《每天太阳照常升起》


 第2章 生命中的11种感动

    eleven moving glance in life
    生命中的11种感动
    anonymous/佚名
    it hurts to love someone and not be loved in return.but what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel.
    只有付出的爱是痛苦的，但比这更痛苦是爱一个人却没有勇气让那人知道你的感情。
    a sad thing in is when you meet someone who means a lot to you，only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.
    生命中令人悲伤的一件事是你遇到了一个对你来说很重要的人，但却最终发现你们有缘无份，因此你不得不放手。
    the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with，never say a word，and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you‘ve ever had.
    最好的朋友就是那种能和你促膝而坐，彼此不说只字片语，分别时却感到这是你有过的最好的一次交流！
    it’s true that we don‘t know what we’ve got until we lose it，but it‘s also true that we don’t know what we‘ve bee*****sing until it arrives.
    的确，只有当我们失去时才知道曾拥有的是什么，同样，只有当我们拥有了才知道曾经失去了什么。
    it takes only a minute to get a crush on someone，an hour to like someone，and a day to love someone-but it takes a time to forget someone.
    迷上某人只需一分钟，喜欢上某人需要一小时，爱上某人则要一天，然而，忘记某人却是一辈子的事情。
    don’t go for looks；they can deceive.don‘t go for ；even that fades away.go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
    别倾心于容貌，因为它具有欺骗性，也别倾心于财富，它也会消散，倾心于那个能带给你笑容的人吧，因为一个笑容能使漫漫长夜如白昼般明亮。
    dream what you want to dream；go where you want to go；be what you want to be，because you have only one and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
    做你想做的梦吧，去你想去的地方吧，成为你想成为的人吧，因为你只有一次生命，一个机会去做所有那些你想做的事。
    always put yourself in the other’s shoes.if you feel that it hurts you，it probably hurts the person too.
    要设身处地的为别人着想，如果一双鞋你穿着夹脚，别人的感觉可能也一样。
    a careless word may kindle strife；a cruel word may wreck a life；a timely word may level ；a loving word may heal and bless.
    无心快语可能引发争执，无情之词可能折损生命，适时温语可能消弭压力，而关爱之声可能治愈心灵。
    the happiest of people don‘t necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
    幸福之人并非拥有一切，只是尽力享受生活的赐予。
    love begins with a smile，grows with a kiss，ends with a tear.when you were born，you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.live your so that when you die，you’re the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.
    爱情以笑开始，以吻转浓，以泪结束。当你哭着降临人世时，身边的每个人都在为此欢笑，好好生活吧，这样你就能含笑离开人世，而身边的每个人都在为此哭泣。（未完待续）

 第3章 爱自己

    love of self
    爱自己
    misty/雾霭
    when i was younger，i thought that to love one‘s self was vanity and not a virtuous trait.as i have grown older，that belief has passed away，as have so many others.there is a vast deviation between being vain and loving one’s self.
    we are all in this world together striving for more or less the same things.to contribute and have our lives count for something.to love and be loved，to laugh and...yes，to cry.
    当我年纪还小的时候，我认为自爱是虚荣作祟而非优点。长大了，我才和许多人一样，逐渐湮灭了这种观念。虚荣与自爱有天壤之别。
    人生在世，都追逐着或多或少相同的东西：付出与获得人生价值的承认；爱与被爱；欢笑与……是的，悲伤。
    we seek shelter ，nourishment，a mate，warmth，clothing，family，friends；we seek approval，love and self-esteem.we are all imperfect .often during our search we forget to simply enjoy what life is.we become so caught up in what could have been，what should be，what might be，that many of our todays are lost.let yesterday rest，live for today，hope and dream for your tomorrows.
    我们追求着住所、食物、伴侣，温暖、衣裳、家庭、朋友；我们追求着认同、爱情和自尊。我们并不完美。我们在人生追求中甚至忘记了去享受生活本身的乐趣。我们太沉溺于对过去的追悔、对将来的和一切可能性的关注，结果反而错失了今天。让昨天暂且释怀吧！为今天而活，并去勾画和梦想你的明天。
    if there is some part of you that lessens your self-image，some part of you that prevents you from loving yourself，change it，for only you can.life is filled with things we have no control over，but ourselves，we can control.you are the clay，you are the sculptor and you have the ability to create a masterpiece.the shape and form are there.you have only to refine the work.
    如果你有一点轻视自身形象，有一点不愿意爱自己，尽你的能力去改变它。生活中确实充斥着许多我们干涉不了的事物，但我们能约束自身。你既是泥土，也是泥塑匠，你有能力创造杰作。现在形态和模样都有了，你需要做的是精雕细琢。
    is the task an easy one？no.there will be sips and flaws and you will be required to work and rework just as a sculptor must rework the clay before the piece is completed.should the sculptor throw out the piece condemning it as worthless because of a blemish or nick？of course not，where then would all the world‘s treasured art be？i doubt we would have any.how many masterpieces do you think have been created in one fell swoop，a first effort completely successful without error，without change？is it possible we fail to see that mankind is the most marvelous of all works of art？a living，continuous，developing work of art.
    这个工程简单吗？不。雕塑会有缺损和瑕疵，所以你必须孜孜不倦，就像雕塑家在完工前必须一次又一次地琢磨。难道雕塑家会因为作品有一点瑕疵就认定它一无是处而把它抛弃吗？当然不会，否则世上哪里还有这一切工艺珍品？我想一件都不会存在。你认为有多少工艺品杰作是在雕刻中一举成功的，也就是一蹴而就，没有半点失误，也没有半点改动的？我们可能都没看出，人其实是所有艺术品中最了不起的杰作吧？人类是有生命力的、生生不息的、不断发展的艺术品。
    how often have you heard the question“what is the human race coming to”？the answer，in my mind at least，is whatever we make it，for we are the weavers of tomorrow.you are a treasure，beyond price，one of a kind，irreplaceable.not perfect but well on your way to being a masterpiece.do not let your yesterdays hinder tomorrow’s achievements.
    这个问题你听过多少次——人类将何去何从？至少我以为它的回答是这样的：我们成就了自己，因为编织着明天的正是我们自己。人本身就是一种财富，是无价之宝，是万物中无可替代的。虽然人无完人，但总是力求精益求精。别让昨天阻碍你奔向明天的辉煌。
    again，i say to you that these words are merely feelings and thoughts，one person‘s outlook and subject to change with tomorrows setting sun，as i too continue to sculpt the lump of clay given to me at birth，called self.
    我重申以上这些只是我的感想和看法，一个人的想法会随着明天的日落而改变，我也是这样——因为我也在继续打造着这块与生俱有的泥塑，它名叫自我。（未完待续）

 第4章 如果我休息，我就生锈

    if i rest，i rust
    如果我休息，我就生锈
    marden/马尔丹
    the significant inscription found on an old key—“if i rest，i rust”—would be an excellent motto for those who are afflicted with the slightest taint of idleness.even the industrious might adopt it with advantage to serve as a reminder that，if one allows his faculties to rest，like the iron in the unused key，they will soon show signs of rust，and，ultimately，cannot do the work required of them.
    在一把旧钥匙上面发现了意义深远的文字——“如果我休息，我就生锈”——对于那些为懒散所苦的人来说，这是一则最好的箴言。甚至连勤劳的人都会加以接纳而受益，将它视为警语。如果一个人让他的身体机能休息，就像未用过的钥匙上的铁块一样，那么他的身体很快就会显露出生锈的迹象，最后无法从事所赋予的工作。
    those who would attain the heights reached and kept by great men must keep their faculties polished by constant use，so that they may unlock the doors of knowledge，the ，gates that guard the entrances to the professions，to science，art，literature，agriculture，—every department of human endeavor .
    想要达到与伟人相同成就的人，必须不断地使用身体，保持体魄强健，这才足以开启知识之门——守卫着专业、科学、文学、农业，——每一道人类知识领域的入口。
    industry keeps bright the key that opens the treasury of achievement.if hugh miller，after toiling all day in a quarry，had devoted his evenings to rest and recreation，he would never have become a famous geologist.the celebrated mathematician，edmund stone，would never have published a mathematical dictionary，never have found the key to the science of mathematics，if he had given his spare moments to idleness.had the little scotch lad，ferguson，allowed the busy brain to go to sleep while he tended sheep on the hillside，instead of calculating the position of the stars by a string of beads，he would never have become a famous astronomer.
    勤勉能使开启成就宝藏的钥匙发亮。如果修斯？米勒在一天的矿场劳累之后，把傍晚用于休息和娱乐的话，他绝不会成为一位驰名世界的地质学家。知名的数学家爱德蒙？史东，如果懒散地度过闲暇时光，他绝不可能出版一本数学字典，也就不可能发现打开数学科学的钥匙。如果年轻的苏格兰青年霍格森，在山腰上牧羊时让忙碌的脑袋睡着了，而没有用一串珠子来计算星座位置的话，他也无法成为一位著名的天文学家。
    labor vanquished all，—not inconstant，spasmodic，or ill-directed labor；but faithful，unremitting，daily effort toward a well-directed purpose.just as truly as eternal vigilance is the price of liberty，so is eternal industry the price of noble and enduring success.
    劳动征服一切——这里所指的，并非善变的、断断续续的，或者方向偏差的劳动；而是确实的、不断的、朝着正确方向而日日进行的努力。正如自由的代价是无休止的警惕，无尽的勤勉则是达成崇高而持名的成功时，所必须付出的代价。（未完待续）

 第5章 热爱生活

    love your life
    热爱生活
    david thoreau/大卫·梭罗
    however mean your life is，meet it and live it；do not shun it and call it hard names.it is not so bad as you are.it looks poorest when you are richest.the fault-finder will find faults in paradise.love your life，poor as it is.you may perhaps have some pleasant，thrilling，glorious hours，even in a poor-house.the setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man’s abode；the snow melts before its door as early in the spring.i do not see but a quiet mind may lives as contentedly there，and has as cheering thoughts，as in a palace.the town‘s poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any.maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving.most think that they are above being supported by the town；but it often happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means，which should be more disreputable.cultivate poverty a garden herb，like sage.do not trouble yourself much to get new things，whether clothes or friends.turn the old，return to them.things do not change；we change.sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.
    不论你的生活如何卑贱，你要面对它，生活它，不要躲避它，更别用恶言咒骂它。它不像你认为那样坏。你最富有的时候，倒是看似最贫穷。爱找缺点的人就是到天堂里也能找到缺点。你要爱你的生活，尽管它贫穷。甚至在一个济贫院里，你也还有愉快、高兴、光荣的时候。夕阳反射在济贫院的窗上，像射在富户人家窗上一样光亮，在那门前，积雪同时在早春融化。我只看到，一个从容的人，在那里也像在皇宫中一样，生活得心满意足而富有愉快的思想。城镇中的穷人，我看，倒往往是过着最独立不羁的生活。也许因为他们很伟大，所以受之无愧。大多数人以为他们是超然的，不靠城镇来支持他们，可是事实上他们是往往用了不正当的手段来对付生活，他们是毫不超脱的，也是不体面的。视贫穷如园中之花而像圣人一样耕植它吧！不要找新的花样来麻烦你自己，无论是新的朋友或新的衣服。找旧的，回到那里去。万物不变，是我们在变。你的衣服可以卖掉，但要保留你的思想。（未完待续）

 第6章 一切都只是刚刚开始

    we are just beginning
    一切都只是刚刚开始
    anonymous/佚名
    “we are reading the first verse of the first chapter of a book whose pages are infinite...”
    i do not know who wrote those words，but i have always liked them as a reminder that the future can be anything we want to make it.we can take the mysterious，hazy future and carve out of it anything that we can imagine，just as a sculptor carves a statue from a shapeless stone.
    we are all in the position of the farmer.if we plant a good seed，we reap a good harvest.if our seed is poor and full of weeds，we reap a useless crop.if we plant nothing at all，we harvest nothing at all.i want the future to be better than the past.i don’t want it contaminated by the mistakes and errors with which history is filled.we should all be concerned about the future because that is where we will spend the remainder of our lives.the past is gone and static .nothing we can do will change it.the future is before us and dynamic.everything we do will affect it.each day brings with it new frontiers，in our homes and in our business，if we will only recognize them.we are just at the beginning of the progress in every field of human endeavor .
    “我们所读到的，不过是一部诗书的开篇部分，而书中所蕴涵的人生哲理却是无限的……”
    我不知道这句话是谁说的，但它却时时提醒着我，未来是怎样的，全由自己来创造。我们可以把充满神秘且又无法掌控的未来世界按照自己的想像精心构思出来，就像雕刻家可以把毫无意境的石头雕塑成精美的雕像一样。
    和农民一样，如果我们播下的是优良的种子，那么很快就会大获丰收。但如果我们种下的是劣质种子，且任杂草肆意生长，那么，我们的收成就会大大减少。而如果我们根本不去播种，那么我们将会颗粒无收。我希望未来会比现在更美好。我们不应该总是活在过去，让从前犯下的错误和留下的遗憾占据我们的记忆。我们应该多想想未来，因为正是它将陪伴我们度过余下来的漫漫人生。过去的一切就让它过去吧。因为我们根本无法改变过去的一切。充满青春气息的未来世界正在前方等待着我们。我们现在所做的一切都会影响到未来。每一天，我们都会站在新的起跑线上，无论是在生活中，还是在工作中，只要我们意识到这一点：我们要努力达到每一个人生的既定目标。而现在，一切都只是刚刚开始。（未完待续）

