《自深深處》的原題是"de profundis"，拉丁文，意為"from the depth"(從深處)。對(duì)寫著這封信的王爾德來說，當(dāng)時(shí)他身處的監(jiān)獄無異于地獄深淵。而正是在這深淵里，在無限的悲痛之中，他開始反思從前的生活，思索痛苦和人生的意義，藝術(shù)和愛的真諦，最終將那些痛苦的淚水都化作了優(yōu)美而深沉的文字，不僅是寫給波西，也是寫給每一個(gè)有緣讀到這封信的人。

作者簡(jiǎn)介：奧斯卡·王爾德(Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900)，英國(guó)維多利亞時(shí)代著名作家，“唯美主義運(yùn)動(dòng)”的領(lǐng)軍人物，倡導(dǎo)“為藝術(shù)而藝術(shù)”(Art for art's sake)。他的代表作有戲劇《莎樂美》(Salome)《認(rèn)真的重要性》(The Importance of Being Earnest)，童話《快樂王子》(The Happy Prince)《夜鶯與玫瑰》(The Nightingale and the Rose)，小說《道連·格雷的畫像》(The Picture of Dorian Gray)，以及書信《自深深處》(De Profundis)等。

【原著選段】

Dear Bosie,?
After long and fruitless waiting I have?determined to write to you myself, as much for your?sake as for mine, as I would not like to think that I?had passed through two long years of?imprisonment without ever having received a?single line from you, or any news or message even,?except such as gave me pain.
Our ill-fated and most lamentable friendship?has ended in ruin and public infamy for me, yet?the memory of our ancient affection is often with?me, and the thought that loathing, bitterness?and contempt should for ever take that place in?my heart once held by love is very sad to me:?and you yourself will, I think, feel in your heart that?to write to me as I lie in the loneliness of prison-life?is better than to publish my letters without my?permission or to dedicate poems to me unasked,?though the world will know nothing of whatever?words of grief or passion, of remorse or?indifference you may choose to send as your?answer or your appeal.

【孫宜學(xué)譯本】

親愛的波茜：
在經(jīng)過漫長(zhǎng)徒勞的等待之后，我決定親自給你寫信，這既是為了你的緣故，也是為了我，我不愿想到在我被監(jiān)禁的這漫長(zhǎng)的兩年里，除了使我痛苦的消息外，卻得不到你的只言片語(yǔ)。
我們不幸的最可悲的友誼，已經(jīng)在公眾對(duì)我的謾罵聲中毀于一旦了。但我仍然常?；貞浧疬^去的友情。當(dāng)想到憎惡、仇恨、輕蔑會(huì)永遠(yuǎn)占據(jù)我那一度充滿愛的心靈時(shí)，我就不禁感到無限悲哀。我想你自己也不難想到，當(dāng)我孤獨(dú)地生活在監(jiān)獄中時(shí)，你給我寫信遠(yuǎn)比未經(jīng)我的允許就公開我的信或獻(xiàn)給我我所不需要的詩(shī)好得多。雖然，無論你選擇什么：悲哀或激情、悔恨或冷漠作為你的回答或要求，世人對(duì)你說過的任何話都會(huì)一無所知。

【讀書筆記】

1、fruitless?不結(jié)果實(shí)的，引申為“無益的，徒勞的” 【舉例】 a fruitless attempt 徒勞的嘗試

2、be determined to do sth. 下定決心去做某事 【舉例】 I'm determined to quit smoking.我下定決心要戒煙。

3、for the sake of 由于，為了，為了……的利益

4、permission 許可，授權(quán) 【舉例】with/without sb.'s permission 經(jīng)過/未經(jīng)某人許可，give/deny sb. permission to do sth. 允許/不許某人做某事