清 • 林覺民 【與妻訣別書】(節錄) 

LIN JUE-MIN'S "FINAL FAREWELL LETTER TO MY WIFE"  (Excerpt Translation) 

多次閱覽 【與妻訣別書】，心潮激湧，淚容滿面，嗟嘆再三！壯哉先烈！

這是同盟會革命志士 林覺民 在清末(辛亥)廣州之役 (黃花崗起義) 前，寫在紙上(一說白巾)給其懐孕妻子 陳意映 的訣別信。(因為起義事關機密，不能預先告知妻兒，而在離家前夜深寫給妻子的遺書。)

林覺民，黃花崗七十二烈士之一(此役死難烈士共達86人)。生於1887年福建福州市；字意洞，號抖飛，又號天外生。林於1902年考入福州全閩大學堂文科，畢業後，考入日本慶應義塾，大學文科攻讀哲學。後加入同盟會；1911年4月27日(宣統三年農曆3月29日)參加辛亥廣州起義，由黃興領導革命黨人(一百七十餘臂纏白巾)，進攻兩廣總督府。事敗，林大腿中彈受傷被捕，從容就義，卒年25歲。

<林覺民 是梁啓超之媳，梁思成之妻、著名建築師和作家 林徵音 的堂叔 。林徵音 又是著名作家，詩人 徐志摩 的前度女友。>  

"FINAL FAREWELL LETTER TO MY WIFE" (Excerpt Translation)
-- LIN JUE-MIN (1887-1911)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue


意映卿卿如晤：

My dearest Yi-ying, my Love true,
It's like I'm talking face-to-face to you:

吾今以此書與汝永別矣！.....
汝看此書時，吾已成為陰間一鬼。
With this letter, to you I say, "Forever Good-bye"! ...
When you're reading this, I'll be a ghost by and by.

吾作此書，淚珠和筆墨齊下，
不能竟書，而欲擱筆！
Whilst writing, tears, brush and ink were coming down.
I almost couldn't finish writing, I found!

又恐汝不察吾衷，謂吾忍舍汝而死，
謂吾不知汝之不欲吾死也，故遂忍悲為汝言之。
I fear you may not understand my intentions true;
You might wonder why I should die, forsaking you.
Thinking I don't know your 'not-wanting-me-to-die',
So, swallowing great sorrows, I'll here tell you why.

吾至愛汝，即此愛汝一念，
使吾勇於就死也。
I love you utmost: (Love you till the twelve of never.)
This very love empowers me to charge Death forever.

吾自遇汝以來，常願天下有情人都成眷屬；
然遍地腥羶，滿街狼犬，
稱心快意，幾家能夠？
E'er since the day you came along, crossing my way,
I wish all lovers are life-long partners, always.
But it's smelly and messy everywhere;
Ferocious wolves and dogs are here and there.
Truly contented and happy --
How many are there, do tell me?

語云：「仁者老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼。」
It's said, "The bounteous one supports his and others' seniors;
He provides also for his and all the others' juniors."

吾充吾愛汝之心，助天下人愛其所愛，
所以敢先汝而死，不顧汝也。
With the same heart so full of love for you,
I'm helping my countrymen to find True
Love that they'll love and treasure through and through.
Thus, I dare to die afore you
And leave you unattended, too.

汝體吾此心，於啼泣之餘，
亦以天下人為念，當亦樂犧牲吾身與汝身之福利，
為天下人謀永福也。汝其勿悲！
Now that you know how my heart aches --
While you are wailing for my sake,
Don't let your thoughts on the Greater Self shake.
You'd be glad I sacrifice (with you agreeing)
My own body as well as your well-being
For all the people's endless Happiness --
Praises for which they'll sing ceaseless.
You should grieve not (or at least less)!

..... 吾誠願與汝相守以死。第以今日時勢觀之，
天災可以死，盜賊可以死，
瓜分之日可以死，奸官污吏虐民可以死，
吾輩處今日之中國，無時無地不可以死 。
... I do truly wish to stay with you until our days last,
But judging from the dire situations (and events past),
Death comes from natural disasters (like a forest fire),
From the robbers' blades, from foreign armies that conspire,
From many a corrupt official with evil desire.
The China we are in today
Just makes all of us easy preys.

... 即可不死，而離散不相見，
徒使兩地眼成穿而骨化石；
試問古來幾曾見破鏡重圓？
則較死尤苦也。
... Though we may not be killed we may be split apart;
With e'er longing eyes, our bones would become rock hard.
Since the old times, O is it intended
That broken mirrors could e'er be mended?
It's torturous to keep one's breath
Than having a sudden quick death.

..... 吾今死無餘憾，
國事成不成，
自有同志者在。
... Now, with no regrets, let me die.
Should a brave new China arise (or not arise),
I just leave this to my comrades (to improvise).

依新已五歲，轉眼成人，
汝其善撫之，使之肖我。
Our Yi-xin is now five years old;
Into a man he'll soon unfold.
Instill in him a heart of gold,
Let his father be his big mould.

汝腹中之物，吾疑其女也，
女必像汝，吾心甚慰。
Now, the little young baby in your womb,
I suspect into a fine girl it'll bloom.
Into your elegant image she'll ease;
Indeed, my heart shall be so very pleased.

或又是男，則亦教其以父志為志，
則我死後，尚有兩意洞在也。
甚幸！甚幸！
Or, should the baby be a boy,
Teach him my will -- our country's joy.
Then, even after my demise,
There are still two "I's" to arise.
What good fortune!
Good fortune!

... 吾愛汝至，汝幸而偶我，
又何不幸而生今日之中國！
... I love you utmost,
As my spouse, you're fortunate most.
So unfortunate can one stay?
To be born in China today!

吾幸而得汝，又何不幸而生今日之中國，
卒不忍獨善其身！
I am fortunate to have married you;
But, unfortunately born in today's China, too.
In the end, to be fine all by m'self I can't bear.
(Fighting for the common good I certainly dare!)

嗟乎！紙(巾)短情長，
所未盡者尚有萬千，汝可以模擬得之。
Alas! The handkerchief is short, m'sentiments long.
So many countless words unsaid, feelings so strong.
Together, the rest you'd virtually string along.

吾今不能見汝矣！汝不能舍我，
其時時於夢中得我乎！一慟！
Now, you I can no longer see!
And you cannot let go of me.
But, always in dreams we will be!
How I cry (-- hear my plea)!


辛亥三月二十六夜四鼓　意洞手書

At the fourth watch,
On the 26th day of the 3rd Month
In the Lunar Year of Xin-hai

(Hand written by) Yi-Dong

(At night on April 27, 1191)