第1章 那些诗意盎然的情愫

缘分不是人海中两个人的擦身，缘分是不可能的相遇。比如我是空中的鸟，你是林海的豹，只是我们碰巧相爱。

Love is not about running into each other in crowds. Love is an impossible meeting. For example, I am a bird flying in sky, you are a leopard in forest. We just fall in love accidentally.

Every man is a poet when he is in love.

每个恋爱中的人都是诗人。

John Keats to Fanny Brawne

约翰·济慈致芬妮·勃劳恩

Sweetest Fanny,

I have had a walk this morning with a book in my hand, but as usual I have been occupied with nothing but you: I wish I could say in an agreeable manner. I am tormented day and night. They talk of my going to Italy. It's certain I shall never recover if I am to be so long separate from you: yet with all this devotion to you I cannot persuade myself into any confidence of you…

You are to me an object intensely desirable—the air I breathe in a room empty of you in unhealthy. I am not the same to you—no—you can wait—you have a thousand activities—you can be happy without me. Any party, anything to fill up the day has been enough.

How have you passed this month? Who have you smiled with? All this may seem savage in me. You do no feel as I do—you do not know what it is to love—one day you may—your time is not come…

I cannot live without you, and not only you but chaste you; virtuous you. The Sun rises and sets, the day passes, and you follow the bent of your inclination to a certain extent—you have no conception of the quantity of miserable feeling that passes through me in a day—Be serious! Love is not a plaything—and again do not write unless you can do it with a crystal conscience. I would sooner die for want of you than—

Yours forever

J. Keats

【名人小课堂】

约翰·济慈（John Keats，1795—1821），英国诗人，浪漫派主要成员，被推崇为欧洲浪漫主义运动的杰出代表，与雪莱、拜伦齐名。自幼喜爱文学，由于家境窘困，不满16岁就离校学医，后弃医从文，最终成为当时英国文学界的一颗明珠。代表作《伊莎贝拉》《夜莺颂》《秋颂》等。

致我最亲爱的女孩：

今早，我手捧书本独自漫步，但一如往常的是，我心中一直想着你，而且只有你：我多希望自己能说得合情合理。我日夜不得安宁。他们在谈论我去意大利的事。若要与你分开这么久，我定永远不得康复：即便我用尽全身力气来爱你，可我依然无法向你表达我的真实情感……

你之于我，是如此渴望得到的东西——你若不在，屋子里的空气都变得污浊。可我之于你，却并非如此——不——你可以等——你有成千上万种娱乐方式——没有我，你依然过得快乐。任何聚会，只要能让你消磨时光便已足够。

这个月，你是怎样度过的呢？谁曾博你一笑呢？这一切对我，都如此残忍。你定不能感受我所感受到的东西——你不懂什么是去爱——可总有一天，你会明白——那一天尚未到来……

我离不开你，纯洁的你，善良的你。日出日落，岁月匆匆，你放浪形骸，随心所欲——我每日所受之苦，你无从得知——认真点吧！爱情可不是儿戏——我依然要说，若你并非心明如镜，就不要回信。我宁愿因为没有你而死去，也不愿——

你永远的

约翰·济慈

【约翰·济慈——】

Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all we know on earth, and all we need to know.

美就是真，真就是美，这是人生在世所知道的一切，也是需要知道的一切。

Robert Burns to Ellison Begbie

罗伯特·彭斯致埃莉森·贝格比

Mar.3, 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, uncommon 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 company, 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 practiced 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 endeavor 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 companion, 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 behavior regulated (though perhaps but very imperfectly) by the rules of honor and virtue of a heart devoted to love and esteem you, and an earnest endeavor to promote your happiness—if these are qualities you would wish in a friend, in a husband, I hope you shall ever find them in your real friend and sincere lover.

