【正确答案】正确答案：As the title suggests, this poem is a statement about the inevitable finality of death. The opening stanza contrasts the fleeting accomplishments of human beings with the permanence and power of fate. The second stanza explains the idea of the first one by another contrast; Kings wearing the scepter and crown and peasants bearing the seythe and spade are all brought to dust and made equal by death. The third and fourth stanzas continue the contrast by describing the cruel war; Great swordsmen reap heads of their opponents in the battlefield, but even their strong nerves yield at last and they will stoop to fate, early or late. Actually they are not winning over the other, but taming one another, as the war heroes will be wounded captives, creeping to their death. The poem tells us their fate may be even worse than that of their opponents, as they are pale with shame in the hands of death, because, unlike in the battle field, they cannot protest and fight against death. The last stanza comes to the conclusion; no matter how high vour head is held, it will come down to the cold tomb one day. Death is a great leveler who has no distinctions between the rich and poor, high and low, victor and victim. From the above words, we can tell the sharp contrast is one of the features in this poem. More detailed contrasts can be found in this poem and increase the visual impact, such as the bright crown and shabby implements. The contrast between the fresh laurels and garlands and the cold and purple altar of the death is very impressive, as the color purple reminds us a pool of blood. The whole poem is in a very dark tone and shows us a quite scary image, because no one will go to heaven but wait for the equal action of death.

【答案解析】解析： 塞利(James Shirley，1596一1666)是英国剧作家、诗人。据说此诗曾使当时在英国权倾一时的克伦威尔“心头生凉”(These verses are said to have“chilled the heart”of Oliver Cromwell)。 【诗歌译文】 死后皆平等 我们所有血脉和身份的荣耀 只是影儿，并没有实质； 没有能够抵御命运的武器， 死亡冰冷的手攫住君王； 皇冠和令牌 必然跌落， 同卑贱的弯镰和锄头， 在尘土里一样平等。 有人用刀剑收获了土地， 在他们杀戮的地方种植新的胜利； 但他们强壮的勇气最终也得投降， 虽然他们仍然互相争狠斗强， 或早或是迟 他们会向命运屈膝， 定要放弃微弱的呼吸， 做了苍白的俘虏，匍匐着死去。 华冠枯萎在你的眉峰， 不能再夸耀你的伟绩丰功； 现在，死亡紫色的祭坛上， 得胜者作了流血的牺牲! 所有的元首都要去 到幽冷的坟墓， 惟有义人的行为显彰 在尘土中开花吐露芬芳。