“A Psalm of Life”
生命的赞歌
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
享利 · 沃兹沃斯·朗费罗
What the heart of the young man said to the Psalmist
那颗年轻人的心对诗人所说的
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
不要告诉我,用哀伤的句子,
Life is but an empty dream!
生命只是一个虚空的梦!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
因为沉睡的灵魂与死相似,
And things are not what they seem.
事情并不是它们看起来仿佛的种种。
Life is real! Life is earnest!
生命是真实的!生命是诚挚的!
And the grave is not its goal;
坟墓决不是生命的目的;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
你本是尘土,将归于尘土,
Was not spoken of the soul.
说的不是灵魂而是肉体。
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
欢乐,与悲伤,都不是
Is our destined end or way;
我们的注定的结局或道路
But to act, that each tomorrow
但是去行动,这样每个明天
Find us farther than today.
发现我们比今天走得更远
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
艺术长存,而时间如飞而逝,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
且我们的心,尽管勇敢又坚定,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
仍然,像消音的闷鼓,正敲击
Funeral marches to the grave.
丧礼的脚步迈向坟茔。
In the world’s broad field of battle,
在这个世界上争战的广袤疆土,
In the bivouac of Life,
在生命的这等露宿之中,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
别像个愚蠢的,被驱动的牲畜!
Be a hero in the strife!
做一个勉力奋斗的英雄!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
不要信靠未来,不管那是如何惬意!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
让死人去埋葬他的死人吧!
Act,—act in the living Present!
行动,—行动在这个又真又活的当下!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
赤心在体内,举头有上帝!
Lives of great men all remind us
伟人们的生活全都提醒我们
We can make our lives sublime,
我们可以使我们的生命高尚,
And, departing, leave behind us
并且,当离去,留下脚印
Footprints on the sands of time;—
在我们身后,在时间的流沙之上;—
Footprints, that perhaps another,
这些脚印,也许另外一个人,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
驶过生命的庄严的主干道,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
一个忧郁并触礁的兄弟,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
看见了,将重又鼓起信心与勇气。
Let us, then, be up and doing,
那么,让我们,奋发努力工作,
With a heart for any fate;
带着一颗心坦对任何命运的安排;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
仍然努力达成,仍然尽力追求,
Learn to labor and to wait.
学会工作,并且学会等待。