【名人小课堂】

罗伯特·彭斯（Robert Burns，1759—1796），苏格兰农民诗人，复兴了苏格兰民歌，并将其发展壮大；他的诗歌充满了激进的民主、自由的思想，在英国文学史上占有特殊重要的地位。代表作《两只狗》《一枝红红的玫瑰》《友谊天长地久》等。

亲爱的埃莉森：

我总是在想，尽管在生活的其他方面，实话实说是唯一可靠的办法，其实也是到目前为止最容易的方法，但在爱情里它却尤为不幸，你的爱人若在你面前演戏，简直易如反掌，更别说他那不轨的意图表面还披着一层看似善良的外衣。

我不认为让平庸之人虚情假意地谈论爱情和喜欢是件难事，要让他对你许下天长地久、忠贞不渝的空头诺言也不算难，只要他就是如此这般的混蛋；可是，对一个诚挚的男人来说，若是他爱上了一名温和的女子，一个多愁善感、行为端庄的女子，那么，此刻，追求她绝不是件容易的事。每当和你在一起，我的内心便充满了无数未知的恐惧和忧愁，每当我坐下来给你写信，我的脑海就全然的糊涂，不知该对你说些什么、写些什么。

我一直坚持着一个原则，并且要让它在你身上实现，那就是要对你坦诚相待。虚伪和谎言的手段太过卑鄙无耻，我竟没想到这些会被用在高尚而仁厚的贞洁爱情之中。不，我亲爱的埃莉森，我绝不会以如此可恶的方式博取你的爱意。若你大发慈悲接受了我，让我陪伴你，让我成为你一生的红颜知己，那么，此般永恒，将是我至上的狂喜，只是，我从未想过以小人之道赢得你的芳心——更何况，我还是一名高尚的基督徒。

只是有一点，亲爱的，我真心地请求你，要么断然拒绝我，结束我的希望；要么慨然接受我，抚平我的忧虑。

若你能在闲时回我以三言两语，我定感激不尽。我只想再补充一点，我带着美德和敬意来爱你，尊重你，而我的行为也受这充满美德和荣誉感的品德支配（也许没有完全支配）——如果这些都是你对朋友、丈夫所寄望的，那么，我希望总有一天，你会在你的朋友和忠实爱人身上找到这些优点。

1785年3月3日

【罗伯特·彭斯——】

But to see her was to love her, love but her, and love her forever.

谁见她就会爱她，谁爱她就会永远爱她。

Herinrich Heine to Camille Selden

海因里希·海涅致卡蜜尔·塞尔登

Feb.2, 1849

Dear Camille,

Sweetest of fine mouches!—or, leaving the emblem of your seal, is it the perfume of your letter that I should call you? In that case must I say “Dearest of musk-scented cats”? —I received your note the day before yesterday; its little, ‘fly-tracks’ run constantly in my head, perhaps also even in my heart, my most hearty thanks for all the affection that you show me. I, too, rejoice in the thought of seeing you so soon again, and of making a “living print” upon those sweet and Swabian features. Ah, that phrase would have less platonic meaning were I only still a man. But I am nothing more than a spirit, that may suit you, but me it only suits after a mediocre fashion…Yes, I rejoice in the thought of seeing you again, fine mouches of my soul! Most fascinating of musk cats! But at the same time as mild as an Angora cat, a species which I prefer. For a long time I loved tiger-cats, but they are too dangerous, and the “living prints” which they sometimes left upon my face, were unpleasing. Thing are going very badly with me, nothing but a succession of vexations and fits of rage. Fury against my condition which is desperate! Goodbye. May the waters strengthen you and do you good.