 第7章 美丽人生(1)

    always and never enough
    美丽人生
    anonymous/佚名
    it is a warm afternoon，incandescent.each leaf looks lit from within.i‘m walking home across a field when i see a small brown head poking out of a patch of low bush blueberries.the creature doesn’t flee as i approach and suddenly stop，astonished.it is a fawn，sleek and newly minted，regarding me from the spot where it landed on earth.we both stare.the fawn tests my scent，flaring its nostrils as i slowly back away.the next morning it‘s gone，but there’s a small，oval depression on the ground.i press my hands into the flattened bushes.
    一个炽热的午后。每片树叶都像着了火一样。回家的路上，我穿过田野，忽然看见一只褐色的小脑袋从蓝莓丛中探了出来。我慢慢地靠近，奇怪的是，小家伙并不逃跑，我便赶紧停下来。这是一只不满周岁的小鹿，皮毛柔滑发亮。它目不转睛地盯着我，相互凝视片刻，我慢慢地后退，它却张开鼻孔凑上前来，嗅了嗅我。第二天早上，它不见了，但地上留下了一个小而圆的印迹，我把双手轻轻放在被它压平的矮树丛上。
    though i cross that corner of the field nearly every day，i‘ve not seen another fawn since.that’s the way it is with wonder.
    when my husband and i moved to this skinny finger of maine five years ago，we immediately set out on foot to explore the half-wild land and shore around our rented house.like the wild creatures here，we have worn our own surreptitious trail through fields and woods，a mile-long path we call“the loop”.it passes within a few feet of where that fawn was born.
    后来，尽管我几乎每天都穿行于田野，却再也没见到小鹿，上次算是奇遇了。
    五年前，我和丈夫搬到缅因州这片贫瘠的土地上，刚安顿下来，我们就去寓所附近的原始地带徒步探险。和这里的野生动物一样，我们在田野和丛林中开辟了一条自己的秘密通道，美其名日“幽径”，一英里长，距小鹿出生地只有几英尺远。
    i am walking past this spot again，on a cool spring evening，my brain still buzzing with the distractions of the day.a white throated sparrow calls from a spruce，releasing its song of longing.as i whistle back，the notes carry me out of my head sparrow‘s song is the buddhist’s bell.attention please，your presence is requested in the here and now，i am trying to show up.
    一个凉爽的春日傍晚，我再次经过这里，脑子里充斥着白天的忧愁。远处，一只白喉雀在云杉之巅放声唱着希望之歌，歌声清新悦耳，有如天籁，我吹着口哨回应它，这些音符顿时让我忘却烦忧，全身心地融入了美妙的世界。此时此刻，此景此情，亲爱的读者，我要将这美好的一切展示给您了。
    as i enter the woods strands of spider‘s silk cling to my face.the air smells of balsam.coyotes have traveled this path，leaving twists of scat flecked with bone in the middle of the trail.a pack roamed this peninsula last fall，waking us all in the middle of the night with their yippees and howls，and taking cats，including mine.i never found his bones，so i buried crocus bulbs instead.i don’t blame the coyotes any more than the sharp-shinned hawk that stalks chickadees at our birdfeeder.it is the oldest way.blood into feather，berry into fight.
    迈入丛林，偶尔，有几缕蛛丝拂过脸庞。空气中弥漫着凤仙花的馨香。小路上散落着野狼的杰作——骨头。去年秋天，半岛上野狼成群，午夜的狼嚎声令人发怵。它们偷吃家猫.我的也未能幸免，连尸骨都没找到，我以番红花苞代之葬于地。我并不记恨野狼，就像宽恕捕猎山雀的凶猛老鹰一样，我知道，这是自然界最古老的法则——弱肉强食。
    the more i walk this small circle of the planet，the more it calls me.i am out here at all hours，in all seasons，following intimations of mystery in the rustling of leaves，a slant of light，a flash of feathers.i couldn‘t tell you exactly what i’m looking for.only that i‘ve been searching since i can remember，and that what reveals itself is always and never enough.
    徜徉于这小小的星际，时间越长，我就越无法自拔，它的确有着非凡的吸引力。我整日漫游于此，在沙沙作响的树叶中；在斜照的日光下；在一闪而过的羽翼里，探寻神秘背后的启示。我无法确定自己要找些什么，只知道记忆深处，有某种东西促使自己不断地探索，因为大自然本身就蕴涵着无穷无尽。
    life converges in these woods.deer rut in the fall and drop fawns in the spring，unceremoniously，in the middle of the field.salamander and frog eggs swell and hatch in vernal pools.underground，the trees share nutrients with their neighbors through an unimaginably vast and invisible network of fungi.
    丛林里生机勃勃，鹿儿秋天交配，春天生子，旷野中随处可见它们的身影。春季。蝾螈和青蛙的幼体在温暖的水塘中成长。地下，树木通过一张无边无形的真菌网.共享多种养分。（未完待续）

 第8章 美丽人生(2)

    in the five years i’ve been walking this patch of earth，and i‘ve covered some ground but barely scratched the surface.i can tell a red spruce from a white，name a handful of mosses and lichens，recognize sarsaparilla when i see it，identify most of the birds and many of their songs.you’d think this would be enough.but knowing a name of a song or the shape of a leaf is only the beginning，a first，tentative step toward intimacy.falling in love with the world is like falling in love with a person.before you know it，you‘re in deep.
    五年里，我的足迹遍布丛林，但对它的了解还很肤浅。我能分清红、白云杉：知道一些青苔和石耳的名字；认识撒尔沙；分辨得出大多数鸟儿及其鸣唱声。或许你觉得这已经足够，但识别一个名字、一声鸟啼抑或是一片树叶，只是亲近自然、探索自然的第一步。爱上这里犹如爱上一个人，不知不觉已深陷其中。
    but how often are we told，”hurry up！”or“don’t touch！”what will happen if we slow down？what‘s the harm in touching，if we’re gentle？how are we supposed to know！anything，if not with our hands？how are we supposed to connect？how can we tenderly caress on another if we‘ve not had the chance to cradle a seedling or hold a tadpole or pick ripe raspberries，even as we’re scratched by thorns？how can we see the sacredness in every face if we don‘t have the chance to recognize it in our surroundings？terry tempest williams writes，“our lack of intimacy with each other is in direct proportion to our lack of intimacy with the land.we have taken our love inside and abandoned the wild.”
    人们总说“快”或是“别碰它”，假如我们放慢匆匆的脚步，那会怎样呢？轻轻地触碰自然界的生命，又会有什么害处呢？如果不亲身体验，怎能增长知识？又如何能亲近自然呢？如果没抱起过幼苗，捧起过蝌蚪，摘过熟透的山莓，甚至未曾被荆棘划破过，怎会善待他人呢？如果没有认识自然的机会，那又如何学会敬重呢？泰瑞.特普斯特.威连姆斯曾写道：“人和自然的不和谐直接导致人际关系的淡漠。人们只顾爱怜自身，却遗失了世界。”
    a truck rumbles along the main road through the village，not a quarter mile away.twenty minutes have passed since the sparrow called.as i turn back toward home，i look up just in time to see a snowshoe hare dash into the undergrowth.i wish i’d been awake enough to see him before he spotted me.
    “zeeeee-up！”a northern parula calls from a tamarack，and i find him with my binoculars.he is a beautiful warbler，blue-gray-green on top and yellow below with a tinge of rust across his chest.when he finds a mate，they‘ll weave a hammocky nest from tufts of usnea，or old man’s beard，pale green lichen that d****s the trees in these foggy woods.this is a beginning.but what else calls the parnlas back to this very spot from their wintering grounds thousands of miles south？how do they find their way？
    不远处，卡车沿着村庄的主干道轰隆隆驶过，麻雀停止了呜叫。我转身回家，看见一只雪屐兔蹿入灌木丛中。在它发现我之前，最好放轻脚步。
    “叽叽！”我用双筒望远镜看见一只北极鸟，在柳枝上欢叫。这是一只漂亮的鸣禽.灰绿的脑袋，黄色的身躯，胸前一抹殷红。一旦有了伴儿，它们就会筑一个悬吊式巢穴.用白毛青苔做材料，那是一种随处可见的浅绿色地衣。筑巢也只是刚开始。但怎样把它们从千里之外的南方召回来呢？它们又是如何识路的呢？
    in the late 1960s，stephen emlen，a behavioral ecologist at cornell，set out to test the theory that some migratory birds navigate by the stars.he used young indigo buntings in a planetarium to show that the birds actually learned to recognize the stationary point in the sky marked by polaris，the celestial center around which the constellations spin.while we dream on these soft summer nights，young birds in their nests learn the wheeling of stars.
    20世纪60年代后期，康奈尔州的一位行为生态学家史蒂芬.爱默仑进行了一项实验，用以证实一个学说：迁徙鸟类依照星座辨别方位。他在天文馆用小颊鸟作实验。证明鸟类是通过南北极来识别方位的，两极是宇宙的中心，星座围绕其飞速转动。当夏日的夜晚，人们还沉浸在梦乡时，幼鸟就在巢穴中研究着天体的运行。
    knowing this，who can sleep？
    the light is rich，igniting the moss and illuminating every tree as i walk back to the house.once when i was out walking in light like this，i couldn‘t resist resting my cheek against the cool，translucent bark of a yellow birch，the same way i press my lips to my husband’s forehead and breathe in his scent.it is a blessing when the familiar and the beloved are one，and when i realize that i thought i knew is still a mystery.this is what brings me back，again and again；to the man i love，to these profound and ordinary woods.
    知道这些，人们还能安然入睡吗？
    回家路上，光线很好，照亮了每根草、每棵树。在这样美好的夜里漫步，我总会情不自禁地把脸颊贴在凉凉的、半透明的黄色桦树皮上，就像用双唇亲吻丈夫的额头，感受着他的气息。当这熟悉的一切和爱融为一体，明白自己的所感所知还是个谜时，是多么的美妙啊！正是它，一次次地把我召唤到爱人的身旁，带到这深奥而平常的丛林中。（未完待续）

 第9章 有感于青春常在

    on the feeling of immortality in youth
    有感于青春常在
    willam hazlitt/威廉·赫兹里特
    no young man believes he shall ever die.it was a saying of my brother‘s，and a fine one.there is a feeling of eternity in youth，which makes us amend for everything.to be young is to be as one of the immortal gods.one half of time indeed is flown--the other half remains in store for us with all its countless treasures；for there is no line drawn，and we see no limit to our hopes and wishes，we make the coming age our own--年轻人不相信自己会死。这是我哥哥的话，可算是一句妙语。青春有一种永生之感，它能弥补一切。人在青年时代好像一尊永生的神明。诚然，生命的一半已经消逝，但蕴藏着不尽财富的另一半还等着我们，我们对它也抱着无穷的希望和幻想。未来的时代完全属于我们——death，old age，is words without a meaning，which pass by us like the idle air which we regard not.others may have undergone，or may still be liable to them-we “bear a charmed life”，which laughs to scorn all such sickly fancies.as in setting out on delightful journey，we strain our eager gaze forward --the vast，the un-bounded prospect lies before us.
    the vast，the unbounded prospect lies before us.
    死亡，衰老，不过是空话，毫无意义；我们听了，只当耳边风，全不放在心上。这些事，别人也许经历，或者可能要承受，但是我们自己，“在灵符护佑下度日”，对于诸如此类脆弱的念头，统统付之轻蔑的一笑。像是刚刚走上愉快的旅程，极目远眺——无限辽阔的远景在我们前面展现。（未完待续）

