Slight unpremeditated Words are borne
By every common Wind into the Air;
Carelessly utter'd, die as soon as born,
And in one instant give both Hope and Fear:
Breathing all Contraries with the same Wind
According to the Caprice of the Mind.
But Billetdoux are constant Witnesses,
Substantial Records to Eternity;
Just Evidences,who the Truth confess,
On which the Lover safely may rely;
They're serious Thoughts,digested and resolv'd;
And last,when Words are into Clouds devolv'd.
[參考譯文]
不加思索的輕率話語(yǔ),
被每一次平凡的呼吸載入空氣;
隨便說(shuō)說(shuō),剛出口即消失,
一瞬間給人希望和恐懼:
同一氣息呼出萬(wàn)般矛盾心腸,
追隨心靈無(wú)常的遐想。
但情書(shū)則是恒常的見(jiàn)證,
直至永恒的實(shí)體記錄;
公道的證物,它道出真誠(chéng),
戀人能在其上安心依附;
它們是嚴(yán)肅的思想,經(jīng)過(guò)深思熟慮;
當(dāng)話語(yǔ)在云外消失,它們還將延續(xù)。