Christmas Bells

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The Carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!”



圣诞钟声

亨利•沃兹沃思•朗费罗

圣诞节的钟声敲响，

这古老熟习的赞歌在耳际回旋，

多么粗犷，多么甜蜜，

反复把祝词叨念：

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！

想到黎明的降临，

我的心微微震颤；

所有钟楼都在敲响，

钟声连绵，歌声不断：

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！

钟声连绵，歌声不断，

直到世界从黑夜转向白天；

神圣的赞美，

和谐的召唤：

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！

黑色的炮口多么凶残，

隆隆炮声把南方震撼；

钟声将炮声淹没，

颂歌把血腥趋散：

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！

世界从此没有灾难，

每个家庭不再贫寒；

送走孤独，

迎来平安：

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！

失望中我低头慨叹，

“为何世上总有战乱？

这首歌受到嘲弄，

只因胸中仇恨装满；

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！”

钟声愈加响亮深沉：

“上帝永在，苍天有眼！

谬误终将落败，

正义万古流传，

和平布满大地，福佑撒遍人间！”