我曾在金玉般时刻

Once in a golden hour

朝地上把种子撒下。

I cast to earth a seed.

人说长的是草一棵，

Up there came a flower,

然而那却是一株花。

The people said, a weed.

在我茂盛的花园里，

To and fro they went

他们来回走来回走，

Thro' my garden-bower,

嘴里咕哝着不满意，

And muttering discontent

既把我又把花诅咒。

Cursed me and my flower.

以后这株花就长高，

Then it grew so tall

开出的花朵好光彩；

It wore a crown of light,

但夜里来了贼强盗——

But thieves from o'er the wall

偷种子翻出了墙外。

Stole the seed by night;

这种子流传到四方，

Sow'd it far and wide

在处处城镇里播下，

By every town and tower,

赢得了人们的赞扬：

Till all the people cried,

“多么绚丽的花朵呀！”

'Splendid is the flower.'

人若能跑动和吟诵，

Read my little fable:

就念念我这小寓言。

He that runs may read.

这花多数人已能种，

Most can raise the flowers now

因为它种子遍人间。

For all have got the seed.

可花儿有些开得美，

And some are pretty enough,

有些却开得并不妙；

And some are poor indeed;

到如今人们又改嘴，

And now again the people

说它只不过是野草。

Call it but a weed.