上帝在天堂，严于应对的恶魔
No God, no demon of severe response,
在地狱，都不屑回答这句问话。
Deigns to reply from heaven or from hell.
我随即转向自己的心灵求索。
Then to my human heart I turn at once.
心灵！你和我在发愁，感到孤单；
Heart, thou and I are here sad and alone;
为什么我发笑？啊，致命的苦痛！
Say wherefore did I laugh? Oh, mortal pain!
黑暗啊！黑暗！我无时无刻不悲叹，
Oh, darkness, darkness! Ever must I moan,
问天堂，问地狱，问心灵，全都没用。
To question heaven and hell and heart in vain!
为什么我发笑？我知道生存的租期，
Why did I laugh? I know this being's lease,
我让幻想伸展到极乐的境界；
My fancy to its utmost blisses spreads;
但是我也许在今夜停止呼吸，
Yet could I on this very midnight cease,
见到尘世的彩旗一片片碎裂；
And the world's gaudy ensigns see in shreds;
诗歌，名声，美人，浓烈芬芳，
Verse, fame, and beauty are intense indeed,
死更浓——死是生的最高报偿。
But Death's intenser—Death is Life's high meed.