 第10章 真正的朋友

    real friend
    真正的朋友
    anonymous/佚名
    horror gripped the heart of the world war i soldier，as he saw his life-long friend fall in battle.caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head，the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the“no man’s land”between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.
    “you can go，”said the lieutenant，“but i don‘t think it will be worth it.your friend is probably dead and you may throw your own life away.”
    the lieutenant’s words didn‘t matter，and the soldier went anyway.miraculously he managed to reach his friend，hoist him onto his shoulder，and bring him back to their company’s trench.as the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench，the officer checked the wounded soldier，then looked kindly at his friend.
    第一次世界大战时，当这位士兵眼睁睁地看着自己相伴一生的朋友倒在战场上，恐惧紧紧地扣住了他的心弦。尽管被困在了战壕里，头顶上子弹的呼啸声久久不息，士兵还是去问中尉，他是否可以到两个战壕之间的“无人地带”把他倒下的同伴带回来。
    “你可以去，”中尉答道，“不过我想还不值得。你的朋友很可能已经死了，而你也可能把自己的命送掉的。”
    中尉的话没起任何作用，士兵还是去了。奇怪的是，他成功地找到了同伴，把他抬到肩上，带回了自己的战壕。当两人一同跌进战壕底部的时候，中尉检查了那名战士的伤势，随后善意地望着他的这位朋友说：
    “i told you it wouldn‘t be worth it，”he said.“your friend is dead，and you are mortally wounded.”
    “it was worth it，though，sir，”the soldier said.
    “how do you mean，’worth it‘？”responded the lieutenant.“your friend is dead！”
    “yes，sir，”the private answered.“but it was worth it because when i got to him，he was still alive，and i had the satisfaction of hearing him say，‘jim，i knew you’d come.‘”
    many times in life，whether a thing is worth doing or not really depends on how you look at it.take up you’re your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not regret not doing it later in life.
    may each and everyone of you be blessed with the company of true friends.
    “我说了，这不值得，”他说，“你的朋友已经死了，而你的伤也是致命的。”
    “尽管这样，这么做还是值得的，长官。”士兵答道。
    “值得？你到底在说什么？”中尉驳道，“你的朋友已经死了。”
    “千真万确是值得的，长官，”士兵答道，“这值得，因为当我找到他的时候他还活着，我听到他说：‘吉姆，我知道你会来。’为此我感到心满意足。”
    人生中确实有许多时候是这样，一件事是否值得去做，取决于你如何看待它。鼓起勇气，做你的心指引你去做的事吧！这样你就不会因为没有做而日后后悔。
    愿这世间人人都有真正的朋友相伴。（未完待续）

 第11章 快乐的期待

    expectations of pleasure frustrated
    快乐的期待
    sammuel johnson/塞缪尔·约翰逊
    pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought.our brightest blazes of glad-ness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.the flowers which scatter their odours ，from time to time，in the paths of life，grow up without culture from seeds scattered by chance.
    寻找快乐是一件很难有结果的事。最明亮的火焰通常都是由意外的火花所点燃；生命旅途上不时散发出芬芳的花朵，也是由偶然散落的种子无意中生长起来的。
    nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment .wits and humourists are brought together from distant quarters by preconcerted invitations；they come，at-tended by their admirers，prepared to laugh and to applaud；they gaze awhile on each other，ashamed to be silent，and afraid to speak；every man is discontented with himself，grows angry with those that give him pain，and resolves that he will contribute nothing to the merriment of such worthless company.wine inflames the general malignity ，and changes sullenness to petulance ，till at last none can bear any longer the presence of the rest.they retire to vent their indignation in safer places，where they are heard with attention；their importance is restored，they recover their good humour，and gladden the night with wit and jocularity.
    快乐的计划总难让人如愿。把一些智者和幽默家从遥远的地方邀请来会聚一堂，他们的到来会得到赞赏者的欢呼与喝彩；但当他们面面相觑时，如果沉默，会觉得惭愧，如果说话，又会有顾虑，如此一来，每个人都会不自在，开始痛恨给自己施加痛苦的人，并最终决定对这种毫无价值的聚会采取冷漠态度。酒能够燃起仇恨之火，也可以把阴郁变为暴躁，直到最后再也无法忍受在座的其他人。他们退到一个更加安全的地方去发泄自己的愤慨，谁知又被留心的人听到了，于是他们的重要性又得以恢复，他们又开始变得幽默，并用充满智慧和诙谐的行为使整个夜晚变得欢快起来。
    merriment is always the effect of a sudden impression.the jest which is expected is already destroyed.the most active imagination will be sometimes torpid，under the frigid influence of melancholy ，and sometimes occasions will be wanting to tempt the mind，however volatile，to sallies and excursions.nothing was ever said with uncommon felicity，but by the co-operation of chance；and，therefore，wit，as well as valour，must be content to share its honours with fortune.
    快乐总是一种瞬时印象的效果，期待中的幽默也随后被破坏。在充满忧郁的冷漠影响下，最活跃的想像力有时也会变得麻木；但在某些特殊场合，又需要诱发仍然不稳定的心情去突破，去驰骋。这时任何巧妙言辞都是多余的，只需要机遇的配合就可以了。因此，才智和勇气必定会满意地与好运共享荣誉。
    all other pleasures are equally uncertain；the general remedy of uneasiness is change of place；almost every one has some journey of pleasure in his mind，with which he flatters his expectation.he that travels in theory has no inconvenience；he has shade and sunshine at his disposal，and wherever he alights finds tables of plenty and looks of gaiety.these ideas are indulged till the day of departure arrives，the chaise is called，and the progress of happiness begins.
    所有其他的快乐也同样是无法确定的。变换环境通常可以补救不佳的心境；几乎每个人都经历过心灵上的快乐之旅，这种快乐使他的期待得到满足。从理论上来说，旅行者做到这一点是没什么困难的；阴影和阳光任其选择，无论停留于何处，他都会遇到丰盛的餐桌和快乐的表情。这些想法一直徘徊在他的脑海里，直到出发的日子终于到来，他雇了一辆轻便马车，然后开始了他的快乐之旅。
    a few miles teach him the fallacies of imagination.the road is dusty，the air is sultry，the horses are sluggish，and the postillion brutal.he longs for the time of dinner，that he may eat and rest.the inn is crowded，his orders are neglected，and nothing remains but that he devour in haste what the cook has spoiled，and drive on in quest of better entertainment.he finds at night a more commodious house，but the best is always worse than he expected.
    才走了几英里，他就得到教训，知道了想像与现实是有差距的。一路烟尘滚滚，天气闷热，马跑得慢，赶车的又非常粗暴。他渴望着午餐时刻的到来，以便吃饱后可以休息一下；但旅店人满为患，他的要求也无人理睬，于是除了无奈地匆忙吃完令人倒胃口的饭菜之外，他别无选择。然后他又继续上路，另寻快乐。到了晚上，他找到了一间很宽敞的住所，但一切总比他预想的要坏。
    he at last enters his native province，and resolves to feast his mind with the conversation of his old friends，and the recollection of juvenile frolicks.he stops at the house of his friend，whom he designs to overpower with pleasure by the unexpected interview.he is not known till he tells his name，and revives the memory of himself by a gradual explanation.he is then coldly received，and ceremoniously feasted.he hastes away to another，whom his affairs have called to a distant place，and，having seen the empty house，goes away disgusted by a disappointment which could not be intended，because it could not be foreseen.at the next house he finds everyface clouded with misfortune，and is regarded with malevolence as an unreasonable intruder，who comes not to visit but to insult them.
    最后他踏上了故乡的土地，决定找故旧谈心，或回忆青梅竹马的情景来放松心情。他在一个朋友家的门口停了下来，想以意外到访给对方一个惊喜。不料，直到自我介绍之后他才被认出，而且是经过一番解释之后，主人才记起他来。他自然只能得到冷淡的接待和礼节上的宴请。匆匆告辞之后，他又去拜访另一位友人，但这个朋友又因事远走他方；看到人去楼空，他只好带着意外的失望怅然离去，因为这种失望总是让人无法预见。在走访的下一家.每个人都因不幸的事而愁容满面，他被视为讨厌的不速之客，好像他不是来拜访。而是来羞辱他们的。
    it is seldom that we find either men or places such as we expect them.he that has pictured a prospect upon his fancy，will receive little pleasure from his eyes；he that has anticipated the conversation of a wit，will wonder to what prejudice he owes his reputation.yet it is necessary to hope，though hope should always be deluded；for hope itself is happiness，and its frustrations，however frequent，are less dreadful than its extinction.
    我们很难找到期望中的人或地方。凭借幻想绘出希望前景的人，都不会得到快乐；期望进行机智谈话的人，总想知道是什么样的私见成就了他的名声。然而，尽管希望常常被欺骗，却是必不可少的，因为希望本身就是幸福：尽管它常常遭受挫折，但比起希望破灭，这种挫折毕竟没有那样可怕。（未完待续）

 第12章 父亲的吻

    dad’s kiss
    父亲的吻
    anonymous/佚名
    the board meeting had come to an end.bob started to stand up and jostled the table，spilling his coffee over his notes.“how embarrassing.i am getting so clumsy in my old age.”
    everyone had a good laugh，and soon we were all telling stories of our most embarrassing moments.it came around to frank who sat quietly listening to the others.someone said，“come on，frank.tell us your most embarrassing moment.”
    董事会议已经结束了。鲍勃站起身时不小心碰了下桌子，咖啡溅在了笔记本上。“真尴尬。我老了，变得笨手笨脚了。”
    每个人都大笑起来。接着我们开始讲述自己最尴尬的时刻。弗兰克正静静地听着别人的故事时，有人说道：“到你了，弗兰克，说说你最尴尬的时刻！”
    frank laughed and began to tell us of his childhood.“i grew up in san pedro.my dad was a fisherman，and he loved the sea.he had his own boat，but it was hard making a living on the sea.he worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family.not just enough for our family，but also for his morn and dad and the other kids that were still at home.”
    弗兰克笑了笑便开始说起他小时候的事情。“我在桑河边长大。父亲是个热爱大海的渔民。虽然他有自己的渔船，但仅靠捕鱼来维持生计是非常艰辛的。他拼命地工作，每次出海，他都要捕到足够多的鱼才回来。他不仅要养活我们一家三口，还要养活祖父祖母和家里的其他孩子们。”
    he looked at us and said，“i wish you could have met my dad .he was a big man，and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the seas for his catch.when you got close to him，he smelled like the ocean.he would wear his old canvas，foul-weather coat and his bibbed overalls.his rain hat would be pulled down over his brow.no matter how much my mother washed them，they would still smell of the sea and of fish.”
    他看了看我们接着说：“真希望你们能见一见我父亲本人。他十分高大，由于要拉网和跟海浪作斗争，他练就了一副健壮的身躯。靠近他，你会闻到海的味道。他总是穿着又旧又脏的粗帆布外套和有围兜的罩衫。他的雨帽压得很低，遮住了眉毛。无论我母亲把这些行头搓洗多少遍，还是会有一股海水和鱼腥味。”
    frank‘s voice dropped a bit.“when the weather was bad he would drive me to school.he had this old truck that he used in his fishing business.that truck was older than he was.it would wheeze and rattle down the road.you could hear it coming for blocks.as he would drive toward the school，i would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear.
    “half the time，he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch a cloud of smoke.he would pull right up in front，and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching.then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy.it was so embarrassing for me.here，i was twelve years old and my dad would lean over and kiss me goodbye！”
    弗兰克的声音小了一些：“天气不好的时候，他就会开车送我去学校。那是一辆比父亲更老的载鱼的旧卡车，行驶在路上还会发出咯吱咯吱的响声，隔几个街区你都能听到。当他每次送我去学校时，我都是缩着身子坐在车座上，希望没有人看到我。
    “通常，他会砰的一声把车门关上，而老卡车也随之喷出一股浓烟。他会‘恰好’把车停在校门前，我只觉得周围每个人都在看着我们。接着他总会弯下腰在我脸颊上重重亲一下，叮嘱我要乖。这太让我感到难堪了。那时我已经十二岁了，而我的父亲还要在道别前弯下腰亲我！”
    he paused and then went on，“i remember the day i decided i was too old for a goodbye kiss.when we got to the school and came to a stop，he had his usual big smile.he started to lean toward me，but i put my hand up and said，‘no，dad.’”
    “it was the first time i had ever talked to him that way，and he had this surprised look on his face.”
    “i said，‘dad，i’m too old for a goodbye kiss.i‘m too old for any kind of kiss.’”
    他停了一下又继续说：“我一直记得那一天，我决定不再让父亲亲我了，因为我已是个大小伙子了。当车子在学校门口停下后，父亲仍然带着灿烂的笑容向我靠过来。但这次我举起了手拦住了他，说：‘爸，不要。’”
    “那是我第一次那样跟他说话，他满脸惊讶。”
    我说：“爸爸，我已经长大了，道别时不要再亲我了。任何时候都不要再亲我了。”
    “my dad looked at me for the longest time，and his eyes started to tear up.i had never seen him cry.he turned and looked out the windshield.‘you are right，’he said.‘you are a big boy--a man.i won’t kiss you any more.‘”
    frank got a funny look on his face，and the tears began to well up in his eyes，as he spoke.“it wasn’t long after that when my dad went to sea and never came back.it was a day when most of the fleet stayed in，but not dad.he had a big family to feed.they found his boat adrift with its nets half in and half out.he must have gotten into a gale and was trying to save the nets and the floats.”
    父亲久久地看着我，双眼开始变得潮湿。我从来没见他哭过。他转过身对着挡风玻璃：“你说得对，你长大了，是个男子汉了。我以后不会再亲你了。”
    弗兰克脸上表情开始变得怪怪的，接着便泪如泉涌。“不久之后，父亲出海捕鱼，却再也没回来。那天除了我父亲外其他大多数渔船都没出海，因为还有那么多人等着父亲养活，他不得不去。事后人们发现父亲的渔船正随波漂浮着，渔船半沉半浮着，他肯定是遇到了大风，为了保护鱼网和渔船而丧命的。”
    i looked at frank and saw that tears were running down his cheeks.frank spoke again.“guys，you don‘t know what i would give to have my dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek...to feel his rough old face...to smell the ocean on him...to feel his arm around my neck.i wish i had been a man then.if i had been a man，i would never have told my dad i was too old for a goodbye kiss.”
    我看着弗兰克的泪水缓缓流过他的脸颊。他继续说：“朋友们，你们不知道我多么希望父亲能够再亲一下我的脸颊……让我再次触摸他那饱经风霜的老脸……闻一闻他身上大海的味道……重温他双手绕在我脖子上的感觉。多么希望当时我真的是个男子汉，如果是这样的话，我就不会告诉父亲，我已长大了，不再需要他离别时的吻了。”（未完待续）

