Sailing To Byzantium

That is no country for old men. The young
那不是老年人的國度。青年人
In one anothers arms, birds in the trees
在互相擁抱；那垂死的世代
- Those dying generations - at their song,
樹上的鳥，正從事他們的歌唱
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
魚的瀑布，青花魚充塞的大海
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
魚、獸或鳥，一整個夏天在讚揚
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
凡是誕生和死亡的一切存在
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
沉溺於那感官的音樂，個個都疏忽
Monuments of unageing intellect.
萬古長青的理性的紀念物
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
一個衰頹的老人只是個廢物
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
是件破外衣支在一根木棍上
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
除非靈魂拍手作歌，為了它的
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
皮囊的每個裂綻唱得更響亮
Nor is there singing school but studying
可是沒有教唱的學校，而只有
Monuments of its own magnificence;
研究紀念物上記載的它的輝煌
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
因此我就遠渡重洋而來到
To the holy city of Byzantium.
拜占庭的神聖的城堡
O sages standing in Gods holy fire
哦，智者們！立於上帝的神火中
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
好像是壁畫上嵌金的雕飾
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
從神火中走出來吧，旋轉當空
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
請為我的靈魂作歌唱的教師
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
把我的心燒盡，它被綁在一個
And fastened to a dying animal
垂死的肉身上，為慾望所腐蝕
It knows not what it is; And gather me
已不知它原來是什麼了；請盡快
Into the artifice of eternity.
把我採集進永恆的藝術安排
Once out of nature I shall never take
若我超脫自然，便將絕不再用
My bodily form from any natural thing,
任何自然物將化作身軀之外形
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
而只求古希臘金匠人
Of hammered goldand gold enameling
用鎏金和鍍金鎚鑄的絕美造型
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
以使昏昏欲睡的帝王清醒
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
或停留在金色枝頭聲聲歌唱
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
把過往，今日，或明朝之事
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
唱給拜占庭的王公貴婦們聽