與妻書 （三）

林覺民（1911）

A Letter to My Wife （3）

Lin Juemin (1911)

吾今與汝無言矣。吾居九泉之下遙聞汝哭聲，當哭相和也。吾平日不信有鬼，今則又望其真有。今是人又言心電感應有道，吾亦望其言是實，則吾之死，吾靈尚依依旁汝也，汝不必以無侶悲。

I have no more words for you.

From beneath the Nine Springs,

I shall hear your weeping,

And weep with you.

I never believed in ghosts—

But now I hope they are real.

Some say the heart can send signals across distance—

I hope this is true.

Then even in death,

My spirit will linger near you.

Do not mourn for lack of a companion.

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吾平生未嘗以吾所志語汝，是吾不是處；然語之，又恐汝日日為吾擔憂。吾犧牲百死而不辭，而使汝擔憂，的的非吾所忍。吾愛汝至，所以為汝謀者惟恐未盡。汝幸而偶我，又何不幸而生今日之中國！吾幸而得汝，又何不幸而生今日之中國！卒不忍獨善其身。嗟夫！巾短情長，所未盡者，尚有萬千，汝可以模擬得之。吾今不能見汝矣！汝不能舍吾，其時時於夢中得我乎？一慟。辛未三月廿六夜四鼓，意洞手書。

All my life,

I never spoke to you of my ideals—

That was my fault.

But had I spoken,

You would have worried for me every day.

I would die a hundred times without regret,

But to make you worry—

That I could not bear.

I love you deeply,

And fear I have not done enough for you.

You were fortunate to marry me,

Yet how unfortunate to be born in today’s China!

I was fortunate to have you,

Yet how unfortunate to be born in today’s China!

I could not bear to live only for myself.

Alas!

My words are short, my feelings long—

What I have not said,

You may imagine.

I can no longer see you.

You cannot let me go—

Perhaps you will find me in dreams?

A final lament.

Written by Yidong,

On the night of the 26th of the third lunar month,

At the fourth watch.

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家中諸母皆通文，有不解處，望請其指教，當盡吾意為幸。

PS: If any part is unclear,

Please ask the literate elders in our family.

If they can help you understand my meaning,

I shall be most grateful.