when you are old
William Butler Yeats
When you are old, gray-haired and sleepy,
Take a nap by the fire, take down this book,
Reading slowly, dreaming of the gentle eyes.
Your eyes were once, and their shadows were deep;
How many people love your happy and elegant moments,
Loving your beauty with true or false love,
But there is one person who loves your pilgrim soul,
Love the sadness on your aging face;
Bend down by the glowing fireplace,
Whispering a little sadly, how love dies.
Pacing on the mountains overhead
Hide his face among the stars.
when you are old
Bing Xin's translation
When you are old, gray-haired and sleepy,
Tired of sitting by the fire, take down this book,
Read slowly, chasing the eyes of the year.
The soft eyes and the deep halo.
How many people loved your youth,
Love your beauty, hypocrisy or truth,
Only one person loves your pilgrim heart,
Love the scars of years on your sad face.
In front of the fireplace, you bend down,
Whispering, with shallow sadness,
How love dies, how to climb mountains,
How to hide your face among the stars?