晚间我出门漫步，

As I walked out one evening,

走在布里斯托大街，

   Walking down Bristol Street,

人们聚在人行道上

The crowds upon the pavement

像是麦子待收的田野。

   Were fields of harvest wheat.

顺着满盈的河流

And down by the brimming river

我听见动情的人歌唱

   I heard a lover sing

就在铁轨桥拱下边：

Under an arch of the railway:

“爱情不会消亡。

   'Love has no ending.

“我要爱你，亲爱的，我要爱你

'I'll love you, dear, I'll love you

直到中国与非洲会合，

   Till China and Africa meet,

直到那河流跳过高山

And the river jumps over the mountain

还有鲑鱼在街上唱歌，

   And the salmon sing in the street,

“我要爱你直到大海

'I'll love you till the ocean

被卷起被晾到干涸，

   Is folded and hung up to dry

直到北斗七星嘎嘎叫唤

And the seven stars go squawking

变身天上的飞鹅。

   Like geese about the sky.

“年月将如兔儿快跑，

'The years shall run like rabbits,

而我仍抱着满怀

   For in my arms I hold

过去的鲜花，

The Flower of the Ages,

还有那世上第一声爱。”

   And the first love of the world.'

但是城里全部的钟

But all the clocks in the city

开始合奏轰鸣：

   Began to whirr and chime:

“噢，别被时间骗了，

'O let not Time deceive you,

它是你们无法战赢。

   You cannot conquer Time.

“那赤裸裸的公正

'In the burrows of the Nightmare

居在恶梦的洞穴，

   Where Justice naked is,

时间在阴影中窥探，

Time watches from the shadow

当你们亲吻他便低咳。

   And coughs when you would kiss.

“在头疼中，在焦虑里

'In headaches and in worry

懵懂的生命渗漏流失，

   Vaguely life leaks away,

时间却总有他的幻想

And Time will have his fancy

明朝或是今日。

   To-morrow or to-day.

“绿意盎然的山谷

'Into many a green valley

突变成骇人的风暴；

   Drifts the appalling snow;

时间打断那纤细的舞步

Time breaks the threaded dances

和潜水者精彩的一跳。

   And the diver's brilliant bow.

“噢，把你的手没入水中，

'O plunge your hands in water,

直到漫过手腕；

   Plunge them in up to the wrist;

凝视，凝视那盆底

Stare, stare in the basin

惊讶于有什么被你遗忘。

   And wonder what you've missed.

沙漠在床头感叹，

'The glacier knocks in the cupboard,

冰川撞入碗橱，

   The desert sighs in the bed,

茶杯上的裂缝张开

And the crack in the tea-cup opens

一条通向死亡之地的小路。

   A lane to the land of the dead.

在那里乞丐贩卖抽彩的纸票

'Where the beggars raffle the banknotes

巨人迷醉了杰克

   And the Giant is enchanting to Jack,

白种的男孩咆哮不止，

And the Lily-white Boy is a Roarer,

吉儿吮舔着她的身后。

   And Jill goes down on her back.

噢，看哪，看那镜子里，

'O look, look in the mirror,

噢，看你们的哀愁；

   O look in your distress:

纵使你无力祝福

Life remains a blessing

生活存留了一份祝佑。

   Although you cannot bless.

噢，站起来，站到窗前

'O stand, stand at the window

泪水发烫开始流淌；

   As the tears scald and start;

你将爱你畸形的邻人

You shall love your crooked neighbour

用你那畸形的心脏。”

   With your crooked heart.'

很晚了，很深的夜晚，

It was late, late in the evening,

情侣们都已离去，

   The lovers they were gone;

钟声中断了它们的奏响，

The clocks had ceased their chiming,

河中深流向前继续。

   And the deep river ran on.