Robert Frost - Provide, Provide 汉译

The witch that came (the withered hag)

To wash the steps with pail and rag,

Was once the beauty Abishag,

The picture pride of Hollywood.

Too many fall from great and good

For you to doubt the likelihood.

Die early and avoid the fate.

Or if predestined to die late,

Make up your mind to die in state.

Make the whole stock exchange your own!

If need be occupy a throne,

Where nobody can call you crone.

Some have relied on what they knew;

Others on simply being true.

What worked for them might work for you.

No memory of having starred

Atones for later disregard,

Or keeps the end from being hard.

Better to go down dignified

With boughten friendship at your side

Than none at all. Provide, provide!

要准备啊，要准备

那提水桶、拿抹布的老太太，

刷洗楼梯的那个丑八怪，

曾经是美女阿比斯海，

好莱坞引为骄傲的大明星。

太多的人有可悲的晚景，

使你难于怀疑这种可能性。

要避免这种命运，可以死在早年。

如果注定要较晚离开人间。

要决心死得隆重庄严。

掌握一整个证券交易所！

必要时，占有一个君王宝座，

就不会有人叫你干瘪老妖婆。

有人依仗的是他们的知识，

有人依仗着他们伟人朴实。

对他们合适的对你也合适。

回想当年红极一时的记忆，

无法弥补你晚年受到的冷遇，

无法使你避免临终的孤寂。

入土时买来的友谊相慰，

也比无人闻问体面，尊贵。