[英国]约翰·罗斯金/JohnRuskin
ItwasNewYear', , , , hismindvacant, hisheartsorrowful, andhisoldageshortofcomforts.
Thedaysofhisyouthappearedlikedreamsbeforehim, andherecalledtheseriousmomentwhenhisfatherplacedhimattheentranceofthetworoads-heleadingtoapeaceful, sunnyplace, coveredwithflowers, fruitsandresoundingwithsoft, sweetsongs;theotherleadingtoadeep, darkcave, whichwasendless, wherepoisonflowedinsteadofwaterandwheredevilsandpoisonoussnakeshissedandcrawled.
Helookedtowardstheskyandcriedpainfully,“O, youth, return!O, myfather, placemeoncemoreattheentrancetolife, andI'llchoosethebetterway!”Butbothhisfatherandthedaysofhisyouthhadpassedaway.
;hesawastarfallfromtheskyanddisappeared, , whichwaslikeasharparrow, , 'sNight.
Theclockinthehighchurchtowerstruckandthesoundmadehimrememberhisparents', andwithadespairingeffort, heburstoutacry,“Comeback, myearlydays!Comeback!”
Andhisyouthdidreturn, forallthiswasonlyadream, whichhehadonNewYear';hehadnotyetenteredthedeep, darkcave, andhewasstillfreetowalkontheroadwhichleadstothepeacefulandsunnyland.
Thosewhostilllingerontheentranceoflife, hesitatingtochoosethebrightroad, rememberthatwhenyearsarepassedandyourfeetstumbleonthedarkmountains, youwillcrybitterly, butinvain:“Oyouth, return!Ogivemebackmyearlydays!”
新年之夜，一位上了年纪的人伫立在窗前。他抬起充满哀伤的眼睛，仰望着深蓝色的天空，星星在那里游移着，如同朵朵百合散落在清澈而平静的湖面上。接着，他把目光投向地面，看到几个比他更加绝望的人正走向他们的终点——坟墓。在通往人生终点的道路上，他已经走过了六十个驿站，除了过失和悔恨之外，他一无所获。现在，他健康欠佳，精神空虚，心情忧郁，缺少晚年应有的舒适和安逸。
