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史上最浪漫的十封英文情书 | Jooyee 聚译网

史上最浪漫的十封英文情书

看他们如何把恋爱谈得轰轰烈烈又细水长流

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你写过情书吗? 一张信纸,几句情话,传递着爱恋的欢喜和悸动。 今天,我们来读几篇名人情书,感受下那最古典的浪漫

- 1 -

拿破仑

Napoleon Bonaparte

 

1796年,27岁的拿破仑在巴黎邂逅了大他6岁的约瑟芬,对她一见钟情,两人很快结婚了。

 

婚后不过48小时,拿破仑就上了战场。远征的拿破仑非常想念他心中的女神,每天趴在战壕里给爱妻写信。

 

然而,他寄出去的信却石沉大海,约瑟芬极少回信。没多久,拿破仑就听说妻子有了外遇……

 

I loved you some time ago; since then I feel that I love you a thousand times better. Ah, let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less graceful, less tender, less good. But never be jealous and never shed tears. Your tears send me out of my mind and they set my very blood on fire.

我不久前爱上你,自那以后,我对你的爱更增千倍。哎,真希望看到你的美中不足。再少几分甜美,少几分优雅,少几分妩媚,少几分姣好吧。但绝不要嫉妒,不要流泪。你的眼泪使我神魂颠倒,也使我热血沸腾。

 

- 2 -

 

马克·吐温

Mark Twain

 

马克·吐温32岁时邂逅了美国实业家杰维斯·兰顿的女儿欧莉维亚,一见倾心。

 

经过一年的猛烈追求,马克·吐温向欧莉维亚求婚,不料被拒。从此以后,马克·吐温就开始了情书攻势。

 

在近两年时间里,他给奥莉维亚写了184封情书,最终赢得了美人心。

 

I do love you, Livy...as the dew loves the flowers; as the birds love the sunshine; as the wavelets love the breeze; as mothers love their first-born; as memory loves old faces; as the yearning tides love the moon; as the angels love the pure in heart... Take my kiss and my benediction, and try to be reconciled to the fact that I am.

我真的爱你,莉薇……就像露珠爱鲜花,鸟儿爱阳光,微波爱轻风,母亲爱她们的第一个孩子,我爱你,就像记忆青睐昔日熟悉的面孔,思念的潮水迷恋月亮,天使珍爱纯洁的心灵……请接受我的亲吻和我的祝福,要接受这个事实:我爱你。

 

 

- 3 -

 

 

奥斯卡·王尔德

Oscar Wilde

 

风趣幽默的王尔德曾是伦敦上流社会的宠儿,但因为迷恋上美少年阿尔弗莱德·道格拉斯(Lord Alfred Douglas),他背负“严重猥亵罪”(gross indecency)的指控,被监禁入狱,强迫劳役两年。出狱后,他在法国巴黎度过潦倒的余生,46岁客死他乡。

 

下面这封他写给阿尔弗莱德·道格拉斯的情书是在审判王尔德的法庭上作为证物出示的。

 

王尔德(左)和阿尔弗莱德·道格拉斯(右)

 

 

My Own Boy,

我的男孩,

 

Your sonnet is quite lovely, and it is a marvel that those red-roseleaf lips of yours should be made no less for the madness of music and song than for the madness of kissing. Your slim gilt soul walks between passion and poetry. I know Hyacinthus, whom Apollo loved so madly, was you in Greek days.

你的十四行诗真可爱。真是个奇迹,你那鲜红如玫瑰花瓣的双唇生来就是为了热吻,却同样也为了吟唱热切的音乐。你纤细而闪耀的灵魂游走在热情与诗歌之间。我知道,阿波罗热恋的情人雅辛托斯,就是你在希腊彼时的前世。

 

Why are you alone in London, and when do you go to Salisbury? Do go there to cool your hands in the grey twilight of Gothic things, and come here whenever you like. It is a lovely place and lacks only you; but go to Salisbury first. 

