08 John Keats to Percy Bysshe Shelley约翰·济慈致珀西·比希·雪莱
Hampstead，16th August，1820
My Dear Shelley，
我亲爱的雪莱：
I am very much gratified that you,in a foreign country,and with a mind almost over occupied,should write to me in the strain of the letter beside me.If I do not take advantage of your invitation it will be prevented by a circumstance I have very much at heart to prophesy—There is no doubt that an English winter would put an end to me,and do so in a lingering hateful manner,therefore I must either voyage or journey to Italy as a soldier marches up to a battery.
你身处异乡，事务繁忙，竟然还能不辞辛劳地给我写信（它就在我旁边），这真是让我不胜感激。如果我不接受你的邀请，那么一种我早已预知的情形就会阻止我前往。毫无疑问，英国的冬天会让我的病情雪上加霜，甚至会慢慢地折磨我直到死去。因此我必须像战士奔赴战场一样前去意大利，无论走水路还是陆路。
My nerves at present are the worst part of me,yet they feel soothed when I think that come what extreme may,I shall not be destined to remain in one spot long enough to take a hatred of any four particular bed-posts.
现在我的神经是最糟糕的，然而我一想到，我无论病到何种地步，都不会向命运妥协，久卧病榻以至于对任何一张床感到厌恶，他们就稍稍缓和一点了。
I am glad you take any pleasure in my poor poem which I would willingly take the trouble to unwrite,if possible,did I care so much as I have done about reputation.I received a copy of the Cenci,as from yourself,from Hunt.There is only one part of it I am judge of—the poetry and dramatic effect—which by many spirits nowadays is considered the Mammon.A modern work it is said must have a purpose,which may be the God—an artist must serve Mammon—he must have“self-concentration”—selfishness perhaps.You,I am sure,will forgive me for sincerely remarking that you might curb your magnanimity and be more of an artist,and load every rift of your subject with ore.The thought of such discipline must fall like cold chains upon you,who perhaps never sat with your wings furled for six months together.And is this not extraordinary talk for the writer of Endymion,whose mind was like a pack of scattered cards?I am picked up and sorted to a pip.
拙作承蒙你的喜爱让我非常高兴，如果我还像过去那样在意名声的话，而且如果可能的话，我会很乐意将他们抹掉。我从亨特那里收到一份《珊奇》的复印本，和从你那里收到也是一样的。其中只有一部分我能稍做评价——诗歌和戏剧效果，这一点被现在很多人视为财神。据说，现代作品必须有特定的目的，可能就是指这位神；艺术家必须供奉它；艺术家必须关注自我，也可能是自私。我相信你会原谅我的直言相劝，你应该少一点崇高的品质，多一点艺术家的风格，让字里行间的主题里都填满了金子。这样的约束就像将冰冷的镣铐强加于你，甚至你可能从来没有收起翅膀坐过半年吧。《恩底弥翁》的作者说这话很奇怪吧，过去他的思绪就像散落一地的纸牌般杂乱无章。现在我已经将它们捡起并重新理顺了。
My Imagination is a monastery and I am its monk.You must explain my metaphysics to yourself.I am in expectation of Prometheus every day.Could I have my own wish for its interest effected,you would have it still in manuscript,or be but now putting an end to the second act.I remember you advising me not to publish my first-blights,on Hampstead Heath—I am returning advice upon your hands.Most of the Poems in the volume I send you have been written above two years,and would never have been published but from a hope of gain；so you see I am inclined enough to take your advice now.
如果我的想象是一座寺院，那么我就是居于其中的僧人。我这个玄学派的奇喻得你自己来解释。我每天都在期盼《普罗米修斯》。要是我的愿望灵验了的话，现在你应该还在继续创作吧——可能正在写第二幕的结尾了吧。我记得你劝我不要发表我早期关于汉普斯台德荒原的无病呻吟的诗，现在轮到我对你提出这一建议了。我寄给你的诗中大部分都是两年前写的，要不是为了增加收入，我本来不会把它们发表的。所以您可以看得出来，我现在足够愿意接受你的意见了。
I must express once more my deep sense of your kindness,adding my sincere thanks and respects for Mrs.Shelley.In the hope of soon seeing you I remain.
