[中文译文]
拿破仑致约瑟芬
我收到了你的信,我祟拜的心上人。你的信使我充满了欢乐……自从与你分手以后,我一直闷闷不乐,愁眉不展。我唯一的幸福就是伴随着你。你的吻给了我无限的思索和回味,还有你的泪水和甜蜜的嫉妒。我迷人的约瑟芬的魅力像一团炽热的火在心里燃烧。什么时候我才能在你身旁度过每分每秒,除了爱你什么也不需做;除了向你倾诉我对你的爱并向你证明爱的那种愉快,什么也不用想了?我不敢相信不久前爱上你,自那以后我感到对你的爱更增一千倍。自我与你相识,我一天比一天更崇拜你。这正好证明了La Bruyere说的"爱,突如其来"多么不切合实际。
埃,让我看你的一些美中不足吧。再少几分甜美,再少几分优雅,再少几分温柔抚媚,再少几分姣好吧。但决不要嫉妒,决不要流泪。你的眼泪使我神魂颠倒,你的眼泪使我热血沸腾。相信我,我每时每刻无不想你,不想你是绝无可能的。没有一丝意念能不顺着你的意愿。好好休息,早日康复。回到我的身边,不管怎么说,在我们谢世之前,我们应当能说:"我们曾有多少个幸福的日子啊!"千百万次吻,甚至吻你的爱犬。
名人情书曝光(五)
Bettine Brentano to 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 quiet 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 delighted 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. O, dear friend, give me but a sign that you are conscious of me.
[中文译文]
贝停·布伦塔诺致歌德
你知道我的心;你知道我心里惟有的愿望、思念、预兆和渴求;你生活在幽灵之中,他们给你以神灵的智慧。你一定要给我以"营养"。你已经事先就给了我那些我不懂得去要求的东西。虽说我的才智小,但我的爱情甚深;你一定要平衡这两方面。在理智跟不上爱情的发展时,爱不能平静。你知道我有多爱你;你友善、温存、宽厚。告诉我,什么时候我的心失去了平衡。我懂得你那无声的暗示。
你映人我眼帘的凝睇、你印在我唇上的热吻,向我说明了一切。这一切对于像我这样的人,对于有过这方面感情经历的人,看来似乎令人高兴。你我天各一方,我给你的凝望和亲吻对我已日益陌生。我无法不回想在你怀抱中的温柔时刻。然后我便开始哭泣,又不知不觉眼泪已哭干。是的,在深藏的静谧中他对我一往情深(我如是想)。难道我就不应该借着永不动摇的深情遥通心声吗?啊,你不知道我一心要对你说些什么吗?我要对你无限地轻声叹息,窃窃私语,让感情沛溢。愿我今生今世唯一的幸福就是你对我的无限的柔情。啊,亲爱的朋友,只求你给我暗示,你心中只有我。
名人英语情书选