Dedicatory Poem for “Underwoods”

TO her, for I must still regard her

As feminine in her degree,

Who has been my unkind bombarder

Year after year, in grief and glee,

Year after year, with oaken tree;

And yet betweenwhiles my laudator

In terms astonishing to me —

To the Right Reverend The Spectator

I here, a humble¹ dedicator,

Bring the last apples from my tree.

In tones of love, in tones of warning,

She hailed me through my brief career;

And kiss and buffet², night and morning,

Told me my grandmamma was near;

Whether she praised me high and clear

Through her unrivalled circulation,

Or, sanctimonious³ insincere,

She damned me with a misquotation —

A chequered but a sweet relation,

Say, was it not, my granny dear?

Believe me, granny, altogether

Yours, though perhaps to your surprise.

Oft have you spruced my wounded feather,

Oft brought a light into my eyes —

For notice still the writer cries.

In any civil age or nation,

The book that is not talked of dies.

So that shall be my termination:

Whether in praise or execration⁴,

Still, if you love me, criticise⁵!

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？

3 sanctimonious   

adj.假装神圣的，假装虔诚的，假装诚实的

参考例句：

• It's that sanctimonious air that people can't stand.人们所不能容忍的就是那副假正经的样子。
• You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout.您不必如此伪善。

4 execration   

n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶

参考例句：

• The sense of wrongs, the injustices, the oppression, extortion, and pillage of twenty years suddenly and found voice in a raucous howl of execration. 二十年来所深受的损害、压迫、勒索、掠夺和不公平的对待，一下子达到了最高峰，在一阵粗声粗气的谩骂叫嚣里发泄出来。 来自辞典例句

5 criticise   

v.批评，评论；非难

参考例句：

• Right and left have much cause to criticise government.左翼和右翼有很多理由批评政府。
• It is not your place to criticise or suggest improvements!提出批评或给予改进建议并不是你的责任！