Most affectionate greetings

From your friend, Heine

【名人小课堂】

海因里希·海涅（Heinrich Heine，1797—1856），德国著名抒情诗人、思想家。童年和少年时期经历了拿破仑战争，受到法国资产阶级革命思想的影响。其作品将诗歌和哲学完美地统一起来，避免了哲学的沉重，实属罕见。代表作《你像一朵鲜花》《孤独立着的一棵苍松》《诗歌集》《我在梦中哭泣》等。

亲爱的卡蜜儿：

我最亲爱的小精灵！——且不说你信封上那耐人寻味的图案，就连你的信都这么芳香醉人，我可以凭此叫你吗？那我就得唤你“最亲爱的小香猫”咯？——我前天收到你的信；信中那小小的“飞蛾行迹”不断地在我脑海中乱蹿，也许还在我心里折腾，你字里行间渗透的爱意，让我不胜感激。一想到很快就会见到你，一想到我会在那斯瓦比亚式的甜美脸庞留下“鲜活的印记”，便不由得喜上心来。啊哈，我这样表达似乎柏拉图式的意味不够浓厚，可我仍只是一个男人啊。我只不过是这样一个人，柏拉图式的表达也许与你相契，可我只适合中庸风格……是的，一想到就要再见你，我便喜上心来，我灵魂中的小妖！最迷人的香猫儿！可你又和安哥拉小猫一样温顺，那是我所喜欢的品种。很长一段时间，我都喜欢豹猫，可是它们太过危险，它们时而在我脸上留下“鲜活的印记”，让我难堪极了。近来诸事都不顺利，遭遇了一连串的烦恼与愤怒。那绝望的境遇让我焦躁不安！再见吧！愿海水滋润你、守护你。

你的朋友：海涅

向你致以最亲切的问候

1849年2月2日

Byron to Teresa Guiccioli

拜伦致特丽萨·圭契奥尼

Bologna, Aug.25, 1819

My Dearest Teresa—I have read this book in your garden. My love, you were absent, or else I could not have read it. It is a favorite book of yours, and the writer was a friend of mine. You will not understand these English words, and others will not understand them, which is the reason I have not scrawled them in Italian. But you will recognize the handwriting of him who passionately loved you, and you will divine that, over a book which was yours, he could only think of love. In that word, beautiful in all languages, but most so in yours—Amor Mio—is comprised my existence here and hereafter. I feel I exist here, and I fear that I shall exist hereafter—to what purpose you will decide; my destiny rests with you, and you are a woman, seventeen years of age, and two out of a convent. I wish that you had stayed there, with all my heart—at least that I had never met you in your married state. But all this I too late. I love you, and you love me—at least you say so, and act as if you did so, which last is a great consolation in all events. But I more than love you, and cannot cease to love you. Think of me sometimes when the Alps and the ocean divide us—but they never will, unless you wish it.

【名人小课堂】

乔治·戈登·拜伦（George Gordon Byron，1788—1824），英国19世纪初期浪漫主义派的一颗金星。世袭男爵，人称“拜伦勋爵”。代表作有《恰尔德·哈罗德游记》《唐璜》等，他的诗歌里塑造出了一批“拜伦式英雄”。拜伦还曾积极投身革命，参加了希腊民族解放运动，并成为领导人之一。

我最亲爱的特丽萨——我在你的花园里读过了这本书。我的爱人，若非你不在，我也不会读它。它是你最喜欢的书之一，而它的作者恰好是我的一位朋友。你也许看不懂这些英文单词，那么，其他人自然也看不懂，所以我才没有把它们写成潦草的意大利文。可是，你能从这个爱你至切之人的字迹推测，拿着你的书，他能想到的只有爱。爱，在所有语言中都是美丽的，而在你的语言里，却是最美——Amor Mio（译者注：意大利语，意为我的爱）——此生不灭——任你差遣；我的命运系于你手，你只是一个十七岁的女子，刚离开修道院两年。我却希望你仍然待在那里，真心地希望——那样一来，至少，我就不会在你结婚后才遇到你。可是，这一切都太迟了。我爱你，你也爱我——至少你是这样说的，而你的行为也表现出这一点，这给了我莫大的安慰。可是，我爱你若狂，无法停止。请偶尔想起我，在阿尔卑斯山和大海将我们阻隔的时候——可它们阻隔不了，除非你希望如此。

1819年8月25日

写于波洛尼亚

【拜伦——】

Friendship is love without his wings.

