The poem reflects a plea for the Muse to sing with clarity and truth or to remain silent. It contrasts the melancholic voice of Jaques, a character from Shakespeare's "As You Like It," with the vibrant, youthful energy of a boy capturing a linnet. The speaker desires a natural, genuine verse, akin to the boy's lively spirit, rather than a sorrowful echo. The poem emphasizes the importance of authenticity in artistic expression, urging the Muse to either deliver a true, lively song or cease altogether.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1885 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Pastoral