你为何孤身一人在伦敦,你何时前往索尔兹伯里?想去就去吧,哪怕哥特建筑那灰茫的暮色会使你双手冰凉。想回来时尽管回来。这儿到底仍是个可爱的地方,唯一的缺憾就是没有你在;但是,请先去索尔兹伯里。

 

Always, with undying love, 

爱你永远不止的,

 

Yours, Oscar

奥斯卡

 

 

- 4 -

 

罗纳德·里根

Ronald Reagan

 

罗纳德·里根和妻子南希携手共度52年,两人的婚姻曾被形容为美国总统史上最伟大的爱情故事。

 

两人结婚多年,依旧保持了恋爱的激情,那一封封情书就是最好的见证。

 

1994年,里根罹患老年痴呆症,但他仍然坚持给南希写信,直到病重为止。

 

Dear First Lady, this is the day, the day that marks 31 years of such happiness as comes to few men. I told you once that it was like an adolescent's dream of what marriage should be like. That hasn't changed. I more than love you, I'm not whole without you. You are life itself to me. Happy Anniversary & thank you for 31 wonderful years.

亲爱的第一夫人,到今天为止,我们共同度过了31年的幸福时光,这是世上少数男人才享有的荣幸。我曾告诉过你,我的婚姻就像一个青少年对婚姻所怀的梦想那样美好,一直以来都是如此。你是我的至爱,没有你,我是不完整的。你就是我的生命本身。结婚纪念日快乐,感谢你31年来的美好陪伴!

 

 

- 5 -

 

夏洛蒂·勃朗特

Charlotte Brontë

 

1842年,夏洛蒂·勃朗特远赴布鲁塞尔的一间女子学校求学,她爱上了法国文学的教授Constantin Héger,但后者已有家室。

 

1844年,勃朗特回到家乡后,相思难耐,频繁写信,向Héger教授表达爱慕与思念之情。但Héger教授少有回信,甚至撕毁她的来信。

 

耐人寻味的是,是教授的妻子从废纸篓中把信找了出来又重新拼好,才让后世人得以一窥《简·爱》作者陷入疯狂爱恋却求而不得时绝望又炽热的情感。

 

读这些文字,你会想到张爱玲说的:“喜欢一个人,就是卑微到尘埃里,然后开出花来。”

 

Monsieur, the poor do not need a great deal to live on – they ask only the crumbs of bread which fall from the rich men’s table – but if they are refused these crumbs - they die of hunger -  No more do I need a great deal of affection from those I love – I would not know what to do with a whole and complete friendship – I am not accustomed to it – but you showed a little interest in me in days gone by when I was your pupil in Brussels – and I cling to the preservation of this little interest – I cling to it as I would cling on to life.

先生,穷人不需要太多来活命,他们只祈求富人餐桌上掉落的一点面包屑,但如果他们连这点面包屑都被拒绝给予,他们就会饿死。我渴望从我爱之人那里获得的感情也不过如此。一段完整而完满的友情会让我不知所措,我并不习惯于拥有它,但是,如果您对我能表现出哪怕一点点关爱,就像在布鲁塞尔我还是您的学生时那样,我就会紧紧抓住这一点点的关爱,我依附于此,就像我依附于生命。

 

- 6 -

 

爱因斯坦

Albert Einstein

 

第二任妻子的去世后加上二战的炮火使爱因斯坦经常陷于忧郁痛苦之中,这时一位美丽优雅性格深沉的俄罗斯女郎出现在他面前,她就是前苏联传奇美女间谍玛加丽达。

 

这段恋情一直秘密进行着,直到玛加丽达完成使命回到莫斯科后,思念心切的爱因斯坦写来一系列深情款款的情书后,两人的爱情才曝光于世。

 

爱因斯坦至死都不知道自己的恋人是一名间谍。

 

My dearest Margarita, I haven't received your letter. I have thought agonizingly how can we solve this intractable problem. People said that I am very smart, but I'm helpless with it. Just recently I washed my head by myself, but not with the greatest success; I am not as careful as you are, but everything here reminds me of you. Men are living now just the way they were before, as if we didn't have a new, all-overshadowing danger to deal with. Be greeted and kissed, if this letter reaches you, and the devil take anyone who intercepts it.

