美國語文第六冊 第78期:三個警告(2)
然而，他回憶起那嚴肅的目光，
His hourglass trembled while he spoke:
在說話時他的沙漏顫抖個不停：
"Neighbor," he said, "farewell! no more
“鄰居，”他說，“再見，死神
Shall Death disturb your mirthful hour;
不會再來打擾你愉快的時光了;
And further, to avoid all blame
再者，為了避免對我名聲
Of cruelty upon my name,
所有殘忍的指責(zé)，
To give you time for preparation,
給你時間做準備，
And fit you for your future station,
好在將來收你上天堂，
Three several warnings you shall have
在召你進墳?zāi)骨埃?/p>
Before you're summoned to the grave;
有三個警告要告訴你;
Willing for once I'll quit my prey, And grant a kind reprieve;
之所以答應(yīng)暫緩
In hopes you'll have no more to say,
是希望你毫無怨言，
But, when I call again this way,
但是當我再來喚你時，
Well pleased the world will leave."
希望你高高興興于這個世界別過。”
To these conditions both consented,
待你對這些都滿意，
And parted perfectly contented.
就會心滿意足地永訣。
What next the hero of our tale befell,
接下來，我們故事中的英雄，
How long he lived, how wisely, and how well,
活了很久，非常明智又快活，
It boots not that the Muse should tell;
連詩神繆斯也無法形容;
He plowed, he sowed, he bought, he sold,
他耕種，他買賣，
Nor once perceived his growing old,
沒有察覺到自己漸漸老去，
Nor thought of Death as near;
也沒想到死神就在近旁;
His friends not false, his wife no shrew,
他的朋友沒有過錯，他的妻子也體貼溫柔，
Many his gains, his children few,
他掙得很多，可孩子花得很少，
He passed his hours in peace.
他在平靜祥和中度日。
