卷一（四）　天意、世界之大与天球诸圈

Providence against the Epicureans

［驳伊壁鸠鲁派，论天意］

That this vast Frame is mov'd by Providence. / Which like the Soul doth every Whirl advance; / It must be God, nor was it made by Chance; / As Epicurus dreamt, He madly thought / This beauteous Frame of heedless Atoms wrought, / That Seas and Earth, the Stars and spacious Air / Which forms New Worlds, or doth the Old repair, / First rose from these, and still supply'd remain, / And All must be, when Chance shall break the Chain,

这证明了这个浩大的框架是由天意推动的；天意像灵魂一样推动每一次旋转；这必定是神，世界不是偶然造成的；伊壁鸠鲁却这样梦想，他疯狂地以为，这美丽的框架是由盲目的原子造成的，以为海洋与大地、群星与广阔的空气——它们形成新的世界，或修补旧的世界——最初都由原子产生，一直由原子补充存续；而当偶然打断这条链子时，一切都必定

Dissolv'd to these wild Principles again. / Absurd and Nonsense! Atheist use thine Eyes, / And having view'd the order of the Skies, / Think, if Thou canst, that Matter blindly hurld, / Without a Guide should frame this wonderous World.

解体，回到这些狂野的本原。荒谬，胡说！无神论者啊，用你的眼睛吧，看看诸天的秩序，然后想一想，如果你想得出的话：盲目抛撒的物质，没有向导，竟能造出这个奇妙的世界。

But did Chance make, and Chance still rule the Whole / Why do the Signs in constant order roll?

但如果是偶然造成了整体，又是偶然在统治它，为什么星座会依恒常的次序旋转？

Observe set Times to shut and open Day, / Nor meet, and justle, and mistake their Way?

为什么它们遵守固定的时刻关闭和开启白昼，而不相撞、推挤、走错路？

Perform their Course as if by Laws confin'd, / None hasten on, and leave the rest behind.

为什么它们运行时像受法则约束，没有一个抢先，把其余的抛在后面？

Why every Day doth the discovering Flame, / Show the same World, and leave it still the same?

为什么每天揭示万物的火光，照出的都是同一个世界，并让它始终保持原样？

E'en then when Troy was by the Greeks o'erthrown, / The Bear oppos'd to bright Orion shone; / She near the Pole in narrow Rounds did move, / He fac'd her then, and measur'd the vast space above.

即使在特洛伊被希腊人攻陷的时候，大熊也正与明亮的猎户相对闪耀；她在天极附近绕着窄小的圆圈运行，他那时就面对着她，量着上方广大的空间。

And e'en at Night when Time in secret flies, / And veils himself in Shades from humane Eyes; / They by the Signs could know how fast He fled, / And in the Skies the hasty Minutes read.

甚至在夜里，当时间悄悄飞逝，在黑暗中遮住自己、不让人眼看见时，人们凭着星座就能知道它飞得多快，在天上读出匆匆流逝的分秒。

How many Towns have fall'n, what well-built States, / Since Troy, have sunk below oppressing Fates?

自从特洛伊以来，有多少城镇倾覆，有多少完善的国家沉没在压迫的命运之下？

How many Times hath sporting Fortune hurld / The Chance of Rule and Slavery through the World?

嬉戏的命运女神多少次把统治与奴役的机运抛遍世界？

How hath she now reverst Troy's ancient Doom, / And built her Relicks greater up in Rome?

她又怎样扭转了特洛伊古老的劫数，用它的遗民在罗马建起更伟大的城？

Reviv'd old Ilium doth new Spoyls enjoy, / And Greece now bends beneath the Fate of Troy.

复活的伊利昂享有新的战利品，希腊如今屈服于特洛伊的命运之下。

Why should I count how oft the Earth hath mourn'd / The Sun's retreat, and smil'd when he return'd?

我何必细数大地有多少次为太阳的离去而哀伤，又为他的回归而欢笑？

How oft he doth his various Course divide / 'Twixt Winter's Nakedness and Summer's Pride?

他有多少次把多变的行程分配在冬天的萧瑟与夏天的繁盛之间？

All Mortal Things must change. The fruitfull Plain, / As Seasons turn, scarce knows her self again; / Such various forms she bears: large Empires too / Put off their former Face, and take a new.

一切凡物都必定变化。肥沃的平原随着季节轮转，几乎认不出自己，她呈现出如此多样的形貌；庞大的帝国也脱去旧日的面容，换上新的。

Yet safe the World, and free from Change doth last, / No Years encrease it, and no Years can waste; / Its Course it urges on, and keeps its Frame, / And still will be, because 'twas still the same.

