January 16th sixteen
How do I love thee
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
我是怎樣的愛你?
伊麗莎白·勃朗寧
我是怎樣的愛你?訴不盡萬(wàn)語(yǔ)千言:
我愛你的程度是那樣地高深和廣遠(yuǎn),
恰似我的靈魂曾飛到了九天與黃泉,
去探索人生的奧妙,和神靈的恩典。
無(wú)論是白晝還是夜晚,我愛你不息,
像我每日必需的攝生食物不能間斷。
我純潔地愛你,不為奉承吹捧迷惑,
我勇敢地愛你,如同為正義而奮爭(zhēng)!
愛你,以昔日的劇痛和童年的忠誠(chéng),
愛你,以眼淚、笑聲及全部的生命。
要是沒有你,我的心就失去了圣賢,
要是沒有你,我的心就失去了激情。
假如上帝愿意,請(qǐng)為我作主和見證:
在我死后,我必將愛你更深,更深!
———袁廣達(dá) 梁葆成譯