有一回幻梦织了一片树荫

Once a dream did weave a shade,

罩在我那天使守护的床顶，

O'er my angel-guarded bed,

我想我准是躺在草地，

That an emmet lost its way

看见一只迷路的蚂蚁。

Where on grass methought I lay.

困惑、孤独、又苦恼，

Troubled, wildered and forlorn,

黑夜茫茫，也走得疲劳，

Dark, benighted, travel-worn,

多少纵横交错的草蔓上

Over many a tangled spray.

我听她哭得真心伤。

All heart-broke I heard her say:

“我的孩子啊！他们在哭泣？

'Oh, my children, do they cry?

他们可听见他们天父叹息？

Do they hear their father sigh?

忽儿他们到外面探望，

Now they look abroad to see,

忽儿又回去，为我而泪水汪汪。”

Now return and weep for me.'

我流下一滴泪，替她可怜，

Pitying, I dropped a tear;

但瞧见萤火虫就在身边，

But I saw a glow-worm near,

他答道：“是哪个好哭鬼，

Who replied, 'What wailing wight

把我这守夜人唤来？

Calls the watchman of the night?

“我就要照亮这块地面，

'I am set to light the ground,

这儿甲虫要漫游一遍；

While the beetle goes his round.

你且跟着甲虫的嗡嗡，

Follow now the beetle's hum;

小流浪者，快快转回家中。”

Little wanderer, hie thee home.'