给少女们的忠告

——屠岸 译

可以采花的时机，别错过，

时光老人在飞驰：

今天还在微笑的花朵

明天就会枯死。

太阳，那盏天上的华灯，

向上攀登得越高，

路程的终点就会越临近，

剩余的时光也越少。

青春的年华是最最美好的，

血气方刚，多热情；

过了青年，那越来越不妙的

年月会陆续来临。

那么，别怕羞，抓住机缘，

你们该及时结婚；

你一旦错过了少年，

会成千古恨。

Counsel to Girls

——by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Times is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,

The higher he's a-getting

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time;

And while ye may, go marry:

For having lost but once your prime,

You may for ever tarry.