有这种感觉。不论是与您相处或坐下来给您写信，总是很担心，前思后想，不知道怎么说，怎么写。
我向来遵循一条诚实的准则，对您也是一样。说实话，耍弄虚伪和欺骗的伎俩是非常卑劣和怯懦的表现，但居然有人将这种手段用在纯洁的爱情这种高尚无私的感情上，实在让人惊讶。不，我亲爱的埃，我永远不会用这种低劣的手段博得您的欢心。如果您能慷慨地答应与我终生为伴，成为朋友或知音，这世上再无其他什么东西更能使我狂喜，但我永远不会想到用一个男子汉不屑一顾的——补充一句——基督徒的手腕向您求婚。
亲爱的，我只求您一件事：要么干脆利落地拒绝，让我彻底失望；要么慨然答应，免得我惶恐不安。
如果您方便亲赐只言片语，我将万分感激。我只想再补充一句，我所做的一切均出自对您的爱慕和尊重，并全身心地愿您更幸福，而且，这颗装满荣誉感和美感的心支配着我（也许没有完全支配）——如果这些是您期望一个朋友和丈夫所具有的品质，我想您会永远在您忠实的朋友和真挚的爱慕者身上找到。
罗伯特·彭斯
1785年3月3日
Robert Burns
To
； 1785
Dear Ellison；
I have often thought it a peculiarly unlucky circumstance in love； that though in every other situation in life telling the truth is not only the safest； but actually by far the easiest way of proceeding； a lover is never under greater difficulty in acting； nor ever more puzzled for expression than when his passion is sincere and his intentions honorable。
I do not think that it is very difficult for a person of ordinary capacity to talk of love and fondness which are not felt； and to make vows of constancy and fidelity which are never intended to be performed； if he be villain enough to practice such detestable conduct； but to a man whose heart glows with the principles of integrity and truth； and who sincerely loves a woman of amiable person； unmon refinement of sentiment； and purity of manners； from my own feelings at this present moment； courtship is a task indeed。 There is such a number of foreboding fears and distrustful anxieties crowd into my mind when I am in your pany； or when I sit down to write to you； that what to speak or what to write I am altogether at a loss。
There is one rule which I have hitherto practised and which I shall invariably keep with you and that is； honestly to tell you the plain truth。 There is something so mean and unmanly in the arts of dissimulation and falsehood that I am surprised they can be acted by any one in so noble； so generous a passion as virtuous love。 No； my dear E。； I shall never endeavour to gain your favor by such detestable practices。 If you will be so good and so generous as to admit me for your partner； your panion； your bosom friend through life； there is nothing on this side of eternity shall give me greater transport； but I shall never think of purchasing your hand by any arts unworthy of a man—and； I will add—of a Christian。
There is one thing； my dear； which I earnestly request of you and it is this； that you should soon either put an end to my hopes by a peremptory refusal or cure me of my fears by a generous consent。
It would oblige me much if you would send me a line or two when convenient。 I shall only add further that if a behavior regulated （though perhaps but very imperfectly） by the rules of honor and virtue of a heart devoted to love and esteem you； and an earnest endeavour to promote your happiness—if these are qualities you would wish in a friend； in a husband； I hope you shall ever find them in your real friend and sincere lover。
Robert Burns
。 想看书来
威廉·赫兹里特致萨拉·沃克（1）
威廉·赫兹里特（1778—1830），19世纪初英国著名的散文作家、文艺批评家。最初曾考虑担任神职工作，后改变想法，从事绘画与新闻工作。当过国会记者和杂志期刊撰稿人。他的文艺评论集收录了《莎士比亚戏剧中的人物》《论英国诗人》《时代精神》 《素描与随笔》等作品。
亲爱的萨拉：
你会因这封信姗姗来迟而责怪我，问我是否因为我说过要搞好工作。其实，说真的，一半是想你，同时也不能忽视工作。我一般每天写十页稿子，这样一个星期可以挣三十畿尼。因此，你可以看到，照这样下去，我将变得富有。如果有你伴我左右，用甜蜜的微笑鼓励我，与我共担忧愁，共享喜悦，我便能够坚持下去。伯维克号帆船一星期开两趟，风缓缓地吹着。当我想起我们千百次地彼此爱抚，我毫不奇怪自己会如此依恋你，但可惜我无力更好地取悦你。听见风叹息着穿过窗棂，我不禁反复吟诵拜伦勋爵悲剧中的两行诗——
“于是你将看见我常伴你左右，
今生今世，也许直至地老天荒。”
由此我联想到你，我的爱人，想到不知能否再与你相见。也许见不到——至少几年不见——直至你我都日益衰老——到那时，当所有的人都舍你而去时，我会爬到你的身旁，在你的怀中死去。
有一次，你要我相信，我爱的女人不会痛恨我，这样的感觉如此甜蜜，虽然知道只是说笑与痴话，而不是现实——现在想起来，我对你仍然不胜感激。离开你的那一天，我欲哭无泪，以为泪水已干，但此时写信竟又泪水长流。如果再无眼泪，我的心都将破碎。
我经常午后到户外散步，不时听到画眉迎春的啼声从山谷深处飞出，但我已不再为它的啁啾之鸣心醉，因为我的心已经冰冷枯萎，就像你所说的那样，总有一天它会彻底冰凉。上帝原谅我如上所言，这确实情非得已。但你曾经是我拥有的一切，一想到要永远失去你，我就难以忍受，这也许是由于我的过错吧。有人去拜访你吗？任何你收到的信件都不要转给我。我希望你和你母亲（如果她乐意）去看看《奥赛罗》中的基恩先生和《村中恋情》中的斯蒂芬斯小姐。如果你们能去看，我就写信给T先生，请他给你们寄票。P先生见过你吗？ 我想我也得寄票给他，感谢他把你的画像寄给了我，可以让我对着它亲吻和倾诉衷肠。吻我，我最心爱的人儿。啊！ 即使我永远不能拥有你，也让我成为你骄傲和幸福的奴隶吧。
威廉·赫兹里特
1830年3月21日
William Hazlitt
To
Mar。 21st； 1803
Dear Sarah；
You will scold me for this； and ask me if this is keeping my promise to mind my work。 One half of it was to think of Sarah； and besides I do not neglect my work either； I assure you。 I regularly do ten pages a day； which mounts up to thirty guineas' worth a week； so that you see that I should grow rich at this rate； if I could keep on so； and I could keep on so； if I had you with me to encourage me with your sweet smiles； and share my lot。 The Berwick smack sails twice a week； and the wind sets fair。 When I think of the thousand endearing caresses that have passed between us； I do not wonder at the strong attachment that draws me to you； but I am very sorry for my own want of power to please。 I hear the wind sigh through the lattice and keep repeating over and over to myself two lines of Lord Byron's tragedy—
“So shalt thou find me ever at thy side；
威廉·赫兹里特致萨拉·沃克（2）
Here and hereafter； if the last may be。”
Applying them to thee； my love； and thinking whether I shall ever see thee again。 Perhaps not—for some years at least—till both thou and I are old —and then when all else has forsaken thee； I will creep to thee； and die in thine arms。
You once made me believe that I was not hated by her I loved； and for that sensation—so delicious was it； though but mockery and a dream—I owe you more than I can ever pay。 I thought to have dried up my tears forever the day I left you； but as I write this they stream again。 If they did not； I think my heart would burst。
I walk out here on an afternoon and hear the notes of the thrush that es up from a sheltered valley below； wele in the spring； but they do not melt my heart as they used； it is growing cold and dead。 As you say； it will one day be colder。 God forgive what I have written above； I did