How do I love thee?
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 every day'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.
-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning
我怎样爱你？让我来告诉你。
我用我灵魂所能达到的极限来爱你，
就像在黑暗中感受
生命的尽头和上帝的恩惠。
我爱你，是日光和烛焰下
最基本的需要。
我无拘无束的爱你，就像人们为权利而斗争。
我无比纯洁的爱你，就像人们不为赞美而陶醉。
我爱你，我的深情不再留给往日的悲伤，
我爱你，用我童年的信念，
我爱你，就像爱那些天上的圣人，
我爱你，用我生命中所有的呼吸、微笑和泪水，
如果上帝让我去死，我会接受，
但死后我会更加爱你。
