She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my sight；
A lovely Apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament；
Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair；
Like Twilight’s too, her dusky hair；
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful Dawn；
A dancing Shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and way-lay．
I saw her upon nearer view,
A spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin-liberty；
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet；
A Creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food；
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles
And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine；
A Being breathing thoughtful breath,
A Traveler between life and death；
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill；
A perfect Woman, nobly planned,，
To warn, to comfort, and command；
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light．
翻译后记：
本诗歌的分析
本诗歌体例特征：本首诗歌共三节，每节10行，韵律格式为：aa bb cc dd ee（即邻行押同韵）。大量用喻，包括暗喻，如“快乐的精灵”（“A phantom of delight”）、“可爱的精灵”（ “a lovely apparition”），以及隐喻“机器”（“the machine”）和“在生与死之间的旅行者”（ “a traveler between life and death”） ，以及明喻，如“双目如星”（"her eyes as stars of twilight fair）、“发如黄昏” （“like twilight’s too, her dusky hair”）等等。