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，
被每一次平凡的呼吸載入空氣;
隨便說說，剛出口即消失，
一瞬間給人希望和恐懼：
同一氣息呼出萬般矛盾心腸，
追隨心靈無常的遐想。
但情書則是恒常的見證，
直至永恒的實體記錄;
公道的證物，它道出真誠，
戀人能在其上安心依附;
它們是嚴肅的思想，經過深思熟慮;
當話語在云外消失，它們還將延續。
