Love’s Witness

By Aphra Behn［Britain］

Recitalist：Sammy Hung｜Actress

Slight unpremeditated Words are borne

By every common Wind into the Air;

Carelessly utter'd, die as soon as born,

And in one instant give both Hope and Fear:

Breathing all Contraries with the same Wind

According to the Caprice of the Mind.

But Billetdoux are constant Witnesses,

Substantial Records to Eternity;

Just Evidences, who the Truth confess,

On which the Lover safely may rely;

They're serious Thoughts, digested and resolv'd;

And last, when Words are into Clouds devolv'd.

事先未经考虑的疏忽的话语

      被每次公众的风传变成公开的失意；

轻率地表达，刚露头便窒息，

      而一瞬间，既给人希望也给人恐惧：

随着头脑的心血来潮而感叹

万般事与愿违皆因同一风传。

但情书却是永远不变的见证，

      是对永恒的一份份真实记录；

这是信奉真理的公正的证人，

      恋人可以依赖真理安心倾吐；

它们是庄严的思想，经过深思熟虑；

当话语化成了彩云，它们仍将延续。