Friendship 友谊颂

Friendship

by Elizabeth Jennings

Such love I cannot analyse;
我不能看懂这样一种感情

It does not rest in lips or eyes,
它不在嘴唇与眼睛里

Neither in kisses nor caress.
也不在亲吻与爱抚里

Partly, I know, it’s gentleness
哦，有一点，我知道，它是温和的

And understanding in one word
蕴含在一个单词

Or in brief letters. It’s preserved
甚至简短的字母中。

By trust and by respect and awe.
它在信任，尊敬与敬仰中存在

These are the words I’m feeling for.
这就是我所感受到的

Two people, yes, two lasting friends.
两个人，是的，两个老朋友

The giving comes, the taking ends
给予而相知，索求但断缘

There is no measure for such things.
没有任何事物能与它相比

For this all Nature slows and sings.
世界因它流动，为它歌唱