第8章 当年我二十一岁

A. E. 豪斯曼[1]

当年我二十一岁

听见一位智者的教诲，

“权力与财富都能给，

莫要付出你的心；

珍珠宝石不足贵，

只要灵魂自在飞。”

但我只有二十一岁，

这些话儿皆枉费。

当年我二十一岁，

还听见那位智者教诲，

“胸中的真情意

从不会徒然付流水；

它会收获无尽的叹息

换来无休止的悔恨。”

如今我二十二岁，

哦，才知这话非假是真。

When I Was One—and—Twenty

A. E. Housman

When I was one—and—twenty

I heard a wise man say,

"Give crowns and pounds and guineas

But not your heart away;

Give pearls away and rubies

But keep your fancy free."

But I was one—and—twenty,

No use to talk to me.

When I was one—and—twenty

I heard him say again,

"The heart out of the bosom

Was never given in vain;

'Tis paid with sighs aplenty

And sold for endless rue."

And I am two—and—twenty,

And oh'tis true'tis true.

注释：

[1]A. E. 豪斯曼1859—1936，英国古典学者、诗人，著有《什罗普郡少年》等诗集。