我们驶离涂红漆的浮标，
We left behind the painted buoy
任其在港口颠簸又晃荡，
That tosses at the harbor-mouth;
我们狂喜的心儿在欢跳，
And madly danced our hearts with joy,
是因为在飞快驶向南方。
As fast we fleeted to the south.
开阔的海和蜿蜒的海岸，
How fresh was every sight and sound
各种景象和声响多清新！
On open main or winding shore!
既然快活的地球滚滚圆，
We knew the merry world was round,
我们就永远能向前航行。
And we might sail for evermore.
暖暖的风儿拂碎在脸上，
Warm broke the breeze against the brow,
干燥的索具、篷帆在唱歌；
Dry sang the tackle, sang the sail;
扎进风中的破浪女神像
The Lady's-head upon the prow
洒满了强烈的咸咸浪沫。
Caught the shrill salt, and sheer'd the gale.
朝我们涌来的滚滚海涛
The broad seas swell'd to meet the keel,
已撂在船后；船儿驶得急，
And swept behind; so quick the run,
我们感到这好船在晃摇，
We felt the good ship shake and reel,
似乎正在朝太阳里驶去！
We seem'd to sail into the sun!
太阳隐退时我们常见到
How oft we saw the sun retire,
它总把黑夜的门槛烧红，
And burn the threshold of the night,
然后从洋面火巷往下掉，
Fall from his Ocean-lane of fire,
掉到那光柱下面去入梦！
And sleep beneath his pillar'd light!
暮色渐降时我们常看见
How oft the purple-skirted robe
罩下了紫色边沿的大氅；
Of twilight slowly downward drawn,
而当整个的地球在安眠，
As thro' the slumber of the globe
我们又冲向拂晓的曙光！
Again we dash'd into the dawn!
星星一整夜涌现在天际，
New stars all night above the brim
在空中映入我们的眼帘；
Of waters lighten'd into view;
它们升得快，我们船行急，
They climb'd as quickly, for the rim
四周的海平线刻刻在变。
Changed every moment as we flew.
空空荡荡的起伏洋面上，
Far ran the naked moon across
裸露的月亮飞了长距离；
The houseless ocean's heaving field,
它边飞边发出银晕辉光，
Or flying shone, the silver boss
像黑盾中央的圆形突起。
Of her own halo's dusky shield.
小岛上的峰峦变着形状，
The peaky islet shifted shapes,
小山上的村镇隐隐可见，
High towns on hills were dimly seen;
我们驶过露莹莹的牧场
We past long lines of Northern capes
又驶过北方海岬的长岸；
And dewy Northern meadows green.
来到了浪温水暖的海域，
We came to warmer waves, and deep
远远驶进了东方的汪洋，
Across the boundless east we drove,
只见一排排浪冲向岛屿，
Where those long swells of breaker sweep
浇向肉豆蔻，淋洒着丁香。
The nutmeg rocks and isles of clove.
山峰喷烈焰，火山灰如雨——
By peaks that flamed, or, all in shade,
撒得像黑色的巨松一般，
Gloom'd the low coast and quivering brine
或是像形状怪异的毛羽，
With ashy rains, that spreading made
把颤抖的海和海岸遮暗；
Fantastic plume or sable pine;
平沙上热气腾腾，河口处
By sands and steaming flats, and floods
开阔浩荡；我们一掠而过——
Of mighty mouth, we scudded fast,
掠过时，只见到山峦起伏，
And hills and scarlet-mingled woods
只见到树林间红花灼灼。
Glow'd for a moment as we past.
和风暖日下的百洲千岛
O hundred shores of happy climes,
多么快在我们船边流过！
How swiftly stream'd ye by the bark!
有时海面上磷火在闪耀
At times the whole sea burn'd, at times
或火样的航迹把夜划破；
With wakes of fire we tore the dark;
有时从仙境般的小港口，
At times a carven craft would shoot
赤裸的人载着水果和花，
From havens hid in fairy bowers,
会射来刻着图案的轻舟；
With naked limbs and flowers and fruit,
但我们决不为花果停下。
But we nor paused for fruit nor flowers.
因为日夜在茫茫大海上，
For one fair Vision ever fled
有位美好的神灵朝前飞；
Down the waste waters day and night,
为了把飞行中的她赶上，
And still we follow'd where she led,
我们就一直跟在后面追。
In hope to gain upon her flight.
她的脸始终没有谁见过，
Her face was evermore unseen,
却总是浮在远远海面上；
And fixt upon the far sea-line;
“我的女王啊，”人人低声说，
But each man murmur'd, 'O my Queen,
“我要追到你做我的新娘。”
I follow till I make thee mine.'
她忽而不见，忽而露一露，
And now we lost her, now she gleam'd
像一个缥缈的金色幻影；
Like Fancy made of golden air,
她忽而仿佛在船头，犹如
Now nearer to the prow she seem'd
坚定又美丽的德智女神；
Like Virtue firm, like Knowledge fair,
忽而在浪涛徒涌的海天，
Now high on waves that idly burst
她高踞空中像希望天使；
Like Heavenly Hope she crown'd the sea,
忽而她佩挂着自由之剑——
And now, the bloodless point reversed,
朝下的剑锋上没有血渍。
She bore the blade of Liberty.
我们中有这么一位，他呀
And only one among us — him
难得满意，对我们很挑剔；
We pleased not — he was seldom pleased;
却眼光短浅，看东西昏花，
He saw not far, his eyes were dim,
还硬说我们眼睛有问题。
But ours he swore were all diseased.
“一船的傻瓜，”他狠狠吼叫；
'A ship of fools,' he shriek'd in spite,
“一船的傻瓜，”他含泪讥讽。
'A ship of fools,' he sneer'd and wept.
暴风雨之夜，他纵身一跳
And overboard one stormy night
投了海，而我们继续航行。
He cast his body, and on we swept.
我们的篷帆永远不卷起，
And never sail of ours was furl'd,
无论早晨或晚上不下锚；
Nor anchor dropt at eve or morn;
我们爱世上的一切壮丽，
We loved the glories of the world,
我们把日常的法则嘲笑。
But laws of nature were our scorn.
风暴会突然肆虐突然停，
For blasts would rise and rave and cease,
但什么动力把篷帆推动？
But whence were those that drove the sail
推它过旋风平静的中心，
Across the whirlwind's heart of peace,
再去穿越反方向的暴风？
And to and thro' the counter gale?
我们又来到清凉的地带，
Again to colder climes we came,
因为我们仍跟着她踪影；
For still we follow'd where she led;
眼下是大副失明船长瘸，
Now mate is blind and captain lame,
有半数的船员非死即病；
And half the crew are sick or dead,
但不管盲或瘸、病或康健，
But, blind or lame or sick or sound,
她飞在前面把我们逗引：
We follow that which flies before;
既然快活的地球滚滚圆，
We know the merry world is round,
我们就永远能向前航行。
And we may sail for evermore.