PREFACE (序言) - January 1914

出處: http://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/0/Bulfinch-preface.htm

PREFACE (引言)

 

“It would be really a remarkable book if one could see how much he (Vincent) has thought, and how he remained himself”

"如果有一本書能表現出他(Vincent)所想之多, 還有, 他一直以來怎麼保持自我, 那將會是一本很出色的書"

 

Letter of Theo to his mother, September 8, 1890

When as Theo's young wife I entered in April, 1889, our flat in the Cité Pigalle in Paris, I found in the bottom of a small desk a drawer full of letters from Vincent, and week after week I saw the soon familiar yellow envelopes with the characteristic handwriting increase in number.

在1889年四月, 我作為Theo年輕的妻子, 在我們於巴黎Cité Pigalle的屋子當中, 於一張小桌子的底部, 發現了一個抽屜, 盛滿了來自Vincent的信

而這有著特有筆觸的相似黃色信封, 在這之後的每個星期都在增加著
 

After Vincent's death Theo discussed with me the project of publishing these letters, but death took him away ere he could begin to execute this plan.

當Vincent離去之後, Theo曾經和我討論過關於出版這些書信的計劃, 但在他能執行計劃前, 死亡便已經把他帶走
 

Nearly twenty-four years passed after Theo's death before I was able to complete their publication.

在Theo死了近二十四年後, 我(總算)完成了他們的發表
 

Much time was necessary to decipher the letters and to arrange them; this was the more difficult because often the dates failed, and much careful thought was needed before these letters were fitted into their place.

主要的時間是用於必須對信件進行註解及排序

這個很困難, 因為大部份的日期已經消失(?), 同時, 需要小心地思考信件該排序到哪一個位置
 

There was another reason, however, which kept me from making them known earlier. It would have been an injustice to Vincent to create interest in his personality ere the work to which he gave his life was recognized and appreciated as it deserved.

有另一個理由促使我讓這些信件早點公開

在對Vincent投入生命的作品給予應得的肯定和讚賞之前, (只)因他的知名度而對他感興趣,  這對他來說是一種不公平
 

Many years passed before Vincent was recognized as a great painter. Now it is time his personality was known and understood.

離Vincent被認同為一位偉大的畫家已經很多年了, 現在該是時候, 讓他的人格也被明白和理解
 

May the letters be read with consideration.

希望這些信是帶著關心而被閱讀的
 

Amsterdam, January 1914.

J. van Gogh-Bonger