在整个自然知识的范围内，也许没有比我们所置身的大气中不断发生的波动更引起普遍兴趣的话题了。——《英国年鉴》在切尔滕纳姆，一个人可以尽情享受愚蠢和冷水的地方，去年我第一次和老杰弗里爵士的女儿跳了四方舞。她的脸颊和夏天的玫瑰可能会竞争，当夏天的玫瑰是最新的;她的眼睛像秋天的天空一样蓝，当秋天的天空是最蓝的;我的心会把她当作生命中最珍贵的花朵之一，因为她的思想一半是太阳，一半是雨水。我谈到了小说:《维维安·格雷》(Vivian Grey)确实很迷人，《阿尔马克》(almack)非常gay，《弗兰肯斯坦》(Frankenstein)令人震惊;我说《德·维尔》写得很纯洁，对《赫伯特·莱西》评价不错，说巴尼姆先生的素描“大胆”，摩根夫人的“活泼”;我发誓说胡克的最后一篇新作品非常有趣;劳拉说——“我喜欢看书，因为总是下雨!”我谈到了音乐绚丽的魅力;我对罗西尼赞不绝口，希望隆齐能回来，批评帕西尼;我希望唱诗班的人哑巴，希望号声更平静，我赞美布罗卡德的沉着，我称赞保罗“太棒了!” What cared she for Medea's pride, Or Desdemona's sorrow? 'Alas!' my beauteous listener sighed, 'We must have rain to-morrow!' I told her tales of other lands; Of ever-boiling fountains, Of poisonous lakes and barren sands, Vast forests, trackless mountains: I painted bright Italian skies, I lauded Persian roses, Coined similes for Spanish eyes, And jests for Indian noses: I laughed at Lisbon's love of mass, Vienna's dread of treason: And Laura asked me -- where the glass Stood, at Madrid, last season. I broached whate'er had gone its rounds, The week before, of scandal; What made Sir Luke lay down his hounds, And Jane take up her Handel; Why Julia walked upon the heath, With the pale moon above her; Where Flora lost her false front teeth, And Anne her falser lover; How Lord de B. and Mrs. L. Had crossed the sea together: My shuddering partner cried 'O Ciel! How could they, -- in such weather?' Was she a Blue? -- I put my trust In strata, petals, gases; A boudoir-pedant? I discussed The toga and the fasces: A Cockney-Muse? I mouthed a deal Of folly from Endymion; A saint? I praised the pious zeal Of Messrs. Way and Simeon; A politician? -- it was vain To quote the morning paper; The horrid phantoms came again, Rain, Hail, and Snow, and Vapour. Flat Flattery was my only chance: I acted deep devotion, Found magic in her every glance, Grace in her every motion; I wasted all a stripling's lore, Prayer, passion, folly, feeling; And wildly looked upon the floor, And wildly on the ceiling. I envied gloves upon her arm And shawls upon her shoulder; And, when my worship was most warm, -- She -- 'never found it colder.' I don't object to wealth or land; And she will have the giving Of an extremely pretty hand, Some thousands, and a living. She makes silk purses, broiders stools, Sings sweetly, dances finely, Paints screens, subscribes to Sunday-schools, And sits a horse divinely. But to be linked for life to her! -- The desperate man who tried it Might marry a Barometer And hang himself beside it!