然而世界安然无恙，不受变化，长存不灭；岁月不使它增大，岁月也不能使它损耗；它推进自己的行程，保持自己的框架，将来始终如此，因为它一向如此。

It stands secure from Time's devouring Rage, / For 'tis a God, nor can it change with Age.

它安然立于时间吞噬一切的狂暴之外，因为它是一位神，不会随着年岁而改变。

And that the Sun ne'er drives the rising Day / From North to South, nor leaves the beaten way; / That weary grown He still falls down the West / At Night, nor turns his Horses to the East; / That Light by just Degrees the Moon adorns, / First shews, then bends, then fills her borrow'd Horns, / And that the Stars in constant order roll, / Hang there, nor fall, and leave the liquid Pole;

太阳从不把升起的白昼从北驱向南，从不离开走惯的道路；他疲倦了总是在夜里落向西方，从不调转马头回到东方；月亮按着一定的度数得到光彩，先露出、再弯曲、再盈满她借来的角；群星依恒常的次序旋转，悬在那里，不坠落，不离开流动的天极；

'Tis not from Chance; The Motion speaks aloud / The wise and steddy conduct of the God.

这都不是出于偶然；运动本身就在高声宣告神的明智而稳定的引导。

These equally dispos'd in Order lye, / Make various Shapes, and chequer all the Skie.

这些星井然有序地排列，组成种种形象，把天空装点得斑斓多彩。

Above them nought; To the World's Top they rose, / Painting the Roof of Natures Common House; / Which in a wide Embrace doth all contain, / The spatious Air, the Earth, and raging Main; / These Set in order, and in order Rise, / As West drives down, or East brings up the Skies. / But now how vast the Arch, how next immense

它们之上再没有什么；它们升到世界的顶端，描画出自然这座公共居所的屋顶；这屋顶以宽广的怀抱包容一切：广阔的空气、大地和汹涌的海洋；这些星依次落下，依次升起，随着西方把天空驱下、东方把天空带上。可是，那拱顶多么广大，紧接着的

The bigness of the World

［世界之大］

The Zodiack's Round, though far remov'd from Sense, / Plain Reason shews; whose Active Force can pierce, / The deep Recesses of the Universe.

黄道的圆周又多么巨大，虽然远离感官，朴素的理性却能显示出来；理性的活跃之力能够穿透宇宙深深的隐秘之处。

No Bars can stop it, through the World it flies, / And Heaven it self lies open to its Eyes.

没有任何栅栏能阻挡它，它飞过整个世界，天空本身也向它的眼睛敞开。

As great a space as Earth, and humble Seas / From Heaven divide, so great two Signs possess.

大地与低处的海洋离天有多远，两个星座就占有多大的空间。

The World's Diameter by Art is found, / Almost the third Division of the Round.

世界的直径凭技艺可以求出，差不多是圆周的三分之一。

Therefore as far as four bright Signs comprize, / The distant Zenith from the Nadir lies.

所以，天顶与天底之间的距离，相当于四个明亮的星座所占的长度。

And two thirds more almost surround the Pole, / The Twelve Signs measure, and complete the Whole.

另外大约三分之二则环绕天极，十二个星座量完，整个圆周就完成了。

But since the Earth hangs midst the spacious All, / The Solid Centre of the Liquid Ball, / Therefore as far as e'er our Eyes can pass / Upward, or downward, could they pierce the Mass, / Till bounding Sky the wearied Sight confines, / Is equal to the distance of two Signs.

但既然大地悬在广大宇宙的正中，是流动的球体里坚实的中心，那么我们的眼睛向上或向下所能达到的距离——假如它们能穿透这一团物质——直到边界的天空使疲倦的视线停下，就等于两个星座的距离。

And six such spaces the vast Round complete / Where All the Signs their constant Whirls repeat, / And each lies distant in an equal Seat.

六个这样的距离就完成了这个浩大的圆周，所有的星座在那里重复它们恒常的旋转，每一个都隔着相等的距离。

Nor must you wonder such Varieties / Of different Fates from the same Stars should rise.

因此，你不必惊奇，同一些星竟会生出如此多样的不同命运。

Since great their Empire, and unlike their force, / Their Seats so large. and so immense their Course.

因为它们的统辖辽阔，力量各异，它们的座位如此宽大，它们的行程如此无边。

Thus far advanc't my towring Muse must rise, / And sing the Circles that confine the Skies, / Describe the track, and mark the shining Way, / Where Planets Err, and Phoebus bears the Day. / One towards the North sustains the Shining Bear

到这里，我高飞的诗神必须再往上升，歌唱那些限定诸天的圆圈，描绘那轨迹，标出那条闪亮的道路——行星在那里漫游，福玻斯在那里带来白昼。一个圆向着北方，承托着闪亮的熊，

The Northern Polar Circle

［北极圈］

And lies divided from the Polar Star; / Exactly six divisions of the Sphere.

