约翰· 沃尔夫冈· 冯· 歌德( Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), 18世纪中叶到19世纪初德国和欧洲最重要的剧作家、诗人、思想家，他一生跨两个世纪，正当欧洲社会大动荡大变革的年代。这首诗是贝婷· 布伦塔诺给歌德写的一封情书，悲剧为"史上最经典的情书"。
You know my heart
你知道我的心
Bettine Brentano to Goethe
贝停-布伦塔诺致歌德
You know my heart; you know that all there
你知道我的心;你知道我心里
is desire, thought, boding and longing;
惟有的愿望、思念、预兆和渴求;
you live among spirits and they give you divine wisdom.
你生活在幽灵之中，他们给你以神灵的智慧。
You must nourish me; you give all that in advance,
你一定要给我以"营养"。
which I do not understand to ask for.
你已经事先就给了我那些我不懂得去要求的东西。
My mind has a small embrace, my love a large one;
虽说我的才智小，但我的爱情甚深;
you must bring them to a balance.
你一定要平衡这两方面。
Love cannot be quiet till the mind matches its growth;
在理智跟不上爱情的发展时，爱不能平静。
you are matched to my love; you are friendly, kind, and indulgent;
你知道我有多爱你;你友善、温存、宽厚。
let me know when my heart is off the balance.
告诉我，什么时候我的心失去了平衡。
I understand your silent signs.
我懂得你那无声的暗示。
A look from your eyes into mine, a kiss from you upon my lips,
你映人我眼帘的凝睇、你印在我唇上的热吻，
instructs me in all, what might seem delighted to learn,
向我说明了一切。这一切对于像我这样的人，
to one who, like me, had experience from those.
对于有过这方面感情经历的人，看来似乎令人高兴。
I am far from you; mine are become strange to me.
你我天各一方，我给你的凝望和亲吻对我已日益陌生。
I must ever return in thought to that hour
我无法不回想在
when you hold me in the soft fold of your arm.
你怀抱中的温柔时刻。
Then I begin to weep, but the tears dry again unawares.
然后我便开始哭泣，又不知不觉眼泪已哭干。
Yes, he reaches with his love (thus I think)
是的，在深藏的静谧中
over to me in this concealed stillness;
他对我一往情深(我如是想)。
and should not I, with my eternal undisturbed loving,
难道我就不应该借着永不动摇的深情
reach to him in the distance?
遥通心声吗?
Ah, conceive what my heart has to say to you;
啊，你不知道我一心要对你说些什么吗？
it overflows with soft sighs all whisper to you.
我要对你无限地轻声叹息，窃窃私语，让感情沛溢。
Be my only happiness on earth your friendly will to me.
愿我今生今世唯一的幸福就是你对我的无限的柔情。
O, dear friend, give me but a sign that you are conscious of me.
啊，亲爱的朋友，只求你给我暗示，你心中只有我。
