letters on literature(关于文学)-第20章
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the physician of Miletus。 The Greeks of that age kept their women in
almost Oriental reserve。 One may doubt whether Nicias would have
liked it if Theocritus had sent； instead of a distaff； a fan or a jewel。 But
there is safety in a spinning instrument； and all the compliments to the
lady； 〃the dainty…ankled Theugenis；〃 turn on her skill； and industry； and
housewifery。 So Louis XIV。； no mean authority； called this piece of vers
de societe 〃a model of honourable gallantry。〃
I have just looked all through Pomtow's pretty little pocket volumes of
the minor Greek poets； and found nothing more of the nature of the lighter
verse than this of Alcman's＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇。
Do you remember the pretty paraphrase of it in 〃Love in Idleness〃？
〃Maidens with voices like honey for sweetness that breathe desire；
Would that I were a sea bird with wings that could never tire； Over the
foam…flowers flying； with halcyons ever on wing； Keeping a careless heart；
a sea…blue bird of the spring。〃
It does not quite give the sense Alcman intended； the lament for his
limbs weary with old agewith old age sadder for the sight of the honey…
voiced girls。
The Greeks had not the kind of society that is the home of 〃Society
Verses；〃 where； as Mr。 Locker says； 〃a boudoir decorum is； or ought
always to be； preserved； where sentiment never surges into passion； and
where humour never overflows into boisterous merriment。〃 Honest
women were estranged from their mirth and their melancholy。
The Romans were little more fortunate。 You cannot expect the genius
of Catullus not to 〃surge into passion；〃 even in his hours of gayer song；
composed when
Multum lusimus in meis tabellis； Ut convenerat esse delicatos；
Scribens versiculos uterque nostrum。
Thus the lighter pieces of Catullus； like the dedication of his book；
are addressed to men； his friends； and thus they scarcely come into the
category of what we call 〃Society Verses。〃 Given the character of
Roman society； perhaps we might say that plenty of this kind of verse was
written by Horace and by Martial。 The famous ode to Pyrrha does not
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exceed the decorum of a Roman boudoir； and； as far as love was
concerned； it does not seem to have been in the nature of Horace to 〃surge
into passion。〃 So his best songs in this kind are addressed to men； with
whom he drinks a little； and talks of politics and literature a great deal； and
muses over the shortness of life； and the zest that snow…clad Soracte gives
to the wintry fire。
Perhaps the ode to Leuconoe； which Mr。 Austin Dobson has rendered
so prettily in a villanelle； may come within the scope of this Muse； for it
has a playfulness mingled with its melancholy； a sadness in its play。
Perhaps； too； if Horace is to be done into verse； these old French forms
seem as fit vehicles as any for Latin poetry that was written in the exotic
measures of Greece。 There is a foreign grace and a little technical
difficulty overcome in the English ballade and villanelle； as in the
Horatian sapphics and alcaics。 I would not say so much； on my own
responsibility； nor trespass so far on the domain of scholarship； but this
opinion was communicated to me by a learned professor of Latin。 I think；
too； that some of the lyric measures of the old French Pleiad； of Ronsard
and Du Bellay； would be well wedded with the verse of Horace。 But
perhaps no translator will ever please any one but himself； and of Horace
every man must be his own translator。
It may be that Ovid now and then comes near to writing vers de
societe； only he never troubles himself for a moment about the 〃decorum
of the boudoir。〃 Do you remember the lines on the ring which he gave
his lady？ They are the origin and pattern of all the verses written by
lovers on that pretty metempsychosis which shall make them slippers； or
fans； or girdles； like Waller's； and like that which bound 〃the dainty； dainty
waist〃 of the Miller's Daughter。
〃Ring that shalt bind the finger fair Of my sweet maid； thou art not
rare； Thou hast not any price above The token of her poet's love； Her
finger may'st thou mate as she Is mated every wise with me！〃
And the poet goes on； as poets will； to wish he were this favoured；
this fortunate jewel：
〃In vain I wish！ So； ring； depart； And say 'with me thou hast his
heart'！〃
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Once more Ovid's verses on his catholic affection for all ladies； the
brown and the blonde； the short and the tall； may have suggested Cowley's
humorous confession； 〃The Chronicle〃：
〃Margarita first possessed； If I remember well； my breast； Margarita；
first of all；〃
and then follows a list as long as Leporello's。
What disqualifies Ovid as a writer of vers de societe is not so much his
lack of 〃decorum〃 as the monotonous singsong of his eternal elegiacs。
The lightest of light things； the poet of society； should possess more varied
strains； like Horace； Martial； Thackeray； not like Ovid and （here is a
heresy） Praed。 Inimitably well as Praed does his trick of antithesis； I still
feel that it is a trick； and that most rhymers could follow him in a mere
mechanic art。 But here the judgment of Mr。 Locker would be opposed to
this modest opinion； and there would be opposition again where Mr。
Locker calls Dr。 O。 W。 Holmes 〃perhaps the best living writer of this
species of verse。〃 But here we are straying among the moderns before
exhausting the ancients； of whom I fancy that Martial； at his best；
approaches most near the ideal。
Of course it is true that many of Martial's lyrics would be thought
disgusting in any well…regulated convict establishment。 His gallantry is
rarely 〃honourable。〃 Scaliger used to burn a copy of Martial； once a year；
on the altar of Catullus； who himself was far from prudish。 But Martial；
somehow； kept his heart undepraved； and his taste in books was excellent。
How often he writes verses for the bibliophile； delighting in the details of
purple and gold； the illustrations and ornaments for his new volume！
These pieces are for the fewfor amateurs； but we may all be touched by
his grief for the little lass； Erotion。 He commends her in Hades to his
own father and mother gone before him； that the child may not be
frightened in the dark； friendless among the shades
〃Parvula ne nigras horrescat Erotion umbras Oraque Tartarei
prodigiosa canis。〃
There is a kind of playfulness in the sorrow； and the pity of a man for
a child； pity that shows itself in a smile。 I try to render that
