漢譯 John Milton‘s ANOTHER ON THE SAME

 “Another on the Same,” is more witty as it elaborates a series of paradoxes. Thus, “an engine moved with wheel and weight” refers at once to Hobson’s coach—the means of his livelihood—and to a timepiece. The circuit of the coachman is likened to movement around the face of a timepiece, motion being equated with time. The assertion that “too much breathing put him out of breath” refers to the interruption of his travel caused by the plague. While idle, in other words, he himself took ill and died. Furthermore, the poem likens his former travel to the waxing and waning of the moon, a reciprocal course of coming and going. These playful poems that treat the topic of death may be contrasted with Milton’s lamentations, such as----

from ---http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/john-milton

Based on my understanding of the background of this poem and the tone that John Milton put in it I translated this poem as a "打油詩“。

Another on the Same     Here lieth one who did most truly prove,     That he could never die while he could move,     So hung his destiny never to rot     While he might still jogg on, and keep his trot,     Made of sphear-metal, never to decay     Untill his revolution was at stay.     Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime     ‘Gainst old truth) motion number’d out his time;     And like an Engin mov’d with wheel and waight,     His principles being ceast, he ended strait,     Rest that gives all men life, gave him his death,     And too much breathing put him out of breath,     Nor were it contradiction to affirm     Too long vacation hastned on his term.     Meerly to drive the time away he sickn’d,     Fainted, and died, nor would with Ale be quickn’d;     Nay, quoth he, on his swooning bed outstretch’d,     If I may not carry, sure Ile ne’re be fetch’d,     But vow though the cross Doctors all stood hearers,     For one Carrier put down to make six bearers.     Ease was his chief disease, and to judge right,     He di’d for heavines that his Cart went light,     His leasure told him that his time was com,     And lack of load, made his life burdensom,     That even to his last breath (ther be that say’t)     As he were prest to death, he cry’d more waight;     But had his doings lasted as they were,     He had bin an immortall Carrier.     Obedient to the Moon he spent his date     In cours reciprocal, and had his fate     Linkt to the mutual flowing of the Seas,     Yet (strange to think) his wain was his increase:     His Letters are deliver’d all and gon,     Onely remains this superscription.

Another on the Same 身葬於此他便是鐵證， 人不會死隻要還能動， 自信天數不當隕落 當他不停地跑， 來回地踱， 像鐵鑄的球，永遠不腐爛 直到有一天，鐵球停止轉。 時間度量運動， 但運動也吞噬著他的時間； 猶如一架鍾， 鍾擺不停動， 時限剛來到， 人死指針定， 歇息給別人以活力卻致他於死地， 容他盡情呼吸他卻喘不上氣， 這話一點也沒毛病， 假期太長要了他的命。 打發時間卻令他步入黃泉, 再好的啤酒也不能使他回還; 更甚的是他臨死還在喃喃自語, 如果我不駕車, 那些信永遠也不會送抵， 並切齒發誓， 不顧校醫們都聽得真， 若讓一個信使倒下光抬棺就得六個人。 悠閑是他的病根兒， 正確地說， 沒有那麽多的信可送， 令他心碎虛脫， 他的鬆懈預示他的大限將即， 沒有負擔令他倍感壓抑, 他用盡最後一口氣-正如人說 被判千斤巨石壓身死， 還在喊-我不嫌多； 如果他依舊周而複始， 他將是一個不朽的信使。 但他如潮水守信, 聽從月亮的呼喚， 勤奮每一天，最後撒手人寰 永遠在海水中逐波隨潮, （想起來有點怪）他的死卻讓他名聲大噪： 他的信件早已分發完畢, 隻留下此詩以為銘記.