Ode on Solitude

Alexander Pope

Happy the man, whose wish and care

A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

In his own ground.

Whose heards with milk, whose fields with bread,

Whose flocks supply him with attire,

Whose trees in summer yield him shade,

In winter fire.

Blest! who can unconcern’dly find

Hours, days, and years slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind,

Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease

Together mix’d; sweet recreation,

And innocence, which most does please,

With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;

Thus unlamented let me die;

Steal from the world, and not a stone

Tell where I lye.

幽居頌

亞歷山大·波普

呂志魯譯

他定是有福之人，

只關心父輩留下的幾畝土地，

滿足于呼吸家鄉的空氣，

故土寸步不離。

牛奶自取，面包自給，

羊群供他穿衣，

樹木夏天為他遮陰，

冬天讓他爐火不熄。

為他祝福，胸中一無牽掛，

只見歲月輕輕流逝的足跡，

身體康健，心平氣和，

白日清靜無比。

夜來安睡，閑讀書籍，

賞心樂事穿插隨意，

還有一種最大的快樂：

任遐思漫無邊際。

讓我就這樣幽獨地活在世上，

讓我去世時無人悼念痛惜，

悄悄離開人間，死于何時何地，

無需石碑銘記。

Note:

This poem was written by Alexander Pope when he was twelve years old. It shows the poet’s hope to have a peacefully secluded life. Pope’s immersion in Christian and Biblical culture gave great depth to his poetry.