約翰‧格林利夫‧惠蒂埃
(JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER)

巴巴拉‧弗裏徹
Barbara Frietchie

《巴巴拉‧弗裏徹》是一首著名的愛國詩歌,作於1863年,經常被編進詩集並被人深情地背誦下來。一個多世紀以來,「她說,『如果你必須開槍,那就朝我這頭髮灰白的老人打吧,但請別打你們的國旗。』」造句詩在民族文化的語彙裏一直佔有特殊的位置。惠蒂埃堅持說這個故事是真實的,而且在華盛頓和馬裡蘭都很聞名,他沒有理由懷疑它的準確性。不管是不是真的,這首詩已經為幾代美國人所喜愛。


涼爽的九月早晨,氣清天朗,
在那盛產玉米的草地上,

矗立著一群群弗雷德裏克城的塔尖,
馬裡蘭的山岡就像綠牆把它們圍在中間。

在它們周圍到處是果園,
蘋果和桃樹碩果結滿園。

在那些飢餓的叛軍眼裏,
就像主的花園一樣美麗。

在那個涼爽的初秋早晨,
李將軍的隊伍踏過山城。

他們騎馬步行遍佈山峰。
迤邐走向弗雷德裏克城。

四十面飾著銀色五星的旗。
四十面飾著深紅條紋的旗。

晨風中飄動星條旗四十面,
晌午的太陽卻看不到一面。

這時老巴巴拉‧弗裏徹站起來,
她高齡九十腰都直不起來。

她是弗雷德裏克城最勇敢的人,
她拿起了士兵們降下的星條旗。

她把旗竿插在她家頂樓的窗上,
以表明有一顆心還是忠貞無上。

叛軍的隊伍從大街上走過來,
斯通沃爾‧傑克遜騎馬走在前頭。

他戴著垂邊軟帽左看右視,
看到了那面破舊的星條旗。

「停!」──風塵僕僕的隊伍立定不前,
「開火!」──來福槍噴發出烈火烈焰。

窗戶、玻璃和窗框都在顫動,
子彈將星條旗撕成條條洞洞。

當旗從斷竿上迅速落下時,
巴巴拉老人趕緊抓住絲質的旗面。

她將身體遠遠傾出窗臺,
以極大的毅力把旗搖擺。

她說,「如果你們必須開槍,就朝我這頭髮灰白人打吧,
但請別打你們的國旗。」

指揮官的臉上露出一點悲哀,
他差愧得滿臉通紅;

那個女人的言行,
激發出他心中更高尚的天性;

他說,「誰碰那位白髮老人一根毛,
就會跟狗一樣死去!前進!」

整個弗雷德裏克城的街上,
一整天都響著他們行軍的腳步聲;

那面自由的旗幟,
一整天都飄揚在叛軍頭上。

就連它被撕破的褶條也在上下起伏,
飄動在熱愛它的忠誠的清風中。

夕陽的光輝透過山間的縫隙,
照耀在旗上致以熱情的晚安。

巴巴拉‧弗裏徹的工作已完畢,
叛軍再也沒有來襲擊。

向她致敬!而且為了她,
讓我們灑滴淚在斯通沃爾的靈柩上。

在巴巴拉‧弗裏徹的墳墓上,
飄揚著自由和聯邦的旗幟!

你是光明和法律的象徵,
你引來和平,秩序和美;

天上的星星朝下看星星,
永遠會看到弗雷德裏克城上你的五星!

 

Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,

The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.

Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,

Fair as the garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde.

On that pleasant morn of the early fall
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall;

Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.

Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,

Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.

Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;

Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;

In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.

Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.

Under his slouched hat left and right
He glanced; the old flag met his sight.

"Halt!"the dust-brown ranks stood fast
"Fire!"out blazed the rifle-blast.

It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.

Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.

She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth -with a royal will.

"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head,
But spare your country's flag," she said.

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame,

Over the face of the leader came;

The nobler nature within him stirred

To life at that -woman's deed and word;

"Who touches a hair on yon gray head
Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.

All day long through Frederick street

Sounded the tread of marching feet:

All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.

Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;

And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.

Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
And the Rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her! and let a tear
Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.

Over Barbara Frietchie's grave
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!

Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;

And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!