朗費羅《人生頌》
A Psalm of Life
－－－年青人的心對歌者說的話
不要在哀傷的詩句裏告訴我：Tell me not, in mornful numbers,
“人生不過是一場幻夢！” "Life is but an empty dream!"
靈魂睡著了，就等於死了， For the soul is dead that slumbers,
事物的真相與外表不同。 And things are not what they seem.
人生是真切的！人生是實在的！ Life is real! Life is earnest!
它的歸宿決不是荒墳； And the grave is not its goal;
“你本是塵土，必歸於塵土”， "Dust thou art, to dust returnest,"
這是指軀殼，不是指靈魂。 Was not spoken of the soul.
我們命定的目標和道路 Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
不是享樂，也不是受苦； Is our destined end or way;
而是行動，在每個明天 But to act, that each to-morrow
都超越今天，跨出新步。 Find us farther than to-day.
智藝無窮，時光飛逝； Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
這顆心，縱然勇敢堅強， And our hearts, though stout and brave,
也只如鼙鼓，悶聲敲動著， Still, like muffled drums, are beating
一下又一下，向墳地送喪。 Funeral marches to the grave.
世界是一片遼闊的戰場， In the world’s broad field of battle,
人生是到處紮寨安營； In the bivouac of life,
莫學那聽人驅策的啞畜， Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
做一個威武善戰的英雄！ Be a hero in the strife!
別指望將來，不管它多可愛！ Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
把已逝的過去永久掩埋！ Let the dead Past bury its dead!
行動吧－－趁著活生生的現在！ Act, -- act in the living Present!
心中有赤心，頭上有真宰！ Heart within, and God o’evhead!
偉人的生平啟示我們： Lives of great men all remind us
我們能夠生活得高尚， We can make our lives sublime,
而當告別人世的時候， And, departing, leave behind us
留下腳印在時間的沙上； Footprints on the sand of time;
也許我們有一個兄弟 Footprints, that perhaps another,
航行在莊嚴的人生大海， Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
遇險沉了船，絕望的時刻，A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
會看到這腳印而振作起來。 Seeing, shall take heart again.
那麼，讓我們起來幹吧， Let us, then, be up and doing,
對任何命運要敢於擔戴； With a heart for any fate;
不斷地進取，不斷地追求， Still achieving, still pursuing,
要善於勞動，善於等待。 Learn to labor and to wait.
據 錢鐘書 先生考證，朗費羅的名篇《人生頌》是英語詩歌中最早譯成漢語的一首。
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