Greed and sleep and slothful beds

饕餮、贪睡，慵卧于软榻之上

have banished every virtue from the world,

世间所有善业都关在门外，

so that, overcome by habit,

我们的天性被愚痴缠绕

our nature has almost lost its way.

让人几乎迷失了正道；

And all the benign lights of heaven,

那规范人世生活的，

that inform human life, are so spent,

上天善行的光亮

that he who wishes to bring down a stream

都已熄灭，谁想要让埃利科纳山涌出泉水

from Helicon is pointed out as a wonder.

也会遭到世人嘲讽。

Such desire for laurel, and for myrtle?

渴望桂木、爱神木有何用？

‘Poor and naked goes philosophy',

哲学，赤裸而贫穷，

say the crowd intent on base profit.

精于算计的市侩会这样嘲讽。

You 'll have poor company on that other road:

你在这条路上会孑然而行；

So much the more I beg you, gentle spirit,

我请求你，高贵的灵魂，

not to turn from your great undertaking.

不要放弃你高贵的使命。