昨晚我听到一个天使说话，他说:“写!你要为我写下一国的咒诅、送到西海上去。我结结巴巴地说:“不是这样的，我的主人!若必须咒诅，就另选一个人咒诅我的兄弟。因为我被感激、爱和鲜血束缚在一起，我的兄弟们在大海的另一边，向我伸出亲切的手。“因此，”那声音说，“今晚你要写下我的诅咒吗?”从爱情的顶点发出咒诅、如同闪电从天顶发出。“不是这样，”我回答。我的心永远为我祖国的罪恶而痛，为在街上流血的孩子们的小脚，为拒绝通行权的荣誉而痛，为不让两个朋友亲亲的门而痛，为对海峡对岸的自由的热爱而痛，为爱国的美德在自我赞扬，自私自利和猜疑中枯萎，为寡头议会，和善意的贿赂而痛。当我因自己的罪孽而心情沉重的时候，又该怎样诅咒另一片土地呢?“因此，”那声音说，“今晚你要写下我的诅咒吗?”因为你有力量看见在你城门内所行的恶事，并且恨恶。“不是这样的，”我又一次回答。要咒诅，要拣选人。 For I, a woman, have only known How the heart melts and the tears run down.' 'Therefore,' the voice said, 'shalt thou write My curse to-night. Some women weep and curse, I say (And no one marvels), night and day. 'And thou shalt take their part to-night, Weep and write. A curse from the depths of womanhood Is very salt, and bitter, and good.' So thus I wrote, and mourned indeed, What all may read. And thus, as was enjoined on me, I send it over the Western Sea. The Curse Because ye have broken your own chain With the strain Of brave men climbing a Nation's height, Yet thence bear down with brand and thong On souls of others, -- for this wrong This is the curse. Write. Because yourselves are standing straight In the state Of Freedom's foremost acolyte, Yet keep calm footing all the time On writhing bond-slaves, -- for this crime This is the curse. Write. Because ye prosper in God's name, With a claim To honor in the old world's sight, Yet do the fiend's work perfectly In strangling martyrs, -- for this lie This is the curse. Write. Ye shall watch while kings conspire Round the people's smouldering fire, And, warm for your part, Shall never dare -- O shame! To utter the thought into flame Which burns at your heart. This is the curse. Write. Ye shall watch while nations strive With the bloodhounds, die or survive, Drop faint from their jaws, Or throttle them backward to death; And only under your breath Shall favor the cause. This is the curse. Write. Ye shall watch while strong men draw The nets of feudal law To strangle the weak; And, counting the sin for a sin, Your soul shall be sadder within Than the word ye shall speak. This is the curse. Write. When good men are praying erect That Christ may avenge His elect And deliver the earth, The prayer in your ears, said low, Shall sound like the tramp of a foe That's driving you forth. This is the curse. Write. When wise men give you their praise, They shall praise in the heat of the phrase, As if carried too far. When ye boast your own charters kept true, Ye shall blush; for the thing which ye do Derides what ye are. This is the curse. Write. When fools cast taunts at your gate, Your scorn ye shall somewhat abate As ye look o'er the wall; For your conscience, tradition, and name Explode with a deadlier blame Than the worst of them all. This is the curse. Write. Go, wherever ill deeds shall be done, Go, plant your flag in the sun Beside the ill-doers! And recoil from clenching the curse Of God's witnessing Universe With a curse of yours. This is the curse. Write.