How do I Love Thee?

Elizabeth Browning

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 candle-light.

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.

我究竟怎样爱你

伊丽莎白·勃朗宁

我究竟怎样爱你？让我细致端详。

我爱你直到我灵魂所及的深度、

广度、和高度，我在势力不及之处

摸索着存在的极致和美的理想。

我爱你就像最朴素的日常需要一样，

就像不自觉地需要阳光和蜡烛。

我自由地爱你，像人们选择正义之路，

我纯洁地爱你，像人们躲避称赞颂扬。

我爱你用的是我在昔日悲痛里

用过的那种激情，以及童年的忠诚。

我爱你用的爱，我本以为早已失去

（连我失去的圣徒一同）；我爱你用呼吸、笑容、

眼泪和生命！只要上帝允许，

在死后我爱你将只会更加深情。

（飞白译）