本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛蓝极: Scarborough Fair中的解读
Scarborough最早在大约一千年前由Viking(维京)人在英格兰的西北部North Yorkshire登陆后逐渐成为一个重要的港口。中世纪时期，Scarborough是来自全英格兰甚至还有欧洲的商人经常聚集的一个海边重镇。Scarborough Fair在历史上是一个从八月十五日开始延续45天的交易集市。在那个年代持续如此之长的集市是很少见的。后来这个集市逐渐冷清衰落，现在Scarborough只是一个默默无闻的小镇了。作为歌曲，Scarborough Fair原是一首古老(大约作于十三世纪)的苏格兰民间谜歌(riddle song)。那个年代不像现在有版权的说法，因此歌曲的作者没有能够留下姓名。这样的谜歌由漂流各地的游唱诗人(bard或shaper)辗转传唱。因此年深月久，衍化出许多不同的歌词版本。下面的歌词是比较全的传统版本：
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For once she was a true love of mine
Have her make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seam nor fine needle work
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all with a basket of flowers
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Have her wash it in yonder dry well
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
where water ne'er sprung nor drop of rain fell
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Have her find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the sea foam and over the sand
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Let me know that at least she will try
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Love imposes impossible tasks
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Though not more than any heart asks
And I must know she's a true love of mine
Dear, when thou has finished thy task
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Come to me, my hand for to ask
For thou then art a true love of mine
歌曲的主人是一个被情人抛弃的男人。尽管歌词充满诗意和微妙的情调，但在中世纪时期只能算是民歌，而不可能是贵族的作品。那个年代，贵族和骑士们只能远远地对一个女人在心里暗暗爱慕，而那样的倾情几乎是不可能得到回响的。据说其中一个版本的背景来自同时期的Whittington Fair，而不是Scarborough Fair。其中一个解释是基于歌中她毫无缘由或先兆的离开。那时在Scarborough被抓获的小偷或嫌疑犯常常在一种街头法庭上被判处或在树上吊死。于是后来Scarborough warning在英语里就成了“没有先兆”的意思。因此，Scarborough Fair就蕴涵着歌者对她的离开缘由毫无所知，或者原因过于复杂也就根本不予提及。歌者给他的心上人安排了不可能完成的事情，意味着有时候爱情需要突破日常生活中似乎不可能的壁障才有希望。如果她能试图去做那些不可能完成的事情，那么她只得返回到他的身边向他求救，于是爱情就有希望得到自然的展开和延续。或许就像常说的那样，every heart grows merry in time.在第二个诗节(stanza)中出现的欧芹、鼠尾草、迷迭香和百里香(parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme) 是一个很重要的主题。今天人们对这四种植物没有什么特别的感觉，但那个时代它们给人的联想就像当今红玫瑰与爱情的关系一样，象征着歌者对期待着心上人和自己具有的品质，因此她才有可能回到他的身旁。按照那些相信植物疗法的人的看法，欧芹Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)具有治疗消化不良的功能。比如，据说吃菠菜的时候如果嚼一片欧芹树叶的话就能让菠菜的苦味消失，并易于消化。因此在中世纪欧芹被赋予一定的精神寓意的。鼠尾草Sage (Salvia officinalis)的象征有着数千年的历史，代表着力量。迷迭香Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)表示忠诚，挚爱和挂念。古希腊时男人就送给自己的恋人以迷迭香来表达爱慕，今天在欧洲新娘还有在头上别上迷迭香树枝的习俗。据说迷迭香能让人敏感和谨慎，于是在古罗马当一个人面对精神压力的时候，大夫常常建议放一小袋迷迭香树叶子于枕头下面。迷迭香有时候用作比喻女性的爱，尽管有些迟缓，却强劲并持续长久。在神话传说中的中秋之夜，国王在荒野的百里香Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)丛林中与神仙们狂舞。但百里香一般象征勇气，在中世纪时骑士的盾牌上就有他的女人给他绣上的百里香的图像。于是，垂头丧气的歌者用这四种在中世纪众所周知的植物，期望他的心上人能够用爱的温柔来消融他们之间的误会和痛苦，用毅力来度过他们分离的艰难时光，用忠诚来陪伴孤独的日子，用勇气去挑战那些不可能的事情并最终回到他的身旁。起初这首歌被英国民歌之父Ewan MacColl 选进他编辑的一本介绍英国民歌的书中，英国民歌手Martin Carthy后来又进行了再创作。1966年底，Paul Simon在英国时将它改编成反战色彩浓厚的歌曲，并收入他的专辑Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme之中，后用作电影The Graduate的中插曲(其中的The Sound of Silence是另一首广为流传的歌)。 Simon是犹太美国人，在英国剑桥攻读文学专业。他在与Carthy合作演唱时从Carthy那里学会了这首歌，又把自己写的一首反战歌曲The Side Of A Hill作为副歌和这首歌混在一起，用对比的手法表达了对和平的渴望。Art Garfunkel似乎是学数学出身，为副歌作了曲，成为歌中的“颂歌”部分。两人在录音时利用多轨技术把多个声部叠加在一起，使人声显得特别丰富。据说崔健在“七合板乐队”时的一张专辑里也曾翻唱过这首歌曲。
