Think me not unkind and rude

不要以为我桀骜不驯，

That I walk alone in grove and glen;

因我独自在山谷间游荡；

I go to the god of the wood

我是去拜谒森林之神，

To fetch his word to men.

把他的智慧向世人宣讲。

Tax not my sloth that I

不要指责我懒散怠惰，

Fold my arms beside the brook;

因我终日只把溪水凝视；

Each cloud that floated in the sky

每一片云从空中飘过，

Writes a letter in my book.

都在我书里写下一个字。

Chide me not, laborious band,

勤劳的人不要责备我，

For the idle flowers I brought;

因我只顾采撷闲适的花；

Every aster in my hand

这手里的紫苑，每一朵

Goes home loaded with a thought.

都会装着一个思想回家。

There was never mystery

天地所有神秘的讯息

But 'tis figured in the flowers;

都藏身于眼前花的形象；

Was never secret history

古今所有隐秘的历史

But birds tell it in the bowers.

都被鸟儿在树荫里传唱。

One harvest from thy field

强壮的牛离开田野时，

Homeward brought the oxen strong;

带给你的只是一种收获，

A second crop thine acres yield,

另一种庄稼留在原地，

Which I gather in a song.

我拾起它们，变成了歌。