The Poet and the Caged Turtledove
wordsworth
As often as I murmur here
My half-formed melodies,
Straight from her osier mansion near,
The Turtledove replies:
Though silent as a leaf before,
The captive promptly coos;
Is it to teach her own soft lore,
Or second my weak Muse?
I rather think the gentle Dove
Is murmuring a reproof,
Displeased that I from lays of love
Have dared to keep aloof;
That I,a Bard of hill and dale,
Have carolled,fancy free,
As if nor dove nor nightingale
Had heart or voice for me➀.
If such thy meaning,O forbear,
Sweet Bird! to do me wrong;
Love,blessed Love,is everywhere
The spirit of my song:
‘Mid grove,and by the calm fireside,
Love animates my lyre—
That coo again!—’tis not to chide,
I feel,but to inspire.
➀欧洲人认为,斑鸠和夜莺的歌曲都是倾诉爱情的。
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