當時光已逝 When Day is Gone
佚名/Anonymous
How comforting it is to see a cheerful and contented old age; and to behold a poor fellow, like this, after being tempest-tots through life, safely moored in a snug and quiet harbor in the evening of his days! His happiness, however, sprung from within himself, and was independent of external circumstances; for he had that inexhaustible good-nature, which is the most precious gift of Heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and tranquil in the roughest weather.
On inquiring further about him I learned that he was a universal favorite in the village, and the oracle of the taproom; where he delighted the rustics with his songs, and, like Sinbad, astonished them with his stories of strange lands, and shipwrecks, and sea-fights. He was much noticed too by gentlemen sportsmen of the neighborhood; had taught several of them the art of angling; and was a privileged visitor to their kitchens. The whole tenor of his life was quiet and inoffensive, being principally passed about the neighboring streams, when the weather and season were favorable; and at other times he employed himself at home, preparing his fishing tackle for the next campaign, or manufacturing rods, nets, and flies, for his patrons and pupils among the gentry.
遇見一位快樂而滿足的老者是多麽讓人欣慰啊！他經曆了與暴風雨搏鬥的一生，終於在暮年時，安全地停靠在溫暖而平靜的海港。然而，他的快樂源於他自身和不受外部環境影響的性格。他有著無窮無盡的好脾氣，這是上天賜予的最珍貴的天賦。它像油一樣，散布在不平靜的思潮上，並在最惡劣的天氣裏保持思維流暢、冷靜。
經過更細致的了解，我知道他在村裏很受人們喜愛，是酒吧裏的哲人。在村裏，他的歌聲使村民們快樂。像辛巴達一樣，他講述的奇異之地、海難和海戰的故事讓人們驚訝不已。他也備受鄰近地區愛好運動的紳士們的喜歡，他曾將釣魚的技巧教給他們其中的幾個人，還擁有進入他們廚房的特權。他的整個生命曆程是寧靜的、與世無爭的。當天氣和季節宜人時，他大部分時間在鄰近地區的溪流捕魚。其他時間，就待在家裏準備下次捕魚，或為他的貴族顧客和學生製作釣竿、漁網和魚餌。