Slight unpremeditated Words are borne

By every common Wind into the Air;

Carelessly utter’d, die as soon as born,

And in one instant give both Hope and Fear:

Breathing all Contraries with the same Wind

According to the Caprice of the Mind.

But Billetdoux are constant Witnesses,

Substantial Records to Eternity;

Just Evidences, who the Truth confess,

On which the Lover safely may rely;

They’re serious Thoughts, digested and resolv’d;

And last, when Words are into Clouds devolv’d.

不加思索的輕率話語，

被每一次平凡的呼吸載入空氣;

隨便說說，剛出口即消失，

一瞬間給人希望和恐懼：

同一氣息呼出萬般矛盾心腸，

追隨心靈無常的遐想。

但情書則是恒常的見證，

直至永恒的實體記錄;

公道的證物，它道出真誠，

戀人能在其上安心依附;

它們是嚴肅的思想，經過深思熟慮;

當話語在云外消失，它們還將延續。