世界上最动人的书信(常春藤英语书系)(全新中英文对照版)-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
我心爱的阿黛勒，这就是我昨夜此刻的心绪，今天还是这样。不同的是，今天的思想中掺进了幸福的信念——如此洪福，想到它，我幸福得颤抖，几乎不敢相信。
这么说，你是真的爱我了，阿黛勒？告诉我吧，我能相信这悦耳的福音吗？假如我能一辈子照顾你，又能使你像我一样幸福，并使自己得到像我爱你一般的你的爱，难道你不认为我会高兴得发狂吗？啊，你的信给我的幸福令我恢复了平静。一千次地感谢你，阿黛勒，我最心爱的天使，但愿我能像匍匐在神像前那样匍匐在你的脚下。你给了我多么大的幸福啊！再见，晚安，我将在梦中与你欢聚！
好好睡吧，让你的丈夫接受你答应他的十二个吻，还要加上你未曾答应的。
永远忠实于你的
维克多·雨果
1820年1月
Victor Hugo
To
Jan。 1820
My beloved Adele；
A few words from you have again changed the state of my mind。 Yes； you can do anything with me； and tomorrow； I should be dead indeed if the gentle sounds of your voice； the tender pressure of your adored lips； do not suffice to recall the life to my body。 With what different feeling to yesterday's I shall lay myself down tonight！ Yesterday； Adele； I no longer believe in your love； the hour of death would have been wele to me。。 最好的txt下载网
维克多·雨果致阿黛勒·福契（2）
And yet I still said to myself； if it is true that she does not love me； if nothing in me could deserve the blessing of her love； without which there is no longer any charm in life； is that a reason for dying？ Do I exist for my own personal happiness？ No； my whole existence is devoted to her； even in spite of her。 And by what right should I have dared to aspire to her love？ Am I then； more than an angel or a deity？ I love her； true； even shouldn't I am ready to sacrifice everything gladly for her sake—everything； even the hope of being loved by her； there is no devotedness of which I am not capable for her； for one of her smiles； for one of her looks。 But could I do otherwise？ Is she not the sole aim of my life？ That she may show indifference to me； even hate me； will be my misfortune； that is all。 What does it matter； so that it does not injure her happiness？ Yes； if she cannot love me I ought to blame myself only。 My duty is to keep close to her steps； to surround her existence with mine； to serve her as a barrier against all dangers； to offer her my head as a steppingstone； to place myself unceasingly between her and all sorrows； without claiming reward； without expecting repense。 Only too happy if she deigns some times to cast a pitying look upon her slave； and to remember him in the hour of danger！ Alas！ If she only allow me to give my life to anticipate her every desire； all her caprices； if she but permit me to kiss with respect her adored footprints； if she but consent to lean upon me at times amidst the difficulties of life； then I shall have obtained the only happiness to which I have the presumption to aspire。 Because I am ready to sacrifice all for her； does she owe me gratitude？ Is it her fault that I love her？ Must she； on that account； believe herself constrained to love me？ No！ She may sport with my devotions； repay my services with hate； and repulse my idolatry with scorn； without my having for a moment the right to plain of that angel； nor ought I to cease for an instant to lavish upon her all that which she would disdain。 And should every one of my days have been marked by some sacrifice for her； I should still； at the day of my death have discharged nothing of the infinite debt that my existence owes to her。
Such； my beloved Adele； were the thoughts and resolutions of my mind at this time yesterday。 Today they are still the same。 Only there is mingled with them the certainty of happiness—such great happiness that I cannot think of it without trembling； and scarcely dare to believe in it。
