How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

我怎样爱你？让我来告诉你。

我用我灵魂所能达到的极限来爱你，

就像在黑暗中感受

生命的尽头和上帝的恩惠。

我爱你，是日光和烛焰下

最基本的需要。

我无拘无束的爱你，就像人们为权利而斗争。

我无比纯洁的爱你，就像人们不为赞美而陶醉。

我爱你，我的深情不再留给往日的悲伤，

我爱你，用我童年的信念，

我爱你，就像爱那些天上的圣人，

我爱你，用我生命中所有的呼吸、微笑和泪水，

如果上帝让我去死，我会接受，

但死后我会更加爱你。