美国总统里根情人节写给南希的情书:
要么是情人一生,要么没有生命
亲爱的莫妮·朴[i]:
人们把 2月14日这一天作为情人节进行庆祝,但只有运气一般的人才这么做。
从1952年3月4日开始,我幸运地拥有了“情人一生”,只要我和你在一起,这种生活就会一直延续下去。
因此,我知道你对我来说是多么重要。你愿意从今以后永远成为我的“瓦伦丁”[ii]么?你知道,我选择你矢志不渝,要么是情人一生,要么没有生命,因为我爱你无限。
朴普[iii]
1960年2月14日
[i] 里根用几种昵称称呼南希,最常用的一词是“Mommy”,该词虽有“妈咪”之意,但里根选用的这个词是“Misery”、“Only”、“Much”、“Million”和“Yippie”首写字母缩写,M—is for the misery of which I have none; O—means only that without you I would die; M—is for how very much (when we're apart) I miss you; M—is for the million ways I love you; Y— Yippie! I'm so happy.
[ii] 指情人。
[iii] “Pappa”有“老爸”的意思,南希常这样称呼里根。
A Valentine Life or No Life
Feb. 14—1960
Darling Mommie Poo
Feb. 14 may be the date they observe and call Valentine’s day but that is for people of only ordinary luck.
I happen to have a “Valentine Life” which started on March 4 1952 and will continue as long as I have you.
Therefore realizing the importance of this to me, will you be my Valentine from now on and for ever and ever? Ya see my choice is limited, a Valentine Life or no life because I love you very much.
Pappa
摘自《美国总统情书精选50封》(英汉对照)