Slight unpremeditated Words are borne
By every common Wind into the Air;
Carelessly utter'd, die as soon as born,
And in one instant give both Hope and Fear:
Breathing all Contraries with the same Wind
According to the Caprice of the Mind.
But Billetdoux are constant Witnesses,
Substantial Records to Eternity;
Just Evidences, who the Truth confess,
On which the Lover safely may rely;
They're serious Thoughts, digested and resolv'd；
And last, when Words are into Clouds devolv'd.

不加思索的輕率話語(yǔ)，
被每一次平凡的呼吸載入空氣；
隨便說(shuō)說(shuō)，剛出口即消失，
一瞬間給人希望和恐懼：
同一氣息呼出萬(wàn)般矛盾心腸，
追隨心靈無(wú)常的遐想。
但情書則是恒常的見(jiàn)證，
直至永恒的實(shí)體記錄；
公道的證物，它道出真誠(chéng)，
戀人能在其上安心依附；
它們是嚴(yán)肅的思想，經(jīng)過(guò)深思熟慮；
當(dāng)話語(yǔ)在云外消失，它們還將延續(xù)。