WRITTEN IN THE FIRST LEAF OF A CHILD’S MEMORANDUM BOOK 30

My neat and pretty book, when I thy small lines see,

They seem for any use to be unfit for me:

My writing, all misshaped, uneven¹ as my mind,

Within this narrow space can hardly be confined.

Yet I will strive to make my hand less awkward look;

I would not willingly disgrace thee, my neat book!

The finest pens I’ll use, and wondrous² pains I’ll take,

And I these perfect lines my monitors will make.

And every day I will set down in order due

How that day wasted is; and should there be a few

At the year’s end that show more goodly to the sight,

If haply here I find some days not wasted quite,

If a small portion of them I have pass’d aright,

Then shall I think the year not wholly was misspent,

And that my Diary has been by some good angel sent.

1 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

2 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。