My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,

While comments of your praise, richly compiled,

Reserve their character with golden quill

And precious phrase by all the Muses filed.

I think good thoughts whilst other write good words,

And like unletter'd clerk still cry 'Amen'

To every hymn that able spirit affords

In polish'd form of well-refined pen.

Hearing you praised, I say ''Tis so, 'tis true,'

And to the most of praise add something more;

But that is in my thought, whose love to you,

Though words come hindmost, holds his rank before.

Then others for the breath of words respect,

Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.

我的緘口的詩神只脈脈無語；

他們對你的美評卻累牘連篇，

用金筆刻成輝煌奪目的大字，

和經過一切藝神雕琢的名言。

我滿腔熱情，他們卻善頌善禱；

像不識字的牧師只知喊"阿門"，

去響應才子們用精煉的筆調

熔鑄成的每一首贊美的歌詠。

聽見人贊美你，我說，"的確，很對"，

憑他們怎樣歌頌我總嫌不夠；

但只在心里說，因為我對你的愛

雖拙于詞令，行動卻永遠帶頭。

　　那么，請敬他們，為他們的虛文；

　　敬我，為我的啞口無言的真誠。