二十、司各特(一七七一——一八三二)
林琴南译的《撒克逊劫后英雄略》使司各特名扬中国。作为一个历史小说家，他的功绩是不可没的。
但他也是一个诗人，特别擅长叙事诗，曾经独步英国诗坛，后来青年拜伦写的东方故事诗夺去了他的市场，他才转而写起小说来。
然而写苏格兰历史上的英雄人物，司各特却比拜伦更为拿手。他的诗笔雄迈，音韵铿锵，善于利用某些老的形式，如用中古时代行吟歌的形式痛斥背弃祖国的可怜虫：
世上可有这样死了灵魂的人，
他从未对自己说过一声：
这是我的祖国，我的故乡！
他的心从不沸腾，
当他的脚步走近家门，
尽管经历了异域的流浪。
如有这样的人，盯住他，
行吟者不因他而诗兴勃发，
不管他名气多大，官位多高，
又有多少世人希罕的财宝；
名、位、金钱种种，
帮不了只顾自己的可怜虫，
他活着得不了荣光，
他死了身魂两丧，
本是尘土，回归尘土，
无人敬，无人歌，也无人哭！
——《末代行吟者之歌》
他又用了民谣的形式讲了许多传奇故事，《洛钦瓦》即是一例：
Lochinvar Poem
by Sir Walter Scott
O young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none,
He rode all unarm'd, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.
He staid not for brake, and he stopp'd not for stone,
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none;
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate,
The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.
So boldly he enter'd the Netherby Hall,
Among bride's-men, and kinsmen, and brothers and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword,
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word,)
"O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?"
"I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied; --
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide --
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine,
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."
The bride kiss'd the goblet: the knight took it up,
He quaff'd off the wine, and he threw down the cup.
She look'd down to blush, and she look'd up to sigh,
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar, --
"Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.
So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a gailiard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;
And the bride-maidens whisper'd, "'twere better by far
To have match'd our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."
One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,
When they reach'd the hall-door, and the charger stood near;
So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,
So light to the saddle before her he sprung!
"She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar.
There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan;
Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran:
There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee,
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.
So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,
Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?
呵，年轻的洛钦瓦来自西方，
整个边境数他的马壮，
除了宝刀他不带武器，
只身上路闯禁地，
他忠于爱情，不怕战争，
从未见过洛钦瓦这样的英俊。
他不为水停，不为山阻，
没有桥他就游渡，
但没等他到达芮堡的大门，
他的姑娘已经答应了别人，
那人轻爱情，怕战争，
却要娶走洛钦瓦的艾琳。
洛钦瓦径直进了芮堡的大厅，
只见聚集了新娘的一家和客人，
新娘的父亲开腔了，一手按着剑，
(而胆小的新郎不发一言)，
“洛钦瓦爵爷此来是和还是战，
还是为了舞会和婚宴？”
“我久爱令媛遭你拒，
高涨的情潮今已枯，
此来非为叙旧欢，
只想饮一杯，舞一场，
苏格兰多的是神仙女，
谁不想做洛钦瓦的当家妇？”
新娘拿杯吻，勇士接过来，
一饮而尽把杯摔。
她羞脸先看地，长叹不胜悲，
口上露着笑，眼里含着泪，
老夫人正要阻拦，他已接过玉手，
说道：“来同洛钦瓦把舞步走走！”
呵，英武的他！呵，娇艳的她！
哪个大厅里见过这样的一对花！
老爵爷顿脚，老夫人叨唠，
呆立的新郎弄着缎带和呢帽，
底下伴娘们议论开来，
“只有洛钦瓦才把表姐配！”
偷捏一下手，暗传一句话，
等到跳近门口见有马，
他轻轻一下把姑娘向上送，
自己接着对鞍子飞腾，
“到手了！从此越过关山，
千骑也难把洛钦瓦追赶！”
芮堡里一片上马声，
亲戚朋友全出动，
山上谷里都寻遍，
丢失的姑娘再不见！
这样忠于爱情，不怕战争，
可有第二人能比洛钦瓦的英俊？
——《玛密安》
从技巧上讲，这诗写戏剧性的动作十分成功，而且充分利用了诗的特点(例如叠句和平行结构)，对话也写得恰到好处，几个转折也处理得巧妙，还有一点嘲讽，如对新郎的写照。
未必所有的人都会喜欢这样的诗，会有人说：旧式的英雄美人！浮面的情感！粗糙的技巧！
但是这是英国诗的一个声音，时间的潮水似乎并没有能够淹没它。
青春就应该这样绽放 游戏测试：三国时期谁是你最好的兄弟！！ 你不得不信的星座秘密