The Human Seasons

Four Seasons fill the measure of the year;

There are four seasons in the mind of man:

He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clear

Takes in all beauty with an easy span:

He has his Summer, when luxuriously

Spring's honied cud of youthful thought he loves

To ruminate, and by such dreaming high

Is nearest unto heaven: quiet coves

His soul has in its autumn,when his wings

He furleth close; contented so to look

On mists in idleness--to let fair things

Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook.

He has his Winter too of pale misfeature,

Or else he would forego his mortal nature.

 

四季轮回构成了一年，

人的心灵也有四季更替：

他有生机勃勃的春天，

在幻想中把所有美景一览无余；

在那奢华繁盛的夏天，

他爱把春天采集的花蜜细细品尝，

沉浸在甜美的青春思绪中，

他高高飞扬的梦想几乎升上天堂；

秋天他的心灵栖息在宁静的港湾，

他收拢了疲倦的羽翼，

悠闲而满足地透过雾气遥望，

任美好的事物像门前的小溪不经意地流逝。

他终将走进冬天的苍凉晚境，

不然他就失去了凡人的本性。