3
0How can my Muse want subject to invent,
While thou dost breathe, that pour'st into my verse
Thine own sweet argument, too excellent
For every vulgar paper to rehearse?
O, give thyself the thanks, if aught in me
Worthy perusal stand against thy sight;
For who's so dumb that cannot write to thee,
When thou thyself dost give invention light?
Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more in worth
Than those old nine which rhymers invocate;
And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth
Eternal numbers to outlive long date.
If my slight Muse do please these curious days,
The pain be mine, but thine shall be the praise.
屠岸译：
我的缪斯怎么会缺少主题——
既然你呼吸着，你本身是诗的意趣，
倾注到我诗中，是这样精妙美丽，
不配让凡夫俗子的纸笔来宣叙？
如果我诗中有几句值得你看
或者念，呵，你得感谢你自己；
你自己给了人家创作的灵感，
谁是哑巴，不会写好了献给你？
比那被诗匠祈求的九位老缪斯，
你要强十倍，你做第十位缪斯吧；
而召唤你的诗人呢，让他从此
献出超越时间的不朽的好诗吧。
苛刻的当代如满意我的小缪斯，
辛苦是我的，而你的将是赞美辞。