1995年莲波在ACT上提供过一个Simon版本的“诗经”格式的汉语译本：
From:“莲波” Subject: [LOTUS]伪造诗经
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 1995 03:37:21 GMT
闲来无事，听歌，听老歌。Scarborough Fair是我很喜欢的一首老歌。因为它不那么美国，因为它那种幽怨的低唱。 我总觉得它和《诗经》有一种很微妙的契合，纵然一个是公元之前，而另一个是百世以后。 它的旋律，仿佛是一阵清风，夹杂着野草野花的苦寒轻香，在大地上缓缓掠过后而我更看见一个穿白衣服的人摇着木铎，边走边呼唤着苍穹，在一望无际的大地与村怦之间采集梦幻。 真地很难忘却这种莫名的联想。很喜欢在异邦的文明之中，还能寻出这样令我心折的古中国的意韵。 试着用《诗经》的格式翻了下，填到原曲中，竟也能唱。
问尔所之，是否如适 Are you going to Scarborough Fair
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
彼方淑女，凭君寄辞 Remember me to one who lives there
伊人曾在，与我相知 She once was a true love of mine
嘱彼隹人，备我衣缁 Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
勿用针剪，无隙无疵 Without no seams nor needle work
伊人何在，慰我相思 Then she will be a true love of mine
伴唱： 彼山之阴，深林荒址 On the side of hill in the deep forest green
冬寻毡毯，老雀燕子 Tracing of sparrow on snow crested brown
雪覆四野，高山迟滞 Blankets and bed clothes the child of maintain
眠而不觉，寒笳清嘶 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call
嘱彼隹人，营我家室 Tell her to find me an acre of land
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
良田所修，大海之坻 Between the salt water and the sea strand
伊人应在，任我相视 Then she will be a true love of mine
伴唱： 彼山之阴，叶疏苔蚀 On the side of hill a sprinkling of leaves
涤彼孤冢，珠泪渐撤 Washes the grave with slivery tears
昔我长剑，日日拂拭 A soldier cleans and polishes a gun
寂而不觉，寒笳长嘶 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call
嘱彼隹人，收我秋实 Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
敛之集之，勿弃勿失 And gather it all in a bunch of heather
伊人犹在，唯我相誓 Then she will be a ture love of mine
伴唱： 烽火印啸，浴血之师 War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions
将帅有令，勤王之事 Generals order their soldiers to kill and to fight for a cause
争斗缘何，久忘其旨 They have long ago forgotten
痴而不觉，寒笳悲嘶 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call （再重复一遍第一段）
另外一个传统版本是：Scarborough Fair
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Without any seams or fine needlework
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Ask her to wash it in a dry well
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Where never spring water nor rain ever fell
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Ask her to dry it on a flowering thorn
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
That never knew blossom since Adam was born
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Now, he has asked me questions three
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
I hope he will answer as many for me
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to find me an acre of land
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand.
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to plow it all with a lamb's horn
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
And bind it all up with a peacock's feather
Then he'll be a true love of mine
And when he's finished with all of his work
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Then send to me for that cambric shirt.
