My prime of youth is but a frost of cares,
我的青春韶华，也只是一潭冰霜，
My feast of joy is but a dish of pain,
我的锦食欢娱，也只是一碟惆怅，
My crop of corn is but a field of tares,
玉杯轻转，盛满琼浆毒汁，
And all my good is but vain hope of gain;
壮志满怀，满目却是绝望无疆，
The day is past, and yet I saw no sun,
日升月落，我看不到光辉的交替
And now I live, and now my life is done.
此时我活着，却气数已尽。
My tale was heard and yet it was not told,
我的流言不绝于耳，可真莫道不消魂相却下落不明，
My fruit is fallen, and yet my leaves are green,
我的生命之果已凋落，而枝叶却未绿过，
My youth is spent and yet I am not old,
我的青春韶华已燃尽，而我还年轻气盛，
I saw the world and yet I was not seen;
我看见了大千世界，却遭受世人冷落，
My thread is cut and yet it is not spun,
我的生命之丝已断，却还未被纺织过，
And now I live, and now my life is done.
此时我活着，却气数已尽，
I sought my death and found it in my womb,
我求索死亡，却发现它早在我出生之际就已萌芽，
I looked for life and saw it was a shade,
我探寻生命，却看到它流落于荒芜。
I trod the earth and knew it was my tomb,
踩着黄土，殊不知竟葬送于此，
And now I die, and now I was but made;
此时我死了，不过是一介傀儡，
My glass is full, and now my glass is run,
我的杯中水已满，只是杯已融，
And now I live, and now my life is done.
此时我活着，却气数已尽。
The Minstrel’s Song
吟游诗人之歌
O! sing unto my roundelay,
来吧！ 跟我唱一曲回旋歌，
O! drop the briny tear with me;
来吧！ 跟我一起把泪水洒，
Dance no more [at holy-day]1,
瞻礼日里不再跳舞，
Like a running river be:
恰一江河水任意流：
My love is dead,
我的恋人已远逝，
Gone to his death-bed,
到那死神召唤的地方
All under the willow-tree.
在那杨柳依依的树荫下。
Black his cryne as the winter night,
他那浓黑的头发，宛如冬夜，
White his rode as the summer snow,
他那白皙的肤色，宛如夏雪，
Red his face as the morning light,
他那红彤彤的脸蛋，宛如晨光，
Cold he lies in the grave below:
冰冷的，他躺在坟墓里了：
My love is dead,
我的恋人已远逝，
Gone to his death-bed,
到那死神召唤的地方，
All under the willow-tree.
在那杨柳依依的树阴下。
Sweet his tongue as the throstle's note,
他那甜蜜的誓言啊，宛如画眉欢啁，
Quick in dance as thought can be,
他那轻盈的舞步啊，宛如思想闪电，
Deft his tabour, cudgel stout;
他那敏捷的击鼓啊，多么强劲有力；
O! he lies by the willow-tree:
啊！他躺在柳树边：
My love is dead,
我的恋人已远逝，
Gone to his death-bed,
到那死神召唤的地方，
All under the willow-tree.
在那杨柳依依的树阴下。
Hark! the raven flaps his wing,
听！乌鸦拍着双翼，
In the briared dell below;
在那石南覆盖的幽谷里，
Hark! the death-owl loud doth sing
听！夜枭正高歌，
To the night-mares as they go:
对着它们前行的夜障：
My love is dead,
我的恋人已远逝，
Gone to his death-bed,
到那死神召唤的地方，
All under the willow-tree.
在那杨柳依依的树阴下。
See! the white moon shines on high;
看！皎洁的月亮高高照耀，
Whiter is my true love's shroud,
比我爱人的寿衣还素白，
Whiter than the morning sky,
比清晨的天空还澄净，
Whiter than the evening cloud:
比晚间的云彩还高洁，
My love is dead,
我的恋人已远逝，
Gone to his death-bed,
到那死神召唤的地方，
All under the willow-tree.
在那杨柳依依的树阴。
Here upon my true love's grave,
在这，我爱人的坟头上，
Shall the barren flowers be laid,
是否该放几束凋残的鲜花，
Not one holy saint to save
无须等圣人去救赎
All the celness of a maid:
少女的几度悲愁：
My love is dead,
我的恋人已远逝，
Gone to his death-bed,
到那死神召唤的地方，
All under the willow-tree.
在那杨柳依依的树荫下。
Water-witches, crowned with reytes,
戴着黄菖蒲花冠的水妖
Bear me to your lethal tide.
把我托举到你的险浪尖上吧，
'I die! I come! my true love waits!'
“我死了！我来了！我的爱人在等待！
Thus the damsel spake, and died.
年轻的姑娘啊，话一落音便香消玉殒。