 第13章 生命的庆典

    celebration of life
    生命的庆典
    anonymous/佚名
    i was discouraged because i wanted to know why we as a culture wait until somebody has passed away before we tell them how much we love them.why do we wait until someones ears cant hear before we let them know how much they mean to us？why do we wait until it is too late before we recall the good qualities of a person？why do we build someone up after they have gone into eternity？what good does it do then？we share memory after memory，as we laugh，cry，and think back about what was positive in a person`s life.yes，it does help us cope with the grief of losing someone who was special to us，and，yes，it does bring those who are coping closer together.unfortunately，as we lovingly rememeber this person，our words fall short of the ears that most needed to hear them.
    just once i would like to see a celebration of life instead of a gathering of death.a celebration where stories are told，eyes mist over，laughter rings out，and as the speaker concludes his or her loving tribute，the person they are honoring rises from his chair and gives them the biggest bear hug！wouldn`t that be something！the special people get to hear the stories and come to the realization that they have made a difference on this earth，and all this is done well before they leave their earthly bodies and go into etrnity.when the inevitable funerals finally come，we can say good-bye with the knowledge that they knew exactly how people felt about them while they were here on earth.
    我很沮丧，因为我想知道为什么我们要等待那么久，直到别人去世了，才告诉他们，我们有多么爱他们？为什么我们要等到别人耳朵都听不到了才让他们知道他们对我们有多么重要？为什么我们要等到已经来不及的时候才回想起别人的优点？为什么要等别人死后才将他树为楷模？那时候再做又有什么用呢？我们分享一个又一个的记忆，我们一会儿笑一会儿哭地回忆着他一生中的重要时刻.是的，这的确帮助我们应对失去一个对我们很特殊的人的悲伤，也会让有同感的人更紧密。不幸的是，当我们生动地回忆这个人时，最需要听这话的人却听不到我们的话语了。
    我只想看哪怕一次生命的庆典而不是死亡的聚会.在这个庆典中，人们讲着趣事，眼光交流，笑声四起，而当演讲者讲完他或她的爱的情意时，他们尊敬的人从椅子上站起来，紧紧地与其拥抱，这不是件天大的好事吗！那些对我们有特殊意义的人应该听到那些故事，然后意识到他们在世界上制造了不同，所有这一切都应该在他们离开他们尘世的肉体，去往永恒之前做好，这样当最终的葬礼到来的时候，当我们和他们说再见之即，同时明确地知道他们了解生前人们对他们的想法。（未完待续）

 第14章 青春随想

    on the feeling of immortality in youth
    青春随想
    anonymous/佚名
    no young man believes he shall ever die.it was a saying of my brother’s，and a fine one.
    there is a feeling of eternity in youth，which makes us amend for everything.to be young is to be as one of the immortal gods.one half of time indeed is flown —the other half remains in store for us with all its countless treasures；for there is no line drawn，and we see no limit to our hopes and wishes.we make the coming age our own—the vast，the unbounded prospect lies before us.death.old age.are words without a meaning，that pass by us like the idea air which we regard not.others may have undergone，or may still be liable to them—we“bear a charmed life”，which laughs to scorn all such sickly fancies.
    我哥哥曾说过这样一句话：“年轻人总是不相信自己会死。”这是一句很经典的话。
    年轻时，人总是会有种永生之感，这种感觉可以弥补一切缺憾，而且人在年轻的时候就是不朽的神明。也许有一天生命会走过一半的旅程。但前方仍有蕴含着无尽财富的另一半旅程在等待着我们。那段旅程仿佛没有终点，因为我们对未来抱着无限的希望和幻想。未来的时代完全属于我们——无限辽阔的远景就在我们面前。死亡、年老，对于我们年轻人来说毫无意义。我们只把它当做耳边风，根本不放在心上。这一切也许别人已经历过，或将要去承受——而我们对于“祈求生活中无灾无难”之类的脆弱想法根本不屑一顾。仿佛我们刚刚踏上愉快的旅程，正极目远眺——向远方的美景欢呼！此时。我们只觉得眼前的风景应接不暇。前方，更是有美不胜收的景象在等待着我们。
    as in setting out on delightful journey，we strain our eager gaze forward—bidding the lovely scenes at distance hail！—and see no end to the landscape，new objects presenting themselves as we advance；so，in the commencement of life，we set no bounds to our inclinations.nor to the unrestricted opportunities of grastifying them.we have as yet found no obstacle，no disposition to flag；and it seems that we can go on so forever.we look round in a new world，full of life，and motion，and ceaseless progress；and feel in ourselves all the vigour and spirit to keep pace with it，and do not foresee from any present symptoms how we shall be left behind in the natural course of things，decline into old age，and drop into the grave.
    当生活刚刚被开启的时候，我们在梦想中驰骋，追逐着生活中的各种机遇。到目前为止，我们还没有遇到任何障碍，也并未感到疲惫，仿佛我们可以一直这样向前走去，直到永远。我们看着周围的新世界，充满了生机与活力，我们精神饱满，似乎可以永远与世界同步。眼前并无迹象表明我们会在大自然的发展过程中被遗落、衰老，甚至是进入坟墓。
    it is the simplicity，and as it were abstractedness of our feelings in youth，that （so to speak）identifies us with nature，and （our experience being slight and our passions strong）deludes us into a belief of being immortal like it.our short-lives connexion with existence we fondly flatter ourselves，is an indissoluble and lasting union—a honeymoon that knows neither coldness，jar，nor separation.as infants smile and sleep，we are rocked in the cradle of our wayward fancies，and lulled into security by the roar of the universe around us we quaff the cup of life with eager haste without draining it，instead of which it only overflows the more-objects press around us，filling the mind with their magnitude and with the strong of desires that wait upon them，so that we have no room for the thoughts of death.
    年轻人只是天真地沉浸在自己的幻想之中（由于我们年少，经历有限。而激情却很高），以为自己可以同大自然一样永生不灭。我们一厢情愿地把短暂的人生描绘得无比美妙，就像在甜美的岁月中，我们根本不会想到自己与恋人之间会有感情冷淡、发生争执与面对离别的一天。我们像婴儿一样带着甜美的微笑进入梦乡，躺在梦幻中的摇篮里，让周围世界的声音催我们入眠。我们急切地想一口饮下生命之泉，却发现杯中的琼浆总是满满的。我们用这泉水填满我们的思想。于是，各种欲望便应运而生，让我们无暇去畏惧死亡。（未完待续）

 第15章 母亲的信(1)

    all mum’s letter
    母亲的信
    capuzzi locke/卡布兹·洛克
    to this day i remember my mum‘s letters.it all started in december 1941.every night she sat at the big t table in the kitchen and wrote to my brother johnny，who had been drafted that summer.we had not heard from him since the japanese attacked pearl harbor.
    直到今天我还记得妈妈写的那些信。这一切要从1941年12月说起，每天晚上妈妈都要坐在厨房里的大桌子前，给我哥哥约翰尼写信。约翰尼是那年夏季应征入伍的，自从日本突袭了珍珠港，我们就再也没有了他的音讯。
    i didn’t understand why my mum kept writing johnny when he never wrote back.
    “wait and see—we‘ll get a letter from him one day，”she claimed.i don’t know if she said that to calm herself，dad or all of us down，but i do know that it helped us stick together，and one day a letter really did arrive，johnny was alive on an island in the pacific.
    i had always been amused by the fact that mum signed her letters，“cecilia capuzzi”，and i teased her about that.“why don‘t you just write ’mum‘？”i said.
    i hadn’t been aware that she always thought of herself as cecilia capuzzh not as mum，i began seeing her in a new sight，this small delicate woman，who even in high-heeled shoes was barely one and a half metres tall.
    那时我并不理解妈妈为什么在约翰尼从未回过一封信的情况下，还要坚持给他写信。
    “等等看——总有一天我们会收到他的信的，”她说道。我不知道她说这些是不是在安慰她自己和爸爸，或者我们大家，但我知道她的话确实把我们的心系在一起。后来果然有一天，信真的来了。约翰尼还活着，他在太平洋的一个小岛上。
    那时有一件事我时常觉得好笑——妈妈在信后的签名竟然是“塞西莉娅？卡布兹”，于是我调侃她说：“为什么你不直接签上‘妈妈’呢？”
    在此之前我从未察觉她一直把自己称为“塞西莉娅？卡布兹”，而不是“妈妈”。于是我开始用种新的眼光来审视这位娇小玲珑、穿上高跟鞋还不足150公分高的女子。
    she never wore make-up or jewelry except for a wedding ring of gold.her hair was fine，sleek and black and always put up in a knot in the neck.she wouldn‘t hear of getting a haircut o******rm.her small silver-rimmed pince-nez only left her nose when she went to bed.
    whenever mum had finished a letter，she gave it to dad for him to post it.then she put the water on to boil，and we sat down at the table and talked about the good old days when our italian-american family had been a family often—mum，dad and eight children，five boys and three girls.it is hard to understand that they had all moved away from home to work，enroll in the army，or get married.all except me.
    她向来素面朝天，除了一枚结婚金戒外不佩戴任何首饰。她有一头秀发，乌黑顺滑，在颈部的位置上扎起来。她从不听从剪发或者烫发的劝告。她那架在鼻梁上的银边眼镜，只有在入睡前才会离开她的鼻子。
    无论什么时候写完一封信，妈妈都会把信交给爸爸去邮寄。接着，她还会烧上一壶水，然后我们一同坐在桌前，谈论着往昔那些美好的日子，从前我们这个意大利裔的美国家庭总共有十口人——妈妈、爸爸以及八个孩子，其中包括五个男孩和三个女孩。真难以想像，此时他们要么离家工作，要么进了部队，要么结了婚。家中就只剩下我一个孩子了。
    around next spring，mum had got two more sons to write to.every evening she wrote three different letters which she gave to me and dad afterwards so we could add our greetings.
    little by little the rumour about mum’s letters spread.one day a small woman knocked at our door.her voice trembled as she asked，“is it true you write letters？”
    “i write to my sons.”
    “and you can read，too？”whispered the woman.
    “sure.”
    大概是在第二年春天，妈妈开始要给另两个儿子写信了。每天傍晚，她都会写上三封不同的信，然后把这些信交给我和爸爸，让我们加上自己的祝福。
    久而久之，有关妈妈写信的传闻散播开了。一天，一位矮小的女人敲响了我们家的门，她颤着嗓音问道：“你写信的事是真的吗？”
    “我在给我的儿子写信。”
    “这么说你也能读信喽？”那个女人低声问道。
    “当然。”
    the woman opened her bag and pulled out a pile of air mail letters.“read...please read them aloud to me.”
    the letters were from the woman‘s son who was a soldier in europe，a red-haired boy who mum remembered having seen sitting with his brothers on the stairs in front of our house.mum read the letters one by one and translated them from english to italian，the woman’s eyes welled up with tears.“now i have to write to him，”she said.but how was she going to do it？（未完待续）

