Daughters of Time，the hypocritic Days，

Muffled and dumb like barefoot dervishes，

And marching single in an endless file，

Bring diadems and fagots in their hands.

To each they offer gifts after his will，

Bread，kingdoms，stars，and sky that holds them all.

I，in my pleached garden，watched the pomp，

Forgot my morning wishes，hastily

Took a few herbs and apples，and the Day

Turned and departed silent. I，too late，

Under her solemn fillet saw the scorn.

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

From The Portable Emerson.selected and arranged, with an introduction and notes, by Mark Van Doren(New York : The Viking Press, 1946.)

日子

时间老人的女儿，伪善的日子，一个个

裹着衣巾，喑哑如同赤足的托钵僧，

单行排列，无穷无尽地进行着，

手里拿着皇冕与一捆捆的柴。

她们向每一个人奉献礼物，要什么有什么，

面包，王国，星，与包罗一切星辰的天空;

我在我矮树交织的园中观看那壮丽的行列，

我忘记了我早晨的愿望，匆忙地

拿了一点药草与苹果。日子转过身，

沉默地离去。我在她严肃的面容里

看出她的轻视——已经太晚了。

作者 / [美]拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生

《爱默森(爱默生)选集》 张爱玲译