Song to the Men of England

Song to the Men of England
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 -- 1822)
1
Men of England, wherefore plough
For the lords who lay ye low?
Wherefore weave with toil and care
The rich robes your tyrants wear?
2
Wherefore feed, and clothe ,and save,
From the cradle to the grave,
Those ungrateful drones who would
Drain your sweat-----nay, drink your blood?
3
Wherefore,Bees of England, forge
Many a weapon, chain, and scourge,
That these stingless drones may spoil
The forced produce of your toil?
4
Have ye leisure, comfort, calm,
Shelter, food, love's gentle balm?
Or what is it ye buy so dear
With your pain and with your fear?
5
The seed ye sow, another reaps;
The wealth ye find, another keeps;
The robes ye weave, another wears;
The arms ye forge ,another bears.
6
Sow seed----but let no tyrant reap;
Find wealth----let no impostor heap;
Weave robes---let not the idle wear;
Forge arms----in your defence to bear.
7
Shrink to your cellars, holes, and cells;
In halls ye deck another dwells.
Why shake the chains ye wrought ?Ye see
The steel ye tempered glance on ye.
8
With plough and spade ,and hoe and loom,
Trace your grave ,and build your tomb,
And weave your winding-sheet,till fair
England be your sepulchre.
英国人，贵人把你们压迫，
为什么还要为他们耕作？
为什么赔着小心和辛苦
为暴君织着华美的衣服？

为什么，忘恩负义的雄蜂
迟至进坟墓，早到刚出生，
吃穿和活命靠你们，而且，
喝你们汗，不，吸干你们血。

英国的工蜂，为什么制造
刀枪和皮鞭、锁链和镣铐，
让没刺的雄蜂用以掠夺
你们被迫劳动中的收获？

你们有没有闲适和安宁、
爱情的慰藉和住处、食品？
你们付出了痛苦和恐惧，
这代价换来了什么东西？

你们播了种，别人来收割；
你们找财富，别人去获得；
你们做衣裳，别人穿身上；
你们造刀枪，别人挂腰旁。

播种子，但不让暴君收获；
找财富，决不容骗子掠夺；
织衣裳，绝不给懒汉穿上；
造刀枪，成为自卫的武装。

缩进你们的洞窖和小屋，
造好的大厦给别人居住。
何必挣脱你们锻的锁链？
瞧你们淬的钢正在瞪眼。

用耕犁、铁铲、锄头、织机
划定墓地，织你们的尸衣，
造好坟墓，待美好的英国
有朝一日做你们的棺椁。