我又怎能在快乐的心情中归来？
That am debarred the benefit of rest,
既然夜里我挣不脱白天的压迫，
When day's oppression is not eased by night,
只是在日日夜夜的循环中遭灾？
But day by night and night by day oppressed,
日和夜，虽然统治着敌对的地盘，
And each, though enemies to either's reign,
却互相握手，联合着把我虐待，
Do in consent shake hands to torture me,
白天叫我劳苦，黑夜叫我抱怨
The one by toil, the other to complain
我劳苦在远方，要跟你愈分愈开。
How far I toil, still farther off from thee?
我就讨好白天，说你辉煌灿烂，
I tell the day, to please him, thou art bright
不怕乌云浓，你能把白天照亮：
And dost him grace when clouds do blot the heaven;
也恭维黑夜，说如果星星暗淡，
So flatter I the swart-complexioned night,
你能把黑夜镀成一片金黄。
When sparkling stars twire not, thou gild'st the even.
但白天天天延长着我的苦痛，
But day doth daily draw my sorrows longer,
黑夜夜夜使我的悲哀加重。
And night doth nightly make grief's length seem stronger.