友谊是失了羽翼的爱。

Kahlil Gibran to Mary Haskell

卡里·纪伯伦致玛丽·哈萨克尔

July 8, 1914

You have the great gift of understanding, beloved Mary. You are a life-giver, Mary. You are like the Great spirit, who befriends man not only to share his life, but to add to it. My knowing you is the greatest thing in my days and nights, a miracle quiet outside the natural order of things.

I have always held, with my Madman, that those who understand us enslave something in us. Your understanding of me is the most peaceful freedom I have known. And in the last two hours of your last visit you took my heart in you hand and found a black spot in it. But just as soon as you found the spot it was erased forever, and I became absolutely chainless.

And now you are a hermit in a mountain. To me nothing seems more delightful than to be a hermit in a place “full of beautiful hidden places”. But please, beloved, do not take any risks. Being a hermit once will not satisfy you hungry soul, and you must keep well and strong in order to be a hermit again.

The laurel-leaves and balm-leaves are filling this place with the most enchanting fragrance. God bless you for sending them to me.

Love from Kahlil

【名人小课堂】

卡里·纪伯伦（Kahlil Gibran，1883—1931），黎巴嫩阿拉伯诗人、作家、画家，阿拉伯现代小说、艺术和散文的主要奠基人，被称为“艺术天才”“黎巴嫩文坛骄子”。其作品蕴含了丰富的社会性和东方精神，代表作有《我的心灵告诫我》《先知》《论友谊》等。

你可真是善解人意，我亲爱的玛丽。你是生命的源泉。你像伟大的精灵，帮助人们，却不让他们以生命作为回报，反而让他们延年益寿。我日夜所知，你都是最伟大的生灵，一个超然物外的奇迹。

我总认为那些了解我们的人都盘踞在我们体内的某个地方。你对我的理解却是我所知道的最安心的自由。上次来访的最后两个小时，你带走了我的心，将它握在手里，你看到一处污点。可就在你发现它的那一刻，污点就永远消散了，而我也如同被拯救，从此无拘无束。

现在你好似山间的隐士。对于我来说，最惬意的事莫过于归隐在“美丽的隐秘之园”。可是，亲爱的，请不要冒险。做一回隐士并不能满足你的渴望，可你需要留足力气才能再一次归隐。

我的周围弥漫着月桂和白壳杨枝叶散发的醉人芳香。愿上帝保佑你，谢谢你将它们赠予我。

爱你的卡里

1914年7月8日

【卡里·纪伯伦——】

Mayhap a funeral among men is a wedding feast among the angels.

也许人间的葬礼正是天界的婚礼。

Oscar Wilde to Constance Lloyd

奥斯卡·王尔德致康斯坦斯·劳埃德

December 16, 1884

Dear and beloved, here am I and you at the Antipodes. O execrable facts, that keep our lips from kissing, though our souls are one. What can I tell you by letter? Alas! Nothing that I would tell you. The message of the gods to each other travel mot by pen and ink and indeed your bodily presence here would not make you more real: for I feel your fingers in my hair, and your cheek brushing mine. The air is full of the music of your voice, my soul and body seem no longer mine, but mingled in some exquisite ecstasy with yours. I feel incomplete without you.

Ever and ever yours

Oscar

【名人小课堂】

奥斯卡·王尔德（Oscar Wilde，1854—1900），19世纪剧作家、诗人、散文家，英国唯美主义运动的倡导者，与萧伯纳齐名为英国才子。他一生写成了9篇童话，每一篇都优秀卓绝，可与安徒生和格林童话论美。代表作《巨人的花园》《快乐王子》《夜莺与玫瑰》等。

我最亲爱的爱人，我在这儿，而你却在地球的另一端。哦，那可恶的现实，让我们虽然灵魂合为一体，却无法相拥而吻。我能对你写些什么呢？唉！什么都不能对你说。书信并不能传递神的音信，事实上，你的肉体出现在这儿才让你变得最为真实：因为我感觉你的手指穿过我的头发，你的脸颊轻触我的脸颊。你声如乐，充满整个空气，我感到灵魂与躯体已不再属于自己，而是心迷神醉地与你的交融。没有你的日子，我感觉自己不再完整。

你永远的

奥斯卡

1884年12月16日

【奥斯卡·王尔德——】

In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.

