Valentine's Day

Somewhere in Paris . . .

In honor of "Martyr Valentinus the Presbyter and those with him at Rome," I submit a poem with one of the most famous opening lines in English.  Although it's technically known by its opening verse, it's number 43 of a collection entitled "Sonnets from the Portuguese," published in 1850.  The sonnet's author, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, was uneasy about publishing her love poems to her husband and decided to pass them off as translations of "originals" in a relatively inaccessible source language.  (It was a year of compromises.)  Here is the full sonnet, as well as a seat-of-the-pants Portuguese detranslation.  (Also, in case you're wondering, the Japanese not only celebrate Valentine's Day, but do us one better by celebrating White Day a month later, too.)

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

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 everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

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.

Como é que eu te amo? Contamos então.

Cómo é que eu te amo? Contamos então.

Te amo até a profundidade, a largura, e a altura

Que posso conseguir tateando com a mão

As extremidades da existência e a graça que dura.

Te amo ao nível do desejo mais tranquilo

De cada dia, pela luz do sol e o lume de vela feito.

Te amo livremente, como aspiramos ao direito;

Te amo puramente, como desdenhamos o elogio.

Amo com uma paixão de meu sofrimento antigo,

e também com a fé de minha infância. Te digo

que te amo com uma afeição que achava tão sumida

quanto meus santos, e te amo com o fôlego,

a felicidade e as lágrimas de toda minha vida! 

E se Deus quiser, após a morte te amarei ainda mais, querido.

Pour la fête de Saint Valentin, je vous propose de lire un des plus célèbres poèmes jamais écrits en anglais, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways [Comment est-ce que je t'aime?  Comptons les manières]."  Le poème a été publié en 1850, mais son auteur, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, hésitait à diffuser des propos aussi intimes.  Son mari l'a convaincue à mettre à jour son bouquin, mais elle l'a intitulé "Sonnets du portugais," comme si elle les avait simplement traduits.  Ensuite, le prétendu original en portugais.

ヴァレンタインデーのため、有名な英語ソネットを載せました。その最初の詩句は英詩の最も知られている引用に連ねていると思います。エリザベス・バレット・ブラウニングというイギリス人の詩人が１８５０年に「Sonnets from the Portuguese（ポルトガル語からのソネット）」という詩集を出版しました。しかし、大変私事の感情を語ったもので、公開するのは気が引けました。結局、夫の説得に応じて出版しましたが、自分の気持ちを書き込んだことを隠すためにポルトガル語の原作から翻訳された作品として手放しました。そういう虚構に従って、「原作」のポルトガル語の詩も書いてみました。