RALEIGH’S LAST LETTER
SIR WALTER RALEIGH was one of the most distinguished men who adorned the reigns of Elizabeth and JamesI.of England.As a patriot statesman，general，and literary man，he had few equals in his day.When James I.ascended the，throne，he was accused of high treason，unjustly condemned，and，after twelve years‘imprisonment，was executed.The following is his last letter.
1.YOU shall receive，my dear wife，my last words，in these my last lines：my love I send you，that you may keep when I am dead；and my counsel，that you may remember it when I am no more.I would not，with my will，present you sorrows，dear Bess，let them go to the grave with me，and be buried in the dust.And seeing that it is not the will of God that I shall see you any more，bear my destruction patiently，and with a heart like yourself.
2.First，I send all the thanks which my heart can conceive，or my words express，for your many cares for me，which，though they have not taken effect as you wished，yet my debt to you is not the less；but pay it I never shall，in this world.
3.Secondly，I beseech you，for the love you bear me living，that you do not hide yourself many days，but by your patience seek to help my miserable fortunes，and the right of your poor child.Your mourning can not avail me that am but dust.
4.Dear wife，I beseech you，for my soul’s sake，pay all poor men.When I am dead，no doubt you shall be much sought unto；for the world thinks I was very rich：have a care to fair pretenses of men：for no greater misery can befall you，in this life，than to become a prey unto the world，and after to be despised.I speak，God knows，not to dissuade you from marriage；for it will be best for you，both in respect of God and the world.As for me，I am no more yours，nor you mine；death has cut us asunder，and God hath divided me from the world，and you from me.
5.Remember your poor child，for his father‘s sake，who loved you in his happiest estate.I sued for my life，but God knows，it was for you and yours that I desired it；for know it，my dear wife，your child is the child of a true man，who，in his own respect，despiseth death and his misshapen and ugly forms.I can not write much，（God knows how hardly I steal this time，when all sleep！’）and it is also time for me to separate my thoughts from the world.Beg my dead body，which，living，was denied you，and either lay it in Sherburne or Exeter church，by my father and mother.I can say no more；time and death call me away.
6.The everlasting God，powerful，infinite，and inscrutable，God Almighty，who is goodness itself the true light and life，keep you and yours，and have mercy upon me，and forgive my persecutors and false accusers，and send us to meet in his glorious kingdom！My dear wife，farewell：bless my boy：pray for me，and let my true God hold you both in his arms.
中文阅读
沃尔特·罗利先生是英国伊丽莎白和詹姆斯一世统治时期最杰出的人士之一，他曾为时代增色。作为一个爱国者、政治家、上将和文学家，他在他的时代里几乎没有对手。当詹姆斯一世登上皇位，而他则被指控犯有严重叛国罪，受到不公平的判决，身陷囹圄十二年，最后被处死。以下是他写的遗书。
1.我亲爱的妻子，你要接受我最后的遗言：我给你我的爱，你可以在我死后将爱保留。当我不在的时候，你可以回忆起我的忠告。亲爱的贝斯，我不愿意说出你的痛苦，就让它们随我进入坟墓，掩埋在尘埃里吧。我明白，既然这是上帝的旨意，不愿意让我再看你一眼，那我就安然地承受自己的毁灭。你心鉴我心。
2.首先，我要衷心地表达对你的感谢，感谢你对我的全心关爱，尽管不像你所希望的那样有效，但是我欠你的债并没有因此而减少，此生我也无法偿还。
3.其次，我乞求你，为了你对我的爱，你要活下去，不要隐居太久，要耐心地为我的不幸和你可怜的孩子的权利寻求帮助。你的哀痛对我无益，因为我已化为尘埃。
4.我亲爱的妻，我乞求你，看在我在天之灵的份上，去接济所有穷人。我死之后，无疑你的追求者会很多，因为世人都认为我非常富有。对人们的直接炫耀要谨慎，因为对于你来说，在人世间，再没有比先成为猎物然后又被蔑视更痛苦的了。上帝知道，我不会劝阻你再婚，因为这对你来说是再好不过的了，这样才是尊重上帝与这个世界。至于我，我不再是你的，你也不再是我的，死亡已经将你我分离。
5.看在他父亲的份上，记着你可怜的孩子，在他最幸福的时光里他是那么地爱你。我起诉要求免除死刑，可是上帝知道，那是为了你和你的生命，我才渴望生命。我亲爱的妻，你是知道的，你孩子的父亲是一个真正的男人，没人能胜过他。他蔑视死亡、丑陋和扭曲。我不能再写更多了（上帝知道我能抽出这点时间是多么不容易呀，只能在所有人都睡着的时候！），这也该是我的思想与世界分离的时候了。求你把我已经没有生命的遗体安葬在我的父亲和母亲身旁，舍本或者是埃克赛特的教堂里。我不能再多说了，时间与死亡在召唤我离开。
6.永恒的上帝，拥有无限力量、不可预测的万能的上帝，仁慈的上帝啊，拥有真正的光辉与生命，让你和你的世间万物永存。可怜我吧，宽恕迫害我的人和错误地指控我的人吧，让我们在辉煌的国度再次相会！我亲爱的妻子，再见。保佑我们的孩子。为我祈祷，让我真正的上帝拥你们入怀。
MAJOR ANDRE
