So oft have I invoked thee for my Muse

And found such fair assistance in my verse

As every alien pen hath got my use

And under thee their poesy disperse.

Thine eyes that taught the dumb on high to sing

And heavy ignorance aloft to fly

Have added feathers to the learned's wing

And given grace a double majesty.

Yet be most proud of that which I compile,

Whose influence is thine and born of thee:

In others' works thou dost but mend the style,

And arts with thy sweet graces graced be;

But thou art all my art and dost advance

As high as learning my rude ignorance.

我常常把你當(dāng)詩神向你禱告，

在詩里找到那么有力的神助，

以致凡陌生的筆都把我仿效，

在你名義下把他們的詩散布。

你的眼睛，曾教會啞巴們歌唱，

曾教會沉重的愚昧高飛上天，

又把新羽毛加給博學(xué)的翅膀，

加給溫文爾雅以兩重的尊嚴(yán)。

可是我的詩應(yīng)該最使你驕傲，

它們的誕生全在你的感召下：

對別人的作品你只潤飾格調(diào)，

用你的美在他們才華上添花。

　　但對于我，你就是我全部藝術(shù)，

　　把我的愚拙提到博學(xué)的高度。