我最亲爱的玛加丽达: 我收不到你的来信,我苦苦思索如何才能解决这个棘手的问题。人们都说我聪明无比,可我对此事却束手无策。最近我自己洗了一次头发,不是很成功;我没有你那么细心,这里的一切都让我想起你。人们还是像以前一样生活,好像那个新的、笼罩在我们上空的危险阴影不存在一样。如果这封信能抵达你那儿,愿它问候你、亲吻你。愿恶魔带走拦截我们通信的人。

 

 

- 7 -

 

萧伯纳

George Bernard Shaw

 

1931年,一部被人称为“萧伯纳情书”的书信集出版了。但这部“情书”的对象,并非萧伯纳的夫人,而是英国著名女演员爱兰·黛丽。

 

书信集里,双方谈论艺术、戏剧等问题之余,还互相表达了热烈的爱意。两人通了30年的信,一生却只见过几次面。即便他们在同一个城市居住,相距只有20分钟的步行路程。

 

两个人这种“纸上的爱意”是一段真正的柏拉图式爱恋。

 

The weather has frowned; but Fortune has smiled. Ten splendid things have happened:

天气不好,可是命运之神却向我微笑。我遇到了十桩得意的事情:

 

1. a letter from Ellen Terry.

一、收到爱兰·黛丽一封信;

 

2. a check for my Chicago royalties from Arms and the Man.

二、接到从芝加哥寄来的一张《武器和武士》版税汇票;

 

3. a letter from Ellen Terry.

三、收到爱兰·黛丽一封信;

 

4. the rolling away of the clouds from the difficult 2nd act of my new play, leaving the view clear and triumphant right on to the curtain.

四、我已经在我的新剧本的第二幕里,打破难关,拨开云雾见青天了;

 

5. a letter from Ellen Terry.

五、收到爱兰·黛丽一封信;

 

6. a beautiful sunset bicycle ride over the hills and far away, thinking of Ellen Terry.

六、看见美丽的落日,在遥远的山边坠下,心里想念着爱兰·黛丽;

 

7. a letter from Ellen Terry.

七、收到爱兰·黛丽一封信;

 

8. a letter from Ellen Terry.

八、收到爱兰·黛丽一封信;

 

9. a letter from Ellen Terry.

九、收到爱兰·黛丽一封信;

 

10. a letter from Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Ellen Eleanor Ellenest Terry.

十、收到爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰、爱兰兰、爱兰兰兰·黛丽一封信。

 

- 8 -

 

雪莱

Percy Bysshe Shelley

 

雪莱是一名柏拉图主义者,也是个理想主义者。1811年,雪莱邂逅了28岁的伊丽莎白·西琴勒。

 

伊丽莎白是一名教师,拥有先锋派思想,雪莱将其视为自己的心灵知己和缪斯女神,两人一直保持着通信往来和纯洁的精神友谊。

 

有趣的是,两人还在通信中对爱情是什么进行了严谨的学术探讨。

 

What is love, or friendship? Is it something material...a ball, an apple, a plaything...which must be taken from one to be given to another? Is it capable of no extension, no communication? Lord Kaimes defines love to be a particularization of the general passion. But this is the love of sensation, of sentiment...the absurdest of absurd vanities: it is the love of pleasure, not the love of happiness. 