 第16章 母亲的信(2)

    于是那个女人打开皮包，掏出一迭航空邮件。“读读……请为我大声念念吧！”
    这些信是那个女人的儿子写的，他是一名士兵，身在欧洲。他有一头红色的头发，妈妈还记得曾经看到他与他的兄弟们坐在我们家前面的台阶上。妈妈依次念着这一封封信，并把它们从英语转述为意大利语。泪水滚出了那个女人的眼眶。“现在我也要给他写信，”她说道。可是她又如何办得到呢？
    “make some coffee，octavia，”mum yelled to me in the living room while she took the woman with her into the kitchen and seated her at the table.she took the fountain pen，ink and air mail notepaper and began to write.when she had finished，she read the letter aloud to the woman.
    “how did you know that was exactly what i wanted to say？”
    “i often sit and look at my boys‘letters，just like you，without a clue about what to write.”
    a few days later，the woman returned with a friend，then another one and yet another one—they all had sons who fought in the war，and they all needed letters.mum had become the correspondent in our part of town.sometimes she would write letters all day long.
    “煮些咖啡，奥克塔维亚，”妈妈在客厅里对我喊道，这时她把那个女人带进了厨房，让她坐到了那张桌子前面。她拿出了钢笔、墨水和航空邮件的信纸，然后开始写信。写完后，她还把信大声地念给那个女人听。
    “你怎么知道我正是想说这些？”
    “我也经常坐下来看我孩子的信，就像你这个样子，对写些什么脑子里没有一点儿头绪。”
    几天后，那女人带了一个朋友又回来了，再往后，带了一个又接另一个——所有这些人都有儿子在战场上打仗，她们都需要写信。于是妈妈便成了我们镇上的通信员，时常要写上一整天的信。
    mum always insisted that people signed their own letters，and the small woman with the grey hair asked mum to teach her how to do it.“i so much want to be able to write my own name so that my son can see it.”then mum held the woman’s hand in hers and moved her hand over the paper again and again until she was able to do it without her help.
    after that day，when mum had written a letter for the woman，she signed it herself，and her face brightened up in a smile.
    妈妈总是坚持要人们给自己的信签名，于是那个白头发的矮小女人请妈妈教她怎么签。“我太希望自己能够动手签名了，好让我的儿子看看。”于是妈妈便握住那个女人的手，推着她的手在纸上移动，这样反反复复直到她不需要帮助就可以做到为止。
    从那天起，每当妈妈为她写完一封信，那个女人便自己签名，这时她脸上便会浮现出灿烂的笑容。
    one day she came to us，and mum instantly knew what had happened.all hope had disappeared from her eyes.they stood hand in hand for a long time without saying a word，then mum said，“there are certain things in life so great that we cannot comprehend them.”when mum came back home，she couldn‘t get the red-haired boy out of her mind.
    有一天，当她又来到我们家的时候，妈妈立刻意识到发生了什么。所有希望都从她的眼中消失了。她们手握着手，伫立了许久都没有说一句话。后来妈妈开了口：“生活中总会有一些大事是我们无法理解的。”回家后，那个红头发的男孩让妈妈念念不忘。
    after the war was over，mum put away the pen and paper.“finito，”she said.but she was wrong.the women who had come to her for help in writing to their sons now came to her with letters from their relatives in italy.
    on one occasion，mum admitted that she had always had a secret dream of writing a novel.why didn’t she？i asked.
    “all people in this world are here with one particular purpose，”she said.“apparently，mine is to write letters.”she tried to explain why it absorbed her so：
    战争结束后，妈妈便把那些笔和纸束之高阁。“结束了”，她说。可是她错了。那些曾经过来找她帮忙为儿子写信的女人们，现在又带着意大利亲戚的来信来找她了。
    偶然有一次，妈妈透露说她一直有一个不为人所知的梦，就是写本小说。为什么不呢？我问道。
    “天生我材必有用，”她说道，“显然，我的使命就是写信。”她试图解释为什么热衷于写信：
    “a letter unites people like nothing else，it can make them cry，it can make them laugh.there is no caress more lovely and warm th******ove letter，because it makes the world seem very small，and both sender and receiver become like kings in their own kingdoms.my dear，a letter is life itself！”
    today all mum‘s letters are lost.but those who got them still talk about her and cherish the memory of he r letters in their hearts.
    “信是一种联系人们感情的独特方式。它让人流泪，也让人欢笑。充满爱的一封信是最美好和温馨不过的，它让这世界显得非常渺小，而写信人和收信人就像是主宰了自己那个国度的国王。我的天啊，信是有生命的！”
    如今妈妈写的信都不见了踪影，但那些让她帮写过信的人仍在谈论着她，并在她们的心中珍藏着她写信的回忆。（未完待续）

 第17章 成长

    growing up
    成长
    elizabeth yates/伊丽莎白·耶茨
    at six she had been told she was a big girl now.she was excited about going to school.she clutched hard the hand of the grown -up that held hers as they went up the steps of the big building，through the door，and to the entrance of the classroom；then she had to let go，had to face that room full of children，some few she knew but many she had never seen before...
    time went by and it was her tenth birthday that was being celebrated.even bigger was the day when she entered the teens.there were other great occasions.to be sixteen was one，and then to be twenty-one：a grown-up who could vote，a young woman who could take her own stand.each stage of growing had blended into the next effortlessly，inevitably.yes，always there would be something ahead.this was the learning that was life；and the savor，too.
    长到六岁，大人就告诉她，现在是大姑娘了。她兴高采烈地上学去，大人拉住她的手，她便使劲抓住大人的那只手，一大一小走上大楼的台阶，穿过门口，来到教室的进门处；然后她就得松手，就得面对坐满小朋友的教室，她只认得几个人，可是多数面孔她以前从未看到过……时光流逝，不觉之间到了庆祝她十岁生日的时候。她长到十三岁更是隆重的一天，还有其他的大场面，过十六岁是一次，然后是过二十一岁：这时便是能够投票的成人，能够表明态度的小姐了。每个成长阶段都融人了下一个阶段，水到渠成，必然来到。当然，总会有未来的东西。学习就是生活，生活的滋味也在于学习。（未完待续）

 第18章 好好想想

    think it over
    好好想想
    anonymous/佚名
    today we have higher buildings and wider highways，but shorter temperaments and narrower points of view；we spend more，but enjoy less；we have bigger houses，but smaller families；we have more compromises，but less time；we have more knowledge，but less judgment；we have more medicines，but less health；we have multiplied out possessions，but reduced out values we talk much，we love only a little，and we hate too much；今天我们拥有了更高层的楼宇以及更宽阔的公路，但是我们的性情却更急躁，眼光也更加狭隘；我们消耗的更多，享受到的却更少；我们的房子更大了，但我们的家庭却更小；我们妥协更多，但时间更少；我们拥有了更多的知识，但判断力却更差了；我们有了更多的药品，但健康却不如以往；我们拥有更多的财富，但价值却更少了；我们说的多了，爱的却少了，我们的仇恨也更多了；we reached the moon and came back，but we find it troublesome to cross our own street and meet our neighbors；we have conquered the outer space，but not our inner space；we have higher income，but less morals；these are times with more liberty，but less joy；we have much more food，but less nutrition；these are the days in which it takes two salaries for each home，but divorces increase these are times of houses，but more broken homes；that’s why i propose，that as of today：you do not keep anything for a special occasion，because every day that you live is a special occasion.search for knowledge，read more，sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to your needs；我们可以往返月球，但却难以迈出一步去亲近我们的左邻右舍；我们可以征服外层空间，却征服不了我们的内心；我们的收入增加了，但道德却更少了；我们的时代更加自由了，但拥有的快乐时光却更少了；我们有了更多的食物，但所能得到的营养却更少了；现在每个家庭都可以有双份收入，但离婚的现象越来越多了：现在的住家越来越精致，但也有了更多破碎的家庭；这就是我为什么要说，让我们从今天开始；不要将你的东西为了某一个特别的时刻而预留着，因为你生活的每一天都是特别节日；寻找更多的知识，多读一些书，坐在你家的前廊里，以赞美的眼光去享受眼前的风景，不要带着任何功利的想法；spend more time with your family and friends，eat your favorite foods，visit the places you love；life is a chain of moments of enjoyment，not only about survival；use your crystal goblets.do not save your best perfume，and use it every time you feel you want it；remove from your vocabulary phrases like“one of these days”，or“someday”let‘s write that letter we thought of writing “one of these days”！let’s tell our families and friends how much we love them；do not delay anything that adds laughter and joy to your life；every day，every hour，and every minute is special；and you don‘t know if it will be your last.
    多花点时间和朋友与家人在一起，吃你爱吃的食物，去你想去的地方；生活是一串串的快乐时光，我们不仅仅是为了生存而生存；举起你的水晶酒杯吧；不要吝啬洒上你最好的香水，你想用的时候就享用吧；从你的词汇库中移去所谓的“有那么一天”或者“某一天”；曾打算“有那么一天”去写的信，就在今天写吧！告诉家人和朋友，我们是多么爱他们；不要延迟任何可以给你的生活带来欢笑与快乐的事情；每一天、每一小时、每一分钟都是那么特别；你无法知道这是不是最后一刻。（未完待续）

 第20章 生活的忠告

    words to live by
    生活的忠告
    anonymous/佚名
    i’ll give you some advice about life.
    给你生活的忠告
    eat more roughage；
    多吃些粗粮；
    do more than others expect you to do and do it pains；给别人比他们期望的更多，并用心去做；remember what life tells you；熟记生活告诉你的一切；don‘t take to heart every thing you hear.don’t spend all that you have.don‘t sleep as long as you want；不要轻信你听到的每件事，不要花光你的所有，不要想睡多久就睡多久；whenever you say”i love you”，please say it honestly；无论何时说“我爱你”，请真心实意；whevever you say”i’m sorry”，please look into the other person‘s eyes；无论何时说“对不起”，请看对方的眼睛；fall in love at first sight；相信一见钟情；don’t neglect dreams；
    请不要忽视梦想；
    love deeply and ardently，even if there is pain，but this is the way to make your life complete；深情热烈地爱，也许会受伤，但这是使人生完整的唯一方法；find a way to settle，not to dispute；用一种明确的方法解决争议，不要冒犯；never judge people by their appearance；永远不要以貌取人；
    speak slowly，but think quickly；
    慢慢地说，但要迅速地想；
    when someone asks you a question you don‘t want to answer，simle and say，“why do you want to know？”
    当别人问你不想回答的问题时，笑着说：“你为什么想知道？”
    remember that the man who can shoulder the most risk will gain the deepest love and the supreme accomplishment；记住：那些敢于承担最大风险的人才能得到最深的爱和最大的成就；call you mother on the phone.if you can’t，you may think of her in your heart；给妈妈打电话，如果不行，至少在心里想着她；when someone sneezes say，“god bless you”；当别人打喷嚏时，说一声“上帝保佑”；if you fail，don‘t forget to learn your lesson；如果你失败了，千万别忘了汲取教训；remember the three “respects”.respect yourself，respect others，stand on dignity and pay attention to your behavior；记住三个“尊”：尊重你自己；尊重别人；保持尊严，对自己的行为负责；don’t let a little dispute break up a great friendship；不要让小小的争端损毁了一场伟大的友谊；whenever you find your wrongdoing，be quick with reparation！
    无论何时你发现自己做错了，竭尽所能去弥补；动作要快！
    whenever you make a phone call smile when you pick up the phone，because someone feel it！
    无论什么时候打电话，摘起话筒的时候请微笑，因为对方能感觉到！
    marry a person who likes talking；because when you get old，you‘ll find that chatting to be a great advantage；找一个你爱聊的人结婚；因为年纪大了后，你会发觉喜欢聊天是一个人最大的优点；find time for yourself.
    找点时间，单独呆会儿；
    life will change what you are but not who you are；欣然接受改变，但不要摒弃你的个人理念；remember that silence is golden；记住：沉默是金；read more books and watch less television；多看点书，少看点电视；live a noble and honest life.reviving past times in your old age will help you to enjoy your life again；过一种高尚而诚实的生活。当你年老时回想起过去，你就能再一次享受人生。
    trust god，but don’t forget to lock the door；相信上帝，但是别忘了锁门；the harmonizing atmosphere of a family is valuable；家庭的融洽氛围是难能可贵的；try your best to let family harmony flow smoothly；尽你的能力让家平顺和谐；when you quarrel with a close friend，talk about the main dish，don‘t quibble over the appetizers；当你和你的亲近的少吵嘴时候，试着就事论事，不要扯出那些陈芝麻、烂谷子的事；you cannot hold onto yesterday；不要摆脱不了昨天；figure out the meaning of someone’s words；多注意言下之意；share your knowledge to continue a timeless tradition；和别人分享你的知识，那才是永恒之道；treat our earth in a friendly way，don‘t fool around with mother nature；善待我们的地球，不要愚弄自然母亲；do the thing you should do；做自己该做的事；don’t trust a lover who kisses you without closing their eyes；不要相信接吻时从不闭眼的伴侣；go to a place you‘ve never been to every year.
    每年至少去一个你从没去过的地方。
    if you earn much money，the best way to spend it is on charitable deeds while you are alive；如果你赚了很多钱，在活着的时候多行善事，这是你能得到的最好回报；remember，not all the best harvest is luck；记住有时候，不是最好的收获也是一种好运；understand rules completely and change them reasonably；深刻理解所有的规则，合理地更新他们；remember，the best love is to love others unconditionally rather than make demands on them；记住，最好的爱存在于对别人的爱胜于对别人的索求这上；comment on the success you have attained by looking in the past at the target you wanted to achieve most；回头看看你发誓取得的目标，然后评价你到底有多成功；in love and cooking，you must give100％effort...but expect little appreciation；无论是烹饪不是爱情，都用百分之百的负责态度对待，但是不要乞求太多的回报。（未完待续）

