15

RING ye the bels1, ye yong men of the towne,

And leave your wonted2 labors for this day:

This day is holy; doe ye write it downe,

That ye for ever it remember may.

This day the sunne is in his chiefest hight,

With Barnaby3 the bright,

From whence declining daily by degrees,

He somewhat loseth of his heat and light,

When once the Crab behind his back he sees4.

But for this time it ill ordainéd was,

To chose the longest day in all the yeare,

And shortest night, when longest fitter weare:

Yet never day so long, but late5 would passe.

Ring ye the bels, to make it weare away,

And bonefiers make all day,

And daunce about them, and about them sing:

That all the woods may answer, and your eccho ring.

注释：1.或仪式性地敲钟，或心情激动时随意敲钟。

2.wonted：通常的，常有的。

3.Barnaby：圣巴纳比日，即六月十一日。也是旧历中的夏至日。人们用敲钟和生祝火的方式庆祝夏至的到来。这种庆祝方式在英国已经消失。

4.在夏至日，太阳马上就要离开双子宫，移居巨蟹宫。

5.late：最终，终于。