A Song In Storm

Be well assured* that on our side
The abiding oceans fight,*
Though headlong wind and heaping tide
Make us their sport to-night.*
By force of weather, not of war,
In jeopardy we steer.
Then welcome Fate's discourtesy
Whereby it shall appear*
How in all time of our distress,
And our deliverance too,
The game is more than the player of the game,
And the ship is more than the crew!*

Out of the mist into the mirk*
The glimmering combers roll.
Almost these mindless waters work
As though they had a soul* --
Almost as though they leagued to whelm
Our flag beneath their green:*
Then welcome Fate's discourtesy
Whereby it shall be seen, etc.

Be well assured, though wave and wind
Have mightier blows in store,*
That we who keep the watch assigned
Must stand to it the more;*
And as our streaming bows rebuke
Each billow's baulked career,*
Sing, welcome Fate's discourtesy
Whereby it is made clear, etc.

No matter though our decks be swept
And mast and timber crack,*
We can make good all loss except
The loss of turning back.*
So, 'twixt these Devils and our deep
Let courteous trumpets sound,*
To welcome Fate's discourtesy
Whereby it will be found, etc.

Be well assured, though in our power
Is nothing left to give*
But chance and place to meet the hour,
And leave to strive to live.*
Till these dissolve our Order holds*,
Our Service binds us here.
Then welcome Fate's discourtesy
Whereby it is made clear
How in all time of our distress,
As in our triumph too,
The game is more than the player of the game
And the ship is more than the crew!

注：
*请完全放心，这句话在诗中多次重复，显示诗人在风暴之中的镇定自若。
*大海是站在我们一边的，所以不必害怕。
*尽管风浪将我们当成戏弄的对象。
*让我们欢迎命运的无礼吧，不然它怎能显现。这显示诗人的大无畏精神和勇敢气概。
*游戏不是玩游戏的人所能控制的，船也不是船员所能控制的。

*从迷雾进入黑暗，表示风暴越来越大，越来越危险。
*本来没有脑子的海水，现在似乎有了灵魂。
*似乎欲合力将我们的旗帜掩埋在它们的嫉妒之中。

*尽管风浪还将更为猛烈。
*我们轮流值守，肯定能够抵挡一切。
*我们的船头勇往直前，冲破每个浪头的阻碍。

*那怕我们的甲板已被风浪扫荡，桅杆和船骨亦被风浪折断。
*只要不回头，我们就能把损失也变成好事。
*在这些妖魔和我们内心勇气的斗争中，盛情的号角响起吧。

*尽管我们已经精疲力竭。
*我们依然为生命拼搏到底。
*直到我们为全部殉职。