威廉柯珀（1731-1800），英国早期浪漫主义的先驱诗人，出身教士家庭。主要作品包括《任务》（The Task)、《约翰?吉尔宾》（John Gilpin）等。1791年发表《荷马史诗》的译本。柯珀长期寄住于恩温家中，把不少诗篇献给慈祥的女主人玛丽。《我的玛丽》是其中感人至深的一篇。

　　My Mary

　　By William Cowper

 

　　The twentieth year is wellnigh past

　　Since first our sky was overcast¹;

　　Ah, would that this might be the last!

　　My Mary!

 

　　Thy spirits have a fainter flow,

　　I see thee daily weaker grow;

　　'Twas my distress² that brought thee low,

　　My Mary!

 

　　Thy needles, once a shining store,

　　For my sake restless heretofore,

　　Now rust³ disused, and shine no more;

　　My Mary!

 

　　For though thou gladly wouldst fulfil

　　The same kind office for me still,

　　Thy sight now seconds not thy will,

　　My Mary!

 

　　But Well thou play'dst the housewife's part,

　　And all thy threads with magic art

　　Have wound themselves about this heart,

　　My Mary!

 

　　Thy indistinct expressions seem

　　Like language utter'd in a dream;

　　Yet me they charm, whate'er the theme,

　　My Mary!

 

　　Thy silver locks, once auburn bright,

　　Are still more lovely in my sight

　　Than golden beams of orient light,

　　My Mary!

 

　　For could I view nor them nor thee,

　　What sight worth seeing could I see?

　　The sun would rise in vain for me,

　　My Mary!

 

　　Partakers of thy sad decline,

　　Thy hands their little force resign;

　　Yet, gently press'd, press gently mine,

　　My Mary!

 

　　Such feebleness of limbs thou prov'st,

　　That now at every step thou mov'st

　　Upheld by two; yet still thou lov'st,

　　My Mary!

 

　　And still to love, though press'd with ill,

　　In wintry age to feel no chill,

　　With me is  to be lovely still,

　　My Mary!

 

　　But ah! by constant heed⁴ I know

　　How oft the sadness that I show

　　Transforms thy smiles to looks of woe⁵,

　　My Mary!

 

　　And should my future lot be cast

　　With much resemblance of the past,

　　Thy worn-out heart will break at last——

　　My Mary!

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