God restye merry gentlemen被誉为最古老的圣诞颂歌之一。据传,该颂歌最早可追溯到15世纪,是在圣诞季节由城镇的巡夜人为贵族们演唱的,以用来获取额外的收入。不知道原作者究竟是谁,但此歌一直在英格兰地区口耳相传。此歌最早发表于1833年出版的一本名为《ChristmasCarols Ancient andModern》的节日宗教颂歌的合集。这一古老的颂歌直到今日仍然在英格兰各城镇传唱。张韶涵的《寓言》(高潮部分)借鉴了这首古老的乐曲。
在由撒贝宁主持、被广大青年人所喜爱的CCTV1的《开讲啦》节目里,开场曲即为这首英格兰民谣。
英文歌词:
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, 上帝赐予你快乐,先生们,
Let nothing you dismay, 让万事充满希望,无事令你惊慌
Remember Christ our Savior 请记得基督,我们的救世主
Was born on Christmas day, 诞生于圣诞节
To save us all from Satan's pow'r 为从撒旦的力量下挽救我们所有人
When we were gone astray; 在我们误入歧途之时;
O tidings of comfort and joy, 噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦
Comfort and joy, 舒适与喜悦
O tidings of comfort and joy. 噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦
From God our heavenly Father 从上帝,我们的天父那儿
A blessed angel came. 一位被祝福的天使来了.
And unto certain shepherds 降临至牧羊人们之中
Brought tidings of the same, 带来了同样(令人欣喜的)喜讯,
How that in Bethlehem was born 告诉他们,在伯利恒诞生
The Son of God by name: 神的儿子的名字:
O tidings of comfort and joy, 噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦
Comfort and joy, 舒适与喜悦
O tidings of comfort and joy. 噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦.
But when to Bethlehem they came, 但当他们来到伯利恒
Whereat this infant lay 这个婴儿出生的地方时
They found him in a manger, 他们在一个饲槽里
Where oxen feed on hay; 一个用干草喂养牛的地方发现他,
His mother Mary kneeling, 他的母亲玛丽跪在地上,
Unto the Lord did pray: 向上帝祈祷着
O tidings of comfort and joy,噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦.
Comfort and joy, 舒适与喜悦
O tidings of comfort and joy.噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦.
Now to the Lord sing praises, 此刻贵族们歌功颂德,
All you within this place, "所有在这个地方的人,"
And with true love and brotherhood "因真诚的爱与手足之情"
Each other now embrace; "彼此拥抱吧!"
This holy tide of Christmas 这个神圣的圣诞之时
All others doth deface: 远离灾难与毁灭
O tidings of comfort and joy, 噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦
Comfort and joy, 舒适与喜悦
O tidings of comfort and joy 噢,天赐福音,带来舒适与喜悦