[美文欣賞]

These Things Shall Never Die

by Charles Dickens

The pure.the bright,the beautiful,

That stirred our hearts in youth,

The impulses to wordless prayer,

The dreams of love and truth;

The longing after something's lost,

The spirit's yearning cry,

The striving after better hopes-

These things can never die.

The timid hand stretched forth to aid

A brother in his need,

A kindly word in grief's dark hour

That proves a friend indeed ;

The plea for mercy softly breathed,

When justice threatens nigh,

The sorrow of a contrite heart-

These things shall never die.

Let nothing pass for every hand

Must find some work to do ;

Lose not a chance to waken love-

Be firm,and just ,and true;

So shall a light that cannot fade

Beam on thee from on high.

And angel voices say to thee---

These things shall never die.

[參考譯文]

這些美好不會消逝

--查爾斯.狄更斯

一切純潔的,輝煌的,美麗的,

強烈地震撼著我們年輕的心靈的,

推動著我們做無言的禱告的,

讓我們夢想著愛與真理的;

在失去后為之感到珍惜的,

使靈魂深切地呼喊著的,

為了更美好的夢想而奮斗著的-

這些美好不會消逝。

羞怯地伸出援助的手，

在你的弟兄需要的時候，

傷慟、困難的時候，一句親切的話

就足以證明朋友的真心;

輕聲地乞求憐憫，

在審判臨近的時候，

懊悔的心有一種傷感--

這些美好不會消逝。

在人間傳遞溫情

盡你所能地去做;

別錯失去了喚醒愛的良機-----

為人要堅定，正直，忠誠;

因此上方照耀著你的那道光芒

就不會消失。

你將聽到天使的聲音在說-----

這些美好不會消逝。