And nodding by the fire, take down this book

And slowly read and dream of the soft look

Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep

How many loved your moments of glad grace

And loved your beauty with love false or ture

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you

And loved the sorrows of your changing face

And bending down beside the giowing bars

Murmur,a little sadly how love fled.

And paced upon the mountains over head

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars

                William Butler Yeats 

当你老了
　　
　　袁可嘉译
　　
　　当你老了，头白了，睡意昏沉，
　　炉火旁打盹，请取下这部诗歌，
　　慢慢读，回想你过去眼神的柔和，
　　回想它们昔日浓重的阴影；
　　
　　多少人爱你青春欢畅的时辰，
　　爱慕你的美丽，假意或真心，
　　只有一个人爱你那朝圣者的灵魂，
　　爱你衰老了的脸上痛苦的皱纹；
　　
　　垂下头来，在红光闪耀的炉子旁，
　　凄然地轻轻诉说那爱情的消逝，
　　在头顶的山上它缓缓踱着步子，
　　在一群星星中间隐藏着脸庞。
　　                      ──1893