最早英語情書首次公開展覽
古老英語情書手稿
英國大英博物館發現了壹封目前已知的最早用英語寫成的情人節信件。
這封情書是在五百多年前寫成的。信件的手稿將會在下個月大英博物館壹個慶祝英國文學壹千年歷史的展覽中首次公開面世，在有關愛情的部分展出。
將會展出的古老情書是壹位叫做馬加裏·布魯斯的女士在壹四七七年的時候寫給他的愛人約翰·帕斯頓的。
大英博物館在三十年代從壹個姓帕斯頓的家族買下這封情信，但直到負責新展覽的博物館館長開始找尋展品的時候，才再度發現這封情書。
信中情意歷久常新
大英博物館的壹名發言人說，雖然這封已經有五百多年歷史的情書所用的語言古老，但其中訊息仍然會引起現代人的***鳴。
發言人說，自從中世紀以來，科技使世界的面貌發生巨大變化，但人們對於愛情的態度其實沒有什麼變化。
布魯斯女士在信中對愛人約翰·帕斯頓說，她已經要求她母親向她的父親施加壓力，增加她的嫁妝。她說，如果約翰是真心愛她的話，他無論如何都會與她成婚。
情書英語全文
妳有沒有興趣多了解這段中世紀情緣？以下是這封動人情書的英語全文。
"Unto my right well-beloved Valentine John Paston, squire, be this bill delivered.
"Right reverent and worshipful and my right well-beloved valentine, I recommend me unto you full heartedly, desiring to hear of your welfare, which I beseech Almighty God long for to preserve unto his pleasure and your hearts desire.
"And if it pleases you to hear of my welfare, I am not in good health of body nor of heart, nor shall I be till I hear from you.
"For there knows no creature what pain that I endure, And even on the pain of death I would reveal no more.
"And my lady my mother hath laboured the matter to my father full diligently, but she can no more get than you already know of, for which God knoweth I am full sorry.
"But if you love me, as I trust verily that you do, you will not leave me therefore.
"For even if you had not half the livelihood that you have, for to do the greatest labour that any woman alive might, I would not forsake you.
"And if you command me to keep me true wherever I go, indeed I will do all my might you to love and never anyone else.
"And if my friends say that I do amiss, they shall not stop me from doing so.
"My heart me bids evermore to love you truly over all earthly things.
"And if they be never so angry, I trust it shall be better in time coming.
"No more to you at this time, but the Holy Trinity have you in keeping.
"And I beseech you that this bill be not seen by any non earthly creature save only yourself.
"And this letter was written at Topcroft with full heavy heart.
"Be your own Margery Brews."