The Tyger
William Blake (1757–1827)
Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright
In the forests of the night!
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand, & what dread feet?
What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp?
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright
In the forests of the night!
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Bian Zhilin’s Chinese translation, retranslated here
Tiger! Tiger! blazing bright,
burning through the forests of night;
what extraordinary hand and eye
could shape your fearful symmetry?
What distant sea depths or skies
lit the fire burning in your eyes?
What wings dared to rise and fly?
What iron hand could seize the fire?
What kind of skill, what mighty arm,
could twist the sinews of your heart?
When your heart first began to beat,
what fearsome hands and feet were there?
What chains? What hammer? What furnace
forged the marrow of your brain?
What anvil? What strength could seize
and hold that terrifying thunder?
At last the stars cast down their spears,
and heaven was washed with tears.
When the work was done, did the maker smile?
Was it the same one who made the lamb?
Tiger! Tiger! blazing bright,
burning through the forests of night;
what extraordinary hand and eye
dared shape your fearful symmetry?
(Translated into Chinese by Bian Zhilin; this English rendering follows the Chinese version.)
Editor’s note: There are also Chinese translations by Guo Moruo, Xu Zhimo and others. Readers can compare them. In my view, Bian’s translation gives careful attention to rhyme and meter. It is faithful to the original while retaining its musical beauty and force.