《The Altar of Heaven》-毛姆（W.S.Mau

原文：

It stands open to the sky, three round terraces of white marble, placed one above the other, which are reached by four marble staircases, and these face the four points of the compass. It represents the celestial sphere with its cardinal points. A great park surrounds it and this again is surrounded by high walls. And hither, year after year, on the night of the winer solstice, for then heaven is reborn, generation after generation came the Son of Heaven solemnly to worship the original creator of his house. Escorted by princes and the great men of the realm, followed by his troops, the emperor purified by fasting proceeded to the altar. And here awaited him princes and ministers and mandarins, each in his allotted place, musicians and the dancers of the sacred dance.

自己翻译：

它（天坛）朝向敞开的天空,有三层圆环的汉白玉大理石建筑，一层放置在另一层之上,由四个方位（东南西北）的大理石楼梯到达，它代表了天体和其它四个基本方位。（天坛）由一个大园林环绕，园林又是被高墙包围着。年复一年，每个冬至，（万物）会在此重获新生时，天子代代会在此（天坛）进行神圣地祭祀。皇帝会沐浴斋戒，去祭坛（天坛）由皇子和杰出的名家跟随，军队护送。皇亲国戚和大臣们每个人在各自的位置上肃候，乐师奏乐舞者跳起宗教的舞蹈。

参考译文：

天坛面向苍穹，为一汉白玉石三层圆形建筑，梯状递升，东南西北分设台阶，代表天体及其四大方位。天坛四周为一片广大园林，园边又有高墙环绕。每届冬至之夜，亦即一元复始之时，天子都要驾临此处，向皇天（皇室之源）顶礼膜拜，年年如此，代代如此。皇帝斋戒净身，然后向天坛行进，左右有王宫显要伴驾，其后有军人武士护送。皇亲大臣以及百官按其位肃立迎候，另有乐师舞者奏乐起舞。