W. B. Yeats - Three Marching Songs (III) 汉译

Grandfather sang it under the gallows:

“Hear, gentlemen, ladies, and all mankind:

Money is good and a girl might be better,

But good strong blows are delights to the mind.”

There, standing on the cart,

He sang it from his heart.

Robbers had taken his old tambourine,

But he took down the moon

And rattled out a tune;

Robbers had taken his old tambourine.

“A girl I had, but she followed another,

Money I had, and it went in the night,

Strong drink I had, and it brought me to sorrow,

But a good strong cause and blows are delight.”

All there caught up the tune:

“On, on, my darling man.”

Robbers had taken his old tambourine,

But he took down the moon

And rattled out a tune;

Robbers had taken his old tambourine.

“Money is good and a girl might be better,

No matter what happens and who takes the fall,

But a good strong cause” - the rope gave a jerk there,

No more sang he, for his throat was too small;

But he kicked before he died,

He did it out of pride.

Robbers had taken his old tambourine,

But he took down the moon

And rattled out a tune;

Robbers had taken his old tambourine.