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine。更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Scarborough最早在大约一千年前由Viking(维京)人在英格兰的西北部North Yorkshire登陆后逐渐成为一个重要的港口。中世纪时期，Scarborough是来自全英格兰甚至还有欧洲的商人经常聚集的一个海边重镇。Scarborough Fair在历史上是一个从八月十五日开始延续45天的交易集市。在那个年代持续如此之长的集市是很少见的。后来这个集市逐渐冷清衰落，现在Scarborough只是一个默默无闻的小镇了。作为歌曲，Scarborough Fair原是一首古老(大约作于十三世纪)的苏格兰民间谜歌(riddle song)。那个年代不像现在有版权的说法，因此歌曲的作者没有能够留下姓名。这样的谜歌由漂流各地的游唱诗人(bard或shaper)辗转传唱。因此年深月久，衍化出许多不同的歌词版本。下面的歌词是比较全的传统版本：
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For once she was a true love of mine
Have her make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seam nor fine needle work
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all with a basket of flowers
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Have her wash it in yonder dry well
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
where water ne'er sprung nor drop of rain fell
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Have her find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the sea foam and over the sand
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Let me know that at least she will try
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Love imposes impossible tasks
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Though not more than any heart asks
And I must know she's a true love of mine
Dear, when thou has finished thy task
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Come to me, my hand for to ask
For thou then art a true love of mine
歌曲的主人是一个被情人抛弃的男人。尽管歌词充满诗意和微妙的情调，但在中世纪时期只能算是民歌，而不可能是贵族的作品。那个年代，贵族和骑士们只能远远地对一个女人在心里暗暗爱慕，而那样的倾情几乎是不可能得到回响的。据说其中一个版本的背景来自同时期的Whittington Fair，而不是Scarborough Fair。其中一个解释是基于歌中她毫无缘由或先兆的离开。那时在Scarborough被抓获的小偷或嫌疑犯常常在一种街头法庭上被判处或在树上吊死。于是后来Scarborough warning在英语里就成了“没有先兆”的意思。因此，Scarborough Fair就蕴涵着歌者对她的离开缘由毫无所知，或者原因过于复杂也就根本不予提及。歌者给他的心上人安排了不可能完成的事情，意味着有时候爱情需要突破日常生活中似乎不可能的壁障才有希望。如果她能试图去做那些不可能完成的事情，那么她只得返回到他的身边向他求救，于是爱情就有希望得到自然的展开和延续。或许就像常说的那样，every heart grows merry in time.在第二个诗节(stanza)中出现的欧芹、鼠尾草、迷迭香和百里香(parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme) 是一个很重要的主题。今天人们对这四种植物没有什么特别的感觉，但那个时代它们给人的联想就像当今红玫瑰与爱情的关系一样，象征着歌者对期待着心上人和自己具有的品质，因此她才有可能回到他的身旁。按照那些相信植物疗法的人的看法，欧芹Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)具有治疗消化不良的功能。比如，据说吃菠菜的时候如果嚼一片欧芹树叶的话就能让菠菜的苦味消失，并易于消化。因此在中世纪欧芹被赋予一定的精神寓意的。鼠尾草Sage (Salvia officinalis)的象征有着数千年的历史，代表着力量。迷迭香Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)表示忠诚，挚爱和挂念。古希腊时男人就送给自己的恋人以迷迭香来表达爱慕，今天在欧洲新娘还有在头上别上迷迭香树枝的习俗。据说迷迭香能让人敏感和谨慎，于是在古罗马当一个人面对精神压力的时候，大夫常常建议放一小袋迷迭香树叶子于枕头下面。迷迭香有时候用作比喻女性的爱，尽管有些迟缓，却强劲并持续长久。在神话传说中的中秋之夜，国王在荒野的百里香Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)丛林中与神仙们狂舞。但百里香一般象征勇气，在中世纪时骑士的盾牌上就有他的女人给他绣上的百里香的图像。于是，垂头丧气的歌者用这四种在中世纪众所周知的植物，期望他的心上人能够用爱的温柔来消融他们之间的误会和痛苦，用毅力来度过他们分离的艰难时光，用忠诚来陪伴孤独的日子，用勇气去挑战那些不可能的事情并最终回到他的身旁。起初这首歌被英国民歌之父Ewan MacColl 选进他编辑的一本介绍英国民歌的书中，英国民歌手Martin Carthy后来又进行了再创作。1966年底，Paul Simon在英国时将它改编成反战色彩浓厚的歌曲，并收入他的专辑Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme之中，后用作电影The Graduate的中插曲(其中的The Sound of Silence是另一首广为流传的歌)。 Simon是犹太美国人，在英国剑桥攻读文学专业。他在与Carthy合作演唱时从Carthy那里学会了这首歌，又把自己写的一首反战歌曲The Side Of A Hill作为副歌和这首歌混在一起，用对比的手法表达了对和平的渴望。Art Garfunkel似乎是学数学出身，为副歌作了曲，成为歌中的“颂歌”部分。两人在录音时利用多轨技术把多个声部叠加在一起，使人声显得特别丰富。据说崔健在“七合板乐队”时的一张专辑里也曾翻唱过这首歌曲。