世界只有两种悲剧：一种是没有得到自己想要的东西，另一种是得到了。

Emily Dickinson to Master

艾米莉·迪金森致马斯特

Dear Master,

I am ill, but grieving more that you are ill, I make my stronger hand work long enough to tell you. I thought perhaps you were in Heaven, and when you spoke again, it seemed quite sweet, and wonderful, and surprised me so—I wish that you were well.

I would that all I love, should be weak no more. The Violets are by my side, the Robin very near, and “Spring”—they say, Who is she—going by the door.

Indeed it is God's house—and these are gates of Heaven, and to and fro, the angels go, with their sweet postillions—I wish that I were great, like Mr. Michael- Angelo, and could paint for you. You ask me what my flowers said—then they were disobedient—I gave them messages. They said what the lips in the West say, when the sun goes down, and so says the Dawn.

Listen again, Master. I did not tell you that today had been the Sabbath Day.

Each Sabbath on the Sea, makes me count the Sabbaths, till we meet on Shore—and (will the) whether the hills will look as blue as the sailors say. I cannot talk any more (say any longer) tonight (now), for this pain denies me.

【名人小课堂】

艾米莉·伊丽莎白·迪金森（Emily Elizabeth Dickinson，1830—1886），美国传奇诗人，与同时代的惠特曼一同被奉为美国最伟大的诗人。有生之年作品未得到认可，死后近70年才得到文学界关注，后被现代派诗人追奉为先驱。代表作《我一直在爱》《这是鸟儿们回来的日子》《狂野的夜》等。

亲爱的马斯特：

我病了，但你生病的消息让我更加痛苦，我的手有了点力气，于是用尽全力给你写信。我想你大概在天堂吧，假如你还会给我写信，那该有多么甜蜜，多么美妙，多么惊喜——所以，我希望你安然无恙。

我愿我所爱之人从此坚强，不再虚弱。紫罗兰在我身旁绽放，知更鸟也紧紧相随，然后“春天”——它们说是她——从门前走过。

事实上，那是上帝的家——而那些就是通往天堂的大门，天使们骑着马儿进进出出——我希望自己是一名大师，如同米开朗琪罗，那样就可以为你画出这一切。你问，我的花儿们都说了些什么——它们可真不乖——我可是让它们捎了信儿。它们所说，便是自然之语，花开花谢，日出日落。

继续听我说，马斯特。我可没说今天就是安息日。

每一个安息日，当你于海面漂浮之时，我都在度日如年，直到我们于岸上相逢——远处的山峰（会不会）是否如水手们说的那么青翠。今晚（此刻），我不能再写（不能多说），疼痛让我无法动笔。

【艾米莉·迪金森——】

Hope is the thing with feather that perches in the soul.

希望是栖息于灵魂中的一种会飞翔的东西。

Goethe to Bettina Brentano

歌德致贝婷·布伦塔诺

Darling,

What can one say and give to you, which is not already is a more beautiful way become your own? One must be silent and give you your way. When an opportunity offers to beg something of you, then one may for his thanks for the much which has unexpectedly been given through the riches of your love, flow in the same stream. That you cherish my mother, I would faint with my whole heart requite you: from yonder a sharp breeze upon me, and now that I know that you are with her, I fell safe and warm.

I do not say to you “come,” I will not have the little bird disturbed from its nest: but the accident would not be unwelcome to me, which should make use of storm and tempest to bring is safely beneath my roof. At any rate, Dearest Bettina, remember that you are on the road to spoil me.

