

薩洛納土壤乾燥肥沃，空氣清新怡人，雖有夏日的暴熱，卻無掠及伊斯特拉和義大利某些地方悶濕傷人的熱風。殿外風光旖旎，盡享風土節侯之利。肥沃的亞得里亞海岸西向蜿蜒，海島星羅棋布，營造出一方浩淼水泊的壯麗氣象。北邊是一抹水灣，跟薩洛納古城相鄰，水灣那邊的曠野映入眼帘，與南邊和東邊的亞得里亞茫茫海域相得益彰。北向而眺，但見峰巒聳立，起伏綿延，原野上村鎮遍布，森林和葡萄園斑斑點點。

除卻景物點染，還有人物描摹，誰能想到這是出自史學典籍的文字：

She claimed her descent from the Macedonian kings of Egypt, equalled in beauty her ancestor Cleopatra, and far surpassed that princess in chastity and valour. Zenobia was esteemed the most lovely as well as the most heroic of her sex. She was of a dark complexion (for in speaking of a lady these trifles become important). Her teeth were of a pearly whiteness, and her large black eyes sparkled with uncommon fire, tempered by the most attractive sweetness. Her voice was strong and harmonious. Her manly understanding was strengthened and adorned by study. She was not ignorant of the Latin tongue, but possesed in equal perfection the Greek, the Syriac, and the Egyptian languages. She had drawn up for her own use an epitome of oriental history, and familiarly compared the beauties of Homer and Plato under the tuition of the sublime Longinus.

她聲稱自己身出埃及的馬其頓諸王，且與前輩克里奧帕特拉美貌相抗，然而，若論清白守貞、尚武善戰，卻遠非此人所能比肩。在世人眼中，身為女性的芝諾比亞不僅勇武過人，而且魅力超群。她皮膚黝黑（如是枝節無關本書宏旨，於女性而言卻干係甚大），皓齒列珠，雙目烏亮，雖則熾烈似火，然而恬美迷人，可謂相得益彰，天趣自成；她嗓音剛健卻不失甜潤；她格局廓大，氣象不凡，又因學識之助而勁健強悍，錦上著花；她熟悉拉丁口音，且精通希臘、敘利亞和埃及的語言；她輯錄了一部東方簡史以為己用，在崇高的朗基努斯教導之下，出入荷馬與柏拉圖之間，含英咀華，遊刃有餘。

言及文明國度與化外蠻邦的外交往來，吉本一語道破天機：

The wretched expedient of disguising a real tribute under the names of a gift or subsidy was practised by the emperors of China as well as by those of Rome. But there still remained a more disgraceful article of tribute, which violated the sacred feelings of humanity and nature.

以封賞之名行納貢之實，不僅是羅馬君主醜陋的權益舉措，也是中國帝王可鄙的應急行徑。更有甚者，有一項貢物尤為可恥，踐踏天道而悖逆人倫。

因此，他提到漢廷公主和親遠嫁，身適北狄的悲慘處境：

The situation of these unhappy victims is described in the verses of a Chinese princess, who laments that she had been condemned by her parents to a distant exile, under a barbarian husband; who complains that sour milk was her only drink, raw flesh her only food, a tent her only palace; and who expresses, in a strain of pathetic simplicity, the natural wish that she were transformed into a bird, to fly back to her dear country, the object of her tender and perpetual regret.

有位中國公主在詩中寫到無辜遭罪的悲慘處境，哀嘆父母狠心，讓她遠嫁異邦，身適韃虜，抱怨飲唯乳酪，食僅腥膻，身幽氈廬聊為宮室。她悲從中來，吞聲飲泣，但願化身為鳥，翔至魂牽夢縈的故國，告慰綿綿不絕的傷慟與眷戀。

吉本所謂乃出塞和親的細君公主。武帝為了尋求聯盟夾擊匈奴，將江都王劉建之女細君嫁於烏孫王。遠適異邦，風土迥異，她整日悲苦，嗟嘆連連，《漢書·西域傳》載有其辭：

吾家嫁我兮天一方，

遠托異國兮烏孫王，

穹廬為室兮旃為牆，

以肉為食兮酪為漿，

居常土思兮心內傷，

願為黃鵠兮歸故鄉。

本欄目內容見同步微信公眾號「譯心譯藝（E-C080204）」，敬請關注。