The Pulley by George Herbert: Attempted Translation (中文翻譯)

The Pulley By George Herbert

當上主初創人時，

擺杯恩典在一旁。

「將我所賜盡傾灌，

讓世間豐盛綿長，

盡在他手掌。」

於是能力先入杯，

接著美、智慧、榮耀、快樂。

當恩澤幾將傾盡，

上主停手忽感覺，

安息仍臥甕底。

「若這寶石亦賜予，

他將崇拜所賜而忘賜者，

安於自然而忘其主；

如此他失，我也失，

無人能得安習處。」

「讓他保其餘恩惠，

但伴以不滿之隨；

豐盛與疲倦共而生，

若美善不引他歸，

疲倦引他我胸回。」

When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,

“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.

Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,

Contract into a span.”

So strength first made a way;

Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,

Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said he,

“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,

He would adore my gifts instead of me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;

So both should losers be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness;

Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

May toss him to my breast.”