Goethe

【名人小课堂】

约翰·沃尔夫冈·歌德（Johann Wolfgang von Goethe，1749—1832），最伟大的德国作家之一，科学家、文艺理论家和政治人物，魏玛的古典主义最著名的代表人物。其作品包括戏剧、诗歌和散文，代表作《少年维特之烦恼》《普罗米修斯》《浮士德》等。

亲爱的：

还能对你说什么呢？又能给你什么呢？无论说什么，无论做什么，也都及不上你完美的付出。我只能默默不言，任你一味给予。若是要我向你请求，请让我的感激之情伴随你充沛的爱之激流一同向前。你悉心照料我的母亲，我会用真心致以报答；远处吹来一阵凉风，打在了我的脸庞，可我却感到温暖安详，因为我知道有你陪在母亲身旁。

我不会对你说“来吧”，我怕会惊扰巢中的小鸟；可若是你穿越狂风暴雨，惊现在我的屋檐之下，我自然不胜欢迎。无论如何，最亲爱的贝婷，要知道，你正把我宠坏呢。

歌德

【歌德——】

If it's a rose, it will bloom sooner or later.

只要是玫瑰，它总会开花。

Bettina Brentano to Goethe

贝婷·布伦塔诺致歌德

Dear Goethe,

You know my heart; you know that all there is desire, thought, boding and longing; you live among spirits, and they give you divine wisdom. You must nourish me; you give all that in advance, which I do not understand to ask for. My mind has a small embrace, my love a large one; you must bring them to a balance. Love cannot be quite till the mind matches its growth; you are matched to my love; you are friendly, kind, and indulgent; let me know when my heart is off the balance. I understand your silent signs.

A look from your eyes into mine, a kiss from you upon my lips, instructs me in all, what might seem delightful to learn, to one who like me, had experience from those. I am far from you; mine are become strange to me. I must ever return in thought to that hour when you hold me in the soft fold of your arm. Then I begin to weep, but the tears dry again unawares. Yes, he reaches with his love (thus I think) over to me in this concealed stillness; and should not I, with my eternal undisturbed loving, reach to him in the distance? Ah, conceive what my heart has to say to you; it overflows with soft sighs all whisper to you. Be my only happiness on earth your friendly will to me. Oh, dear friend, give me but a sign that you are conscious of me.

Yours Forever

Bettina

亲爱的歌德：

你明白我的心意；你知道我的心里满是渴望、念想、期待与希冀；你活在神明的世界里，他们赐予你神圣的智慧。你一定要滋养我的心灵；你将一切提前给了我，那些，我甚至都还不懂得如何向你索求。我的思维才有了小小的进展，而我的爱就已经向前跨出了一大步；你可一定要让他们均衡发展。思维跟上了增长的节奏，爱才能够稳定；你跟上了我爱的节奏；你友好、善良，宽厚仁爱；当我的爱失去平衡，请告诉我。我会明白你无声的暗示。

你那深情凝望我的目光，和你印在我双唇上的热吻，向我表明了一切，对于我这样的人来说，值得高兴的就是，这一切让我懂得了更多。我与你相隔甚远，我的凝望和吻，也已经尘封太久，变得陌生。我定会想起往日，你将我拥入温柔的怀抱。想到这里，我便潸然泪下，可不知不觉，眼泪又风干了。是的，在这幽静的时刻，他满怀爱意（我是这么想的）来到我的身旁，难道我不该带着我一生不灭的渴望，去到远方他的身旁？啊，我的心会对你说些什么呢，它会向你吐露一阵又一阵温柔叹息和细碎私语。你对我的友爱是我世间唯一的快乐之源。哦，亲爱的朋友，只需给我一个暗示，让我知道，你心中有我。

你永远的

贝婷

Shelley to Marie Godwin

雪莱致玛丽·戈德温

Sunday morning, Aug. 23rd, 1818

My dearest Mary,

We arrived here last night at twelve o'clock, and it is now before breakfast the next morning. I can of course tell you nothing of the future, and though I shall not close this letter till post time, yet I do not know exactly when that is. Yet, if you are still very impatient, look along the letter, and you will see another date, when I may have something to relate…Well, but the time presses. I am now going to the banker's to send you money for the journey, which I shall address to you at Florence, Post Office. Pray come instantly to Este, where I shall be waiting in the utmost anxiety for your arrival. You can pack up directly you get this letter, and employ the next day on that…I have been obliged to decide on all these questions without you.

