梦千寻我不愿让时间的大潮把自己的生命席卷而去，不声不响地送入那永恒的沉寂；我不甘屈服于命运那不可避免的进程。我爱这绿色的大地，爱这城市和乡村的面貌，爱这难以言喻幽寂的乡居生涯，爱这安静可爱的街道。我愿意就在此处扎下自己的篷帐。我愿意就在我现在的年龄上停驻不前——我和我的朋友们都如此，不想更年轻，不想更有钱，也不想更漂亮。我不想由于年老而失去一切，更不愿像人们说的，像熟透了的果实，忽地一下掉进坟墓。
I care not to be carried with the tide, that smoothly bears human life to eternity: and reluct at the inevitable course of destiny. I am in love with this green earth; the face of town and country; the unspeakable rural solitudes, and the sweet security of streets. I would set up my tabernacle here. I am content to stand still at the age to which I am arrived; I, and my friends: to be no younger, no richer, no handsomer. I do not want to be weaned by age; or drop, like mellow fruit, as they say, into the grave.
查尔斯.兰姆 （Charles Lamb)
《伊利亚随笔——除夕随想》（Essays of Elia –New Year’s Eve）
译者：刘炳善
