爱华网在人类最古老的职业当中，诗人和武士并列前茅。最初的诗人和武士同样不文，他们的作品完全依靠口传。悦耳的节奏是辅助记忆的最佳手段，呕哑嘲哳的旋律在无情的达尔文系统中自动淘汰。幸存者经过了比文明历史久远得多的修饰和筛选，只能视为集体智慧的结晶。文明产生后，职业文人随之诞生。诗歌由歌变成诗，由口传变成书面。集体的智慧让位于个人的巧思，达尔文系统的裁决让位于批评家小圈子的月旦。个人的虚荣心早晚会驱使作者越过最后一道藩篱，通过“以文入诗”炫耀自己的深刻和巧妙。他们的成功完成了最后的除根过程，继承者迅速退化为无法吟唱的文字游戏。与此同时，无文的诗歌回到文人圈外的达尔文系统。新世代的健者又将从达尔文系统的结晶中提取新的文学。
诗人在武则天和宋之问的时代越过了节点，于是达尔文系统带来了仍然能够吟唱的词。词人在苏东坡和黄山谷的时代越过了节点，达尔文系统带来了仍然能够吟唱的曲。莎士比亚的诗歌产生了演员-作家的随意发挥，剧本只是打小抄用的。时间和兰姆夺走了古文的音韵，把作者不当回事的剧本变成了神圣的诗歌经典。十九世纪末叶以后，诗歌渐渐沦为阅读用品。与此同时，书面诗歌的作者群和读者群日益重合。如果莎士比亚死而复生，恐怕宁愿选择《魂断蓝桥》的主题曲作者为自己的同侪。然而万事都有例外，原始意义的诗歌仍有自己的传人。Rudyard Kipling仍然沉浸在莎士比亚和司各特的世界中，享受婴儿和文盲都能体会的原始愉悦。外国人和翻译家都不喜欢这样的诗人，巴不得将儿歌和民谣统统改造成策论。
Rudyard Kipling的意象，只能通过反复吟诵才能体会。如果你能够念出和听出（不是看出）德·昆西《瘾君子自白》“牛津街”那一段著名的咏叹调，就一定能理解下面这首诗的妙处。如果实在找不到感觉，那么文本分析也没有什么用处。诗性体验大半依靠多种感官的跨界交融，理解在其中所占的地位非常次要。莎士比亚有没有能力理解德国批评家送给他的那些高帽子，非常值得怀疑。Rudyard Kipling碰巧属于意向性很强的诗人，但他最脍炙人口的几首诗仍然是看上去最不知所云的几首。"Mandalay"和"Suez"的发音在《通向曼德勒之路》当中的作用，差不多就像儿歌里面的"sweet"。“三春白雪归青冢，万里黄河绕黑山”并不是没有“意思”，但根据“意思”理解就一点意思都没有了。如果根据吟唱的鼓点释放画面感，异国想象就能以适当的节奏弥散到感知边界以外。
Come you back to Mandalay,Where the old Flotilla lay:Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?On the road to Mandalay,Where the flyin'-fishes play,An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
'Er petticoat was yaller an' 'er little cap was green,An' 'er name was Supi-yaw-lat -- jes' the same as Theebaw's Queen,An' I seed her first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on an 'eathen idol's foot:
Bloomin' idol made o'mud --Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd --Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed 'er where she stud!On the road to Mandalay.
When the mist was on the rice-fields an' the sun was droppin' slow,She'd git 'er little banjo an' she'd sing "Kulla-lo-lo!"With 'er arm upon my shoulder an' 'er cheek agin' my cheekWe useter watch the steamers an' the hathis pilin' teak.
Elephints a-pilin' teakIn the sludgy, squdgy creek,Where the silence 'ung that 'eavy you was 'arf afraid to speak!
On the road to Mandalay...
No! you won't 'eed nothin' elseBut them spicy garlic smells,An' the sunshine an' the palm-trees an' the tinkly temple-bells;
On the road to Mandalay...
Beefy face an' grubby 'and --Law! wot do they understand?I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land!
On the road to Mandalay...