1995年莲波在ACT上提供过一个Simon版本的“诗经”格式的汉语译本：
From:“莲波” Subject: [LOTUS]伪造诗经
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 1995 03:37:21 GMT
闲来无事，听歌，听老歌。Scarborough Fair是我很喜欢的一首老歌。因为它不那么美国，因为它那种幽怨的低唱。 我总觉得它和《诗经》有一种很微妙的契合，纵然一个是公元之前，而另一个是百世以后。 它的旋律，仿佛是一阵清风，夹杂着野草野花的苦寒轻香，在大地上缓缓掠过后而我更看见一个穿白衣服的人摇着木铎，边走边呼唤着苍穹，在一望无际的大地与村怦之间采集梦幻。 真地很难忘却这种莫名的联想。很喜欢在异邦的文明之中，还能寻出这样令我心折的古中国的意韵。 试着用《诗经》的格式翻了下，填到原曲中，竟也能唱。
问尔所之，是否如适 Are you going to Scarborough Fair
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
彼方淑女，凭君寄辞 Remember me to one who lives there
伊人曾在，与我相知 She once was a true love of mine
嘱彼隹人，备我衣缁 Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
勿用针剪，无隙无疵 Without no seams nor needle work
伊人何在，慰我相思 Then she will be a true love of mine
伴唱： 彼山之阴，深林荒址 On the side of hill in the deep forest green
冬寻毡毯，老雀燕子 Tracing of sparrow on snow crested brown
雪覆四野，高山迟滞 Blankets and bed clothes the child of maintain
眠而不觉，寒笳清嘶 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call
嘱彼隹人，营我家室 Tell her to find me an acre of land
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
良田所修，大海之坻 Between the salt water and the sea strand
伊人应在，任我相视 Then she will be a true love of mine
伴唱： 彼山之阴，叶疏苔蚀 On the side of hill a sprinkling of leaves
涤彼孤冢，珠泪渐撤 Washes the grave with slivery tears
昔我长剑，日日拂拭 A soldier cleans and polishes a gun
寂而不觉，寒笳长嘶 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call
嘱彼隹人，收我秋实 Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷 Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
敛之集之，勿弃勿失 And gather it all in a bunch of heather
伊人犹在，唯我相誓 Then she will be a ture love of mine
伴唱： 烽火印啸，浴血之师 War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions
将帅有令，勤王之事 Generals order their soldiers to kill and to fight for a cause
争斗缘何，久忘其旨 They have long ago forgotten
痴而不觉，寒笳悲嘶 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call （再重复一遍第一段）
另外一个传统版本是：Scarborough Fair
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Without any seams or fine needlework
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Ask her to wash it in a dry well
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Where never spring water nor rain ever fell
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Ask her to dry it on a flowering thorn
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
That never knew blossom since Adam was born
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Now, he has asked me questions three
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
I hope he will answer as many for me
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to find me an acre of land
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand.
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to plow it all with a lamb's horn
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
And bind it all up with a peacock's feather
Then he'll be a true love of mine
And when he's finished with all of his work
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Then send to me for that cambric shirt.
Then he'll be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine。更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net