The Dexterity of Poetry

詩歌之靈性

With the young of both sexes, Poetry is, like love, a passion; but, for much the greater part of those who have been proud of its power over their minds, a necessity soon arises of breaking the pleasing bondage; or it relaxes of itself; —the thoughts being occupied in domestic cares, or the time engrossed by business. Poetry then becomes only an occasional recreation; while to those whose existence passes away in a course of fashionable pleasure, it is a species of luxurious amusement. In middle and declining age, a scattered number of serious persons resort to poetry, as to religion, for a protection against the pressure of trivial employments, and as a consolation for the afflictions of life. And, lastly, there are many, who, having been enamoured of this art in their youth, have found leisure, after youth was spent, to cultivate general literature; in which poetry has continued to be comprehended as a study.

對青年男女來說，詩歌如同愛情一樣，是一種激情。不過，即使是為詩歌動人心弦的力量縈繞心靈而驕傲的人，也很快就必需掙脫詩歌那令人愉悅的束縛；或者這種束縛會自然而然地松懈，因為家務占據了頭腦，事業耗盡了時間。如此一來, 詩歌就只是偶爾的消遣了。對那些一生都在追求時髦的人來說，詩歌是一種奢侈的娛樂。而少數中老年人則借助于詩歌——就像求助于宗教一樣——來緩解瑣事帶來的壓力和撫平生活中的創傷。最后，還有許多自年輕時就迷上了詩歌藝術的愛好者，盡管已不再年輕，他們有了追求文學的閑暇，這時，詩歌被當成了一門學問。