And yet I still said to myself, if it is true that she does not love me, if nothing in me could deserve the blessing of her love, without which there is no longer any charm in life, is that a reason for dying? Do I exist for my own personal happiness? No, my whole existence is devoted to her, even in spite of her. And by what right should I have dared to aspire to her love? Am I then, more than an angel or a deity? I love her, true, even shouldn't I am ready to sacrifice everything gladly for her sake, everything, even the hope of being loved by her; there is no devotedness of which I am not capable for her, for one of her smiles, for one of her looks. But could I do otherwise? Is she not the sole aim of my life? That she may show indifference to me, even hate me, will be my misfortune, that is all. What does it matter, so that it does not injure her happiness? Yes, if she cannot love me I ought to blame myself only. My duty is to keep close to her steps, to surround her existence with mine, to serve her as a barrier against all dangers, to offer her my head as a stepping-stone, to place myself unceasingly between her and all sorrows, without claiming reward, without expecting recompense. Only too happy if she deigns some times to cast a pitying look upon her slave, and to remember him in the hour of danger! Alas! If she only allow me to give my life to anticipate her every desire, all her caprices; if she but permit me to kiss with respect her adored footprints; if she but consent to lean upon me at times amidst the difficulties of life, then I shall have obtained the only happiness to which I have the presumption to aspire. Because I am ready to sacrifice all for her, does she owe me gratitude? Is it her fault that I love her? Must she, on that account, believe herself constrained to love me? No! She may sport with my devotions, repay my services with hate, and repulse my idolatry with scorn, without my having for a moment the right to complain of that angel, nor ought I to cease for an instant to lavish upon her all that which she would disdain. And should every one of my days have been marked by some sacrifice for her, I should still, at the day of my death have discharged nothing of the infinite debt that my existence owes to her.
Such, my beloved Adele, were the thoughts and resolutions of my mind at this time yesterday. Today they are still the same. Only there is mingled with them the certainty of happiness—such great happiness that I cannot think of it without trembling, and scarcely dare to believe in it.
