The Lost Mistress

The Lost Mistress

     by Robert Browning

All's over, then: does truth sound bitter
As one at first believes?
Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter
About your cottage eaves!

And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,
I noticed that, to-day;
One day more bursts them open fully
---You know the red turns grey.

To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?
May I take your hand in mine?
Mere friends are we,---well, friends the merest
Keep much that I resign:

For each glance of the eye so bright and black,
Though I keep with heart's endeavour,---
Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,
Though it stay in my soul for ever!---

Yet I will but say what mere friends say,
Or only a thought stronger;
I will hold your hand but as long as all may,
Or so very little longer!

失去的恋人

  罗伯特•勃朗宁

那么，一切都过去了。难道实情的滋味
真有预想的那么难咽？
听，麻雀在你家村居的屋檐周围
唧唧喳喳地道着晚安。

今天我发现葡萄藤上的芽苞
毛茸茸地，鼓了起来；
再一天时光就会把嫩叶催开，瞧；
暗红正浙渐转为灰白。

最亲爱的。明天我们能否照样相遇？
我能否仍旧握住你的手？
“仅仅是朋友，”好吧，我失去的许多东西，
最一般的朋友倒还能保留：

你乌黑澄澈的眼睛每一次闪烁
我都永远铭刻在心；
我心底也永远保留着你说
“愿白雪花回来”的声音！

但是，我将只说一般朋友的语言，
或许再稍微强烈一丝；
我握你的手，将只握礼节允许的时间
或许再稍微长一霎时！

罗伯特·勃朗宁简介