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Ecstasy:

(Emily Dickinson, translated by Vivian)

我为美丽而死

我为美丽而死
却尚未适应这洞坟墓。
而躺在隔壁那人
乃是为真理而死。

 

他轻声问我，为何殉身。
“为了美丽。”我答。
“而我为真理，两者为一物；
你我亲似兄弟。”他说。

 

于是，我们如亲人般
隔着墙，在夜里长谈。
直到那苔藓攀上我们双唇，
也覆盖我们姓名。

-----

I Died for Beauty

I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room. 

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth --the two are one;
We brethren are," he said. 

And so, as kinsmen met a-night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.