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

若不是随风摇曳的芦苇一株，

 Or what is it that ye go forth to see?

 那又是什么，吸引你们去朝觐？ 

 Lords, lawyers, statesmen, squires of low degree,

 贵族，律师，政治家，下等乡绅，

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

名流，无名者，瞎子，瘸子，病夫，

Post forward all, like creatures of one kind,

密密匝匝，像虫蚁倾巢而出，

 With first-fruit offerings crowd to bend the knee

 争先恐后，捧着进贡的礼品，

 In France, before the new-born Majesty.

 屈膝膜拜法兰西登位的新君。

'Tis ever thus. Ye men of prostrate mind,

从来便如此。你们，卑下的臣仆，

A seemly reverence may be paid to power;

可以向权势者表示相当的钦仰；

 But that's a loyal virtue, never sown

 但忠爱之忱又岂能匆忙播种， 

In haste, nor springing with a transient shower:

又岂能一遇骤雨便抽芽茁长？

 When truth, when sense, when liberty were flown,

 当真理、自由、理智都一去无踪，

What hardship had it been to wait an hour?

便等待一时半刻又有何妨？

 Shame on you, feeble Heads, to slavery prone!

 令人齿冷呵，甘当奴隶的贱种！