“Love’s Philosophy,” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
In spite of its title, this very sweet sixteen-line poem has nothing to do with philosophy, as far as I can see. Instead, it promulgates one of the oldest arguments of a swain to a maid: “All the world is in intimate contact – water, wind, mountains, moonbeams, even flowers. What about you?” Since “Nothing in the world is single,” he says with multiple examples, “What is all this sweet work worth / If thou kiss not me?” Interestingly, the lover’s proof of the “law divine” of mingling delicately omits any reference to animals and their mingling behavior. In any case, I hope it worked for him.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine?—
See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me?
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爱的哲学
文/ 雪莱
译/Yimusanfendi
条条清泉与那条河交融，
而众江河与大海相通。
那些天堂的风
永远混杂一份甜蜜的感情；
这世上没有什么形单影孤；
神圣的法则主导万物
在同一个精神里相聚相融。
为什么我不能与你相通？——
看，那众山亲吻高高的天
那浪花彼此拥抱纠缠
没有一朵姐妹花会被谅解包容
如果它鄙视它的弟兄
并且那阳光搂抱大地，
那大海被月光亲吻抚摸：
所有的甜蜜工作有什么价值
如果你亲吻的不是我？
译于12/23/2016
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爱底哲学
文/ 雪莱
译/查良铮
泉水总是向河水汇流，
河水又汇入海中，
天宇的轻风永远融有
一种甜蜜的感情；
世上哪有什么孤零零？
万物由于自然律
都必融汇于一种精神。
何以你我却独异？
你看高山在吻着碧空，
波浪也相互拥抱；
谁曾见花儿彼此不容：
姊妹把弟兄轻蔑？
阳光紧紧地拥抱大地，
月光在吻着海波：
但这些接吻又有何益，
要是你不肯吻我？
1819年
查良铮 译
