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