这首民谣的旋律非常古典而优雅,应该是一首描写对爱情感到忧伤的歌曲,但它受到世人喜爱的层面却不仅仅局限在爱情的领域,有人将它换了歌词演唱、也有人将它作为圣诞歌曲,而它被改编为器乐演奏的版本也是多不胜数,有小品、有室内乐、有管弦乐…,而这其中又以上述的《乞丐歌剧》和英国作曲家佛汉威廉斯(Vaughan illiams)所写的《绿袖子幻想曲》(“Fantasia on Greensleeves”)最具代表性。
Alas! My love you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously,
And I have loved you so long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my Lady Greensleeves.
I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both waged life and land,
Your love and good will for to have.
Well I will pray to God on high,
That thou my constancy may see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou will vouchsafe to love me.
Greensleeves, now farewell! Adieu!
God I pray to prosper thee!
For I am still thy love true,
Come once again and love me.
中文译词
「唉,我爱,你欠我良多,
如此把我拋弃实在无礼,
而我爱你已经时日长久,
与你共渡的良辰实在欢愉,
绿袖子是我所有的快乐,
绿袖子是我的欢愉,
绿袖子是我心中的黄金,
只有你,我的绿袖子!」
中文诗经风格翻译: English lyrics:
我思断肠,伊人不臧。Alas my love, you do me wrong
弃我远去,抑郁难当。To cast me off discourteously
我心相属,日久月长。I have loved you all so long
与卿相依,地老天荒。Delighting in your company
绿袖招兮,我心欢朗。Greensleeves was all my joy
绿袖飘兮,我心痴狂。Greensleeves was my delight
绿袖摇兮,我心流光。Greensleeves was my heart of gold
绿袖永兮,非我新娘。And who but my Lady Greensleeves
我即相偎,柔荑纤香。I have been ready at your hand
我自相许,舍身何妨。To grant whatever you would crave
欲求永年,此生归偿。I have both waged life and land
回首欢爱,四顾茫茫。Your love and good will for to have
绿袖招兮,我心欢朗。Greensleeves was all my joy
绿袖飘兮,我心痴狂。Greensleeves was my delight
绿袖摇兮,我心流光。Greensleeves was my heart of gold
绿袖永兮,非我新娘。And who but my Lady Greensleeves
伊人隔尘,我亦无望。Thou couldst desire no earthly thing
彼端箜篌,渐疏渐响。But still thou hadst it readily
人既永绝,心自飘霜。Thy music still to play and sing
斥欢斥爱,绿袖无常。And yet thou wouldst not love me
绿袖招兮,我心欢朗。Greensleeves was all my joy
绿袖飘兮,我心痴狂。Greensleeves was my delight
绿袖摇兮,我心流光。Greensleeves was my heart of gold
绿袖永兮,非我新娘。And who but my Lady Greensleeves
绿袖去矣,付与流觞。Greensleeves now farewell adieu
我燃心香,寄语上苍。God I pray to prosper thee
我心犹炽,不灭不伤。For I am still thy lover true
伫立垅间,待伊归乡。Come once again and love me
绿袖招兮,我心欢朗。Greensleeves was all my joy
绿袖飘兮,我心痴狂。Greensleeves was my delight
绿袖摇兮,我心流光。Greensleeves was my heart of gold
绿袖永兮,非我新娘。And who but my Lady Greensleeves