聖誕前夜，十二點，
“現在它們都跪倒在地，”
一位長者說，當我們坐成一群
在爐火的餘燼旁舒享安逸。

我們描繪那些溫順的生命
安居在它們的稻草棚里，
我們當中沒有誰產生懷疑
它們當時正跪在那裡。

如此美妙的幻想實在少見
在這些年裡！可，我感覺，
假若有人在聖誕前夜提議，
“來呀，去看牛群正跪着呢，

在我們童年熟知常去的
那峽谷小溪邊寂靜的農場裡，”
我定會以真切之情
在昏暗中與他同去。

The Oxen

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel,

"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

---By Thomas Hardy (1840-1925)

托馬斯.哈代，英國著名作家，著有小說[德伯家的苔絲]，[卡斯特橋市長]等 。