若不是随风摇曳的芦苇一株，

Is it a reed that's shaken by the wind,

 那又是什么，吸引你们去朝觐？ 

 Or what is it that ye go forth to see?

 贵族，律师，政治家，下等乡绅，

 Lords, lawyers, statesmen, squires of low degree,

名流，无名者，瞎子，瘸子，病夫，

Men known, and men unknown, sick, lame, and blind,

密密匝匝，像虫蚁倾巢而出，

Post forward all, like creatures of one kind,

 争先恐后，捧着进贡的礼品，

 With first-fruit offerings crowd to bend the knee

 屈膝膜拜法兰西登位的新君。

 In France, before the new-born Majesty.

从来便如此。你们，卑下的臣仆，

'Tis ever thus. Ye men of prostrate mind,

可以向权势者表示相当的钦仰；

A seemly reverence may be paid to power;

 但忠爱之忱又岂能匆忙播种， 

 But that's a loyal virtue, never sown

又岂能一遇骤雨便抽芽茁长？

In haste, nor springing with a transient shower:

 当真理、自由、理智都一去无踪，

 When truth, when sense, when liberty were flown,

便等待一时半刻又有何妨？

What hardship had it been to wait an hour?

 令人齿冷呵，甘当奴隶的贱种！

 Shame on you, feeble Heads, to slavery prone!