The Flight of Youth

Richard Henry Stoddard

There are gains for all our losses,

There are balms for all our pain;

But when youth, the dream, departs

It takes something from our hearts,

 

And it never comes again.

We are stronger, and are better,

Under manhood’s sterner reign¹;

Still we feel that something sweet

Followed youth, with flying feet,

And will never come again.

Something beautiful is vanished,

And we sigh for it in vain;

We behold² it everywhere,

On the earth, and in the air,

But it never comes again!

青春飞逝

理查德·亨利·斯托达德

我们的一切损失，都还可以补偿，

我们的一切痛苦，还会得到安慰；

但当青春这理想之梦消逝时，

它却从我们心头带走了某种东西，

一去不复回！

在成年生活的严峻考验下，

我们变得比原来强，比原来美；

但我们仍然感到某种甜蜜的东西，

以飞快的步伐随着青春而流逝，

一去不复回！

某种美丽的东西已经消失，

我们叹息已无用，也无从后悔；

我们虽然处处还能看到它的影踪，

不论是在地上，还是在空中，

但它一去不复回！