Then it is true that you love me, Adele? Tell me, can I trust in this enchanting idea? Don't you think that I shall end by becoming insane with joy if ever I can pass the whole of my life at your feet, sure of making you as happy as I shall be myself, sure of being adored by you as you are adored by me? Oh! Your letter has restored peace to me with happiness. A thousand thanks, Adele, my well beloved angel. Would that I could prostrate myself before you as before a divinity. How happy you make me! Adieu, adieu, I shall pass a very happy night dreaming of you.
Sleep well, and allow your husband to take the twelve kisses which you promised him besides all those yet unpromises.
Yours affectionately,
V.H.
Jan. 1820
我亲爱的阿黛勒：
你的几句话就调整了我的心情。是的，你可以随意处置我。明天，如果你那温柔的声音和可爱嘴唇的温情都不能使我复苏，我就真的是一命呜呼了。今夜，我躺下时的心情与昨夜是多么不同啊！昨天，阿黛勒，因为我相信你不爱我了，死神降临正是我求之不得的。
但我还是对自己说，就算她真的不爱我了，就算我已经没有任何地方值得她去爱了，就算没有了她的爱，余生将索然无味，难道我就应因此而死去吗？我活着难道是为了自己的幸福吗？不！不论她爱不爱我，我的此生都是献给她的。我有什么权利要求她的爱？难道我能胜过天使或神灵？我爱她，不错，即使没有回报，我也甘愿为她牺牲一切，甚至放弃被她爱的希望。为了她的一个微笑，为了她的一次顾盼，我愿意为她做任何事。我有别的选择吗？我活着不就是为了爱她吗？就算她对我漠不关心，甚至恨我，那只是我的不幸，如此而已。只要她幸福，又有什么关系呢？是的，如果她不能爱我，我能责备的只有我自己。
我的天职就是紧紧跟随她，用我的生命去保护她；甘心做她抵御一切危险的屏障；把头颅献给她做垫脚石，只要她永远无忧无虑，我不祈求奖励，不渴望报偿。如果她能偶尔发发善心，对她的奴隶投来一丝怜悯的目光，在需要时记得他，那就是他莫大的幸福！唉！只要她肯让我为满足她的小小愿望甚至任性而付出生命；只要她允许我满怀崇敬地亲吻她可爱的足迹；只要她同意在生活历程的艰难时刻依靠我，我便得到了我所期望的唯一幸福，因为我乐于为她牺牲一切。她受过我的恩惠吗？我爱她是她的过失吗？难道因为我爱她，她就非爱我不成？不，她可以玩弄我的感情，以怨报德，对我的崇拜不屑一顾，我也根本无权对我的天使有丝毫抱怨。尽管她趾高气扬，我也不应当停止向她倾诉衷肠。即使我每天都为她作出牺牲，临终时也无法偿清那数不尽的负债，但因为有了她我才得以存活。
我心爱的阿黛勒，这就是我昨夜此刻的心绪，今天还是这样。不同的是，今天的思想中掺进了幸福的信念——如此洪福，想到它，我幸福得颤抖，几乎不敢相信。
这么说，你是真的爱我了，阿黛勒？告诉我吧，我能相信这悦耳的福音吗？假如我能一辈子照顾你，又能使你像我一样幸福，并使自己得到你同样的爱，难道你不认为我会高兴得发狂吗？啊，你的信给我的幸福令我恢复了平静。一千次地感谢你，阿黛勒，我最心爱的天使，但愿我能像匍匐在神像前那样匍匐在你的脚下。你给了我多么大的幸福啊！再见，晚安，我将在梦中与你欢聚！
好好睡吧，让你的丈夫接受你答应他的十二个吻，还要加上你未曾答应的。
永远忠实于你的
维克多·雨果
1820年1月
道歉信
道歉信是因自己失误而引起对方的不快，用以表示赔礼道歉、消除曲解、增进友谊和信赖的信函。对不愿为的事，可声明自己的一贯主张；对不能为的请托，更应陈述理由，说明自己为什么不能为。态度一定要真诚，语言一定要温和。
misfortune [misf:tu:n] n. 厄运；不幸；不幸的事故
Good watch prevents misfortune.
防微杜渐。
barrier [b鎟i(r)] n. 屏障；障碍物；分界线
They soon overcame the language barrier.
不久，他们便克服了语言上的障碍。
recompense [rekmpens] n. 赔偿；补偿；报酬
She received a gift as recompense.
作为报酬，她得到了一件礼物。
anticipate [鎛tisipeit] v. 预料；预期；预见
I anticipate a good vacation.
我期待着一个快乐的假期。
不论她爱不爱我，我的此生都是献给她的。
我的天职就是紧紧跟随她，用我的生命去保护她；甘心做她抵御一切危险的屏障；把头颅献给她做垫脚石，只要她永远无忧无虑，我不祈求奖励，不渴望报偿。
不同的是，今天的思想中掺进了幸福的信念——如此洪福，想到它，我幸福得颤抖，几乎不敢相信。
And by what right should I have dared to aspire to her love?
dare to：敢于……
I no longer believe in your love, the hour of death would have been welcome to me .
no longer：不再
詹姆斯·乔伊斯致妻子娜拉
James Joyce to His Wife Nora
詹姆斯·乔伊斯（1882—1941），20世纪西方最富有独创性且影响巨大的作家。21岁时，由于人生观发生剧变，他同宗教信仰痛苦地决裂，这一激烈的思想矛盾在他中年时所写的自传体小说《青年艺术家的肖像》中有所反映。他的代表作有《青年艺术家的肖像》、《尤利西斯》。在世界文坛上，詹姆斯·乔伊斯被认为是“意识流小说之父”，是一个“不属于一个时代，而属于所有世纪”的享誉千古的文学巨匠。他的《尤利西斯》被认为是一部“登峰造极”的小说，甚至被称为“天书”。
My darling,
I am terribly upset that you haven't written. Are you ill?
I have spoken of this affair to an old friend of mine, Byrne, and he took your part splendidly and says it is all a "blasted lie".