July 14,1861 Washington, D.C.

1861年7月14日華盛頓特區(qū)

My very dear Sarah,Indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow.

我最親愛的莎拉：任務十分緊迫，部隊將在數(shù)天內(nèi)開拔，也許就在明天。

Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

我覺得有必要寫給你幾句話，以免今后再沒機會給你寫信。這樣，在我離去的時候，信就會出現(xiàn)在你眼前。

I have no misgivings about or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.

對于我所投身的事業(yè)，我沒有絲毫的擔憂和害怕，我的勇氣也絲毫沒有減弱和退縮。

I know how strongly American civilization now leans on the triumph of the government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government and to pay that debt.

我明白美國文明現(xiàn)在就完全寄托在政府的勝利上;而比起我們之前為革命拋頭顱、灑熱血的先烈們，我們所欠太多。我希望——衷心希望——以今生我拋卻的所有歡娛，來維護政府和償還債務。

Sarah, my love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break. And yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly, with all these chains, to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you that I have enjoyed them so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us…

莎拉，我對你的愛永無止盡。似乎是有一種結(jié)實的鎖鏈將我牢牢系住，只有全能的主才能摧毀它。但對祖國的熱愛似一陣強風，將我和所有這些鐵鏈一起吹向戰(zhàn)場。和你一起度過的所有歡樂時光的記憶如潮水般涌上心頭，我為擁有許多那樣的日子而感激上帝，感激你，要讓我忘掉這些記憶、讓我拋卻未來的希望是多么難——如果上帝保佑，我們將來能夠恩愛地生活在一起，看著咱們的兒子在身邊長大成人……

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you.

如果我沒有回來，我親愛的莎拉，不要忘記我有多愛你;戰(zhàn)場上我即使還剩最后一口氣，也會低喚你的名字。原諒我的許多過錯和我給你造成的許多傷害。

How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been. But, oh Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest days and in the darkest nights. Always. Always.

有時候我是多么的愚蠢和沒頭腦呀。但是，呵，莎拉!如果故去的人能夠重回這個星球，并無聲無息、無影無蹤地飛繞于他們所愛的人周圍。我將在最晴朗的白天和最暗淡的黑夜時時刻刻守候在你的身旁。時時刻刻，直到永遠。

And when the soft breeze fans your cheeks, it shall be my breath; and as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

當輕柔的風兒拂過你的臉頰，那將是我的呼吸;當涼爽的風兒撩過你的鬢角，那將是我路過的靈魂。

Sarah, do not mourn me dead: Think I am gone and wait for me, for me shall meet again.

莎拉，不要為我的死而悲哀：只要想著我走了。等著我，因為我們還會再相見。