De Ligurra

YOU fear, Ligurra — above all, you long —

That I should smite¹ you with a stinging song.

This dreadful honour you both fear and hope —

Both all in vain: you fall below my scope.

The Lybian lion tears the roaring bull,

He does not harm the midge along the pool.

Lo! if so close this stands in your regard,

From some blind tap fish forth² a drunken barn,

Who shall with charcoal³, on the privy⁴ wall,

Immortalise your name for once and all.

1 smite   

v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿

参考例句：

• The wise know how to teach,the fool how to smite.智者知道如何教导，愚者知道怎样破坏。
• God will smite our enemies.上帝将击溃我们的敌人。

2 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

3 charcoal   

n.炭，木炭，生物炭

参考例句：

• We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

4 privy   

adj.私用的；隐密的

参考例句：

• Only three people,including a policeman,will be privy to the facts.只会允许3个人，其中包括一名警察，了解这些内情。
• Very few of them were privy to the details of the conspiracy.他们中很少有人知道这一阴谋的详情。