over the teacups-第59节
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man speaketh unto his friend。〃
I find the burden and restrictions of rhyme more and more troublesome
as I grow older。 There are times when it seems natural enough to
employ that form of expression； but it is only occasionally； and the
use of it as the vehicle of the commonplace is so prevalent that one
is not much tempted to select it as the medium for his thoughts and
emotions。 The art of rhyming has almost become a part of a high…
school education； and its practice is far from being an evidence of
intellectual distinction。 Mediocrity is as much forbidden to the
poet in our days as it was in those of Horace； and the immense
majority of the verses written are stamped with hopeless mediocrity。
When one of the ancient poets found he was trying to grind out verses
which came unwillingly； he said he was writing
INVITA MINERVA。
Vex not the Muse with idle prayers；
She will not hear thy call；
She steals upon thee unawares；
Or seeks thee not at all。
Soft as the moonbeams when they sought
Endymion's fragrant bower；
She parts the whispering leaves of thought
To show her full…blown flower。
For thee her wooing hour has passed；
The singing birds have flown；
And winter comes with icy blast
To chill thy buds unblown。
Yet； though the woods no longer thrill
As once their arches rung；
Sweet echoes hover round thee still
Of songs thy summer sung。
Live in thy past； await no more
The rush of heaven…sent wings；
Earth still has music left in store
While Memory sighs and sings。
I hope my special Minerva may not always be unwilling； but she must
not be called upon as she has been in times past。 Now that the
teacups have left the table； an occasional evening call is all that
my readers must look for。 Thanking them for their kind
companionship； and hoping that I may yet meet them in the now and
then in the future； I bid them goodbye for the immediate present。
End
