当四月带来阵阵甘美的骤雨

When April with his showers sweet with fruit

让三月里的干旱湿进根子去，

The drought of March has pierced unto the root,

让浆汁滋润草木的条条叶脉，

And bathed each vein with liquor that has power

凭其催生的力量使百花盛开；

To generate therein and sire the flower;

当和风甜美的气息挟着生机

When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath,

吹进树林和原野上的嫩芽里，

Quickened again, in every holt and heath,

年轻的太阳也已进入白羊座，

The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun

把白羊座里的一半路程走过；

Into the Ram one half his course has run,

当这大自然拨动小鸟的心灵，

And many little birds make melody

让它们夜里睡觉也睁着眼睛，

That sleep thro' all the night with open eye

让它们白天啼唱动听的歌声；

(So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)—

这时候，人们也就渴望去朝圣，

Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage,

游方憎和香客就去异地他乡，

And palmers to go seeking out strange strands,

去远方各处知名的神龛圣堂。

To distant shrines wel known in sundry lands;

英格兰各郡无论是东西南北，

And specially from every shire's end

人们特别要去的是坎特伯雷，

Of England they to Canterbury wend,

去拜谢荣登天堂的殉难圣徒，

The holy blessed martyr there to seek

因为人们有病时他给予救助。

Who helped them when they lay so ill and weak.