我必须再次感谢你的好意，并请转达我对雪莱夫人诚挚的感谢与敬意。
most sincerely yours
John Keats
盼望着和您见面的那一刻！
永远是你最真挚的
约翰·济慈
1820年8月16日于汉普斯台德
soothe[suːð]vt.安慰；缓和
例 It did not take long for the central bank to soothe investors’fears.
中央银行很快便消除了投资者的担忧。
bed-post[ˈbedˌpəʊst]n.床柱
例 His big slouch hat even was cocked jauntily over the bed-post.
他那边缘下垂的大帽子逍遥地歪戴在床柱子上。
Mammon[ˈmæmən]n.财富，财神
例 She believes that our society teaches young people to worship Mammon.
她相信我们的社会教年轻人崇拜财神。
magnanimity[ˌmægnəˈnɪmətɪ]n.宽宏大量
例 The father of one victim spoke with remarkable magnanimity.
一名受害者的父亲以极为宽容的口吻发了言。
ore[ɔː（r）]n.矿石；矿砂；矿
例 How many tons of ore can this machine crush in an hour?
这机器每小时可以破碎多少吨矿石？
pip[pɪp]n.（色子、骨牌、纸牌上的）点
例 There is a playing card marked with nine pips.
有标有9点的一张扑克牌。
metaphysics[ˌmetəˈfɪzɪks]n.形而上学，玄学
例 Metaphysics is an accidental problem in the history of western philosophy.
形而上学在西方哲学史上是一个古老的问题。
blight[blaɪt]n.破坏因素；祸根；阴影
例 Manchester still suffers from urban blight and unacceptable poverty.
曼彻斯特仍然受到城区脏乱和严重贫困问题的困扰。
①Therefore I must either voyage or journey to Italy as a soldier marches up to a battery.
这个句子中“as”引导一个比较状语从句，意为“正如，像……一样”。
例 She is so eager to read the book as a hungry man is eager to get some bread.
她是如此想读这本书，就像饥饿的人想要得到面包一样。
②I shall not be destined to remain in one spot long enough to take a hatred of any four particular bed-posts.
这个句子中用到了提喻的修辞手法，用“bed-post”指代“bed”。常见的还有用“hand”指代“worker”等。
例 To finish the project,we need more hands.
要完成这个项目，我们需要更多的人手。
③I am glad you take any pleasure in my poor poem which I would willingly take the trouble to unwrite,if possible,did I care so much as I have done about reputation.
这个句子中用到了一个插入语“if possible”，意为“如果可能的话”，这是“if”和“when”引导状语从句时的特殊用法，常见的搭配有“if/when+necessary/possible/”。
例 If necessary,we will resort to military action.
如果有必要的话，我们会付诸军事行动。
1.Familiar paths and old friends are the best.
熟路好遵循，老友最可珍。
2.Books,like friends,should be few and well chosen.
书籍如朋友，应该少而精。
3.Although the world is full of suffering,it is full also of the overcoming of it.—Hellen Keller
虽然世界多苦难，但苦难总是能战胜的。——海伦·凯勒
4.Coward die many times before their death.—William Shakespeare
懦夫在死之前就已经死过很多次了。——威廉·莎士比亚
5.A great poem is a fountain forever overflowing with the waters of wisdom and delight.—Shelley
一首伟大的诗犹如一座喷泉，不断地喷出智慧和快乐的泉水。——雪莱
6.Friendship is love without his wings.
友谊是不带翅膀的爱情。
7.A thing of beauty is a joy forever：its loveliness increases；it will never pass into nothingness.—John Keats
美的事物是永恒的喜悦：其可爱日增；永远不会消失。——约翰·济慈