生命之歌

——最伟大的十首英文诗第四首——

生命之歌

原著：亨利·沃兹沃斯·朗费罗

译者：寒峰

别用悲凉的数字，告诉我，

生命只是一场空梦！

昏睡时灵魂已死，

世事也面目全非。

生命是真实，生命是热望！

墓穴从来不是它的目的；

来自尘土，归回尘土，

说的不是灵魂。

不要以为无喜无悲，

是我们的道路与结局。

来，从每个明天起行动，

一天比一天更加认识自我。

知识无穷，时间飞逝。

尽管我们的心脏强壮有力，

蒙好的鼓还在敲打，

葬礼向坟墓进发。

在尘世争战的辽阔战场上，

在人生的战壕里，

别像个傻子，或被驱赶的牲口！

在战斗中做个英雄！

不要盲信未来，不管那多么舒适！

让过去的死人埋葬死人！

行动，活在当下！

心在里面，上帝在天观看！

伟人已逝，但他们的生命提醒我们，

我们可以让生命卓越，

当我们离去时，能够

在时光的沙滩上留下足印。

这足印，会激励另一位，

在生命洪流中航行的兄弟，

虽然船毁失败，重新鼓起勇气。

让我们向上、前行，

不管命运如何；

不停奋斗，不停追求。

学会劳动，学会等待。

---

“A Psalm ofLife” byHenry Wadsworth Longfellow(1807-1882)

What the heart of the young man said to the Psalmist

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each tomorrow

Find us farther than today.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act,—act in the living Present!

Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time;—

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

---