 第21章 创造自己的生活

    how to build your life
    创造自己的生活
    anonymous/佚名
    every person creates his or her own reality.authorship of your life is one of your absolute rights；yet so often people deny that they have the ability tothe life they desire.they look past the fundamental truth that it is not our external resources that determine our success or failure，but rather our own belief in ourselves and our willingness to create a life according to our highest aspirations .
    clearly，the challenge here is to create and own your own reality.when you begin to live your life understanding that what you make of it is up to you，you are able to design it according to your authentic choices and desires.you will learn lessons here，such as responsibility and limitlessness，which will lead you to the life you were meant to live.these lessons provide you with the essential tools you need in order to take command of your life.
    to take responsibility means you admit your accountability and acknowledge your influence and role in the circumstances in which you find yourself.it means you are answerable for your behavior and you fully accept any consequences created by your actions.
    生活是由自己创造的。而且，人人都享有创造生活的权利。但如今，人们总是说自己没有能力描绘美好的生活。实际上，他们忽视了一个根本的事实——决定我们成功与失败的并不在于任何外部条件，而在于我们是否有实现自己心中热望的信心与积极性。
    无疑，这种挑战就是如何创造并掌握自己的生活。一旦你明白自己是生活的创造者，那么你就可以按照自己的选择与希望来创造生活。在这里，你将会学到如何承担责任与发挥无限潜能，它们会带你走进你想要的生活，并教会你如何主宰生活。
    承担责任指的是要认可自己应承担的责任，并了解自己对周围环境所产生的影响和作用。这就意味着，你要对自己的行为负责，要完全承担由自己的行为所造成的一切后果。
    to take responsibility will propel you forward and onward to your greater good.i know of a woman named mary whose story of personal responsibility has always inspired me.mary was born in cuba and moved to miami with her family when she was two years old.they lived in terrible poverty in a dangerous part of the city，where crime and drugs were part of everyday life.mary was determined，however，even at the young age of eight，to make something of her life other than follow the expected route of becoming a maid，or a cashier at the local supermarket.so she got herself to school each and every day，sometimes having to step over drunks passed out in the doorway，just so she could get education and give herself a better life.
    mary eventually left miami，obtained a good education，and fostered her natural music ability.mary could have given in to the life she was born into，or remained mired in blaming her parents and culture for her circumstances.she could have refused to take responsibility for the situation.instead，however，mary took responsibility for herself and created a life of which she can be proud.
    responsibility is a major lesson of adulthood.if you still haven’t learned the lesson of responsibility，it‘s not too late.remember，life will provide you with plenty of opportunities to get it right.
    学会承担责任，能够使你不断前进，创造更美好的未来。我知道一个叫玛丽的女子，她勇于向命运挑战的事迹一直让我备受鼓舞。玛丽出生在古巴，两岁时，举家搬迁到迈阿密他们的生活极度贫困，所住的地方是迈阿密的危险地区，犯罪和毒品已泛滥成灾。然而，玛丽在她仅八岁时就立志要干出一番事业，而不甘心只当个女佣或是当地超市的收银员。为此，她每天准时上学，从不旷课，有时甚至不得不从那些醉倒在家门口的酒鬼身上跨过去。
    最终，玛丽离开了迈阿密，并获得了很好的教育，她的音乐天赋也得到发展。玛丽本可以向命运屈服、埋怨自己的父母或是当地的文化状况，也可以完全拒绝承担任何责任。然而，玛丽还是承担了自己的责任并且创造了值得自己骄傲的生活。
    承担责任是每一个成年人的必修课。如果你还没有学会承担责任，现在还不晚。记住，生活会为你提供许许多多的机会让你学会承担责任。
    limitlessness，the final lesson you must learn is limitlessness，it is the sense that there are no boundaries to what you can become or do.you learn it when you know that your evolution is never-ending and your potential for growth reaches to infinity.
    you were born knowing your limitlessness.as you grew and became socialized in this world，however，you might have come to believe that there are boundaries that prevent you from reaching thehighest levels of spiritual，emotional，or mental evolution.however，boundaries exist only in your mind.when you are able to transcend them，you learn the lesson of limitlessness.
    when i was young，i had a teacher who understood the importance of this lesson.she reminded us every day that we could do anything we set our minds to，no matter how impossible it might seem or how strong the opposition is.it is my sincere hope that there is a teacher like mrs.carbone in every school around the world，so that our children can know the wonder and power they have within themselves and will strive to access it.
    in this world，we have countless people who have proven that a person can do whatever he or she strives to do.
    最后一课便是发挥无限潜能，你必须学会这一点。无论你想成为什么样的人或是做什么样的事情，并没有明确的界线来限制你。如果你相信自己的进步是永无止境的，自己的发展潜力也是无穷无尽的，那么你就学会了这一课。
    从来到人世的那天起，你就应该知道潜能是无限的。然而，随着你慢慢地成长，逐渐融入社会，你或许会怀疑有种种障碍在阻止你实现心中既定的精神、情感和思想上的最高目标。然而，这些障碍只存在于你的心里。如果你能超越这些障碍，那么你就学到了发挥无限潜能这一课。
    在我小时候，有一位老师（卡蓬夫人）深知这一课的重要性。她时时提醒我们：只要下定决心，我们就能做到任何事情——无论它们看起来是无法实现的，还是受到重重阻碍的。我真心希望世上每所学校都能有一位像卡蓬夫人一样的老师，这样，我们的孩子就能够懂得他们身上所拥有的非凡才能与力量，而且会努力实现自己心中的目标。
    在这个世界上，人们一次又一次地证明了这样一个道理：世上无难事，只怕有心人。（未完待续）

 第23章 我们在旅途中

    we are on a journey
    我们在旅途中
    henry dyke/亨利·戴克
    where you may be，while you turn these pages，i cannot guess，perhaps you are sitting in your own quiet room after a hard day’s work；perhaps you are reading aloud in some circle of friends around the open fire；perhaps you are in the quiet woods，or out in the pleasant orchard under your favorite tree；perhaps you are actually on the deck of a ship travelling across the waters.
    我不知道正在阅读这篇文章的你身处何方，也许你已经结束了一天的奔忙，正坐在安静的小屋里；也许你正和朋友们围坐在篝火旁，大声地朗读这篇文章；也许你正身处静谧的森林中；也许你正坐在你最喜欢的树下；也许你正躺在小船的甲板上……but wherever you are，and whoever you may be，there is one thing in which you and i are just alike at this moment，and in all the moments of our existence：we are not at rest；we are on a journey.our life is a movement，a tendency ，a steady，ceaseless progress towards an unseen goal.we are gaining something，or losing something，everyday.even when our position and our character seem to remain pre-cisely the same，they are changing.for the mere advance of time is a change.it is not the same thing to have a bare field in january and in july.the season makes the difference.the limitations that are childlike in the child are childish in the man.
    不论你身在何方，不论你是什么人，不论是在此时此刻，还是在生命中的任何一个瞬间，有一件事对你我是完全相同的：我们并不是在休息，而是在旅途之中。我们的生活是一种运动，一种趋势，在向一个看不见的目标持久地稳步前进。每一天，我们在得到某些东西的同时，也会失去一些东西。甚至当我们所处的位置和我们的性格看起来跟以前并无差别时，这一切还是在不断地变化着。因为，时间的前进就是一种变化。对于一片荒地来说，一月和七月是有所不同的，季节会产生某些差异。能力的局限性对于孩子而言，是一种天真的品性；对成人而言，就是一种幼稚的表现。
    everything that we do is a step in one direction or another.even the failure to do something is in itself a deed.it sets us forward or backward.the action of the negative pole of a magnetic needle is just as real as the action of the positive pole.to decline is to accept—the other alternative.
    after you nearer to your port today than you were yesterday？yes，—you must be a little nearer to some port or other；for since your ship was first launched upon the sea of life，you have never been still for a single moment；the sea is too deep，you could not find an anchorage if you wouht；there can be no pause untill you come into port.
    but what is it，then，the haven towards which you are making？what is the goal that you desire and hope to reach？what is the end of life towards which you are drifting or steering ？
    我们所做的每一件事都是朝某个方向前进的一个步骤。甚至那些被我们忽略的事情也会给我们造成影响，因为忽略本身已经成为一种事实，它让我们前进或者后退。一根磁针南极和北极所产生的作用是同样真实有效的。拒绝也是一种接受——一切都是二选一的结果。
    今天，你是否比昨天更接近你心中的港口呢？是的——你必须接近某个港口。因为，自从你的船驶向生命之海，你便没有停止过前行；海是如此之深.你根本无法找到一个可以抛锚的地点，于是，你不可能停下来，直到你达到自己的港口。
    可是，你希望这艘船驶向哪一个港口呢？你渴望完成怎样的夙愿、取得怎样的目标呢？当小船经过风雨飘摇的旅程，终于到达目的地时，又会有怎样一番景象呈现在你面前呢？
    there are three ways in which we may look at this question，depending upon the point of view from which we regard human existence.
    when we think of it as a work，the question is，“what do we desire to accomplish”
    when we think of it as a growth，a development，a personal unfolding，the question is，“what do we desire to become？”
    when we think of it as an experience，a destiny，the question is，“what do we desire to become of us？”
    人们的生活目标不尽相同，因此，我们可以通过三个不同的方面来看待上述问题。
    如果我们所追求的目标与事业有关，那么我们会问：“我们希望获得怎样的成就呢？”
    如果我们所追求的目标与成长、发展，以及个性的形成有关，那么我们会问：“我们想要成为怎样的人呢？”
    如果我们所追求的目标与体验、命运有关，那么我们会问：“我们希望有怎样的人生际遇呢？”
    do not imagine for an instant that these questions can be really separated.they are interwoven8.they cross each other from end to end of the web of life.the answer to one question determines the answer to the others.we cannot divide our work from ourselves，nor isolate our future from our qualities.a ship might as well try to sail north with her jib，and east with her foresail，and south with her mainsail9，as a man to go one way in conduct，and another way in character，and another way in destiny.
    what we do belongs to what we are；and what we are is what becomes of us.
    不要以为这三个问题是互不相干的，它们之间有着千丝万缕的关系。也正是因为它们相互交织在一起，才构成了我们的生活——它们对我们的未来也起着决定性的作用。也许你的小船想扬帆驶向北方，可前桅的大帆则朝着东方，主帆则朝着南方，如同一个人，心中向往着某一个地方，行为上却朝着另一个地方，而最终决定这一切的，还有一个叫作“命运”的东西。
    你是怎样的人，决定你做怎样的事；你做怎样的事，决定你将变成怎样的人！（未完待续）

