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“人在世上所需要的本來微少，
而且那微少的也不久長。”
但在我的經驗不盡如此﹔
雖然歌曲唱的是那樣。
說起來我的需要頗多，
數下去哪怕沒有百般﹔
雖則每個願望都是鉅金，
我仍然希望多多益善。
首先我要日用的飲食—
野味之外--還要有酒
當用膳時在我的桌上
羅列著世間各地所有珍饈。
僅四道菜肴自然還不夠
略為滿足我的食欲﹔
要有四名特選的法國名廚，
調製我的餐式適口悅目。
我還要，用王公的高價，
打扮得衣飾入時鮮麗豪華﹕
黑貂輕裘禦寒冬的霜雪，
炎夏時則用絲羅綢紗，
克什米肩帔和布魯塞爾花邊
從胸前直到外面裝飾--
手上戴光耀的金鋼鑽，
頸項挂的是紅寶石。
我還要(誰不想要﹖)一個妻子
多情而又美麗﹔
能夠安慰生活中一切的憂患，
也分享所有的歡喜。
她的脾氣柔和，又能順從，
情緒穩定而且恬靜—
接納我一切缺欠，依然愛我，
嫺雅而有不變的深情。
隨著時間的車不停的駛過，
我的財富積聚增加滿倉盈屋，
我要多生男而且養女，
至少要八個或十全十足。
我要(喲﹗世人竟然敢
祈求如此的福分圓滿﹖)
女子子個個是貞潔的美娟，
丈夫子都是智勇雙全。
我要有熱誠而忠實的朋友，
在逆境中能給我歡愉快慰﹔
他們永不會奉迎諂諛，
他們的膝也不會屈服於權威—
犯了錯誤時有朋友能諫諍責備，
在靈魂的深處我可以看得見﹔
我的友情也經得試驗，
顯明對他人也同樣的貞堅。
我要有權力和高位的印記，
發號施令的徽旗﹔
受命於人民無私的恩典
統治我祖國的土地﹔
我不要皇冠也不求權杖
只要出於全國共同的意志，
或晝，或夜，致力於大業
務求使國家的福杯滿溢。
我要真誠的稱讚聲音
跟隨在我的身後，
將來的日子會想念
這全人類的朋友，
許多世代之後，繼起的人，
他們要宣告歡騰
同聲歌唱響徹天庭
稱頌我的榮名。
這些都是必死之人的欲望--
我不能欲望其存得久長，
因為人生不過是窄如手掌，
屬地的福樂--只是歌曲。
我末了的大欲--結語﹕
當我歸於泥土，
最後被呼喚見主，
我神的憐恤。
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"Man
wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long."
'T is not with me exactly so;
But 't is so in the song.
My wants are many and, if told,
Would muster many a score;
And were each wish a mint of gold,
I still should long for more.
What first I want is daily bread —
And canvas-backs — and wine —
And all the realms of nature spread
Before me, when I dine.
Four courses scarely can provide
My appetite to quell;
With four choice cooks from France beside,
To dress my dinner well.
What next I want, at princely cost,
Is elegant attire:
Black sable furs for winter's frost,
And silks for summer's fire,
And Cashmere shawls, and Brussels lace
My bosom's front to deck, —
And diamond rings my hands to grace,
And rubies for my neck.
I want (who does not want?) a wife, —
Affectionate and fair;
To solace all the woes of life,
And all its joys to share.
Of temper sweet, of yielding will,
Of firm, yet placid mind, —
With all my faults to love me still
With sentiment refined.
And as Time's car incessant runs,
And Fortune fills my store,
I want of daughters and of sons
From eight to half a score.
I want (alas! can mortal dare
Such bliss on earth to crave?)
That all the girls be chaste and fair, —
The boys all wise and brave.
I want a warm and faithful friend,
To cheer the adverse hour;
Who ne'er to flatter will descend,
Nor bend the knee to power—
A friend to chide me when I'm wrong,
My inmost soul to see;
And that my friendship prove as strong
For him as his for me.
I want the seals of power and place,
The ensigns of command;
Charged by the People's unbought grace
To rule my native land
Nor crown nor scepter would I ask
But from my country's will,
By day, by night, to ply the task
Her cup of bliss to fill.
I want the voice of honest praise
To follow me behind,
And to be thought in future days
The friend of human kind,
That after ages, as they rise,
Exulting may proclaim
In choral union to the skies
Their blessings on my name.
These are the Wants of mortal Man —
I cannot want them long,
For life itself is but a span,
And earthly bliss—a song.
My last great Want — absorbing all —
Is, when beneath the sod,
And summoned to my final call,
The Mercy of My God.
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