To Mrs. Macmarland

IN Schnee der Alpen — so it runs

To those divine accords — and here

We dwell in Alpine¹ snows and suns,

A motley crew, for half the year:

A motley crew, we dwell to taste —

A shivering band in hope and fear —

That sun upon the snowy waste,

That Alpine ether cold and clear.

Up from the laboured plains, and up

From low sea-levels, we arise

To drink of that diviner cup

The rarer air, the clearer skies;

For, as the great, old, godly King

From mankind’s turbid² valley cries,

So all we mountain-lovers sing:

I to the hills will lift mine eyes.

The bells that ring, the peaks that climb,

The frozen snow’s unbroken curd³

Might yet revindicate in rhyme

The pauseless stream, the absent bird.

In vain — for to the deeps of life

You, lady, you my heart have stirred;

And since you say you love my life,

Be sure I love you for the word.

Of kindness, here I nothing say —

Such loveless kindnesses there are

In that grimacing⁴, common way,

That old, unhonoured social war.

Love but my dog and love my love,

Adore with me a common star —

I value not the rest above

The ashes of a bad cigar.

1 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

2 turbid   

adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的

参考例句：

• He found himself content to watch idly the sluggish flow of the turbid stream.他心安理得地懒洋洋地望着混浊的河水缓缓流着。
• The lake's water is turbid.这个湖里的水混浊。

3 curd   

n.凝乳；凝乳状物

参考例句：

• I'd like to add some pepper to the bean curd.我想在豆腐里加一点辣椒粉。
• The next one is bean curd with crab roe.下一个是蟹黄豆腐。

4 grimacing   

v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• But then Boozer drove past Gasol for a rattling, grimacing slam dunk. 可布泽尔单吃家嫂，以一记强有力的扣篮将比分超出。 来自互联网
• The martyrdom of Archbishop Cranmer, said the don at last, grimacing with embarrassment. 最后那位老师尴尬地做个鬼脸，说，这是大主教克莱默的殉道士。 来自互联网