它与北极星相隔，正好是天球的六份。

Another drawn through Cancer's Claws confines, / The utmost Limits of the Fatal Signs; / There when the Sun ascends his greatest height / In largest Rounds He whirls the lazy Night.

另一个圆穿过巨蟹的螯，限定那些主宰命运的星座的最远界限；当太阳升到最高处时，他就在这里以最大的圆圈转动慵懒的夜。

Pleas'd with his Station there He seems to stay, / And neither lengthens nor contracts the Day.

他喜爱他在那里的位置，似乎停留了下来，既不加长也不缩短白昼。

The Tropical Circle of Cancer, or Summer Solstice

［巨蟹回归线，即夏至线］

The Summer's Tropick call'd.— / It lies the fiery Sun's remotest Bound, / Just five Divisions from the other Round.

它被称为夏至的回归线。——它是炽热的太阳最远的界限，与另一个圆正好相隔五份。

The Equinoctial

［赤道］

A third twines round, and in the midst divides / The Sphere, and see the Pole on both its sides.

第三个圆在中间环绕，把天球分成两半，从它的两边都能看见天极。

And there when Phoebus drives, He spreads his Light, / On All alike, and equals Day and Night.

当福玻斯驱车到那里时，他把光均匀地洒给万物，使昼夜相等。

For in the midst, He doth the Skies divide, / And chears the Spring, and warms the Autumn's Pride, / And this large Circle drawn from Cancer's Flame, / Just four Divisions parts the Starry Frame. / Another Southward drawn exactly sets

因为他在中间把诸天分开，使春天欢欣，使秋天的繁盛得到温暖；这个大圆与巨蟹的火焰处画起的那个圆，正好相隔星空的四份。另一个圆向南画出，正好定下

The Tropick of Capricorn

［摩羯回归线］

The Utmost Limits to the Sun's retreats; / When hoary Winter calls his Beams away, / Obliquely warms us with a feeble Ray, / And whirls in narrow Rounds the freezing Day.

太阳退去的最远界限：那时白发的冬天召走他的光芒，他以微弱的光线斜斜地温暖我们，在窄小的圆圈里转动冰冷的白昼。

To Us his Journey's short, but where He stands / With Rays direct, He burns the barren Sands.

对我们来说，他的行程很短，但在他直射的地方，他烤焦了不毛的沙地。

To wisht-for Night he scarce resigns the Day, / But in vast Heats extends his hated Sway.

他几乎不肯把白昼让给人们盼望的黑夜，而以巨大的热力延长他令人憎恶的统治。

The Southern Polar Circle

［南极圈］

The last drawn round the Southern point confines / Those Bears, and lies the Utmost of the Lines.

最后一个圆环绕着南方的极点，围住那里的两熊，是诸线中最远的一条。

Wise Nature constant in her Work is found: / As five Divisions part the Northern Round; / From the North point, This Southern Round appears / Just five Divisions distant from its Bears.

明智的自然在她的工作中始终如一：正如北方的圆以五份相隔，这个南方的圆，从北方那一点数来，也正好与它那里的两熊相隔五份。

Thus Heaven's divided, and from Pole to Pole / Four Quadrants are the Measure of the Whole.

诸天就这样被划分，从一极到另一极，四个象限构成整体的尺度。

The Circles five, by these are justly shown, / The Frigid, Temperate and the Torrid Zone.

这五个圆恰好划出寒带、温带和热带。

All these move Parallel, they set, they rise, / At equal Distance moving with the Skies; / Turn'd with the Orbs the common Whirl repeat, / Are fixt, nor vary their allotted Seat. / From Pole all round to Pole two Lines exprest,

它们都彼此平行，随诸天一同沉落、升起，相隔相等的距离而运动；它们随天球转动，重复共同的旋转，固定不动，不改变所分配的位置。从一极到另一极，环绕一周，画出两条线，

The Colure

［分至圈］

Adversely drawn, which intersect the rest / And one another; They surround the Whole, / And crossing make right Angles at each Pole: / These into four just parts, by Signs, the Sphere / Divide, and mark the Seasons of the Year.

