“或沦无底，或达仙乡“

严复（1853-1921）译述《天演论》，收自《严译名著丛刊（第一种）》（上海：商务印书馆，1931）。

T.H.HuxIey, “Evolution and Ethics” in CE 9: 46-116. “Evolution and Ethics: Prolegomena” in CE 9:1-43. [CE--Collected Essays (London: 1893-94).]

Alfred Tennyson, Ulysses

经我的导师 Andrew Jones 指点，才发现 Alfred Tennyson 的诗句出现在赫胥黎的原文与严复的译文的结尾。赫胥黎原文（86页）如下：

We have long since emerged from the heroic childhood of our race, when good and evil could be met with the same 'frolic welcome'; the attempts to escape from evil, whether Indian or Greek, have ended in flight from the battle-field; it remains to us to throw aside the youthful overconfidence and the no less youthful discouragement of nonage. We are grown men, and must play the man

" strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield,"

cherishing the good that falls in our way, and bearing the evil, in and around us, with stout hearts set on diminishing it. So far, we all may strive in one faith towards one hope:

"It may be that the gulfs will wash us down,
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
... but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note may yet be done."

这是严复的相关翻译：

丁尼孙之诗曰：“挂颿沧海，风波茫茫。或沦无底，或达仙乡。二者何择，将然未然。时乎时乎，吾奋吾力。不竦不戁，丈夫之必。”吾愿与普天下有心人，共矢斯志也。（下卷51页，《论十七·进化》）

我觉得严复是意译了 Lord Alfred Tennyson 的 Ulysses 诗篇最后十行：

60 To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

61 Of all the western stars, until I die.

62 It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:

63 It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

64 And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

65 Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'

66 We are not now that strength which in old days

67 Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

68 One equal temper of heroic hearts,

69 Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

70 To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

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