每年的2月14日是西方的情人节,关于情人节的起源有不同的版本,其中的一个说法是,情人节始于公元3世纪,罗马帝国皇帝克劳迪乌斯二世,当时出于战争的考虑,使更多无所牵挂的男人可以走上战场,在首都罗马宣布废弃所有的婚姻承诺。一名叫瓦伦丁(Valentine)的神父没有遵照这个旨意,而继续为相爱的年轻人举行教堂婚礼。事情被告发后,瓦伦丁神父在公元270年2月14日这天被送上了绞架绞死。14世纪以后,人们为纪念那位为情人做主而牺牲的神父,就把2月14日这一天称为Valentine's Day 。
如今的情人节是一个浪漫的节日,也是一个传递友情温馨的节日。商店里布满了情人节的玫瑰花,巧克力,礼品等。 这一天,有的人向心爱的人表达爱意,也有的人在这一天向恋人求婚," Will you marry me?" 祈愿有情人都成眷属。在这美好的节日里,分享两首感人的爱情诗歌。第一首是《How do I love thee》,这是英国诗人白朗宁夫人(Elizabeth Browning)写给他的爱人罗伯特·勃朗宁(Robert Browning)。她在诗中写道:“爱你,以昔日的剧痛和童年的忠诚。 爱你,以眼泪、笑声及全部生命。” 白朗宁夫人十五岁时,不幸骑马跌损了脊椎,因此瘫痪在床。因为诗,罗伯特·勃朗宁认识了她,他们相爱并结婚。由于爱情的力量和奇迹,白朗宁夫人的身体慢慢开始好转,最终告别了病床,并且站起来了,可以自行走路, 他们过着诗歌般的幸福生活,育有一子。
Poem:How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)
Author:Elizabeth Barrett 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 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.
Poem: When You Are Old
Author:William Butler Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Last but not least, 文学城《美语世界》论坛的《中西节日》活动将持续到2月14日这个幸福浪漫的双节里,欢迎文学城的网友来《美语世界》论坛一起庆祝。一切与节日相关的题材都可以,中国节,美国节,西方节,东方节,只要是英语的,或者是中英双语的均可,诸如:节日随笔,中英翻译,朗诵唱歌,诗歌散文,歌曲影视等,题材不限,多多益善。(请点击:欢迎您参加《中西节日》活动 ) Happy Lantern Festival and Valentine's Day to you all.