方向相交，它们与其余诸圈相交，也彼此相交；它们环绕整体，在每个天极交成直角：它们借着星座把天球分成四等份，标出一年的四季。

The Aequinoctial Colure

［二分圈］

One drawn from Heaven's high top descends from far, / And cuts the Serpent's Tail, and the dry Bear: / The Equinoctial Scales, the Snake's Extremes, / And next the Southern Centaur's middle Beams; / Then thwarts the Adverse Pole, and next divides / The mighty Whale, and parts its scaly sides;

一条从天的高顶上远远降下，切过天龙的尾巴和干燥的熊：穿过二分的天秤、长蛇的末端，接着穿过南方半人马的中部；然后横过相对的天极，接着分开巨大的鲸鱼，切开它带鳞的两侧；

Bright Aries point, and splendid Trigon past, / The fair Andromeda below the Waste, / And next her Mother's Head it cuts, and then / The Pole, and closeth in it self agen.

越过白羊明亮的那一点和闪亮的三角，切过美丽的仙女腰部以下，接着切过她母亲的头，然后是天极，在那里与自身闭合。

The Solsticial Colure

［二至圈］

Cross this, and from the Pole doth first appear / The Other, through the forefeet of the Bear, / And through its Neck; (which when the Sun retires / First shines, and spreads black Night with feeble Fires) / Then parts the Twins and Crab, the Dog divides, / And Argo's keel that broke the frothy tides.

另一条与此相交，首先从天极出现，穿过熊的前足与颈部（太阳退去时，它最先闪耀，以微弱的火光铺开黑夜），然后从双子与巨蟹之间穿过，分开犬星，以及那冲破泡沫翻涌的潮水的南船的龙骨。

And then the Pole and other Circle crost / To Caper turns contracted in his Frost: / The Eagle cuts, and the inverted Lyre, / Black Draco's folds— / The hinder Paws o'th' Bear, and near the Pole / It's Tail, and closing there compleats the Whole.

然后越过天极与另一个圆，转到在严寒中蜷缩的摩羯：它切过天鹰与倒置的天琴、天龙的盘曲——熊的后爪，以及靠近天极的熊尾，在那里闭合，完成整体。

These Rounds immovable, their site the same, / Here Seasons fix, nor vary in the frame.

这些圆是不动的，位置不变，在这里定下季节，在天球的框架里不会改变。

The Meridian

［子午圈］

Two more are movable: one from the Bear / Describ'd surrounds the middle of the Sphere, / Divides the Day, and marks exactly Noon / Betwixt the rising and the setting Sun: / The Signs it changes as we move below, / Run East or West, it varies as You go;

还有两个是可动的：一个从熊那里画下来，环绕天球的中部，分开白昼，在日出与日落之间正好标出正午：我们在下界移动，它所经过的星座就随之改变，向东或向西走，它都随你而变；

For 'tis that Line, which way soe'er we tread, / That cuts the Heaven exactly o'er our head, / And marks the Vertex; which doth plainly prove / That it must change as often as we move.

因为不论我们走向哪里，那条线都正好切过我们头顶的天空，标出天顶；这就清楚地证明，我们每移动一次，它就必定改变一次。

Not one Meridian can the World suffice, / It passes through each portion of the Skies; / Thus when the Sun is dawning o'er the East / 'Tis their sixth hour, and sets their sixth at West: / Though those two hours we count our days extremes, / Which feebly warm us with their distant Beams.

一条子午线不能满足整个世界，它穿过天空的每一部分；所以当太阳在我们东方破晓时，对那里的人是第六时，在西方落下时，对西方的人也是第六时：虽然那两个时辰，我们算作一天的两端，它们以遥远的光线微弱地温暖着我们。

The Horizon

［地平圈］

To find the other Line cast round thine Eyes, / And where the Earth's high surface joyns the Skies, / Where Stars first set, and first begin to shine, / There draw the fancy'd Image of this Line: / Which way soe'er you move 'twill still be new, / Another Circle opening to the view;

要找到另一条线，就环顾四周，在大地高起的表面与天空相接之处，在群星最先沉落、最先开始闪耀的地方，就在那里画出这条线的想象之形：不论你向哪里移动，它总是新的，另一个圆圈在眼前展开；

For now this half, and now that half of Sky / It shews, its Bounds still varying with the Eye.

因为它时而显出这半边天空，时而显出那半边，它的界限总随着眼睛而变化。

This Round's Terrestrial, for it bounds contains / That Globe, and cut the middle with a Plain; / 'Tis call'd the Horizon, the Round's design, / (For 'tis to bound) gives title to the Line.

这个圆是属于地上的，因为它的界限包含着这个球，以一个平面切过它的中部；它被称为地平圈，这个圆的用途——因为它是用来作界限的——给这条线定了名称。