Who, or why, or which, or what, Is the Akond of SWAT?
Is he tall or short, or dark or fair?
Does he sit on a stool or a sofa or chair, or SQUAT?[6]
The Akond of Swat?
Is he wise or foolish, young or old?
Does he drink his soup and his coffee cold, or HOT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he sing or whistle, jabber or talk,
And when riding abroad does he gallop or walk, or TROT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he wear a turban, a fez, or a hat?
谁是斯沃特的阿康德，他这人究竟怎么样？
谁知道他是高还是矮，长得漂亮不漂亮？
他坐在板凳、沙发、还是椅子上，或者是蹲着？
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他的脑子好使吗，算年轻还是算年长？
他是否喝凉咖啡和冷汤，还是一定要喝热的，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他能否唱歌或吹口哨，叽里呱啦谈不休，
当他骑马去国外，他一路狂奔还是慢悠悠，或者一路小跑着，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他通常戴方巾、毡帽、还是戴礼帽？
Does he sleep on a mattress, a bed, or a mat, or a COT,
The Akond of Swat?
When he writes a copy in round-hand size,
Does he cross his T's and finish his I's with a DOT,
The Akond of Swat?
Can he write a letter concisely clear
Without a speck or a smudge or smear or BLOT,
The Akond of Swat?
Do his people like him extremely well?
Or do they, whenever they can, rebel, or PLOT,
At the Akond of Swat?
If he catches them then, either old or young,
Does he have them chopped in pieces or hung, or shot,
The Akond of Swat?
Do his people prig in the lanes or park?
Or even at times, when days are dark, GAROTTE?
O the Akond of Swat!
Does he study the wants of his own dominion?
Or doesn't he care for public opinion a JOT,
The Akond of Swat?
To amuse his mind do his people show him
Pictures, or any one's last new poem, or WHAT,
For the Akond of Swat?
At night if he suddenly screams and wakes,
Do they bring him only a few small cakes, or a LOT,
For the Akond of Swat?
Does he live on turnips, tea, or tripe?
Does he like his shawl to be marked with a stripe,
or a DOT,
The Akond of Swat?
在榻榻米、**、还是草席上睡觉，或者吊**躺着，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
当他用正楷端正地抄文档，
他是否会在T上打横杠，在I上点上一个小点呢，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他写信仔仔细细，字迹清楚吗，
从不修改、涂抹、乱打叉叉吗？也不乱点乱划吗，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他的人民是否都非常爱戴他？
或者，一有机会，都要背叛他，或密谋反抗
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他是否会把叛徒都抓起来，不论老少？
会将他们剁成肉酱，还是往绞架上吊，或将他们枪毙了，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他的人民是否老在公园或巷子里当扒手？
或只是趁夜深人静，偶尔把东西偷？要绞死他们吗？
哦，斯沃特的阿康德！
他是否会考察国库资源是否充盈？
是否会积极听取民意，体察民情，哪怕一点点，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他的人民是否会为博得他高兴，
拿画儿或最新的诗歌讨他的欢心，或拿别的什么，
给这斯沃特的阿康德？
如果他在夜里突然醒过来惊叫，
人们是否会喂他吃一点点蛋糕，还是喂许多呢，
给这斯沃特的阿康德？
他是否靠萝卜、内脏和茶为生？
他喜欢的披肩，是否要带条纹，还是带斑点儿呢，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
Does he like to lie on his back in a boat
Like the lady who lived in that isle remote, SHALLOTT,
The Akond of Swat?
Is he quiet, or always making a fuss?
Is his steward a Swiss or a Swede or a Russ, or a SCOT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he like to sit by the calm blue wave?
Or to sleep and snore in a dark green cave, or a GROTT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he drink small beer from a silver jug?
Or a bowl? or a glass? or a cup? or a mug? or a POT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he beat his wife with a gold-topped pipe,
When she lets the gooseberries grow too ripe, or ROT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he wear a white tie when he dines with friends,
And tie it neat in a bow with ends, or a KNOT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he like new cream, and hate mince-pies?
When he looks at the sun does he wink his eyes, or NOT,
The Akond of Swat?
Does he teach his subjects to roast and bake?
Does he sail about on an inland lake, in a YACHT,
The Akond of Swat?
Some one, or nobody, knows I wot
Who or which or why or what
Is the Akond of Swat!
他是否爱朝天在一艘船里躺，
像那遥远岛上那姑娘一个样，她的名字叫夏洛特，这斯沃特的阿康德？
他是否爱唠叨，还是不吐一字？
他部下是来自瑞士、瑞典、俄罗斯，还是苏格兰呢，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他是否爱坐在碧波**漾的湖畔？
是否爱在浓绿的岩洞安睡打鼾，还是在兽穴里呢，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他喝啤酒，是否要用一只银罐？
还是用玻璃杯、茶杯、或是用碗？难道要用一口锅，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他揍老婆是否用一管镶金的烟斗，
当她忘了摘醋栗，让它们太熟，甚至烂了，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他和朋友吃饭，是否系白色领带，
并且用蝴蝶结把领带扎起来，或者打个死结，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他是否爱吃鲜奶油，讨厌吃馅饼？
当他盯着太阳，是否要眨眼睛，难道能死死盯着，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
他是否教他的人民烘烤蛋糕？
是否在一个内陆湖泊迎着波涛，正把游艇驾着，
这斯沃特的阿康德？
我看这世上再没有人能跟我讲，
究竟他是谁，他这人怎么样？
这斯沃特的阿康德！
【注释】
[1] 大火纪念塔：纪念1666年伦敦大火的纪念塔。
[2] 乌木海岸：又译为科罗曼德尔海岸，位于印度半岛东南部。
[3] 杜金：英格兰南部一城镇。
[4] 布里斯托尔海峡：位于英国。
[5] 阿康德（1794-1877）：著名的穆斯林圣徒。他的故乡在斯沃特，今属巴基斯坦。
[6] ② 本诗的英文部分分左右两列，形式独特，左边轻快的吟唱，伴随着右边俏皮的附和，宛如一支行云流水般的双声部协奏曲，左右辉映，相得益彰。