“Another on the Same,” is more witty as it elaborates a series of paradoxes. Thus, “an engine moved with wheel and weight” refers at once to Hobson’s coach—the means of his livelihood—and to a timepiece. The circuit of the coachman is likened to movement around the face of a timepiece, motion being equated with time. The assertion that “too much breathing put him out of breath” refers to the interruption of his travel caused by the plague. While idle, in other words, he himself took ill and died. Furthermore, the poem likens his former travel to the waxing and waning of the moon, a reciprocal course of coming and going. These playful poems that treat the topic of death may be contrasted with Milton’s lamentations, such as----
from ---http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/john-milton
Based on my understanding of the background of this poem and the tone that John Milton put in it I translated this poem as a "打油诗“。
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Another on the Same Here lieth one who did most truly prove, That he could never die while he could move, So hung his destiny never to rot While he might still jogg on, and keep his trot, Made of sphear-metal, never to decay Untill his revolution was at stay. Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime ‘Gainst old truth) motion number’d out his time; And like an Engin mov’d with wheel and waight, His principles being ceast, he ended strait, Rest that gives all men life, gave him his death, And too much breathing put him out of breath, Nor were it contradiction to affirm Too long vacation hastned on his term. Meerly to drive the time away he sickn’d, Fainted, and died, nor would with Ale be quickn’d; Nay, quoth he, on his swooning bed outstretch’d, If I may not carry, sure Ile ne’re be fetch’d, But vow though the cross Doctors all stood hearers, For one Carrier put down to make six bearers. Ease was his chief disease, and to judge right, He di’d for heavines that his Cart went light, His leasure told him that his time was com, And lack of load, made his life burdensom, That even to his last breath (ther be that say’t) As he were prest to death, he cry’d more waight; But had his doings lasted as they were, He had bin an immortall Carrier. Obedient to the Moon he spent his date In cours reciprocal, and had his fate Linkt to the mutual flowing of the Seas, Yet (strange to think) his wain was his increase: His Letters are deliver’d all and gon, Onely remains this superscription. |
Another on the Same 身葬于此他便是铁证， 人不会死只要还能動， 自信天数不当陨落 当他不停地跑， 来回地踱， 像铁铸的球，永远不腐烂 直到有一天，铁球停止转。 时间度量运动， 犹如一架钟， 钟摆不停动， 时限刚来到， 人死指针定， 歇息给别人以活力却致他于死地， 容他尽情呼吸却使他喘不上气， 这话一点也没毛病， 假期太长要了他的命。 打发时间却令他步入黄泉, 再好的啤酒也不能使他回还; 更甚的是他临死还在喃喃自语, 如果我不驾车, 那些信永远也不会送抵， 并切齿发誓， 不顾校医们都听得真， 若让一个信使倒下光抬棺就得六个人。 悠闲是他的病根儿， 正确地说， 没有那么多的信可送， 令他心碎虚脱， 他的松懈预示他的大限将即， 没有负担令他倍感压抑, 他用尽最后一口气-正如人说 被判千斤巨石压身死， 还在喊-我不嫌多； 如果他依旧周而复始， 他将是一个不朽的信使。 但他如潮水守信, 听从月亮的呼唤， 勤奋每一天，最后撒手人寰 永远在海水中逐波随潮, （想起来有点怪）他的死却让他名声大噪： 他的信件早已分发完毕, 只留下此诗以为铭记. |
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