If curse could be the verse that tends to make one worthy man my foe, how well it should flow so ever.
可見這首詩用的是虛擬語氣,其語法結構如下:
〔條件狀語〕 If curse could be the verse that … (倘若咒罵也能成為 … 詩)
〔定語從句〕that tends to make one worthy man my foe (有意把壹個受尊敬的人變成我之仇敵的詩)
〔主句〕how well it should flow so ever 它怎麽會被人這麽長時地口口相傳呢?
下面按詩歌的韻律變通翻譯:
〔五言詩〕
詛咒本非詩
貴人竟成仇
假若無道理
何以世上流。
〔現代詩〕
誰說咒語成詩無人顧
縱然貴人入詩被人咒