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

Karldeutsch

某个英文译本

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  z$ Q$ q3 q6 I& v+ l) ZA Worker Reads History

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7 f/ x( {9 r5 {: {% c1 V- pWho built the seven gates of Thebes?
- A! |  K% Y7 u' O. R+ cThe books are filled with names of kings.
( ?) |- g- T; Q/ p3 YWas it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
And Babylon, so many times destroyed.
6 v( ~' F* X, u3 y, y3 YWho built the city up each time? In which of Lima's houses,
5 N, {% F8 D# {: z( K8 SThat 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
  ]8 Q) X0 s- a% h2 k8 M/ HIs full of arcs of triumph. Who reared them up? Over whom
Did the Caesars triumph? Byzantium lives in song.
) _% E* Q, r& c% B7 J3 hWere all her dwellings palaces? And even in Atlantis of the legend
The night the seas rushed in,
The drowning men still bellowed for their slaves.
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0 \' Q' ^6 G7 {" v& H, BYoung Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
" `4 [( {8 b# kWas there not even a cook in his army?
  i1 L/ S" G0 d) _1 y9 W" PPhillip of Spain wept as his fleet
  f9 ^8 C) I4 |; U. a8 T! c6 vwas sunk and destroyed. Were there no other tears?
9 E& K% _  m$ H# |+ MFrederick the Greek triumphed in the Seven Years War.
Who triumphed with him?
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Each page a victory
. [5 k2 v4 h8 V: t+ fAt whose expense the victory ball?
3 B) g; P/ V- Q7 p) X: OEvery ten years a great man,
Who paid the piper?
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4 g! j- h# _0 n- S0 Y' I* JSo many particulars.
7 A% |6 d8 T0 g# PSo many questions.
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, G- a; h1 |$ j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？

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