在那个时代，智者

It was a time when wise men

不是变安静，而是被消音。

Were not silent, but stifled

排山倒海的喧哗。于是他们从

By vast noise. They took refuge

不被阅读的书中找到庇所。

In books that were not read.

两个思想官赢得了大众的耳朵。

Two counsellors had the ear

一个高喊“买—买—买”，

Of the public. One cried 'Buy'

昼夜不停，而另一个

Day and Night, and the other,

说得更动听：“出售你的安宁”。

More plausibly, 'Sell your repose'.