46

YOU left me and went on your way.

I thought I should mourn for you and set your solitary image in my heart wrought in a golden song.

But ah, my evil fortune, time is short.

Youth wanes year after year; the spring days are fugitive; the frail flowers die for nothing, and the wise man warns me that life is but a dewdrop on the lotus leaf.

Should I neglect all this to gaze after one who has turned her back on me?

That would be rude and foolish, for time is short.

Then, come, my rainy nights with pattering feet; smile, my golden autumn; come, careless April, scattering your kisses abroad.

You come, and you, and you also!

My loves, you know we are mortals. Is it wise to break one's heart for the one who takes her heart away? For time is short.

It is sweet to sit in a corner to muse and write in rhymes that you are all my world.

It is heroic to hug one's sorrow and determine not to be consoled.

But a fresh face peeps across my door and raises its eyes to my eyes.

I cannot but wipe away my tears and change the tune of my song.

For time is short.

46

你离开我自己走了。

我想我将为你忧伤，

还将用金色的诗歌铸成你孤寂的形象，

供养在我的心里。

但是，我的运气多坏，时间是短促的。

青春一年一年地消逝；春日是暂时的；

柔弱的花朵无意义地凋谢，聪明人警告我说，

生命只是一颗荷叶上的露珠。

我可以不管这些，只凝望着背弃我的那个人吗？

这会是无益的，愚蠢的，因为时间是太短暂了。

那么，来吧，我的雨夜的脚步声；

微笑吧，我的金色的秋天；

来吧，无虑无忧的四月，散掷着你的亲吻。

你来吧，还有你，也有你！

我的情人们，你知道我们都是凡人。

为一个取回她的心的人而心碎，是件聪明的事情吗？

因为时间是短暂的。

坐在屋角凝思，把我的世界中的你们都写在韵律里，是甜柔的。

把自己的忧伤抱紧，决不受人安慰，是英勇的。

但是一个新的面庞，在我门外偷窥，

抬起眼来看我的眼睛。

我只能拭去眼泪，更改我歌曲的腔调。

因为时间是短暂的。