The Silver Swan, who living had no note,

When death approached, unlocked her silent throat;

Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,

Thus sung her first and last,

And sung no more:

"Farewell all joys;

O death, come close mine eyes;

More geese than swans now live,

More fools than wise."

 

雪白的天鵝生前不鳴

直到死神降臨，劃開靜默咽喉

牠的胸倚在蘆葦岸邊

如此初吟卻成絕唱

再也不復聞：

「一切歡樂皆已消逝，

我將闔眼死去，

鴻鵠凋零，僅餘鵝雁，

愚蠢已淹沒智性」