我為美而死了

我為美而死了，可是

還是害怕墳墓里，

這時一個為真理而死了的人

被放進隔壁的房間。

他輕聲地問我為何敗陣

“為美，”我答。

“我為真理——這兩個東西是一回事；

我們是兄弟，”他說。

如此，就像朋友在夜裡相遇，

我們隔着房間傾談，

直到青苔爬到我們的嘴唇，

並把我們的名字掩埋。

（艾米麗·狄金森）

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.

  (Emily Dickinson)