这没什么好；当个无作为的国王，
It little profits that an idle king,
在不毛的巉岩间，傍着幽幽炉火，
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
配着个年老的妻子，对一支蛮族
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
斤斤地施行不公的法律，而百姓
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
只顾贮藏和吃睡，却并不了解我。
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.
我不能歇下来不远行；生命之酒
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
我可要喝它个点滴不剩。一生中，
Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd
我尝遍欢乐受尽苦；或独自经历，
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those
或同追随者共尝，在岸上或海上——
That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when
当雨淋淋毕宿透过飞渡的乱云
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
叫阴沉沉大海澎湃。我已有名声；
Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;
总怀着饥渴的心情浪迹于海外，
For always roaming with a hungry heart
长多少见识——在人们聚居的城邦、
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
一处处的风土人情和幕府衙署，
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
我既非卑微之徒就到处受尊重——
Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;
远在风劲刀兵响的特洛伊战场，
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
享受过同顽强劲敌交手的酣畅。
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
现在的我，是我全经历的一部分；
I am a part of all that I have met;
但全经历是座拱门，门洞里望去，
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
未游历的世界远远闪烁；随着我
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
不断向前走，其边沿却不断隐退。
For ever and forever when I move.
叫人闷气的是停步不前，是终止，
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
是不砥砺任锈烂，而非用得发亮！
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
仿佛在呼吸就算是活着！即便是
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
活几世都还嫌太短，何况我一生
Were all too little, and of one to me
已余日无多。但从永恒的沉寂中
Little remains: but every hour is saved
还能够让每一个钟点得救，而且，
From that eternal silence, something more,
还能够带来新收获。最讨厌的是
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
把自己存放、贮藏起三四个年头，
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
叫我这苍老的灵魂苦苦地巴望，
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
巴望到人类思维的地平线之外
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
去追踪知识，就像追踪沉落的星。
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
这是我亲生的儿子忒勒玛科斯，
This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
我留给他的，是这柄王杖和岛国——
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,—
受我钟爱的他明辨是非，能担当
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
这项重任，谨慎地使粗野的百姓
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
慢慢变得温良，能和缓而逐步地
A rugged people, and thro' soft degrees
把他们驯化为有用而善良的人。
Subdue them to the useful and the good.
他无可挑剔，虽处于日常事务中，
Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
在我离开后，还照样会举措得体，
Of common duties, decent not to fail
决不会对应尽的孝心有所疏忽，
In offices of tenderness, and pay
对我的家神，会恰如其分地供奉。
Meet adoration to my household gods,
他将做他的工作，而我将做我的。
When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.
那里是港口；我的船已鼓起了帆；
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
那里是黑沉沉的大海。我的水手
There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,
都曾经和我同心协力、辛苦与共——
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me—
他们，总是以欢笑迎雷电和阳光，
That ever with a frolic welcome took
以开朗的心胸、开朗的额头抗争——
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
你们和我都到了老年；但是老年
Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;
仍有其荣誉和操劳；死了结一切；
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
但在这终点前还可以有所作为，
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
创造些崇高业绩，从而也配得上
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
我们这些同天神也争斗过的人。
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
这里的岩岸上开始闪烁起灯火；
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
长昼将尽月徐升；大海的呜咽里
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
有种种召唤。来吧，我的朋友们，
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
去找个新世界，现在为时还不晚。
'T is not too late to seek a newer world.
现在离岸，坐齐了，往水声哗哗的
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
桨迹里用力下桨划；因为我决心
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
要驶过日落的地方和西天众星
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
沉落到水里的地方，要到死方休。
Of all the western stars, until I die.
也许我们会被深渊一口吞下去；
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
也许我们会抵达西方的极乐岛，
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
重见我们伟大的朋友阿喀琉斯。
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
已经失去的固然多，剩下还不少；
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
如今的我们，力量虽比不上往昔，
We are not now that strength which in old days
不再能惊天动地；却依然是故我；
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
尽管这性情依旧坚忍的英雄心
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
被时光和命运削弱，意志仍坚强，
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
要奋斗、探索、发现，决不会低头。
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.