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作出牺牲,但我们不会屈服于这个幽灵;世俗可能要我们作出牺牲,舆论也会有所要求,但遥望远方那翻山越岭的云朵也会感到快乐,它将为身心带来好处。只要还有一口气,就永不屈服,决不低头;即使生命将尽,人间情侣也要相聚在天堂。什么是爱情,什么是友情?是球、苹果、玩偶——可以信手拈来、随意送人的实物吗?它是没有深刻的意义、不能交流的吗?凯米斯勋爵用一般激情的特殊体现来为爱情下定论,但这种爱只是肉欲,只是情欲——是荒唐透顶的逢场作戏。这种爱寻欢作乐,而非幸福之道。这种爱以自我为中心,自私自利,它只为自己的利益着想,是嫉妒的源泉,霸占追求的玩物才是它的目的所在,其本质是私心、垄断。这种爱的某些表现也是对爱的亵渎,使纤纤弱草般的爱荡然无存。但我们崇拜的爱,是美德、天意和无私的象征,一句话,真情——是能感觉到的,它与远方山间的云朵息息相关。它追求所有人的幸福——首先是对方的幸福,不只是因为对方赋予自己欢乐,也不仅因为对方让自己幸福,而是因为这种爱真正问心无愧,因为它有力量,有情感,并能倾其所能,因为美德的可爱而爱美德——不是因为怕下地狱或想进天堂而为他人祈福,而是出于质朴单纯的美德。你会很快再收到我的信。再见了,我最亲爱的朋友。请你继续相信这一点:什么时候我不忠于您的美德,我便不复存在。
你的最诚挚和至死不渝的
波西·比希·雪莱
1811年11月12日星期二
于凯斯韦克·栗树村
Percy Bysshe Shelley
To
Chestnut Cottage; Keswick
Tuesday; Nov。 12nd; 1811
Dear Elizabeth;
Your letter of the 1st hath this moment reached me。 I answer it according to our agreement; which shall be inviolable。 Truly did you say that; at our arising in the morning; Nature assumes a different aspect。 Who could have conjectured the circumstances of my last letter? Friend of my soul; this is terrible; dismaying: it makes one's heart sink; it withers vital energy…Dear being; I am thine again; thy happiness shall again predominate over this fleeting tribute to self�interest。 Yet who would not feel now? Oh; it were as reckless a task to endeavour to annihilate perception while sense existed; as to blunt the sixth sense to such impressions as these!—Forgive me; dearest friend? I pour out my whole soul to you。 I write by fleeting intervals: my pen runs away with my senses。 The impassionateness of my sensations grows upon me。 Your letter; too; has much affected me。 Never; with my consent; shall that intercourse cease which has been the day�dawn of my existence; the sun which has shed warmth on the cold drear length of the anticipated
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