马克·吐温的情书
Mark Twain's Letter to Olivia
Livy dear,
I have already mailed today's letter, but I am so proud of my privilege of writing the dearest girl in the world whenever I please, that I must add a few lines if only to say I love you, Livy.
For 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.
I so love you that if you were taken from me
it seems as if all my love would follow after you and leave my heart a dull and vacant ruin forever and forever. . . .
Take my kiss and my benediction, and try to be reconciled to the fact that I am
Yours forever and always,
Sam
马克吐温给奥莉薇娅的信
亲爱的莉薇
虽然已经寄了今天的信,但是能有幸随时给世界上最亲爱的姑娘写信,让我自豪不已,因此不得不再加上几行,只为说——莉薇,我爱你!莉薇,我真爱你!
就像清露爱花朵,就像鸟儿爱阳光
就像皱波爱和风,就像母亲爱第一个孩子
就像思忆爱旧颜,就像孤潮爱月亮
就像天使爱心之纯良
我非常爱你,如果没有你,我的一切情感都将随你而去,徒留一颗空心,如废墟空洞无着,永远永远苦熬…
收下我的亲吻和我的祝祷吧!并试着接受一个事实——我永远永远都是你的!
萨姆
2020年3月29日23:42试译
【注】马克·吐温Mark Twain原名Samuel Langhorne Clemens马克·吐温是笔名,与其早年水手经历有关。Sam萨姆是撒母耳Samuel的昵称,来源于希伯来。马克·吐温对奥利维亚 (即信中的Livy,Livy一词是Olivia和Olive的昵称) 一见倾心,他向奥利维亚求婚,不过遭到拒绝。不甘于此的马克·吐温展开了情书攻势,向她写了184封情书。马克·吐温最终赢得美人芳心,与她步入婚姻殿堂。