07 罗伯特·彭斯致埃莉森·贝格比 Robert Burns to Ellison Begbie

罗伯特·彭斯(Robert Burns)

名人档案

罗伯特·彭斯(1759—1796)，苏格兰诗人，自幼受家庭熏陶，热爱本民族及其古老的传说。在他的搜集和整理下，苏格兰民歌得以大量保存。此外，他自己也尝试用苏格兰方言创作诗歌，其中最著名的有《一朵红红的玫瑰》、《致山中雏菊》和《致虱子》等。他的诗歌富有音乐性，多数歌颂了劳动者之间纯朴的友谊和爱情。另外值得一提的是，其创作的苏格兰民歌《友谊地久天长》，借由电影《魂断蓝桥》的传播，已经成为全世界人民广为传唱的歌谣。

简介与鉴赏

彭斯给埃莉森小姐写信，表达自己的爱慕之情，并坦诚自己正陷入爱情的窘境之中，不知道如何下笔。在这封写给埃莉森小姐的求爱信中，彭斯不是其诗歌中惯常描写的那种豪放甚至有点鲁莽的情人形象，相反，他不知如何恰当地表达自己的感情，显得笨嘴拙腮：“不论是与您相处或坐下来给您写信，总是很担心，前思后想，不知道怎么说、怎么写。”出现在读者脑中的是一个窘迫的、小心翼翼的、笨拙得有点可爱的小伙子形象。

面对突如其来的爱情，即便是善于舞文弄墨的文学家，也难免退化成笨拙讷言。把这封信和彭斯那首著名的《一朵红红的玫瑰》对照来读，读者自会体会到差异所带来的趣味：“一朵红红的玫瑰。啊，我的爱人像朵红红的玫瑰，六月里迎风初开。啊，我的爱人像支甜甜的曲子，奏得合拍又和谐。我的好姑娘，多么美丽的人儿！请看我，多么深挚的爱情！亲爱的，我永远爱你……”

英文正文

March 3rd, 1785

Dear Ellison,

I have often thought it a peculiarly1unlucky circumstance2in love, that though in every other situation in life telling the truth is not only the safest, but actually by far the easiest way of proceeding3, a lover is never under greater difficulty in acting, nor ever more puzzled for expression than when his passion is sincere and his intentions honorable.

I do not think that it is very difficult for a person of ordinary capacity to talk of love and fondness4which are not felt, and to make vows of constancy5and fidelity6which are never intended to be performed, if he be villain enough to practice such detestable7conduct; but to a man whose heart glows with the principles of integrity and truth, and who sincerely loves a woman of amiable8person, uncommon refinement of sentiment, and purity of manners, from my own feelings at this present moment, courtship is a task indeed. There is such a number of foreboding fears and distrustful anxieties crowd into my mind when I am in your company, or when I sit down to write to you, that what to speak or what to write I am altogether at a loss.

There is one rule which I have hitherto practised and which I shall invariably keep with you and that is, honestly to tell you the plain truth. There is something so mean and unmanly in the arts of dissimulation9and falsehood10that I am surprised they can be acted by any one in so noble, so generous a passion as virtuous love. No, my dear E., I shall never endeavour to gain your favour by such detestable practices. If you will be so good and so generous as to admit me for your partner, your companion, your bosom friend11through life, there is nothing on this side of eternity shall give me greater transport, but I shall never think of purchasing12your hand by any arts unworthy of a man—and, I will add—of a Christian.

There is one thing, my dear, which I earnestly request of you and it is this, that you should soon either put an end to my hopes by a peremptory13refusal or cure me of my fears by a generous consent14.

It would oblige me much if you would send me a line or two when convenient15. I shall only add further that if a behaviour regulated16(though perhaps but very imperfectly) by the rules of honour and virtue of a heart devoted to love and esteem17you, and an earnest endeavour to promote your happiness—if these are qualities you would wish in a friend, in a husband, I hope you shall ever find them in your real friend and sincere lover.

Robert Burns

经典语句

I have often thought it a peculiarly unlucky circumstance in love, that though in every other situation in life telling the truth is not only the safest, but actually by far the easiest way of proceeding, a lover is never under greater dif？ culty in acting, nor ever more puzzled for expression than when his passion is sincere and his intentions honorable.

There is one thing, my dear, which I earnestly request of you and it is this, that you should soon either put an end to my

hopes by a peremptory refusal or cure me of my fears by a generous consent.

单词/词组

1 peculiarly⁶adv. 特别；古怪地；奇怪地

2 circumstance⁴n. 环境，情况；境遇

3 proceeding⁶n. 进行；程序

4 fondness⁶n. 爱好；溺爱

5 constancy⁶n. 坚定不移；恒久不变

6 fidelity⁴n.忠诚

7 detestable⁶adj. 可憎的，可恶的；嫌恶的

8 amiable⁶adj. 和蔼可亲的，亲切的

9 dissimulation⁸n.掩饰；虚伪

10 falsehood⁴n. 说谎；假话；虚伪

11 bosom friend⁶phr.知己；知心朋友；契友

12 purchase⁴vt. 赢得

13 peremptory⁶adj. 强制的；断然的；专横的

14 consent⁴n. 同意；(意见等的)一致；赞成

15 convenient⁴adj. 方便的

16 regulate⁴vt. 调节，规定

17 esteem⁴vt. 尊敬；尊重

中文译文

亲爱的埃莉森：

我常常想，陷入爱情的人虽然情深意切，却不知怎样用行动来表达爱意。这是情场上才有的尴尬局面。而在其他一些情况下，讲真话不仅是明智之举，而且肯定最能解决麻烦。

我认为，一个普通人，如果存心要做亏心事，也不难口是心非地谈论爱情和仰慕，也不难假惺惺地海誓山盟。但对于一个诚实的男人来说，爱上了一位聪慧秀丽、单纯可爱的女子，求爱绝不是一件容易的事，现在我就有这种感觉。不论是与您相处或坐下来给您写信，总是很担心，前思后想，不知道怎么说、怎么写。

我向来遵循一条诚实的准则，对您也是一样。说实话，耍弄虚伪和欺骗的伎俩是非常卑劣和怯懦的表现，但居然有人将这种手段用在纯洁的爱情这种高尚无私的感情上，实在让人惊讶。不，我亲爱的埃，我永远不会用这种低劣的手段博得您的欢心。如果您能慷慨地答应与我终生为伴，成为朋友或知音，这世上再无其他什么东西更能使我狂喜，但我永远不会想到用一个男子汉——补充一句——和基督徒不屑一顾的手腕向您求婚。

亲爱的，我只求您一件事：要么干脆利落地拒绝，让我彻底失望；要么慨然答应，免得我惶恐不安。

如果您方便亲赐只言片语，我将万分感激。我只想再补充一句，我所做的一切均出自对您的爱慕和尊重，并全身心地愿您更幸福，而且，这颗装满荣誉感和美德概念的心支配着我(也许没有完全支配)——如果这些是您期望一个朋友和丈夫所具有的品质，我想您会永远在您忠实的朋友和真挚的爱慕者身上找到。

罗伯特·彭斯

1785年3月3日