单纯的孩子，

-------A simple child, 

呼吸得愉快安详，

That lightly draws its breath, 

感到生命充沛在四肢，

What should it know of death? 

怎知道什么是死亡？

I met a little cottage girl: 

我遇到一个农家小姑娘：

She was eight years old, she said; 

　　她说，她今年八岁；

Her hair was thick with many a curl 

她的头发纷披在头上——

That clustered round her head. 

　　一卷卷，一绺绺丝穗。

She had a rustic, woodland air, 

她带着乡土和林野的气味，

And she was wildly clad: (clad: clothed) 

　　衣服也十分土气；

Her eyes were fair, and very fair; 

她眼睛可美了，非常的美；

----Her beauty made me glad. 

　　——她的美使我欣喜。

“Sisters and brothers, little Maid, 

“小姑娘，你们一共有几个——

How many may you be?” 

　　几个姊妹兄弟？”

“How many? Seven in all,” she said, 

“几个？一共七个，”她说，

And wondering looked at me. 

　　看着我，有点儿惊奇。

“And where are they? I pray you tell.” 

“他们在哪儿？请你告诉我。”

She answered, “Seven are we; 

　　她回答，“我们七个人；

And two of us at Conway dwell, 

当中有两个在康韦住着，

And two are gone to sea. 

　　两个在海上航行。

“Two of us in the church-yard lie, 

“还有我姊姊和哥哥两个人，

My sister and my brother; 

　　躺在教堂的墓地；

And, in the church-yard cottage, I 

坟场边，小屋里，离他们挺近，

Dwell near them with my mother.” 

　　我跟妈住在一起。”

“You say that two at Conway dwell, 

“你说两个在康韦住着，

And two are gone to sea, 

　　两个在海上远航，

Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell, 

可你们总共有七个！——你说说，

Sweet Maid, how this may be.” 

　　这怎么可能，好姑娘！”

Then did the little Maid reply, 

“我们男孩儿女孩儿共七个；”

“Seven boys and girls are we; 

小姑娘这样回答，

Two of us in the church-yard lie; 

“有两个在教堂墓地里躺着，

Beneath the church-yard tree.” 

　　在墓地的树荫底下。”

“You run about, my little maid, 

“小姑娘，你会跑会蹦，

Your limbs they are alive; 

　　你的手脚多灵活；

If two are in the church-yard laid, 

那两个已经躺在坟墓中，

Then ye are only five.” 

　　你们只剩下五个。”

“Their graves are green, they may be seen,” 

“坟头草青青，一眼看得清，”

The little Maid replied, 

　　小姑娘这样开言，

“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door, 

“离我家门前，十二步多一点，

And they are side by side. 

　　两座坟紧紧相连。

“My stockings there often knit, 

“在那儿我时常织我的长袜，

My kerchief there I hem; 

　　把手帕儿四边缝合；

And there upon the ground I sit, 

在那儿我时常就地坐下，

And sing a song to them. 

　　为哥哥姊姊唱歌。

“And often after sunset, Sir, 

“先生，只等太阳落山后，

When it is light and fair, 

　　在晴朗明亮的黄昏天，

I take my little porringer, 

我总是拿起小粥碗往前走，

And eat my supper there. 

　　到他们身边吃晚饭。

“The first that died was sister Jane; 

“琪恩姊姊头一个离去；

In bed she moaning lay, 

　　她躺着哼叫不休，

Till God released her of her pain; 

上帝不叫她再受痛苦；

And then she went away. 

　　她就一去不回头。

“So in the church-yard she was laid; 

“她让人家安放在墓地；

And, when the grass was dry, 

　　当青草干枯的时候，

Together round her grave we played, 

我哥哥约翰跟我游戏，

My brother John and I. 

　　在姊姊坟墓四周。

“And when the ground was white with snow, 

“等到地上下满了白雪，

And I could run and slide, 

　　我可以奔跑溜滑，

My brother John was forced to go, 

约翰哥哥也只好离别，

And he lies by her side.” 

　　在姊姊身旁躺下。”

“How many are you, then,” said I, 

“两个已经在天国，”我说，

“If they two are in heaven?” 

　　“那你们还剩几个？”

Quick was little Maid’s reply, 

小姑娘回答我不假思索，

“O Master! We are seven.” 

　　“先生，我们是七个。”

“But they are dead; those two are dead! 

“可他们死了，那两个死了！

Their spirits are in heaven!” 

　　他们的灵魂在天国！”

’Twas throwing words away; for still (’Twas = It was) 

我的话全是白费唇舌；

The little Maid would have her will, 

小姑娘仍然坚持这样说，

And said, “Nay, we are seven!”

　　“不，我们是七个！”