Then it is true that you love me； Adele？ Tell me； can I trust in this enchanting idea？ Don't you think that I shall end by being insane with joy if ever I can pass the whole of my life at your feet； sure of making you as happy as I shall be myself； sure of being adored by you as you are adored by me？ Oh！ Your letter has restored peace to me with happiness。 A thousand thanks； Adele； my well beloved angel。 Would that I could prostrate myself before you as before a divinity。 How happy you make me！ Adieu； adieu； I shall pass a very happy night dreaming of you。
Sleep well； and allow your husband to take the twelve kisses which you promised him besides all those yet unpromises。
Yours affectionately；
罗伯特·彭斯致埃莉森·贝格比
罗伯特·彭斯（1759—1796），苏格兰诗人，生于贫苦的农民家庭，母亲是民族歌手。他自幼受家庭熏陶，热爱苏格兰民族及其古老的传说。他搜集、整理了苏格兰民歌，并用苏格兰方言写成两个集子，共收录自己创作的民歌268首。其中最著名的《往昔的时光》、《穿过黑麦地》等，均是英语诗歌的瑰宝，至今仍在英语国家和一些非英语国家传诵。
亲爱的埃莉森：
我常常想，陷入爱情的人虽然情深意切，却不知怎样用行动来表达爱意。这是情场上才有的尴尬局面。而在其他一些情况下，讲真话不仅是明智之举，而且肯定最能解决麻烦。
我认为，一个普通人，如果存心要做亏心事，也不难口是心非地谈论爱情和仰慕，也不难假惺惺地海誓山盟。但对于一个诚实的男人来说，爱上了一位聪慧秀丽、单纯可爱的女子，求爱绝不是一件容易的事，现在我就有这种感觉。不论是与您相处或坐下来给您写信，总是很担心，前思后想，不知道怎么说，怎么写。
我向来遵循一条诚实的准则，对您也是一样。说实话，耍弄虚伪和欺骗的伎俩是非常卑劣和怯懦的表现，但居然有人将这种手段用在纯洁的爱情这种高尚无私的感情上，实在让人惊讶。不，我亲爱的埃，我永远不会用这种低劣的手段博得您的欢心。如果您能慷慨地答应与我终生为伴，成为朋友或知音，这世上再无其他什么东西更能使我狂喜，但我永远不会想到用一个男子汉不屑一顾的——补充一句——基督徒的手腕向您求婚。
亲爱的，我只求您一件事：要么干脆利落地拒绝，让我彻底失望；要么慨然答应，免得我惶恐不安。
如果您方便亲赐只言片语，我将万分感激。我只想再补充一句，我所做的一切均出自对您的爱慕和尊重，并全身心地愿您更幸福，而且，这颗装满荣誉感和美感的心支配着我（也许没有完全支配）——如果这些是您期望一个朋友和丈夫所具有的品质，我想您会永远在您忠实的朋友和真挚的爱慕者身上找到。
罗伯特·彭斯
1785年3月3日
Robert Burns
To
； 1785
Dear Ellison；
I have often thought it a peculiarly unlucky circumstance in love； that though in every other situation in life telling the truth is not only the safest； but actually by far the easiest way of proceeding； a lover is never under greater difficulty in acting； nor ever more puzzled for expression than when his passion is sincere and his intentions honorable。
I do not think that it is very difficult for a person of ordinary capacity to talk of love and fondness which are not felt； and to make vows of constancy and fidelity which are never intended to be performed； if he be villain enough to practice such detestable conduct； but to a man whose heart glows with the principles of integrity and truth； and who sincerely loves a woman of amiable person； unmon refinement of sentiment； and purity of manners； from my own feelings at this present moment； courtship is a task indeed。 There is such a number of foreboding fears and distrustful anxieties crowd into my mind when I am in your pany； or when I sit down to write to you； that what to speak or what to write I am altogether at a loss。
There is one rule which I have hitherto practised and which I shall invariably keep with you and that is； honestly to tell you the plain truth。 There is something so mean and unmanly in the arts of dissimulation and falsehood that I am surprised they can be acted by any one in so noble； so generous a passion as virtuous love。 No； my dear E。； I shall never endeavour to gain your favor by such detestable practices。 If you will be so good and so generous as to admit me for your partner； your panion； your bosom friend through life； there is nothing on this side of eternity shall give me greater transport； but I shall never think of purchasing your hand by any arts unworthy of a man—and； I will add—of a Christian。
There is one thing； my dear； which I earnestly request of you and it is this； that you should soon either put an end to my hopes by a peremptory refusal or cure me of my fears by a generous consent。
It would oblige me much if you would send me a line or two when convenient。 I shall only add further that if a beha
