The shades of night were falling fast,

阿尔卑斯山，夜色已降临，

As through an Alpine village passed

村子里走过一个青年人；

A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,

冰雪中，他举起一面旗帜，

A banner with the strange device,

旗上有一句古怪的题词：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,

他面容忧郁，而他的两眼

Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,

光焰灼灼，像出鞘的短剑；

And like a silver clarion rung

那一句神秘言词的音调

The accents of that unknown tongue,

鸣响如一支嘹亮的银号：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

In happy homes he saw the light

他看见一个个安乐的家庭，

Of household fires gleam warm and bright;

融融的炉火温暖又光明；

Above, the spectral glaciers shone,

而高处，冰河闪闪如鬼魅，

And from his lips escaped a groan,

他唇中逸出了一声低喟：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

"Try not the Pass!" the old man said;

老人说：“莫想通过那隘口！

"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,

阴沉沉的暴风雪快要临头，

The roaring torrent is deep and wide!"

又宽又深的飞湍在咆哮！”

And loud that clarion voice replied,

然而那号声响亮地答道：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

"Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest

少女对他说：“别走了，停下来，

Thy weary head upon this breast!"

把困倦的头颈偎在我胸怀！”

A tear stood in his bright blue eye,

他炯炯的蓝眼闪着泪花，

But still he answered, with a sigh,

叹息了一声，仍然回答：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!

“当心松树的断梗枯枝！

Beware the awful avalanche!"

当心雪崩和滚落的土石！”

This was the peasant's last Good-night,

这是农夫最后的叮咛，

A voice replied, far up the height,

有声音回答，越过冈陵：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

At break of day, as heavenward

第二天天光破晓时分，

The pious monks of Saint Bernard1

圣伯纳德的虔敬僧人

Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,

向苍穹念诵陈旧的祷语，

A voice cried through the startled air,

有呼声掠过受惊的天宇：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

A traveller, by the faithful hound,

救生犬发现了一个过客，

Half-buried in the snow was found,

半截身子被白雪覆没，

Still grasping in his hand of ice

冰封的手里仍然牢执

That banner with the strange device,

那面旗，旗上有古怪的题词：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”

There in the twilight cold and gray,

躺在冰冷的灰白曙光里，

Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,

他失却生命，但是美丽；

And from the sky, serene and far,

从那明净邃远的天廷

A voice fell, like a falling star,

落下一个声音，像陨星：

Excelsior!

“更高的目标！”