雨声急密，天空低沉而阴暗，
The sky was low, the sounding rain was falling dense and dark,
挪亚的儿子们站在方舟的窗前。
And Noah's sons were standing at the window of the Ark.
群兽都进来了，但雅弗说：“我见还有一种兽，
The beasts were in, but Japhet said, 'I see one creature more
迟来了，孤独无偶，在那门前直叩。”
Belated and unmated there come knocking at the door.'
含说：“让它去叩门吧，任它淹死或练游泳，
'Well let him knock,' said Ham, 'Or let him drown or learn to swim.
看看我们的情形吧，这裡已经是无处可容。”
We're overcrowded as it is; we've got no room for him.'
雅弗说：“它仍在叩门呢，拼命叩着焦急惊惶，
'And yet it knocks, how terribly it knocks,' said Shem, 'Its feet
它四蹄像独角那样的坚硬，却遍体带著异香。”
Are hard as horn–but oh the air that comes from it is sweet.'
含说：“莫作声，你如果惊醒老爹来看
'Now hush,' said Ham, 'You'll waken Dad, and once he comes to see
是什么在门外，准会增加我们的工作负担。”
What's at the door, it's sure to mean more work for you and me.'
从下面的暗处，传来挪亚的高声大吼，
Noah's voice came roaring from the darkness down below,
“有活物在叩门！放它进来再关闭方舟。”
'Some animal is knocking. Take it in before we go.'
含高喊回应，猛力戳那两兄弟不要作声：
Ham shouted back, and savagely he nudged the other two,
“那不过是雅弗，他在用锤敲下一支鞋钉。”
'That's only Japhet knocking down a brad-nail in his shoe.'
挪亚说：“孩子们，我听到像是马的蹄声。”
Said Noah, 'Boys, I hear a noise that's like a horse's hoof.'
含说：“噢，那是可怕的豪雨敲击著屋顶。”
Said Ham, 'Why, that's the dreadful rain that drums upon the roof.'
挪亚仓皇地爬上顶层，探头一看出去﹔
Noah tumbled up on deck and out he put his head;
他的脸转灰青，双膝发软，撕自己的胡须，
His face went grey, his knees were loosed, he tore his beard and said,
“看，看！它不再等了。它离去，逃脱。
'Look, look! It would not wait. It turns away. It takes its flight.
儿子们，今夜，你们合伙，真干了绝活！
Fine work you've made of it, my sons, between you all to-night!
“就算我能赶过它，它也不会再转回——
'Even if I could outrun it now, it would not turn again
我们对它不客气，自然赢得人家鄙视不理会。
–Not now. Our great discourtesy has earned its high disdain.
“啊，高贵的孤兽，我的儿子们真不友好，
'Oh noble and unmated beast, my sons were all unkind;
如此的黑夜你何处能寻得棚舍和草料？
In such a night what stable and what manger will you find?
“啊，那金的蹄，啊，飘洒的长鬃，翕张的鼻孔
'Oh golden hoofs, oh cataracts of mane, oh nostrils wide
充满气愤！啊，那弯弓的倔强颈项，可爱的傲性！
With indignation! Oh the neck wave-arched, the lovely pride!
“啊，要多么长久，在人的心上留下犁沟
'Oh long shall be the furrows ploughed across the hearts of men
要多久，它才会再度来到棚舍和槽头，
Before it comes to stable and to manger once again,
“我们的种类要经历漫长的黑暗弯曲路径，
'And dark and crooked all the ways in which our race shall walk,
像茎枝折断的花，颓丧地垂头度过人生，
And shrivelled all their manhood like a flower with broken stalk,
“含啊，全世界要以生你的那日子可诅可咒，
'And all the world, oh Ham, may curse the hour when you were born;
为了你，竟在方舟启航时失落那独角瑞兽。”
Because of you the Ark must sail without the Unicorn!'