How Do I Love Thee?
--by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.[1]
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 candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for 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.
翻译者：袁蓓蕾
我有多么爱你，
请允许我逐一说起。
我爱你，
竭尽我灵魂所能企及之深邃，之高远
当你离我遥远，
你也将存在于上帝予我永恒的恩赐里；
我爱你，如同生命的必需
像熹微的晨光 抑或是夜晚摇曳的灯火
对于黑暗里，光明的意义；
我爱你，不受任何所束缚
就像人们奋不顾身，捍卫正义；
我爱你，以初生婴儿般的纯净
像人们沉醉于赞礼，不愿抽离；
我爱你，倾尽我此生最大的热情
当我坠入暮年，我依然爱你
如自童年坚守的信仰，路远而不忘初心；
我爱你，足以匹敌那已消逝了的往日对圣哲的倾慕
我爱你，如同呼吸、微笑和眼泪——早已融入我的生命
如果，上天给予我选择的权利，
当我的生命燃尽，
我依然选择——爱你。