廉價傳記會告訴你他的所有身世遭際： 
父親如何痛打他，他如何走逃， 
他青年時代怎樣拼搏，怎樣行動 
使他成為一代梟雄： 
他怎樣作戰，垂釣，打獵，徹夜工作， 
盡管頭暈，仍攀過罕至的山峰；為某海洋命名： 
有些最新的研究者甚至寫道 
和你我一樣，愛情曾使他淚濕青衫。

他集萬千美譽於一身，卻有一人令他情牽， 
納罕的評論者說，那人就居於他家中， 
總做些精巧的家務活。那人 
別無所求；或吹吹口哨；或是悶坐 
又或在園中逡巡漫步；回覆數封 
他措辭優美的長信，但一信也不留存。

（張傑 譯）

《Who’s Who》 by W.H.Auden

A shilling life will give you all the facts： 
How father beat him, how he ran away, 
What were the struggles of his youth, what acts 
Made him the greatest figure of his day： 
Of how he fought, fished, hunted, worked all night 
Though giddy, climbed new mountains; named a sea： 
Some of the last researchers even write 
Love made him weep his pints like you and me.

With all his honours on, he sighed for one 
Who, say astonished critics, lived at home; 
Did little jobs about the house with skill 
And nothing else; could whistle; would sit still 
Or potter round the garden; answered some 
Of his long marvellous letters, but kept none.