曾有一个梦编着树荫，

Once a dream did weave a shade,

在我那天使守护的床顶；

O'er my angel-guarded bed,

我看见一只迷路的蚂蚁，

That an emmet lost its way

在我所躺的那片草地。

Where on grass methought I lay.

她苦恼，困惑，又孤凄，

Troubled, wildered and forlorn,

夜色昏黑，她力尽精疲；

Dark, benighted, travel-worn,

她翻过许多纠结的草茎，

Over many a tangled spray.

我听到她心胆俱裂的声音：

All heart-broke I heard her say:

“我的孩子啊！他们在哭泣？

'Oh, my children, do they cry?

他们可听到父亲在叹息？

Do they hear their father sigh?

他们一定四处去找我，

Now they look abroad to see,

然后回去，为我哭泣。”

Now return and weep for me.'

我流下了眼泪，为她哀恸；

Pitying, I dropped a tear;

但突然看到了一只萤火虫。

But I saw a glow-worm near,

它应道：“是谁在哀哀地哭着，

Who replied, 'What wailing wight

哀哀地呼唤夜的巡察者？

Calls the watchman of the night?

“我是被派来照亮地面的，

'I am set to light the ground,

还有甲虫在到处巡察；

While the beetle goes his round.

好了，循着甲虫的声音，

Follow now the beetle's hum;

小小迷路者，赶紧回家。”

Little wanderer, hie thee home.'