was utterly baffling to twenty-eight of the thirty-four. One of them spoke of it as an "allusion to the uncertainty of the length of life." Another thought it was a reference to "the occasion of Jonah's being preserved by the whale." Another counted it "an allusion to the emesis of Jonah by the whale." Another considered it a reference to "the swallowing of Jonah by a whale," and yet another considered that it referred to "things grand, but not worthy of worship because they are perishable." It is amazing to read that in response to Tennyson's lines,英文原著 · 《A Study of Bible》
I shall for ever consider it as the greatest honour which could be conferred on any one to have been the confidential friend of Dr. Johnson's health, and to have in some measure, with Mr. Thrale's assistance, saved from distress at least, if not worse, a mind great beyond the comprehension of common mortals, and good beyond all hope of imitation from perishable beings.英文原著 · 《Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson》
I dread your perishable gold:
Come near me now; the years are few. Alas, when you and I are old
I shall not want to look at you:英文原著 · 《Forty-Two Poems》
John came in again to me, and sat down. He did not speak for many minutes. After an interval--I know not how long--we heard Mrs. Tod calling loudly for "Mr. Halifax." We both ran through the empty kitchen to the foot of the stairs that led to Mr. March's room. March's room! Alas, he owned nothing now on this fleeting, perishable earth of ours.英文原著 · 《John Halifax》
I have cut your articles about San Marco out of a New York paper (Joe Twichell saw it and brought it home to me with loud admiration,) and sent it to Howells. It is too bad to fool away such good literature in a perishable daily journal.英文原著 · 《Letters Vol. 2》