Though I am Young and Cannot Tell

Ben Jonson

Though I am young, and cannot tell

Either what death or love is well,

Yet I have heard they both bear darts¹,

And both do aim at human hearts.

And then again, I have been told

Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold;

So that I fear they do but bring

Extremes to touch, and mean one thing.

As in a ruin we it call

One thing to be blown up, or fall;

Or to our end like way may have

By a flash of lightning, or a wave;

So love's inflamed² shaft³ or brand

May kill as soon as Death's cold hand;

Except Love's fires the virtue⁴ have

To fright the frost out of the grave.

如我之年青，无法细辨，

死亡的本意和爱的真谛，

尝闻二者皆带箭头，

双双的目标是人的心脏。

复又听说，各有德性，

爱伤于火，死伤于冰;

我似恍然有所觉悟，

感受的极端结果却一途。

恰如断壁残垣，

或灰飞或塌坍;

又好比我之消亡，

似潮退又似闪电;

因知爱之燃烧的箭杆，

亡我之速有如死神冰冷的魔手;

惟有爱火的炽热尚存，

惊散坟墓中寒气逼人的霜雾。