《世界上最美丽的玫瑰》，1852 年
the Loveliest Rose in the world, 1852
从前有一位伟大的女王，她的花园里一年四季都盛开着来自世界各地的最绚丽的花朵。
there lived once a great queen, in whose garden were found at all seasons the most splendid flowers, and from every land in the world.
她尤其喜爱玫瑰，因此她拥有这种花最美丽的各类品种，从带有苹果香味叶子的野生篱笆玫瑰，到绚丽的普罗旺斯玫瑰，应有尽有。
She specially loved roses, and therefore she possessed the most beautiful varieties of this flower, from the wild hedge-rose, with its apple-scented leaves, to the splendid provence rose.
它们生长在墙壁的遮蔽处附近，缠绕在柱子和窗框上，沿着走廊蔓延，爬上大厅的天花板。
they grew near the shelter of the walls, wound themselves round columns and window-frames, crept along passages and over the ceilings of the halls.
它们有着各种各样的芬芳和颜色。
they were of every fragrance and color.
但这些大厅里却充斥着忧虑和悲伤；女王卧病在床，医生们断言她将不久于人世。
but care and sorrow dwelt within these halls; the queen lay upon a sick bed, and the doctors declared that she must die.
“还有一样东西能救她，” 其中一位最有智慧的医生说。
“there is still one thing that could save her,” said one of the wisest among them.
“给她带来世界上最美丽的玫瑰；一朵能展现出最纯洁、最炽热爱情的玫瑰，如果能在她闭眼之前把它送到她面前，她就不会死。”
“bring her the loveliest rose in the world; one which exhibits the purest and brightest love, and if it is used to her before her eyes close, she will not die.”
于是，各地的人纷纷带着自家花园里盛开的玫瑰赶来，但都不是合适的那种。
then from all parts came those who brought roses that bloomed in every garden, but they were not the right sort.
这朵花必须来自爱的花园；但那里的哪一朵玫瑰能展现出最高尚、最纯洁的爱呢？
the flower must be one from the garden of love; but which of the roses there showed forth the highest and purest love?
诗人们歌颂着这朵世界上最美丽的玫瑰，每个人都说出一朵自己认为配得上这个称号的玫瑰；关于所需之物的消息被传送到每一颗因爱而跳动的心里；传送到每一个阶层、每一个年龄段、每一种境遇的人那里。
the poets sang of this rose, the loveliest in the world, and each named one which he considered worthy of that title; and intelligence of what was required was sent far and wide to every heart that beat with love; to every class, age, and condition.
“还没有人说出那朵花的名字，” 智者说。
“No one has yet named the flower,” said the wise man.
“还没有人指出它盛开得无比绚烂的地方。它不是来自罗密欧与朱丽叶棺木上的玫瑰，也不是来自瓦尔堡墓上的玫瑰，尽管这些玫瑰会在永恒的歌谣中长存。它也不是从温克尔里德那沾满鲜血的英名中萌发出来的玫瑰。一位为祖国捐躯的英雄胸膛里流淌出的鲜血是神圣的，他的英名是甜蜜的，没有哪朵玫瑰能比从他血管里流淌出的鲜血更红。它也不是科学的神奇之花，为了得到这奇妙的花朵，一个人会在孤寂的斗室里，在无数个不眠之夜，耗费自己青春年少时的许多时光。”