I have done for the best—and, my own beloved Mary, you must soon come and scold me, if I have done wrong, and kiss me, if I have done right, for I am sure I don't know which—and it is only the event that can show. We shall at least be saved the trouble of introductions, and have formed acquaintances with a lady who is so good, so beautiful, so angelically mild, that were she as wise too she would be quite a—Her eyes are like a reflection of yours. Her manners are like yours when you know and like a person.

Do you know, dearest, how this letter was written? By scrap and patches and interrupted every minute. The gondola is now coming to take me to the banker's. Este is a little place and the house found without difficulty. I shall count four days for this letter, one day for packing, four for coming here—and the ninth or tenth day we shall meet.

I am too late for the post, but I send an express to overtake it. Enclosed is an order for fifty pounds. If you knew all that I have to do! Dearest love, be well, be happy, come to me. Confide in your own constant and affectionate.

Kiss the blue eyed darlings for me, and do not let William forget me. Clara cannot recollect me.

【名人小课堂】

波西·比希·雪莱（Percy Bysshe Shelley，1792—1822），英国浪漫主义诗人。出身乡村地主家庭，20岁入牛津大学，因写反宗教的哲学论文被学校开除。后参加爱尔兰民族民主运动，被迫于1818年流亡意大利。1822年渡海遇风暴，不幸因船沉溺死。其作品热情而富有哲理，诗风自由不羁。代表作《西风颂》《解放了的普罗米修斯》等。

我最亲爱的玛丽：

我们于昨夜12点就来到这里，此刻已是第二天早餐前。关于未来我什么也不能对你说，尽管在将这封信寄出去之前我都舍不得合上它，可我却不知它何时才能送到。若你还不耐烦，就往下看这封信吧，你会看到另一个日期，那时，我有些话要对你说。啊……时间来不及了。我还要到邮局给你寄旅程的路费，寄到佛罗伦萨邮局。请即刻就到埃斯来，我心急如焚地等着你的到来。你一收到信就可准备行李了，第二天就可以……你不在，我只能自行决定了。

我已经竭尽全力——我亲爱的玛丽，你一定要快快赶来，要是我做得不对，你就责备我，要是我做得对，你就亲吻我，因为我确实不知道这样做对不对——你来看看就知道了。我们至少可免于相互介绍的麻烦，而且我们结实了一位女士，她人很好，也很美丽，还和天使一样温柔，倘若她也还聪慧的话，那么她简直就是——她的双眼如你一样光亮，她的仪态也像你认识并喜欢一个人时那样。

亲爱的，你知道我是怎么写完这封信的吗？三言两语拼凑而成，还总是被人打断。小船这会儿就来接我去银行了。埃斯是个小地方，要找房子非常容易。我数了一下，这封信寄到需要四天，你花一天时间打包，再用四天来到这儿——再过九天或十天我们可以见面了。

我来得太迟，邮车已经开走，可我用快递赶上了。信封里装着一张五十英镑的汇票。真希望你明白我的一番苦心！亲爱的，要安全地、开心地来到我的身边。我相信你对我深情不渝。

代我亲吻我那蓝眼睛宝贝，可别让威廉忘记我。克莱拉倒是不记得我了。

1818年8月23日，星期天早上

【雪莱——】

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?

冬天来了，春天还会远吗？

Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett

罗伯特·勃朗宁致伊丽莎白·芭蕾特

January 10th, 1845

Dear Miss Barrett,

I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,—and this is no off hand complimentary letter that I shall write,—whatever else, no prompt matter of course recognition of your genius, and there a graceful and natural end of the thing.

