J. Collins - Tomorrow 汉译

In the downhill of life, when I find I’m declining,   <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

  May my lot no less fortunate be  

Than a snug elbow-chair can afford for reclining,  

  And a cot that o’erlooks the wide sea;  

With an ambling pad-pony to pace o'er the lawn,        

  While I carol away idle sorrow,  

And blithe as the lark that each day hails the dawn  

  Look forward with hope for to-morrow.  

  

With a porch at my door, both for shelter and shade too,  

  As the sunshine or rain may prevail;  

And a small spot of ground for the use of the spade too,  

  With a barn for the use of the flail:  

A cow for my dairy, a dog for my game,  

  And a purse when a friend wants to borrow;

I’ll envy no nabob his riches or fame, 

  Nor what honours await him to-morrow.  

  

From the bleak northern blast may my cot be completely  

  Secured by a neighbouring hill;  

And at night may repose steal upon me more sweetly  

  By the sound of a murmuring rill;  

And while peace and plenty I find at my board,  

  With a heart free from sickness and sorrow,  

With my friends may I share what to-day may afford,  

  And let them spread the table tomorrow.  

  

And when I at last must throw off this frail covering  

  Which I’ve worn for three-score years and ten,  

On the brink of the grave I’ll not seek to keep hovering,  

  Nor my thread wish to spin over again;  

But my face in the glass I’ll serenely survey,  

  And with smiles count each wrinkle and furrow,   

As this old worn-out stuff, which is threadbare to-day,  

  May become Everlasting to-morrow.