When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain，
Before high-piled books， in charactery，
Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain；
When I behold， upon the night’s starred face，
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance，
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows， with the magic hand of chance；
And when I feel， fair creature of an hour！
That I shall never look upon thee more，
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love； ―then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone， and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.
每我害怕生命或许就要止息，
我的笔来不及搜集盈溢的思绪，
或把文字变为高高堆起的书籍，
像饱贮的谷仓蓄满成熟的谷米；
每当我看见那缀满繁星的夜景，
巨大星云画出非凡的传奇幻象，
想到即使运气帮忙，对我垂青，
生前或许也无法追慕这些云影；
每当我感到那瞬间即逝的美颜，
也许从今以后再也不可能看见，
更无法享受纯真爱情魔力若仙；
――于是，在广袤世界的崖岸，
我形孤影单地伫立，细细思量，
直到爱与声名沉入乌有的穹苍。
