Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

不要在哀伤诗句里告诉我：

Life is but an empty dream!—

“人生不过是一场幻梦！”

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

灵魂睡着了，就等于死了，

And things are not what they seem.

事物的真相与外表不同。

Life is real! Life is earnest!

人生是真的！人生是实的！

And the grave is not its goal;

它的归宿决不是荒坟；

Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest,

“你本是尘土，必归于尘土”，

Was not spoken of the soul.

这是指躯壳，不是指灵魂。

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

我们命定的目标和道路

Is our destined end or way;

不是享乐，也不是受苦；

But to act, that each to-morrow

而是行动，在每个明天

Find us farther than to-day.

都超越今天，跨出新步。

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

智艺无穷，时光飞逝；

And our hearts, though stout and brave,

这颗心，纵然英勇刚强，

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

也只如闷声擂动的鼙鼓，

Funeral marches to the grave.

奏着进行曲，向坟地送葬。

In the world's broad field of battle,

世界是一片辽阔战场，

In the bivouac of Life,

人生是到处扎寨安营；

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

莫学那听人驱策的哑畜，

Be a hero in the strife!

做一个威武善战的英雄！

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!

别指靠将来，不管它多可爱！

Let the dead Past bury its dead!

把已逝的过去永久掩埋！

Act,—act in the living Present!

行动吧——趁着活生生的现在！

Heart within, and God o'erhead!

胸中有赤心，头上有真宰！

Lives of great men all remind us

伟人的生平启示我们：

We can make our lives sublime,

我们能够生活得高尚，

And, departing, leave behind us

而当告别人世的时候，

Footprints on the sands of time;

留下脚印在时间的沙上；

Footprints, that perhaps another,

也许我们有一个弟兄

Sailing o'er life's solemn main,

航行在庄严的人生大海，

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

遇险沉了船，绝望的时刻，

Seeing, shall take heart again.

会看到这脚印而振作起来。

Let us, then, be up and doing,

那么，打起精神来干吧，

With a heart for any fate;

对任何命运要敢于担戴；

Still achieving, still pursuing,

不断地进取，不断地追求，

Learn to labor and to wait.

要善于劳动，善于等待。