I walk out here on an afternoon and hear the notes of the thrush that comes up from a sheltered valley below， welcome in the spring； but they do not melt my heart as they used； it is growing cold and dead. As you say， it will one day be colder. God forgive what I have written above； I did not intend it； but you were once my little all， and I cannot bear the thought of having lost you forever， I fear through my own fault. Has any one called？ Do not send any letters that come. I should like you and your mother(if agreeable) to go and see Mr. Kean in Othello and Miss Stephens in Love in a Village. If you will， I will write to Mr. T to send you tickets， has Mr. P called？ l think I must send to him for the picture to kiss and talk to. Kiss me， my best beloved. Ah！ If you can never be mine， still let me be your proud and happy slave.
William Hazlitt
Mar. 21st， 1803
亲爱的萨拉：
你会因这封信姗姗来迟而责怪我，问我是否是为了恪守我搞好工作的诺言。其实，说真的，一半是想你，但同时我也不能忽视工作。我一般每天写十页稿子，这样一个星期可以挣三十畿尼。因此，你可以看到，照这样下去，我将变得富有。如果有你伴我左右，用甜蜜的微笑鼓励我，与我共担忧愁，共享喜悦，我便能够坚持下去。伯维克号帆船一星期开两趟，风缓缓地吹着。当我想起我们千百次地彼此爱抚，我毫不奇怪自己会如此依恋你，但可惜我无力更好地取悦你。听见风叹息着穿过窗棂，我不禁反复吟诵拜伦勋爵悲剧中的两行诗——
“于是你将看见我常伴你左右，
今生今世，也许直至地老天荒。”
由此我联想到你，我的爱人，想到不知能否再与你相见。也许见不到——至少几年不见，直至你我都日益衰老。到那时，所有的人都舍你而去时，我会爬到你的身旁，在你的怀中死去。