饕餮、贪睡，慵卧于软榻之上

Greed and sleep and slothful beds

世间所有善业都关在门外，

have banished every virtue from the world,

我们的天性被愚痴缠绕

so that, overcome by habit,

让人几乎迷失了正道；

our nature has almost lost its way.

那规范人世生活的，

And all the benign lights of heaven,

上天善行的光亮

that inform human life, are so spent,

都已熄灭，谁想要让埃利科纳山涌出泉水

that he who wishes to bring down a stream

也会遭到世人嘲讽。

from Helicon is pointed out as a wonder.

渴望桂木、爱神木有何用？

Such desire for laurel, and for myrtle?

哲学，赤裸而贫穷，

‘Poor and naked goes philosophy',

精于算计的市侩会这样嘲讽。

say the crowd intent on base profit.

你在这条路上会孑然而行；

You 'll have poor company on that other road:

我请求你，高贵的灵魂，

So much the more I beg you, gentle spirit,

不要放弃你高贵的使命。

not to turn from your great undertaking.