Elizabeth Barrett Browning ，1809—1861，was born in London，married the poet Robert Browning in 1846，and afterwards resided in Italy most of the time till her death，which occurred at Florence.She was thoroughly educated in severe and masculine studies，and began to write at a very eary age.Her “Essay on Mind，”a metaphysical and reflective poem，was written at the age of sixteen.She wrote very rapidly，and her friend，Miss Mitford，tells us that “Lady Geraldine's Courtship，”containing ninety-three stanzas，was composed in twelve hours！She published several other long poems，“Aurora Leigh”being one of the most highly finished.Mrs.Browning is regarded as one of the most able female poets of modern times；but her writings are often obscure，and some have doubted whether she always clearly conceived what she meant to express.She had a warm sympathy with all forms of suffering and distress.“He Giveth his Beloved Sleep”is one of the most beautiful of her minor poems.The thought is an amplification of verse 2d of Psalm cxxvii.
Of all the thoughts of God that are
Borne inward unto souls afar，
Along the Psalmist's music deep，
Now tell me if that any is，
For gift or grace，surpassing this，——
“He giveth his beloved，sleep！”
What would we give to our beloved？
The hero's heart to be unmoved，
The poet's star-tuned harp，to sweep，
The patriot's voice，to teach and rouse，
The monarch's crown，to light the brows？——
“He giveth his beloved，sleep.”
What do we give to our beloved？
A little faith all undisproved，
A little dust to overweep，
And bitter memories to make
The whole earth blasted for our sake，——
“He giveth his beloved，sleep.”
“Sleep soft，beloved！”we sometimes say，
But have no tune to charm away
Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep.
But never doleful dream again
Shall break his happy slumber when
“He giveth his beloved，sleep.”
O earth，so full of dreary noises！
O men，with wailing in your voices！
O delve'd gold，the wailers heap！
O strife，O curse，that o'er it fall！
God strikes a silence through you all，
And “giveth his beloved，sleep.”
His dews drop mutely on the hill；
His cloud above it saileth still，
Though on its slope men sow and reap.
More softly than the dew is shed，
Or cloud is floated overhead，
“He giveth his beloved，sleep.”
Ay，men may wonder while they scan
A living，thinking，feeing man，
Confirmed in such a rest to keep；
But angels say——and through the word
I think their happy smile is heard——
“He giveth his beloved，sleep.”
For me my heart，that erst did go
Most like a tired child at a show，
That sees through tears the mummers leap，
Would now its wearied vision close，
Would childlike on his love repose
Who “giveth his beloved，sleep.”
And friends，dear friends，——when it shall be
That this low breath is gone from me，
And round my bier ye come to weep，
Let one most loving of you all
Say，“Not a tear must o'er her fall；
‘He giveth his beloved，sleep.’”
译文 TRANSLATION
伊丽莎白·巴雷特·勃朗宁（1809—1861）出生于伦敦。她是诗人罗伯特·勃朗宁的妻子。婚后直至她去世，她和丈夫大部分时间住在意大利佛罗伦萨。勃朗宁夫人受过严格、扎实的教育，她很早就开始写诗。十六岁时就写出《心智论》这样的哲理诗。据诗人的朋友米特福德小姐说，诗人写作速度极快，《杰拉尔丁女士的求婚》这首由九十三个诗节构成的长诗只用了十二个小时就创作完成了。勃朗宁夫人还创作了其他几首长诗，其中《奥罗拉·雷》被认为是其代表作之一。据称，勃朗宁夫人是当代最优秀的女诗人之一，但她的作品却常常流于晦涩，一些甚至被怀疑是否能清楚表达其意欲表达的题旨。勃朗宁夫人富于同情心。《主所爱的，必赐予安眠》是她最优美的小诗之一，其主题取自《旧约·诗篇》第127首。
歌者以他深沉的音乐
将上帝的睿思
传递给远方的灵魂，
啊，告诉我
是出于恩典还是怜悯——
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
我们将给所爱什么？
英雄的心，坚若磐石，
诗人的竖琴，洒脱地弹奏，
爱国者的呼告，教导、唤醒世人，
王室的冠冕，照亮眉宇？——
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
我们常常给所爱什么？
一点不加质疑的信念，
一方泪水打湿的泥土，
一段苦涩的记忆，
整个大地因我们怒吼：
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
“静静地睡吧，亲爱的！”
有时，我们会这样说，
却不能用歌声引走
爬进眼里的悲伤，
但忧愁的梦再不会
打碎幸福的睡意，
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
哦，大地满是凄婉的音响！
哦，人们的语声里也蕴着哀伤！
哦，掘得的黄金，痛苦的人在积聚！
哦，纷争，哦，挫败的诟詈！
而上帝让这一切停息，
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
清露默默落在山间，
白云悄悄飘过山顶，
山坡上农人在播种、收获，
比洒下的露珠、
比浮过的云更轻柔，
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
哦，人们会惊奇，
若他们看到一个
鲜活的、能思考、能感觉的人
确定那样安眠，
可天使们却说——从他们的话中，
我听到幸福的笑——
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
于我，心已经走了，
像演出中倦怠的孩子，
透过泪光看伶人的跳跃，
唯愿合上疲惫的眼，
唯愿无邪地静倚在他的爱中，
“主所爱的，必赐予安眠。”
朋友，亲爱的朋友，
那时，当低微的气息离我而去，
你们围着我的棺儿哭泣，
就让我那最爱的人说：
“不要为她的离去落泪，
‘主所爱的，必赐予安眠’”。
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