引言：阿比蓋爾. 亞當斯夫人（Mrs. Abigail Adams），生於1744年11月22日的英屬北美殖民地麻薩諸塞省韋茅斯。美國政界人物、女權運動先驅、書簡作家，也是美國第2任總統約翰. 亞當斯(John Adams)的夫人。第6任總統約翰.昆西.亞當斯的母親。而她寫給丈夫約翰.亞當斯的情書，更是堪稱世界上最美的情書。本文僅選取其中一篇文章進行試譯。
December 23, 1782
著於1782年12月23日
My Dearest Friend,
吾之好逑，
…should I draw you the picture of my heart it would be what I hope you would still love though it contained nothing new.
妾身，東施效顰，筆底春風，雕琢心意。冀望良人，感慕纏懷。
I look back to the early days of our acquaintance and friendship as to the days of love and innocence, and, with an indescribable pleasure, I have seen near a score of years roll over our heads with an affection heightened and improved by time, nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my heart.
追憶往昔，吾人，一見傾心，情愫繾綣。白水鑑心，琴心相挑。鸞鳳和鳴，情意綿綿，無以言表。光陰如梭，芳年華月，琴瑟之好，情逾骨肉。歡暢歲月，拳拳在念。摯愛之郎，至死靡他。