評論
打印
The last moment was up.
執行死刑的最后時刻終于來臨，
The prisoner took his place, the cap was drawn over his eyes, the bolt was drawn, and a lifeless body swung revolving in the wind.
囚犯站到了預定位置，頭上帽子被拉下遮住他的眼，閂門掉落，尸體在風中不停地旋轉。
Just at that moment a horseman came into sight, galloping down hill, his steed covered with foam.
就在那時，人們看到一位騎馬人飛奔沖下山坡，馬兒越跑越近，馬嘴邊吐著白沫。
He carried a packet in his right hand, which he waved frantically to the crowd.
那騎馬人右手拿著包，發狂地朝人群揮舞，
He was the express rider with the reprieve; but he came too late.
他正是攜帶緩刑命令的快件騎手。但他來得太遲了，
A comparatively innocent man had died an ignominious death because a watch had been five minutes too late, making its bearer arrive behind time.
一位相對無辜的人被可恥地結束了生命，由于那位快件騎手的表慢了五分鐘，他最終錯過一條生命的寶貴。
It is continually so in life.
生活中此類事例并不乏見。
The best laid plans, the most important affairs, the fortunes of individuals,
最佳設定計劃，重大或關鍵事件，個人命運、
the weal of nations, honor, happiness, life itself, are daily sacrificed, because somebody is "behind time."
民族繁榮、榮譽、幸福乃至生活本身，由于某些人“遲到或晚點”皆成為庸常歲月的犧牲品。
There are men who always fail in whatever they undertake, simply because they are "'behind time."
這些人，無論他們從事何種工作，失敗總是與之形影不離，唯一原因不過在于他們“遲到或晚點”。
There are others who put off reformation year after year, till death seizes them, and they perish unrepentant, because forever "behind time."
還有一種人的失敗原因在于：他們總是年復一年地推遲改變，直到死神將他們徹底帶進墳墓。這種人推崇食古不化，因此，“遲到或晚點”對他們來說，意味永遠終生錯過。
