夜來起狂風，
窗戶皆震動。
守財奴陡然驚醒，
往復徘徊靜室中。
轉頭看看背後，
邊踱步，邊顫驚。
查遍每道閂，每個鎖，
探遍每個角落每條縫；
然後打開藏寶箱，
欣賞聚斂得意忘形。
驀地良心猛省；
他搓著雙手又捶胸。
他狂張著雙睛，
罪咎的靈魂宣判發聲：
大地若是保守那些礦藏，
我心深處也保得平安寧靜；
但如今，品德已經賣空！
天啊，甚麼代價能補償罪惡的傷痛？
噢，致命的黃金，引誘欺矇，
人，軟弱的人，
怎能戰勝你的權能？
黃金從思想中趕走了榮譽，
只剩得一個虛名；
黃金在世上撒遍惡種，
黃金叫兇手去行凶；
黃金指引懦夫的心，
教他奸詐權術與敗行。
邪惡多得誰能算清？
道德卻在地上絕了影蹤！ |
The wind was high,
The window shakes;
With sudden start,
The Miser wakes!
Along the silent room he stalks;
Looks back, and trembles as he walks!
Each lock and every bolt he tries,
In every creek and corner pries;
Then opens his chest with treasure stored,
And stands in rapture o'er his hoard:
But now with sudden qualms possest,
He wrings his hands, he beats his breast.
By conscience stung he wildly stares;
Thus his guilty soul declares.
Had the deep earth her stores confin'd,
The heart had known sweet peace of mind,
But virtue's sold!
Good heavens! what price
Can recompense the pangs of vice?
O bane of gold! seducing cheat!
Can man, weak man, thy pow'r defeat?
Gold banished honour from the mind,
And only left the name behind;
Gold sow'd the world with every ill;
Gold taught the murderer's sword to kill:
'Twas gold instructed coward hearts
In treachery's more pernicious arts.
Who can recount the mischiefs o'er?
Virtue resides on earth no more! |
