GOING INTO BREECHES XVI

 

Joy to Philip! he this day

Has his long coats cast away,

And (the childish season gone)

Put the manly¹ breeches on.

Officer on gay parade,

Red-coat in his first cockade,

Bridegroom in his wedding trim,

Birthday beau surpassing him,

Never did with conscious gait

Strut² about in half the state

Or the pride (yet free from sin)

Of my little Manikin:

Never was there pride or bliss³

Half so rational as his.

Sashes, frocks, to those that need ’em,

Philip’s limbs have got their freedom—

He can run, or he can ride,

And do twenty things beside,

Which his petticoats forbad;

Is he not a happy lad?

Now he’s under other banners

He must leave his former manners;

Bid adieu to female games

And forget their very names;

Puss-in-corners, hide-and-seek,

Sports for girls and punies weak!

Baste-the-bear he now may play at,

Leap-frog, football sport away at;

Show his skill and strength at cricket,

Mark his distance, pitch his wicket;

Run about in winter’s snow

Till his cheeks and fingers glow;

Climb a tree or scale a wall

Without any fear to fall.

If he get a hurt or bruise⁴,

To complain he must refuse,

Though the anguish⁵ and the smart

Go unto his little heart;

He must have his courage ready,

Keep his voice and visage steady;

Brace⁶ his eyeballs stiff as drum,

That a tear may never come;

And his grief must only speak

From the colour in his cheek.

60

This and more he must endure,

Hero he in miniature.

This and more must now be done,

Now the breeches are put on.

 

1 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

2 strut   

v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆

参考例句：

• The circulation economy development needs the green science and technology innovation as the strut.循环经济的发展需要绿色科技创新生态化作为支撑。
• Now we'll strut arm and arm.这会儿咱们可以手挽着手儿，高视阔步地走了。

3 bliss   

n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福

参考例句：

• It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。
• He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴，因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。

4 bruise   

n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤

参考例句：

• The bruise was caused by a kick.这伤痕是脚踢的。
• Jack fell down yesterday and got a big bruise on his face.杰克昨天摔了一跤，脸上摔出老大一块淤斑。

5 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

6 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。