康斯坦丁諾斯・卡瓦菲（Konstantinos Kavafis）《等待野蠻人》

我們聚集在廣場裡，是在等待什麼？

野蠻人今天要來。

為什麼元老院那邊什麼事都沒發生？
為什麼元老們坐著，不再立法？

因為野蠻人今天要來。
元老們現在還能立什麼法？
等野蠻人到了，他們會替我們立法。

為什麼皇帝一大早就起來，
又為什麼端坐在城門口
坐在他的寶座上，盛裝、戴著冠冕？

因為野蠻人今天要來，
皇帝正等著接見他們的領袖。
他甚至準備了一卷卷軸要交給他，
裡頭滿是頭銜，滿是威嚴的名號。

今天為何我們的兩位執政官與法務官
都穿上繡金、深紅的托加？
為什麼佩戴滿是紫晶的手鐲，
以及閃耀著瑰麗祖母綠的戒指？
為什麼手持優雅的手杖，
那手杖以金銀精工打造？

因為野蠻人今天要來，
而這些東西能讓野蠻人目眩神迷。

為什麼我們那些卓越的演說家
不像往常一樣站出來發表演講、
說他們該說的話？

因為野蠻人今天要來，
而他們厭倦修辭與公開演說。

為什麼突然有這樣的不安與混亂？
（人們的表情變得多麼凝重。）
為什麼街道與廣場迅速空了下來？
人人匆匆返家，心事重重？

因為夜幕已經降臨，而野蠻人沒有來。
一些剛從邊境返回的人說：
那裡——早已沒有野蠻人。

而現在，沒有野蠻人，我們該怎麼辦？
那些人啊，曾經是一種解決之道。

Waiting for the Barbarians 

What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?

The barbarians are due here today.

Why isn’t anything happening in the senate?
Why do the senators sit there without legislating?

Because the barbarians are coming today.
What laws can the senators make now?
Once the barbarians are here, they’ll do the legislating.

Why did our emperor get up so early,
and why is he sitting at the city’s main gate
on his throne, in state, wearing the crown?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and the emperor is waiting to receive their leader.
He has even prepared a scroll to give him,
replete with titles, with imposing names.

Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today
wearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas?
Why have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts,
and rings sparkling with magnificent emeralds?
Why are they carrying elegant canes
beautifully worked in silver and gold?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and things like that dazzle the barbarians.

Why don’t our distinguished orators come forward as usual
to make their speeches, say what they have to say?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and they’re bored by rhetoric and public speaking.

Why this sudden restlessness, this confusion?
(How serious people’s faces have become.)
Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly,
everyone going home so lost in thought?

Because night has fallen and the barbarians have not come.
And some who have just returned from the border say
there are no barbarians any longer.

And now, what’s going to happen to us without barbarians?
They were, those people, a kind of solution.

註：原詩以希臘文寫成。