Speak gently; it is better far
请轻声说话,
To rule by love than fear:
爱的力量胜于恐惧的统治;
Speak gently; let no harsh words mar
请轻声说话,
The good we might do here.
勿让刺耳之语成为美德的瑕疵。
Speak gently to the little child;
请对小朋友轻声说话,
Its love be sure to gain;
无疑你将得到他们的爱;
Teach it in accents soft and mild;
教导的音调宜温柔文雅,
It may not long remain.
否则爱就不再存留。
Speak gently to the aged one;
请对长者轻声说话,
Grieve not the care worn heart:
饱经忧患的心不应再感悲伤;
The sands of life are nearly run;
生命的沙漏即将停下,
Let such in peace depart.
让他们平静离场。
Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
请对穷苦之人轻声和蔼说话,
Let no harsh tone be heard;
不让他们听到严苛的音调;
They have enough they must endure,
他们忍受的苦难已够巨大,
Without an unkind word.
即使一个刻薄的字眼也不曾听到。
Speak gently to the erring; know
即使没有无情的话语,
They must have toiled in vain;
他们要忍受的苦难也已够多。
Perhaps unkindness made them so;
也许就是无情的对待让他们把过错犯下,
Oh, win them back again.
噢,把他们再争取回来吧。
Speak gently: it is a little thing
请轻声说话,
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
这微不足道却能深入人心,
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
它可能激发美德,创造欢乐,
Eternity shall tell.
直到永恒不竭不尽。
(George Washington Langford)
(乔治.华盛顿.兰福德)