#1 再来译一首如何？Hippopotamothalamium
Hippopotamothalamium.
A hippopotamus had a bride
Of rather singular beauty,
When he lay down at her side
'Twas out of love, not duty--
Hers was an exceptional beauty.
Take, oh take those lips away, etc.
He met her in Central Nigeria,
While she was resident there,
Where life is distinctly superior
And a hippo can take down her hair--
And, God, but she was fair!
Take, oh take those lips away, etc.
She was coming up from her morning swim
When first they chanced to meet:
He looked at her, she looked at him,
And stood with reluctant feet
Where mud and river meet.
Take, oh take those lips away, etc.
Their eye-beams, twisted on one thread,
Instantaneously did twine,
And he made up poetry out of his head,
Such as, "Dear heart, be mine"--
And he quoted, line for line,
"Hail to thee, blithe spirit", etc.
Now, hippopotamoid courtesy
Is strangely meticulous--
A beautiful thing, you will agree,
In a hippopotamus--
And she answered briefly, thus:
"Hail to thee, blithe spirit", etc.
Perhaps she was practising the arts
That grace old Hippo's daughter,
The coquetries that win all hearts,
For, even as he besought her,
She slid into the water.
Out, out, brief candle, etc.
Now, on the borders of the wood,
Whence love had drawn him hither,
He paces in an anguished mood,
Darting hither and thither,
In a terrific dither.
Out, out, brief candle, etc.
The course of true love never yet,
Ran smooth, though we are told,
With thorns its pathway is beset,
And perils manifold,
So it was from of old.
Out, out, brief candle, etc.
Yet soon a happier morning smiles,
The marriage feast is spread--
The flower girls were crocodiles,
When hippopotamus led
Hippopotamus, with firm tread,
A bride to the bridal bed.
Milton, thou should'st be living at this hour.
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