何谓爱情?何谓友情?是一些实在的东西吗?是球、苹果、玩偶……是从一个人那儿拿来,又给予另一个人的实物吗?是不能深化、不能交流的吗?Kaimes勋爵给爱情下的定义是,爱情是一般激情的特殊体现,但这是肉欲之爱、情欲之爱……是荒谬绝伦的逢场作戏,是寻欢作乐的爱,不是幸福的爱。

 

But love, the love which we worship , ... virtue, heaven, disinterestedness ... in a word, Friendship ... which has as much to do with the senses as with yonder mountains; that which seeks the good of all ... the good of its object first, not because that object is a minister to its Pleasures, not merely because it even contributes to its happiness, but because it is really worthy, because it has powers, sensibilities, is capable of abstracting itself, and loving virtue's own loveliness ... 

但我们崇拜的爱,象征美德、天意和无私,一句话,真情……它能被感知,就像远方山头上的云朵一样。它追求大家的幸福……首先是对方的幸福,不是因为对方给予欢乐,不光它甚至能给予欢乐,更因为它真的值得,它有力量,有感知力,并能将自己抽离,因为美德的可爱而热爱美德…… 

 

- 9 -

 

约翰·济慈

John Keats

 

诗人济慈一生短暂而璀璨。他23岁时遇到邻家女孩芬妮·勃劳恩(Fanny Brawne),两人坠入爱河。悲哀的是,当时济慈已患有肺结核,健康每况愈下,两人订了婚却没等到结婚。

 

1821年,25岁的济慈为避严寒而奔赴意大利,最终客死他乡。

 

在这段甜蜜而苦涩的爱情中,济慈留下了整整三打情书。他下葬时,胸口还放着一封写给芬妮的信。芬妮一生都没有取下与济慈订婚的戒指。

 

2009年的济慈传记电影《明亮的星》(Bright Star)剧照

 

I cannot exist without you – I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again – my life seems to stop there – I see no further. You have absorb’d me.

没有你我无法存活。我忘却了一切,只想着要与你再见。我的生命似乎就此终止,没有更远的未来。你占据了我的一切。

 

I have a sensation at the present moment as though I were dissolving ….I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for religion – I have shudder’d at it – I shudder no more – I could be martyr’d for my religion – love is my religion – I could die for that – I could die for you. My creed is love and you are its only tenet – you have ravish’d me away by a power I cannot resist.

我有一种感觉,就在这一刻我似乎正在消融……我曾惊讶于有人会为宗教而牺牲,我曾一想到这就战栗不已。现在我不再为此战栗了。我也可以为我的宗教牺牲。爱就是我的宗教,我可以为它而死,我可以为你而死。我的信经就是爱,而你就是它唯一的信条。你用我无法抵抗的力量将我彻底摧毁。

 

- 10 -

 

史蒂夫·乔布斯

Steve Jobs

 

劳伦娜是乔布斯的第二任妻子,也是一直陪伴乔布斯走到生命最后的人。两个人在哈佛大学相识,都是佛教徒、素食主义者和日本文化迷,互为“灵魂伙伴”。

 

2011年《乔布斯传》发售,书中,乔布斯在结婚20周年时写给妻子劳伦娜的这封情书感动了万千读者。

 

We didn't know much about each other 20 years ago. We were guided by our intuition; you swept me off my feet. It was snowing when we got married at the Ahwahnee. Years passed, kids came, good times, hard times, but never bad times. Our love and respect has endured and grown.

20年前,我们相遇,彼此陌生,但我们一见钟情坠入爱河。阿凡尼的漫天雪花见证了我们的海誓山盟。岁月流逝,儿女长大,有过甜蜜,有过艰辛,却没有苦涩。我们的爱意历久弥新。

 

We've been through so much together and here we are right back where we started 20 years ago - older and wiser - with wrinkles on our faces and hearts. We now know many of life's joys, sufferings, secrets and wonders and we're still here together. My feet have never returned to the ground.

20年间我们一同经历了风风雨雨,此时却宛如初见,只是皱纹已爬上面容,沧桑已布满心间,我们更老了也更睿智了。如今,我们懂得了更多生命的喜悦、痛苦、秘密和奇迹,却依然携手相依。我的双脚从未踏回地面。

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