起初神造人，

	When God at first made man,

预备好一杯祝福，

Having a glass of blessings standing by,

他说：“让我们倾尽所能，

	“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.

让这世界一切的丰富，

Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,

集中于他的一生。”

	Contract into a span.”

所以祂首先赐下力量；

	So strength first made a way;

然后流入美，智慧，荣誉，欢喜

Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.

几乎倾尽所有时，神停下，

	When almost all was out, God made a stay,

祂看到，祂所有的珍品，

Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,

只留下安息躺在了杯底。

	Rest in the bottom lay.

“若是我可以，”祂说，

	“For if I should,” said he,

“将此珍宝也赐给我的被造物，

“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,

他将热爱我的礼物而不是我，

	He would adore my gifts instead of me,

安息于天地，而不是天地的造物主；

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;

那么两者皆有失落。”

	So both should losers be.

“就让他留下其余一切，

	“Yet let him keep the rest,

但在一切中无法满足和安息；

But keep them with repining restlessness;

让他富足却疲乏，那么至少

	Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

若良善不能引他到我这里，

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

疲乏会让他投入我的怀抱。”

	May toss him to my breast.”