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Calais,August,1802➀
Is it a reed that’s shaken by the wind,
Or what is it that ye go forth to see➁?
Lords,lawyers,statesmen,squires of low degree,
Men known,and men unknown,sick,lame,and blind,
Post forward— all,like creatures of one kind,
With first-fruit offerings crowd to bend the knee
In France,before the new-born Majesty.
’Tis ever thus. Ye men of prostrate mind,
A seemly reverence may be paid to power;
But that’s a loyal virtue,never sown
In haste,nor springing with a transient shower:
When truth,when sense,when liberty were flown,
What hardship had it been to wait an hour?
Shame on you,feeble Heads,to slavery prone!
➀拿破仑继1799年11月发动政变,成为“第一执政”之后,又于1802年8月2日就任“终身执政”。英国许多崇拜或同情拿破仑的人,此时纷纷渡海到法国,向这位执政表示敬意和祝贺。1802年9月,来到巴黎的英国人多达万人。华兹华斯一贯反对拿破仑,他对这些英国人十分鄙视,便写了这首诗斥责他们。
➁据《新约•马太福音》第11章和《路加福音》第7章,耶稣曾对众人说过:“你们从前出去到旷野,是要看什么呢?要看风吹动的芦苇么?”
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