It was a time when wise men

这个时代的智者

Were not silent, but stifled

并未沉默，却窒息于

By vast noise. They took refuge

巨大的噪声。他们在

In books that were not read.

无人去读的书里逃难。

Two counsellors had the ear

两位谋士让大众的耳朵

Of the public. One cried 'Buy'

竖起：一个催叫“快买”

Day and Night, and the other,

日夜不停，另一个更是

More plausibly, 'Sell your repose'.

巧舌如簧，“卖掉你的安逸”。