“人生不过是一场幻梦！”　　"Life is but an empty dream!"

灵魂睡着了，就等于死了，　For the soul is dead that slumbers¹,

　事物的真相与外表不同。　And things are not what they seem.

人生是真切的！人生是实在的！　Life is real! Life is earnest!

　它的归宿决不是荒坟；　　And the grave is not its goal;

“你本是尘土，必归于尘土”， "Dust thou art, to dust　returnest,"

　这是指躯壳，不是指灵魂。　　Was not spoken of the soul.

我们命定的目标和道路　　Not　enjoyment²,　and　not　sorrow,

　不是享乐，也不是受苦；　　Is our destined³ end or way;

而是行动，在每个明天　　　But to act,　that each to-morrow

　都超越今天，跨出新步。　Find us farther than to-day.

智艺无穷，时光飞逝；　Art is long,　and Time is fleeting⁴,

这颗心，纵然勇敢坚强， And our hearts, though stout⁵ and　brave,

也只如鼙鼓，闷声敲动着， Still, like muffled⁶ drums, are beating

　一下又一下，向坟地送丧。　Funeral marches to the grave.

世界是一片辽阔的战场， In the world´s broad field of battle,

　人生是到处扎寨安营；　　In the bivouac of life,

莫学那听人驱策的哑畜，　Be not like dumb,　driven cattle!

　做一个威武善战的英雄！　　Be a hero in the strife⁷!

别指望将来，不管它多可爱！ Trust no Future, howe´er pleasant!

　把已逝的过去永久掩埋！　Let the dead Past bury its dead!

行动吧－－趁着活生生的现在！　Act, -- act in the living Present!

　心中有赤心，头上有真宰！　Heart within, and God o´evhead!

伟人的生平启示我们：　 Lives of great men all remind us

　我们能够生活得高尚，　We can make our lives sublime⁸,

而当告别人世的时候，　　And, departing, leave behind us

　留下脚印在时间的沙上；　Footprints on the sand of time;

也许我们有一个兄弟　　　Footprints,　that perhaps another,

　航行在庄严的人生大海，　Sailing o´er life´s solemn main,

遇险沉了船，绝望的时刻，A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

　会看到这脚印而振作起来。　Seeing, shall take heart again.

那么，让我们起来干吧，　Let us,　then,　be up and doing,

　对任何命运要敢于担戴；　With　a　heart　for　any　fate;

不断地进取，不断地追求，　Still　achieving,　still　pursuing,

　要善于劳动，善于等待。　Learn　to　labor　and　to　wait