by Thomas Hardy
You did not come,
And marching Time drew on, and wore me numb.
Yet less for loss of your dear presence there
Than that I thus found lacking in your make
That high compassion which can overbear
Reluctance for pure lovingkindness' sake
Grieved I, when, as the hope-hour stroked its sum，
You did not come.
You love me not.
And love alone can lend you loyalty:
-I know and knew it. But, unto the store
Of human deeds divine in all but name，
Was it not worth a little hour or more
To add yet this: Once you, a woman, came
To soothe a time-torn man; even though it be
You love me not.
一次失约
托马斯·哈代
你没有来，
而时光却沙沙地流去，使我发呆。
倒不是惋惜失掉了相见的甜蜜，
是因为我由此看出你的天性
缺乏那种最高的怜悯——尽管不乐意，
出于纯粹的仁慈也能成全别人，
当指盼的钟点敲过，你没有来，
我感到悲哀。
你并不爱我，
而只有爱情才能使你忠诚于我;
——我明白，早就明白。但费一两小时
使除名义外全然圣洁的人类行为
又为何不增添一件好事：
你，作为一个女人，曾一度抚慰
一个为时光折磨的男人，即便说
你并不爱我。