 第24章 雨山之路

    the way to rainy mountain
    雨山之路
    scott momaday/司各特·蒙马戴
    a single knoll rises out of the plain in oklahoma，north and west of the wichita range.for my people，the kiowas，it is an old landmark，and they gave it the name rainy mountain.the hardest weather in the world is there.winter brings blizzards，hot tornadic winds arise in the spring，and in summer the prairie is an anvil‘s edge.the grass turns brittle and brown，and it cracks beneath your feet.there are green belts along the rivers and creeks，linear groves of hickory and pecan，willow and witch hazel.
    一座单独的山墩在俄克拉荷马州大平原兀然隆起，位于威奇托山脉的西北方向。在我的种族基奥瓦人看来，这座山墩是一个古老的座标，他们给它取名为“雨山”。天下最险恶的气候就在那儿。冬天带来了暴风雪，炎热的龙卷风似的大风竟在春天刮起，夏天大平原就像铁砧的边缘。青草变得脆硬枯黄，走在脚下会发出噼啪噼啪的声音。沿着河流溪涧有绿化地带，山核和美洲山核、柳树和金缕梅形成了直线性的树丛。
    at a distance in july or august the steaming foliage seems almost writhe in fire.great green and yellow grasshoppers are everywhere in the tall grass，popping up like corn to sting the flesh，and tortoises crawl about on the red earth，going nowhere in the plenty of time.loneliness is an aspect of the land.all things in the plain was isolate；there is no confusion of objects in the eye，but one hill or one tree or one man.to look upon that landscape in the early morning，with the sun at your back，is to lose the sense of proportion.your imagination comes to life，and this，you think，is where creation was begun.
    七八月里远处望去，冒着热气的树叶仿佛在大火中扭曲。绿黄色的大蚱蜢在高高的草丛里举目皆是，如同玉米似地突然冒出来刺痛皮肤，乌龟在红土上四处爬行，好半天也没爬多远。孤寂是这片土地的一个特色。平原上万物都是形单影只的；视线里景物不会纷然杂呈，只有一座小山一棵树或是一个人；一大清早观望那里的风光，犹如丧失了分寸感，因为朝阳还在你的背后。你的想像力活跃起来了，你会联想到，这里就是上帝开始创造天地的地方。（未完待续）

 第25章 英国的农村生活

    rural life in england
    英国的农村生活
    washington irving/华盛顿·欧文
    nothing can be more imposing than the magnificence of english park scenery.vast lawns that extend like sheets of vivid green，with here and there clumps of gigantic trees，heaping up rich piles of foliage：the solemn pomp of groves and woodland glades，with the deer trooping in silent herds across them；the hare，bounding away to the covert；or the pheasant，suddenly bursting upon the wing：the brook，taught to wind in natural meanderings or expand into a glassy lake：the sequestered pool，reflecting the quivering trees，with the yellow leaf sleeping on its bosom，and the trout roaming fearlessly about its limpid waters；while some rustice temple or sylvan statue，grown green and dank with age，gives an air of classic sanctity to the seclusion.
    没有任何景物能比英国公园壮丽的景色更吸引人。广阔的草地就像一块鲜明的绿毯伸展开来，到处都是巨树丛林，它们聚成一簇簇丰厚的树叶：矮树林壮观严肃的盛景，林中空地，有鹿群静静走过；野兔跳进藏身之所；或是雉鸟突然振翅高飞；小溪流顺着天然曲折的道路蜿蜒前行或延展成平镜般的湖泊：退隐的水塘映出颤动树影，黄叶静静地躺在塘心，鳟鱼无惧地悠游于清水中；而一些乡间的庙宇及森林中的雕像，则因时间长远的原因变绿阴湿，给这种隐蔽蒙上了一层古典淡雅的气氛。
    these are but a few of the features of park scenery；but what most delights me，is the creative talent with which the english decorate the unostentatious abodes of middle life.the rudest habitation，the most unpromising and scanty portion of land，in the hands of an englishman of taste，becomes a little paradise.
    the sterile spot grows into loveliness under his （an englishman）hands，andyet the operations of art which produce the effect are scarcely to be perceived.the cherishing and training of some trees；the cautious pruning of others；the nice distribution of flowers and plants of tender and graceful foliage；the introduction of a green slope of velvet turf；the partial opening to a peep of blue distance，or silver gleam of water：all these are managed with a delicate tact，a pervading yet quiet assiduity，like the magic touchings with which a painter finishes up a favorite picture.
    这只不过是公园景观特色一个很小的部分；最令我欣赏的还是英国人装饰他们朴实无华的中产阶级生活时的那种创造性才智。在有品味的英国人手中，最粗陋的住宅，前景不好而又贫乏的土地，也能成为一个小小天堂。
    在他（英国人）的手中，再贫瘠的土地也会变成可爱之地，而产生这种效果的艺术操作，几乎看不出什么迹象。对某些树要精心爱护和培育；对另一些树要谨慎地修剪；很好地分配花朵及长满娇嫩而优雅叶子的植物，引进一片天鹅绒似的绿色斜地；给出一个空隙，从那可以瞥见远处蔚蓝且银光闪烁的水色；这一切都是以精巧的机智、无处不在又不露痕迹的勤勉来安排的，就像一位画家以神来之笔完成一幅心爱的画作。
    the residence of people of fortune and refinement in the country has diffused a degree of taste and elegance in rural economy that descends to the lowest class.the very laborer，with his thatched cottage and narrow slip of ground，attends to their embellishment.the trim hedge，the grass-plot before the door，the little flower-bed bordered with snug box，the woodbine trained up against the wall，and hanging its blossoms about the lattice，the pot of flowers in the window，the holly，providently planted about the house，to cheat winter of its dreariness，and to throw in a semblance of green summer to cheer the fireside：all these bespeak the influence of taste，flowing down from high sources，and pervading the lowest levels of the public mind.if ever love，as poets sing，delights to visit a cottage，it must be the cottage of an english peasant.
    在乡间经济中，富有且教养良好的乡绅居处散发出的某一程度的品味及优雅，已经下传至最低的阶层。即使是只拥有茅顶小屋及狭长空地的工人，也注意装饰的问题。整洁的篱笆，门前的绿草地，环绕着温暖盒子的小花床，修过枝的墙上忍冬将花朵缀满了格子窗以及窗台上的花盆，冬青则被巧妙地种植在房子周围。即使到了冬天，也满是夏天的样子，充满温暖，鼓舞着屋内围炉而坐的人们，这都是品味的影响力在起作用。它从高处汩汩下流，一直流到公众认为是最低的阶层中。如果诗人所歌颂的爱，愿意拜访农舍的话，则非英国农人的村舍莫属。（未完待续）

 第26章 河谷寻幽(1)

    down the aalley
    河谷寻幽
    william cobbet/威廉·科贝特
    i came off this morning on the marlborough road about two miles，or three，and then turned off，over the downs，in a northwesterly direction，in search of the source of the avon river，which goes down to salisbury.i had once been at netheravon，a village in this valley，but i had often heard this valley described as one of the finest pieces of land in all england；i knew that there were about thirty parish churches，standing in a length of about thirty miles，and in an average width of hardly a mile；and i was resolved to see a little into the reasons that could have induced our fathers to build all these churches，especially if，as the scotch would have us believe，there were but a mere handful of people in england until of late years.
    我大清早就出了门，在马尔博罗公路上走了两三英里，然后拐向西北，翻过一处高地去寻找阿文河的源头，这条河流向索尔兹博。我曾经在河谷中一个叫作下阿文的村庄里住过一些日子，然而不止一次听说，这条河算得上是整个英国的胜地中的其中一个。那谷地不过三十公里长一英里宽，可上面竟然耸立着大约三十座教区教堂。我决定去探讨一番，究竟是什么原因驱使我们的先人们建造了这么多的教堂，更何况直到最近几年以前英格兰的人口还非常少——苏格兰人一直力求让我们相信这一点。
    in steering across the down，i came to a large farm，which a shepherd told me was milton hill farm.this was upon the high land，and before i came to the edge of this valley of avon，which was my land of promise，or at least，of great expectation；for i could not imagine that thirty churches had been built for nothing by the side of a brook（for it is no more during the greater part of the way）thirty miles long.the shepherd showed me the way towards milton；and at the end of about a mile，from the top of a very high part of the down，with a steep slope towards the valley，i first saw this valley of avon；and a most beautiful sight it was！villages，hamlets，large farms，towers，steeples，fields，meadows，orchards，and very fine timber trees，scattered all over the valley.the shape of the thing is this：on each side downs，very lofty and steep in some places，and sloping miles back in other places；but each outside of the valley are downs.from the edge of the downs begin capital arable fields generally of very great dimensions ，and，in some places，running a mile or two back into little crossvalleys，formed by hills of downs.after the cornfields come meadows on each side，down to the brook or river.the farmhouses，mansions，villages，and hamlets are generally situated in that part of the arable land which comes nearest the meadows.
    沿着高地走，我来到一座巨大的庄园附近，一位牧人对我说这是米尔顿山庄。庄园建在高地上，距离阿文河还有一些路程。这个河谷就是我“想抵达的地方”，或者至少是一个令人期待的地方，因为我实在是难以想像为什么人们会无缘无故地把这三十座教堂建在这么一条三十英里长的小河旁（而这条小河的大部分并没有什么特色鲜明的地方）。牧人把通向米尔顿村的道路指给了我，差不多走了一英里，我终于从直达谷地的一个陡峭的坡上第一次见到了阿文河谷——多么美丽的河谷呀！这里有村落、庄园、塔楼、田野、草地、果园，还有郁郁葱葱的树木。这里的地形是这样的：河谷的周围都是高地，有些地方陡峭险峻，绵延向前数英里，有的地方坡度比较平缓。在河谷和高地的交汇的地方，是一大片肥沃的田地，有的甚至顺着高地向上爬了一二英里远。玉米地紧紧地挨着两边的草地，向下一直延伸到水边。在靠近草地的田间里，座落着大部分的农屋、农院和村屯。
    great as my expectations had been，they were more than fulfilled.i delight in this sort of country；and i had frequently seen the vale of the itchen，that of the bourn，and also that of the teste in hampshire；i had seen the vales amongst the south downs；but i never before saw anything to please me like this valley of the avon.i sat upon my horse and looked over milton and easton and pewsey for half an hour，though i had not breakfasted.the hill was very steep.a road，going slanting down it，was still so steep，and washed so very deep by the rains of ages，that i did not attempt to ride down it，and i did not like to lead my horse，the path was so narrow.so seeing a boy with a drove of pigs going out to the stubbles，i beckoned him to come up to me；and he came and led my horse down for me.but now，before i begin to ride down this beautiful vale，let me give，as well as my means will enable me，a plan or map of it，which i have made in this way.a friend has lent me a very old man of wiltshire describing the spots where all the churches stand，and also all the spots where manor houses or mansion-houses stood.i laid a piece of very thin paper upon the map，and thus traced the river upon my paper，putting figure to represent the spots where churches stand，and putting stars to reprent the spots where manor-houses or mansion-houses formerly stood.（未完待续）

