ind here since your departing; for I ensure you; me thinketh the Tyme longer since your departing now last than I was wont to do a whole Fortnight; I think your Kindness and my Fervence of Love causeth it; for otherwise I would not thought it possible; that for so little a while it should have grieved me; but now that I am ing toward you; me thinketh my Pains by half released; and also I am right well forted; insomuch that my Book maketh substantially for my Matter; in writing whereof I have spent above four Hours this Day; which caused me now write the shorter Letter to you at this Tyme; because of some Payne in my Head; wishing myself(specially an Evening) in my Sweethearts Armes whose pretty Duckys I trust shortly to kysse。 Write with the Hand of him that was; is; and shall be yours by his will;
H.R.
伏爾泰致奧琳蒲·杜諾瓦耶
伏爾泰(1694—1778);原名佛蘭蘇阿·瑪利·阿路埃,伏爾泰是其筆名。他出生於巴黎,自幼受過良好教育。他從小就喜愛文學,立志當文學家,中學畢業後就成為一名無業的文人。啟蒙運動興起以後,伏爾泰成為啟蒙運動的旗手。19歲時,他被派往海牙任法國大使隨員,愛上當地少女奧琳蒲·杜諾瓦耶(1692—?)。兩人的戀愛遭到女方母親的反對,伏爾泰被法國大使關禁閉。本篇是他在被關禁閉期間寫給杜諾瓦耶的一封信。
我被他們以國王的名義囚禁在此;他們可以要我的命,卻無法奪走我對你的愛情。是的,我傾慕的情人,今天晚上我去見你,就算為此上斷頭臺我也在所不惜。看在老天的分上,別在信上說些可怕的話。你必須活下去,另外還要非常謹慎;要提防你的母親,她是你最大的敵人。我在說些什麼啊?你要當心每一個人,誰也不能信任;你要妥善準備,等月亮一出來,我就喬裝打扮離開旅館,僱一輛馬車或者便車。我們將如疾風般趕到斯赫維寧根;我將會帶上紙和墨水,我們可以用來寫信。
如果你愛我的話,你一定要打消所有的顧慮,一定要鼓足勇氣,一定要保持絕對的冷靜;千萬不要讓你的母親察覺這些,帶上你的畫像。請你相信我:最嚴酷的刑罰也不能阻止我為你效勞。
不,什麼力量都不能把我們分開;我們之間的愛情是以道德為基礎的,它將和我們的生命一樣長久。再見,我甘願為了你承擔任何風險;你值得我為你做任何事情。再見,我親愛的甜心!
阿路埃
1713年於海牙
Voltaire
To
The Hague; 1713。
I am a prisoner here in the name of the King; they can take my life; but not the love that I feel for you。 Yes; my adorable mistress; tonight I shall see you; and if I had to put my head on the block to do it。 For Heaven's sake; do not speak to me in such disastro