The Road Not Taken 未选择的路

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood，

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth；

Then took the other, as just as fair，

And having perhaps the better claim，

Because it was grassy and wanted wear；

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day！

Yet knowing how way leads on to way，

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence：

Two roads diverged in a wood, and

I took the one less traveled by，

And that has made all the difference.

未选择的路

罗伯特·弗洛斯特

黄色的树林里分出两条路，

可惜我不能同时去涉足，

我在那路口久久伫立，

我向着一条路极目望去，

直到它消失在丛林深处。

但我却选了另外一条路，

它荒草萋萋，十分幽寂，

显得更诱人，更美丽；

虽然在这条小路上，

很少留下旅人的足迹。

那天清晨落叶满地，

两条路都未经脚印污染。

啊，留下一条路等改日再见！

但我知道路径延绵无尽头，

恐怕我难以再回返。

也许多少年后在某个地方，

我将轻声叹息将往事回顾：

一片树林里分出两条路

而我选择了人迹更少的一条，

从此决定了我一生的道路。

实战提升

背景知识

罗伯特·弗洛斯特（Robert Frost），20世纪美国最伟大的诗人之一，和艾略特、庞德、威廉斯、史蒂文斯一起被誉为20世纪美国诗坛的五巨擘。与他同时代的诗人相比，弗罗斯特并不多产，更没有直接描绘现代美国社会。然而，他赢得的荣誉超过他同时代的任何一位美国作家：先后四次获普利策诗歌奖，爱默生-梭罗金奖，荣获包括牛津、剑桥在内的多所大学和学院授予的44个荣誉学衔。在75岁生日之际，美国参议院通过决议向他祝寿，尊其为民族诗人。

在这首诗歌中，诗人感叹人生有许多道路可供选择，但一个人往往只能走一条路，而还有其他许多条路，因为人生短暂而只能放弃。人生道路的选择带有偶然性、随意性，诗人不写已选择的道路，而重在对未选择的道路发出感叹，引起深入思考人生的选择问题。

单词注解

diverge[dai'və：dʒ]分叉；叉开

grassy['gra：si]盖满草的；长满草的

hence[hens]因此；由此

名句诵读

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry l could not travel both And be one traveler, long l stood And looked down one as far as l could To where it bent in the undergrowth；

And both that morning equally lay ln leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, l kept the first for another day！Yet knowing how way leads on to way, l doubted if l should ever come back.

l shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence：Two roads diverged in a wood, and l took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.