To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time|致妙龄少女,莫误青春

[英语诗歌、英文小诗]

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may1,
Old time is still aflying2;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious Lamp of Heaven3, the Sun,
The higher he's agetting4;
The sooner will his race be run5,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best, which is the first6,
When Youth and Blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy7, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry.
For having lost but once your prime8,
You may for ever tarry9.



有花折时直须折,
时光飞驰不可追。
今日花开似微笑,
明天凋落不堪折。

太阳这一盏华丽的天灯,
升得越高,
剩下的路程越少,
越接近西山日薄。

青春时光最美妙,
血气方刚胆气豪。
光阴易逝红颜老,
时光相追不停留。

好吧,莫怕羞,莫错过良辰,
如果可以,及时成婚。
一旦误了青春,
你将悔恨终身。

 

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  罗伯特·赫里克是英国资产阶级革命时期和复辟时期最著名的“骑士”派诗人,有“英国最杰出的抒情诗人”的美称。他生于伦敦,毕业于剑桥大学,生性活泼、快乐,但终身未娶。
  这首诗以其第一行名句流芳百世,其意境与我国唐代流行歌词《金缕衣》中的“有花堪折直须折,莫待无花空折枝”极为相似。它在前两节突出自然景物,以花朵和太阳的意象蕴涵一个道理——人世间万物都是如此,由盛而衰,由生到死。第三四节直接与青年对话,告诫他们青春美好而易逝,务必珍惜,不可虚度。诗歌的最后一句是简短而永恒的奉劝。
  诗歌巧用妙喻,意象优美。借自然规律来阐明一个哲理,使说理生动形象。诗句简洁朴实,具有民歌色彩。而其格律严谨,韵脚整齐,表现了诗歌的音韵之美。

1.ye [ji]=you; rose-bud  n.玫瑰花芽
2.still aflying: always flying 前缀表示动作正在进行中
3.Lamp of Heaven 天灯,即太阳
4.agetting 有getting up之意
5.race be run 结束运行
6.That age is best,which is the first:That age which is the first is the best: 人生一世,青春最美
7.coy  adj.腼腆,怕羞
8.prime [praim] n.青春
9.tarry v.等待