George Arnold，1834—1865，was born in New York City.He never attended school，but was ed ucated at home，by his parents.His literary career occupied a period of about twelve years.In this time he wrote stories，essays，criticisms in art and literature，poems，sketches，etc.，for several periodicals.Two volumes of his poems have been published since his death.
'T was a jolly old pedagogue，long ago，
Tall，and slender，and sallow，and dry；
His form was bent，and his gait was slow，
And his long，thin hair was white as snow，
But a wonderful twinkle shone in his eye:
And he sang every night as he went to bed，
“Let us be happy down here below；
The living should live，though the dead be dead，”
Said the jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
He taught the scholars the Rule of Three，
Reading，and writing，and history too；
He took the little ones on his knee，
For a kind old heart in his breast had he，
And the wants of the littlest child he knew.
“Learn while you're young，”he often said，
“There is much to enjoy down here below；
Life for the living，and rest for the dead！”
Said the jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
With the stupidest boys，he was kind and cool，
Speaking only in gentlest tones；
The rod was scarcely known in his school——
Whipping to him was a barbarous rule，
And too hard work for his poor old bones；
Besides it was painful，he sometimes said:
“We should make life pleasant down here below——
The living need charity more than the dead，”
Said the jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
He lived in the house by the hawthorn lane，
With roses and woodbine over the door；
His rooms were quiet，and neat，and plain，
But a spirit of comfort there held reign，
And made him forget he was old and poor.
“I need so little，”he often said；
“And my friends and relatives here below
Won't litigate over me when I am dead，”
Said the jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
But the pleasantest times he had of all，
Were the sociable hours he used to pass，
With his chair tipped back to a neighbor's wall，
Making an unceremonious call，
Over a pipe and a friendly glass:
This was the finest pleasure，he said，
Of the many he tasted here below:
“Who has no cronies had better be dead，”
Said the jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
The jolly old pedagogue's wrinkled face
Melted all over in sunshiny smiles；
He stirred his glass with an old-school grace，
Chuckled，and sipped，and prattled apace，
Till the house grew merry from cellar to tiles.
“I'm a pretty old man，”he gently said，
“I've lingered a long time here below；
But my heart is fresh，if my youth is fled！”
Said the jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
He smoked his pipe in the balmy air
Every night，when the sun went down；
And the soft wind played in his silvery hair，
Leaving its tenderest kisses there，
On the jolly old pedagogue's jolly old crown；
And feeling the kisses，he smiled，and said:
“ 'T is it glorious world down here below；
Why wait for happiness till we are dead？”
Said this jolly old pedagogue，long ago.
He sat at his door one midsummer night，
After the sun had sunk in the west，
And the lingering beams of golden light
Made his kindly old face look warm and bright，
While the odorous night winds whispered，“Rest！”
Gently，gently，he bowed his head；
There were angels waiting for him，I know；
He was sure of his happiness，living or dead，
This jolly old pedagogue，long ago！
译文 TRANSLATION
乔治·阿诺德（1834—1865）生于纽约市。他没有进过学校，而是在家由父母亲自教导。他的文学生涯约有十二年。这期间，他为几家期刊撰稿，他的作品包括故事、散文、文艺批评、诗和随笔。
很久以前，有个逗趣的老学究，
高高的、瘦瘦的、蜡黄又干瘪；
他驼着背，步伐缓慢，
他稀疏的长发白得像雪，
可是他的眼睛却闪闪发亮。
每晚睡觉前，他都哼唱着这首歌：
“让我们在这世上快快乐乐，
活着的总得活，死了的就得死。”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
他教学生修辞、
阅读、写作和历史，
因为胸膛里有颗善良的心，
他把孩子抱在膝头上；
他懂最小的孩子的要求。
“学习要趁早，”他常常说，
“在这世上有很多快乐，
生活是给活人的，其余都留给了死者。”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
对那最笨的孩子，
他说话的语调却是最温柔，
他冷淡又和气，
他的学堂上教鞭无人识。
在他看来，鞭打是项野蛮的规章，
而对他这把可怜的老骨头来说，那活儿未免太重。
此外，也太痛苦。他有时说：
“在这世上，我们该让生活惬意。
活人比死人更需要仁慈。”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
他住在霍桑巷，
家门前掩映着玫瑰和忍冬；
他的房间整洁、朴素又清静，
弥漫着安适的情韵，
这使他忘记了他的老和穷。
“我几乎一无所需，”他常常说，
“我死后，朋友和亲戚不会因我而对簿公堂。”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
但他最惬意的时刻
则是那些与好友共度的时光，
椅背抵着邻家的墙，
不拘礼节地招呼着，
边吸着烟斗边亲切地举杯把盏，
他说，这是世上最美好的欢乐。
“没有密友的人不如死去。”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
这逗趣的老学究那爬满皱纹的脸
在阳光般的微笑里溶化，
他以旧式的优雅轻轻晃动着玻璃杯，
呷一口酒，浅浅一笑，快速地说着趣话，
让欢乐充盈每一空间，从地下室到屋顶的瓦。
“我已经很老了，”他温柔地说，
“在这世上已逗留了很久，
不过，华年逝去，我的心却仍清新。”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
在温馨的氛围里，他吸着烟斗，
每个晚上，当夕阳落去，
温柔的风在他的银发间嬉戏，
在那逗趣的老学究那逗趣的王冠上，
印下最最轻柔的吻，
感到了这一吻，他微微笑着，说：
“这世界多辉煌，为什么至死还把希望等待？”
那逗趣的老学究如是说，就在那很久以前。
一个仲夏的夜晚，他坐在门前，
夕阳早已西沉，金色的余晖，
照在他和蔼、苍老的脸上，那般温暖、明亮。
当芳馨的夜风在他耳畔低语：“安眠！”
轻轻的、轻轻地，他垂下头，
天使正将他等待，我知道：
无论活着或死去，他都确定幸福，
那逗趣的老学究，就在那很久以前。
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