阿尔卑斯山，夜色已降临，
The shades of night were falling fast,
村子里走过一个青年人；
As through an Alpine village passed
冰雪中，他举起一面旗帜，
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
旗上有一句古怪的题词：
A banner with the strange device,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
他面容忧郁，而他的两眼
His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
光焰灼灼，像出鞘的短剑；
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
那一句神秘言词的音调
And like a silver clarion rung
鸣响如一支嘹亮的银号：
The accents of that unknown tongue,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
他看见一个个安乐的家庭，
In happy homes he saw the light
融融的炉火温暖又光明；
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
而高处，冰河闪闪如鬼魅，
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
他唇中逸出了一声低喟：
And from his lips escaped a groan,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
老人说：“莫想通过那隘口！
"Try not the Pass!" the old man said;
阴沉沉的暴风雪快要临头，
"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
又宽又深的飞湍在咆哮！”
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!"
然而那号声响亮地答道：
And loud that clarion voice replied,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
少女对他说：“别走了，停下来，
"Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest
把困倦的头颈偎在我胸怀！”
Thy weary head upon this breast!"
他炯炯的蓝眼闪着泪花，
A tear stood in his bright blue eye,
叹息了一声，仍然回答：
But still he answered, with a sigh,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
“当心松树的断梗枯枝！
"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!
当心雪崩和滚落的土石！”
Beware the awful avalanche!"
这是农夫最后的叮咛，
This was the peasant's last Good-night,
有声音回答，越过冈陵：
A voice replied, far up the height,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
第二天天光破晓时分，
At break of day, as heavenward
圣伯纳德的虔敬僧人
The pious monks of Saint Bernard1
向苍穹念诵陈旧的祷语，
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
有呼声掠过受惊的天宇：
A voice cried through the startled air,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
救生犬发现了一个过客，
A traveller, by the faithful hound,
半截身子被白雪覆没，
Half-buried in the snow was found,
冰封的手里仍然牢执
Still grasping in his hand of ice
那面旗，旗上有古怪的题词：
That banner with the strange device,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!
躺在冰冷的灰白曙光里，
There in the twilight cold and gray,
他失却生命，但是美丽；
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
从那明净邃远的天廷
And from the sky, serene and far,
落下一个声音，像陨星：
A voice fell, like a falling star,
“更高的目标！”
Excelsior!