6. The Two Roads岔路

It was New Year’s Night. An aged man was standing at a window. He had already passed sixty of the stages leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. 

这是新年的夜晚。一位老人站在窗边，忧伤的眼睛眺望着深蓝的天空。他已走过通向坟墓的六十级台阶，除了错误和悔恨，他一无所获。

The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads --- one leading to a peaceful, sunny place, covered with flowers, fruits and filled with soft, sweet songs; the other leading to a deep, dark cave, which was endless.

年轻岁月，如梦般展现在他面前，老人想起父亲把他带到岔路口的那个庄严时刻——一条路通向安宁，快乐的世界，鲜花遍布，果实丰硕，甜美轻柔的歌声在空中回荡;另一条路则通向幽深黑暗，没有尽头的洞穴。

He looked towards the sky and cried painfully, “O youth, return! O my father, place me once more at the entrance to life, and I’ll choose the better way!” But both his father and the days of his youth had passed away.

他仰望星空，痛苦的大喊：”啊，青春，回来吧!啊，父亲，再一次带我到人生的岔路口吧，我会选一条更好的道路。“但是，他的父亲和青春岁月都已经一去不复返了。

The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents’ early love for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose the wrong way. With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his father lived. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort, he burst out a cry: “Come back, my early days! Come back!”

高高的教堂钟楼传来敲钟声，这声音使他记起父母早年对他的疼爱。他们教育他，为他祈祷。然而，他却选择了错误的道路。羞愧和悲哀使他再也没有勇气仰望父亲所在的天堂。黯淡的双眼噙满了泪水，他绝望地嘶声大呼：”回来吧，我的往昔!回来吧!“

And his youth did return, for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year’s Night. 

他的青春真的回来了，所有这些只是一个梦，一个他在新年之夜所做的梦。

Those who still linger on the entrance of life, hesitating to choose the bright road, remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain: “O youth, return! Oh give me back my early days!”

仍在人生路口徘徊，仍在为是否应当选择光明坦途而犹豫不决的人们啊，请记住：当青春不再，当你的双脚在黑暗的山岭间跌绊时，你会痛苦地呼喊”啊，青春，回来吧!啊，还给我往昔吧!“此时，一切已是徒劳。