We advance in years somewhat in the manner of an invading army in a barren land; the age that we have reached, as the phrase goes, we but hold with an outpost, and still keep open our communications with the extreme rear and first beginnings of the march.

我们年岁渐长，有几分像入侵荒原的军队；所谓已经到达的年龄，不过由一处前哨驻守，而我们仍与遥远的后方、与征途的最初起点保持联系。