O Solitude

 

O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell,

Let it not be among the jumbled heap

Of murky buildings; climb with me the steep,-

Nature's observatory- whence the dell,

Its flowery slopes, its river's crystal swell,

May seem a span; let me thy vigils keep

'Mongst boughs pavillion'd, where the deer's swift leap

Startles the wild bee from the fox-glove bell.

But though I'll gladly trace these scenes with thee,

Yet the sweet converse of an innocent mind,

Whose words are images of thoughts refin'd,

Is my soul's pleasure; and it sure must be

Almost the highest bliss of human-kind,

When to thy haunts two kindred spirits flee.

 

哦，孤独！假若我和你必须同住，

可别在这层叠的一片

灰色建筑里，让我们爬上山，

到大自然的观测台去，从那里——

山谷、晶亮的河，锦簇的草坡

看来只是一柞；让我守着你

在枝叶荫蔽下，看跳纵的鹿糜

把指顶花蛊里的蜜蜂惊吓。

不过，虽然我喜欢和你赏玩

这些景色，我的心灵更乐于

和纯洁的心灵（她的言语

是优美情思的表象）亲切会谈；

因为我相信，人的至高的乐趣

是一对心灵避入你的港湾。