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 candlelight1.
I love thee freely, as men strive for2 Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the 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.
我如何爱你？听我细诉端详：
爱你，以心灵所能及的深广
让情感超越现实而隐藏
直到万物不复，抵达理想中的殿堂。
爱你，是我每一天最静谧的渴望，
从日出时分到摇曳的烛光。
尽情地爱你，一如人们追求正义；
无邪地爱你，一如人们谢绝赞扬。
爱你，我用尽所有旧时的悲伤，
还有儿时纯净的信仰。
爱你，以过去崇敬圣徒的那种挚诚，
爱你，尽我此生所有的呼吸、欢笑和眼泪！
——若上帝允许，
在来世，我将依然爱你，而且更深！
1． candlelight n． 黄昏
2． strive for 争取