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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2 |; N" e' q+ Q7 Y0 f" u# lA Worker Reads History
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Who built the seven gates of Thebes?
! |" o- g7 `  Y3 ^2 a' XThe books are filled with names of kings.
# i; H# E9 L1 U% S% Z( s* V: WWas it the kings who hauled the craggy blocks of stone?
: S1 n- C! j2 i, Z% s3 U; kAnd Babylon, so many times destroyed.
Who built the city up each time? In which of Lima's houses,
  z6 ]! O& D& c. _% b- E# y- xThat city glittering with gold, lived those who built it?
% Z: y9 ]) A8 W- Z0 h1 ]. _9 P# qIn the evening when the Chinese wall was finished
Where did the masons go? Imperial Rome
Is full of arcs of triumph. Who reared them up? Over whom
) d2 @1 D: u6 u, v# q- j) F% BDid the Caesars triumph? Byzantium lives in song.
Were all her dwellings palaces? And even in Atlantis of the legend
5 S6 r# @1 M8 ^/ [* A/ x9 wThe night the seas rushed in,
The drowning men still bellowed for their slaves.
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Young Alexander conquered India.
2 A( y/ Q% W+ B1 lHe alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Was there not even a cook in his army?
Phillip of Spain wept as his fleet
was sunk and destroyed. Were there no other tears?
& j5 S0 b2 m* N1 BFrederick the Greek triumphed in the Seven Years War.
+ N! D2 H* D8 ^# cWho triumphed with him?
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6 f& V9 s* W) SEach page a victory
5 G7 `+ @: ^: l+ f) BAt whose expense the victory ball?
Every ten years a great man,
: }6 c4 Z  A& |3 Y* M$ nWho paid the piper?

So many particulars.
) }" J* u* A% s7 sSo many questions.

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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