蘇曼殊作品選 潮音自序

ByronandShelleyaretwoofthegreatestBritishpoets.Bothhadtheloftysentimentofcreation，love，asthethemeoftheirpoeticexpressions.Yes，althoughbothwroteprincipallyonlove，lovers，andtheirfortunes，theirmodesofexpressiondifferaswidelyasthepoles.

Byronwasbornandbroughtupinluxury，wealth，andliberty.Hewasanardentandsinceredevoteeofliberty;—yes，hedaredtoclaimlibertyineverything-greatandsmall，socialorpolitical.Heknewnothoworwherehewasextreme.

Byronspoemsarelikeastimilatingliquor，themoreonedrinks，themoreonefeelsthesweetfascination.Theyarefullofcharm，fullofbeauty，fullofsinceritythroughout.

Insentimentality，enthusiasmandstraight-forwardnessofdiction，theyhavenoequal.Hewasafreeandnobleheartedman.Hisendcamewhilehewasengagedinanoblepursuit.HewenttoGreece，wherehesidedwiththepatriotswhowerefightingfortheirliberty.Hiswholelife，careerandproductionareintertwinedinLoveandLiberty.

Shelley，thoughadevoteeoflove，isjudiciousandpensive.Hisenthusiasmforloveneverappearsinanystrongout-burstofexpression.Heisa"Philosopherlover".Helovesnotonlythebeautyoflove，orloveforlove，but"loveinphilosophy"or"philosophyinlove".Hehaddepth，butnotcontinuance:energywithoutyouthfuldevotion.Hispoemsareasthemoonshine，placidlybeautiful，somnolentlystill，reflectedonthewatersofsilenceandcontemplation.

ShelleysoughtNirvaninlove;butByronsoughtActionforlove，andinlove.Shelleywasself-containedandquiteengrossedinhisdevotiontotheMuses.HisprematureandviolentdeathwillbelamentedsolongasEnglishliteratureexists.

BothShelleyandByronsworksareworthstudyingbyeveryloveroflearning，forenjoymentofpoeticbeauty，andtoappreciatetheloftyidealsofLoveandLiberty.

Inthesepages，IhavethehonourtooffermyreaderstranslationsofafewpoemsfromtheworksofByron.

Hereafter，Ishalltrymybest，topresentthemwiththetranslationoftheworldreknownedSakuntalaofthefamouspoetKalidasaofHindustan，theLandofLordSakyaBuddha.

Thatthelabourbestowedonthepresentpublicationwillbeappreciatedbymyreadersisthewritersearnestdesire.

Mandju

MCMIX.