Since the day last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been turning and turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect upon me, for in the first flush of delight I thought I would this once get out of my habit of purely passive enjoyment, when I do really enjoy, and thoroughly justify my admiration—perhaps even, as a loyal fellow craftsman should, try and find fault and do you some little good to be proud of hereafter!—but nothing comes of it all—so into me has it gone, and part of me has it become, this great living poetry of yours, not a flower of which but took root and grew—Oh, how different that is from lying to be dried and pressed flat, and prized highly, and put in a book with a proper account at top and bottom, and shut up and put away…and the book called a “Flora”, besides!

After all, I need not give up the thought of doing that, too, in time, because even now, talking with whoever is worthy, I can give a reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thought; but in this addressing myself to you—your ownself, and for the first time, my feeling rises altogether.

I do, as I say, love these books with my heart and I love you too. Do you know I was once not very far from seeing—really seeing you? Mr. Kenyon said to me one morning “Would you like to see Miss Barrett?” then he went to announce me,—then he returned…you were too unwell, and now it is years ago, and I feel as at some untoward passage in my travels, as if I had been close, so close, to some world's—wonder in chapel or crypt, only a screen to push and I might have entered, but there was some slight, so it now seems, slight and just sufficient bar to admission, and the half opened door shut, and I went home my thousands of miles, and the sight was never to be?

Well, these Poems were to be, and this true thankful joy and pride with which I feel myself.

Yours ever faithfully,

Robert Browning

【名人小课堂】

罗伯特·勃朗宁（Robert Browning，1812—1889），19世纪英国著名诗人。一生写了大量戏剧和诗歌，代表作有《巴拉塞尔七》《斯特拉福》《比芭走过》等诗剧。他对英语诗歌形式最大的贡献就是“戏剧独白”这一体裁，这种诗通过主人公的自白来表现戏剧场面以及人物的命运。

亲爱的巴雷特小姐：

我真心喜欢你的诗歌，亲爱的巴雷特小姐，——这可不是我信手拈来的恭维之辞，——不管怎样，我并非顺势对你的才华表示赏识，然后冠冕而又不失谄媚地结束这封信。

上星期，第一次读到你的诗歌，自此，我便在头脑中反复琢磨，琢磨着怎样才能向你表达它们于我的影响，思及此，仍不免一阵傻笑。带着第一阵欢愉，我想我此次可以一反纯粹被动欣赏的常态，转而真正彻底地去领会——或许还会像恪尽职守的同行那样，找出些错误，期望对你有所帮助，这样也可满足我的虚荣啊！——可我却什么也没找到——它走进我的心里，成为我心中的一部分，你这伟大而生动的诗歌，就是一朵鲜花，在我心中生根发芽——哦，从被风干，被压平，再被高度赞美，然后被放进一本两端加注的书里，再被合拢，到被搁置……这一切经历是多么不同，而且，这还是一本名为《花之女神》的书！

别忘了，我也不必放弃这样做的想法，我迟早会这样做，因为即便现在，当我与情投意合的人交谈时，对一件又一件优秀的作品，我总能说出欣赏它们的理由。那新颖奇妙的韵律、流畅的语言、细腻婉转的手法，以及创新大胆的真切想象；而此刻，我却是在跟你——你本人交流，这是生平第一次，我的感觉一并冒了出来。

是的，正如我之前所说，我是真心喜欢这些书，而且我也真的爱你。知道吗，有一次，我差一点就能看见你——是真的看见你？一天早上，凯尼恩先生问我：“您想见见芭蕾特小姐吗？”说完他就进去通报，——过一会儿，他回来了……但你身体欠佳。如今数年已过，我感觉当年的自己是走在一条崎岖的旅途之上，距离一个——在教堂或地窖里的——旷世奇遇已经非常、非常近了，而我只需拨开门帘即可进去。可就差那么一点点，如今看来，小小的门闩就足以阻挡我的进入，半开的门关上了，我只好回到千里之外的居室。我真的不能见你一面吗？

读了你的诗，我感到一阵感激之情的欢愉和骄傲。

你永远忠诚的，

罗伯特·勃朗宁

1845年1月10日

【罗伯特·勃朗宁——】

Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.

和我一起慢慢变老吧！最好的日子还在后头。