Where the old Flotilla lay,With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!On the road to Mandalay,Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
Rudyard Kiplin的文学路径通向知识分子世界的反面，诉诸反理论的“健全常识”。他通过体验而非知识，明白“原始”和“儿童”差不多是一个意思。“天真”翻到背面，就是“野蛮”的意思。“淳朴”翻到背面，就是“残酷”的意思。原始意义上的歌谣和童话，犹如非洲大草原烈日下的白骨，无比的清洁源于无情的法则。真正了解儿童的人都知道：儿童非但不畏惧残酷，而且比成人残酷得多。残酷是德性的训练场，勇敢、高贵和忠诚只有在考验的过程中才能存在。邪恶不是来自残酷本身，而是来自企图歪曲、利用残酷的软弱和逃避。温莎寡妇和红衣大兵都懂得怎样昂起头颅，面对残酷的世界，活出责任、荣誉和信仰，不是因为什么大道理，就因为他们是英国人。多余的解释是不必要的，只有外国人和知识分子才喜欢解释。解释不是德性的体现，暗示你怀疑神明、畏惧世界。
There's 'er nick on the cavalry 'orses,There's 'er mark on the medical stores --An' 'er troopers you'll find with a fair wind be'indThat takes us to various wars.Poor beggars! -- barbarious wars!
Then 'ere's to the Widow at Windsor,An' 'ere's to the stores an' the guns,The men an' the 'orses what makes up the forcesO' Missis Victorier's sons.Poor beggars! Victorier's sons!
Walk wide o' the Widow at Windsor,
For 'alf o' Creation she owns:We 'ave bought 'er the same with the sword an' the flame,An' we've salted it down with our bones.Poor beggars! -- it's blue with our bones!
Hands off o' the sons o' the Widow,Hands off o' the goods in 'er shop,For the Kings must come down an' the Emperors frownWhen the Widow at Windsor says "Stop"!Poor beggars! -- we're sent to say "Stop"!
Then 'ere's to the Lodge o' the Widow,From the Pole to the Tropics it runs –To the Lodge that we tile with the rank an' the file,An' open in form with the guns.Poor beggars! -- it's always they guns!]:
We 'ave 'eard o' the Widow at Windsor,It's safest to let 'er alone:For 'er sentries we stand by the sea an' the landWherever the bugles are blown.Poor beggars! -- an' don't we get blown!
Take 'old o' the Wings o' the Mornin',An' flop round the earth till you're dead;But you won't get away from the tune that they playTo the bloomin' old rag over'ead.Poor beggars! -- it's 'ot over'ead!
Then 'ere's to the sons o' the Widow,Wherever, 'owever they roam.'Ere's all they desire, an' if they requireA speedy return to their 'ome.Poor beggars! -- they'll never see 'ome!原来如此的故事作者：吉卜林译者：刘仲敬广西师范大学出版社·新民说2015.9
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,So-oldier of the Queen!
Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:A soldier what's fit for a soldier.Fit, fit, fit for a soldier ...
First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --An' it's bad for the young British soldier.Bad, bad, bad for the soldier ...
When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,An' it crumples the young British soldier.Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier...
But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said:If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.Fool, fool, fool of a soldier...
If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;Be handy and civil, and then you will findThat it's beer for the young British soldier.Beer, beer, beer for the soldier ...
Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier...
If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loathTo shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.Curse, curse, curse of a soldier...
When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luckAnd march to your front like a soldier.Front, front, front like a soldier...
When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.Fight, fight, fight for the soldier...
When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,For noise never startles the soldier.Start-, start-, startles the soldier...
If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,And wait for supports like a soldier.Wait, wait, wait like a soldier...
When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,And the women come out to cut up what remains,Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brainsAn' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,Go, go, go like a soldier,Go, go, go like a soldier,So-oldier of the Queen!
Rudyard Kipling的艺术属于《旧约》时代和前伊丽莎白时代，仿佛召回了乔叟和皮尔斯“壮健的英国乡民”。他们觉得自己像迟钝坚毅的猎犬，瞧不起脆弱虚荣的聪明人。他们不是好高骛远的梦想家，知道痛苦就是生命的底色，相信服从才是律法的精髓。然而他们的痛苦不是听天由命的苦难，而是“野猪头酒店”里跳动着琥珀色冲动的苦啤酒。“壮健的英国乡民”只要三年当中有一年走运，就会举杯预祝明年更好。他们的服从源于信任和骄傲，而没有律法的下等人只知道基于恐惧的服从。英国人因服从而强大，正如下等人因服从而软弱。你无需明白“为什么”，只要看清“是这样”就足够了。因为世界不是德性的仲裁者，德性才是世界的仲裁者。Rudyard Kipling将他的眼睛借给世界，世界还能对他要求什么呢？
网页编辑：文青
图片绘制：高尚
