沈從文與張兆和:才子與佳人的愛情

A man’s wife can determine his future life to a large extent. However, in front of love, few people can rationally evaluate whether it is suitable for themselves. Also, few people can decisively conclude their love which is not suitable for themselves when the love is in its prime time. That is why there have been and will be so much grudge and regret stemming from love. Shen Chongwen and Zhang Zhaohe were exactly a wrong pair when they were alive.
一個男人挑選什麼樣的妻子，決定他以後將過什麼樣的生活。然而，在愛情面前，很少有人去理智地分析尺長寸短，也很少有人能夠堅決地在怦然心動之時果斷地關閉情感的閘門。所以，這個世界上纔會有那麼多迷茫的錯愛和長短不一的疏離與怨恨。沈從文和張兆和在生前，就是一對被搭錯了紅線的怨偶。

At that time, Zhang was a well-known beauty in school with a wealth of pursuers. Without being an exception, Shen was also totally attracted by her beauty. As a saying goes, a man of literary talents should be coupled with a beautiful lady. From average people’s perspectives, Shen and Zhang should be a pair of lovers. But the problem is that Zhang showed no affection to Shen.
那時，張兆和是學校裏出了名的美人，追隨者甚衆。毫無例外地，她的美麗，也讓沈從文一見傾心。自古才子配佳人，按照世俗的眼光，他們似乎應該配成一對。可是，問題在於張兆和對沈從文毫無感覺。

While others’ pursuit of Zhang was reserved, Shen’s was ardent and open like a turbulence out of the reservoir rushing down without control. Although Zhang was effeminate and picky, he did not lose the least passion. Instead, he filled every letter with his adoration and love. Every sentence he wrote was so passionate and loving that anyone who has read it would feel timid. Zhang was very young at that time and did not know how to refuse him. So she chose to keep silent and did not reply to his letters. Shen, on the other hand, construed her silence as acceptance and allowance, filing letters with more emotions to her more frequently.
別人的追求是低調內斂的，才子沈從文的愛卻熱烈而奔放，像開閘之水，不可收拾。儘管美人多嬌，他也從不泄氣，將對她的愛慕塗滿信紙，句句都炙熱得令人耳根羞澀。年輕的張兆和並不懂拒絕，只好以沉默抵抗，隻字不回。沈從文卻把這理解爲默許或者縱容，他的信更頻繁，也更深透。

In order to get close to Zhang, Shen even made friends with her bosom friend, Wang Hualian. The more letters Shen wrote, the less patience he had. One day, he asked Wang about Zhang’s attitude towards him. Wang’s answer was disappointing: There were numerous pursuers writing letters to Zhang, but she did not reply even once!
爲了接近張兆和，沈從文甚至和張兆和的閨密王華蓮交上了朋友。信越寫越多，沈從文也越發的沉不住氣。有一次，他直言不諱地向王華蓮探問張兆和的態度。王華蓮的話很讓沈從文失望：追求張兆和的男人沒有一千，也有一百，她都不回信……

Discouraged, Shen often poured his confusion to his good friend, Hu Shi. But even at the most desperate moment, he did not stop writing love letters to Zhang. In Shen’s love letters, he did not express love and emotion all the time. He got the hang of speaking details of life as if discussing about some common sense with Zhang. The simple and plain words were indeed signaling Zhang was the only one Shen loved.
情緒低落的沈從文時常將心中的鬱結向好友胡適傾訴，可即便在最絕望的時候，他也沒有停止鴻雁傳情。沈從文的情書，並不一味鋪張濃烈感情，他深諳娓娓道來的妙處，像是與張兆和講道理。平淡的文字中，一種“舍你其誰”的韌性躍然紙上。