 第27章 河谷寻幽(2)

    endless is the variety in the shape of the high lands which from this valley.sometimes the slope is very gentle，and the arable lands go back very far.at others，the downs come out into the valley almost like piers into the sea，being very steep in their sides；as well as their ends：indeed they have no back ends，but run into the main high land.there is also great variety in the width of the valley；great variety in the width of the meadows；but the land appears all to be of the very best；and it must be so，for the farmers confess it.
    尽管对这里的田园风光我本来就抱有很高的期望，却没有想到眼前的景色比我所想像的更美妙。以前我曾经在汗普郡的伊饮、伯恩以及特斯特等一些地方见过溪谷，包括南高地的溪谷，可是没有一处像阿文河这样让我动心。我端骑在马上，仰头眺望米尔顿、伊斯和佩塞，足足有半个小时，居然忘记了自己还没有吃早餐。我所站的这个山丘地势险峻，一条小径从旁边斜出向下，狭窄而陡峭，再加上山雨长年累月地冲洗，更加深凹难走。我既没有胆量骑马下山，也不想牵着马下山。就在这个时候，我看见一个小男孩正赶着猪群向茬子地走去，我于是招手把他叫了过来，让他帮我把马牵下去。在继续我的山谷寻幽之前，我还是好好介绍一下我给阿文河谷画的一张草图或者称之为地图。我是这样画的：我从朋友那里借来了一张威尔特郡的旧地图，在上面盖上一层薄纸，描出河流，用数字代表教堂，用星号代表庄园和房宅的旧址。把这个河谷包围起来的高地可真是姿态各异。有时山坡比较平缓，田地顺畅地向远方延伸；有时高地陡然陷入河谷，好像是探入海中的码头长堤，四面都是峭壁：实际上并没有任何背面，而是与整个高地连接在一起。另外，河谷的宽度和草地的宽度也都有很大的变化。但是无论怎样看，这里的土地都称得上是上等的良田。这一点是毋庸置疑的，因为当地的农民就是这样说的。
    it seemed to me that one way，and that not，perhaps，the least striking，of exposing the folly，the stupidity，the inanity，the presumption，the insufferable emptiness and insolence and barbarity，of those numerous wretches who have now the audacity to propose to transport the people of england，upon the principle of the monster malthus，who has furnished the unfeeling oligarchs and their toad-eaters with the pretence that man has a natural propensity to breed faster than food can be raised for the increase；it seemed to me that one way of exposing this mixture of madness and of blasphemy was to take a look，now that the harvest is in，at the produce，the mouths，the condition，and the changes that have taken place，in a spot like this，which god has favoured with every good that he has had to bestow upon man.
    如今，有一些莫名其妙的古怪言论是这么说的：即人口的增长速度总是比所需要的食物增长的速度快，基于此理论要求英格兰向外移民。这些理论不过是那些狂妄而又不学无术、无聊卑鄙的人从妖怪马尔萨斯那里摘文引句，为那些暴君的统治和某些奴颜媚骨者鼓吹的托辞罢了。如果要彻底揭露这些家伙的愚昧蠢笨、稀里糊涂、言行武断，和让人难以忍受的浅薄无知、蛮横骄纵，还有疯疯癫癫以及对神灵的亵渎，最有效的一种方法也许就是赶上收获时节来这个地方看看——看看这年收成、人丁、状况和种种变化。上帝对这个地方真是倾囊恩赐了。
    from the top of the hill i was not a little surprised to see，in every part of the valley that my eye could reach，a due，a large，portion of fields of swedish turnips，all looking extremely well.i had found the turnips of both sorts by no means bad from salt hill to newbury；but from newbury through burghclere，highclere，uphusband，and tangley，i had seen but few.at and about ludgarshall and everley i had seen hardly any.but when i came this morning to milton hill farm，i saw a very large field of what appeared to me to be fine swedish turnips.in the valley，however，i found them much finer，and the fields were very beautiful objects，forming，as their color did，so great a contrast with that of the fallows and the stubbles，which latter are，this year，singularly clean and bright.
    从山顶之颠眺目远望，我吃惊地发现在河谷之中，有大量的瑞典芜菁长满了大部分的田地上，触目所及，到处都是。从盐山到纽泊里，这一路上我都看见很多长势良好的英国和瑞典芜菁；但自纽伯里到伯克莱、海克莱、厄赫斯本与唐格里一带，却很少见到这些东西；而到了卢德加什和埃弗里周围地区，几乎见不到芜菁的踪迹。可是我早上到达米尔顿山庄时，却见到了大片大片郁郁葱葱的瑞典芜菁。然而河谷中的芜菁长得更好，田野的色彩也变得艳丽多了，真是美不胜收，这景象正好与今年收拾得格外干净的休耕地和茬子地形成了鲜明的对比。
    having gotten to the bottom of the hill，i proceeded on to the village of milton，the church of which is，in the map，represented by the figure 3，i left.easton away at my right，and i did not go up to watton rivers where the river avon rises，and which lies just close to the south-west comer of marlborough forest，and at about 5or 6miles from the town of marlborough.lower down the river，as i thought，there lived a friend，who was a great farmer，and whom i intended to call on.it being my way，however，always to begin making inquiries soon enough，i asked the pig-driver where this friend lived；and，to my surprise，i found that he lived in the parish of milton.after tiding up to the church，as being the center of the village，i went on towards the house of my friend，which lay on my road down the valley.i have many，many times witnessed agreeable surprise；but i do not know that i ever in the whole course of my life saw people so much surprised and pleased as this farmer and his family were at seeing me.people often tell you that they are glad to see you；and in general they speak troth.i take pretty good care not to approach any house，with the smallest appearance of a design to eat or drink in it，unless i be quite sure of a cordial reception；but my friend at fifield（it is in milton parish）and all his family really seemed to be delighted beyond all expression.
    走到山脚下，我便决定去米尔顿村，在我的地图上，这个村里教堂上的代号是3。我把伊斯顿甩在了右后方，我也没有去寻找阿文河的源头沃顿河，这条河与马尔博罗森林的西南角为邻，离马尔博罗镇只有五六英里远的距离。我记得有个大农场主朋友就住在阿文河的下游，于是决定前去拜访。平时我出门总是喜欢先问路，于是便向这个小猪倌打探我那个朋友的住所，让人惊喜的是他就住在米尔顿教区里。我策马来到村子中心的教堂，紧接着就笔直奔向朋友家，他的房子就设立在通向河谷的路边上。我曾经见过很多很多次惊喜交织的场面，然而在我一生的记忆之中，从来没有哪一次像农场主及其家人见到我这样惊喜的样子。人们见面时通常都说“很高兴见到你”；一般来说，这句话是出于真心的。我一向很谨慎，除非有十足的把握能够受到热诚的欢迎，否则决不会轻易登门造访，以免有一点点前去打扰的嫌疑。但是，我的这位住在费非尔德（米尔顿教区内）的朋友和他的全家对我的到来表示出的惊喜若狂，确实是用言语所表达不了的。（未完待续）

 第28章 晚夏

    later summer
    晚夏
    ernest hemingway/欧纳斯特·海明威
    in the late summer of that year we lived in a house in a village that looked across the river and the plain to the mountains.in the bed of the river there were pebbles and boulders，dry and white in the sun，and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels.troops went by the house and down the road and the dust they raised powdered the leaves of the trees.the trunks of the trees too were dusty and the leaves fell early that year and we saw the troops marching along the road and the dust rising and leaves，stirred by the breeze，falling and the soldiers marching find afterward the road bare and white except for the leaves.
    那年晚夏，我们住在乡间的一栋房子里，隔着河流和平原可以望见高山。河床里的鹅卵石和圆石，在阳光的照耀下干燥白皙，清澈的河水湍急地流过，河道里一汪蔚蓝。部队沿着房子向大路挺进，扬起滚滚尘土，覆盖了树叶和枝干。树叶那年落得早，我们看着部队行进在路上，所过之处，尘土飞扬。微风吹得树叶纷然而落，士兵们踏过的路上只剩下哗哗的落叶，一眼望去白晃晃、空荡荡的。
    the plain was rich with crops；there were many orchards of fruit trees and beyond the plain the mountains were brown and bare.there was fighting in the mountains and at night we could see the flashes from the artillery.in the dark it was like summer lightning，but the nights were cool and there was not the feeling of a storm coming.
    平原上的庄稼长势良好，有许多果园，而平原外的山峦，则是满目褐黄，光秃一片。山谷里战斗正打得紧，夜里我们还能看到炮火的闪现。黑暗中，这番情景酷似夏季的闪电，只是现在夜里凉快些，人们觉察不到夏天暴风雨来临前的那种闷热罢了。
    sometimes in the dark we heard the troops marching under the window and guns going past pulled by motor tractors.there was much traffic at night and many mules on the roads with boxes of ammunition on each side of their pack saddles and gray motor trucks that carried men，and other trucks with loads covered with canvas that moved slower in the traffic.there were big guns too that passed in the day drawn by tractors，the long barrels of the guns covered with green branches and green leafy branches and vines laid over the tractors.to the north we could look across a valley and see a forest of chestnut trees and behind it another mountain on this side of the river.there was fighting for that mountain too，but it was not successful，and in the fall when the rains came the leaves all fell from the chestnut trees and the branches were bare and the trunks black with rain.the vineyards were thin and bare branched too and all the country wet and brown and dead with the autumn.there were mists over the river and clouds on the mountain and trucks splashed mud on the road and the troops were muddy and wet in their capes；their rifles were wet and under their capes the two leather cartridge boxes on the front of belts，gray leather boxes heavy with the packs of clips of thin，long 6.5mm.cartridges，bulged forward under the capes so that the men，passing on the road，marched as though they were six months gone with child.
    有时在夜色中，我们能听见部队从窗下走过，摩托牵引机拖着大炮发出的声响也声声入耳。夜里的交通颇为繁忙，路上有很多驮着弹药箱的骡子，运送士兵的灰色卡车，还有一种开得稍略缓慢的卡车，运载的东西被帆布盖着。白天也有用牵引车运送的重炮，翠绿的树枝遮盖着长长的炮管，郁郁葱葱、繁茂的枝条和葡萄藤把整个车身都覆盖了。朝北望是片山谷，山谷后面有一片栗树树林，林子后面，也就是在河的这一边，又有一座高山。在这座高山里也曾经发生过交战，只是没有成功。一到秋天，雨水就连绵而至，山上栗树的叶子掉得精光，只剩下赤裸的树枝，还有那被雨打得漆黑的树干。葡萄园中也是枯枝败叶，稀疏光秃；乡里的每一样东西都是湿润的，触目所至，一片萧瑟的秋意。雾气弥漫着河流，浮云在山涧萦绕，路上卡车驶过处泥浆飞溅，士兵们顶着湿漉漉的披肩，浑身都是烂泥；他们的来福枪也被淋湿了，每个人身前的皮带都挂着两个灰皮子弹盒，里面排满了又长又窄的六点五毫米口径的子弹，鼓鼓囊囊地盖在披肩下，他们走在路上，猛地一看，就像是一群怀胎六月的妇人。
    there were small gray motor cars that passed going very fast；usually there was an officer on the seat with the driver and more officers in the back seat.they splashed more mud than the camions even...
    我看到一辆小型的灰色摩托车飞快地驶过；就像通常那样，摩托车手负责驾驶，军官坐在车子的后座上。摩托车驶过时，比军用卡车驶过时溅起的泥点子还要多……河之歌the song of the river河之歌william somerset maugham/威廉·萨默塞特·毛姆you hear it all along the river.you hear it，loud and strong，from the rowers as they urge the junk with its high stem，the mast lashed alongside，down the swift running stream.you hear it from the trackers，a more breathless chant，as they pull desperately against the current，half a dozen of them perhaps if they are taking up a sampan，a couple of hundred if they are hauling a splendid junk，its square sail set，over a rapid.on the junk a man stands amidships beating a drum incessantly to guide their efforts，and they pull with all their strength，like men possessed，bent double；and sometimes in the extremity of their travail they crawl on the ground，on all fours，like the beasts of the field.they strain，strain fiercely，against the pitiless might of the stream.the leader goes up and down the line and when he sees one who is not putting all his will into the task he brings down his split bam-boo on the naked back.each one must do his utmost or the labour of all is vain.and still they sing a vehement，eager chant，the chant of the turbulent waters.i do not know how words can describe what there is in it of effort.it serves to express the straining heart，the breaking muscles，and at the same time the indomitable spirit of man which overcomes the pitiless force of nature.though the rope may part and the great junk swing back，in the end the rapid will be passed；and at the close of the weary day there is the hearty meal...
    life is too hard，too cruel，and this is final despairing protest.that is the song of the river.
    沿着整条河都可以听见歌声。它洪亮而有力度，那是船夫，他们划着木船顺流而下，船尾翘得很高，船边系着桅杆。这也许是比较急促的号子。那些纤夫拉着纤逆流而上，如果拉的是小木船，也许只要五六个人，如果拉的是要过急滩、扬着横帆的大船，就要二百多人。一个汉子站在船中央不停地击鼓助威，让他们加劲。于是他们用尽全身的力量，像着了魔似的，腰弯成两折，有时力量要全部用完了就全身趴在地上匍匐前进，就像田里的牲口。他们用力，拼命用力，对抗着水流无情的磅礴之力。领头的在纤绳前后不停地奔跑，见到有人没有用尽全力，就用竹板打他的光背。每个人都必须竭尽全力，否则就要前功尽弃。就这样他们还是唱着激昂热烈的号子，那汹涌澎湃的河水号子。我不知道用怎样的词语才能描写出这其中的拼搏，它体现除了紧绷的心弦，几乎要断裂的筋肉，同时也体现了人类以顽强的精神克服着无情的自然力。虽然绳子可能扯断，大船可能倒退，但险滩最终能通过，在结束筋疲力尽的一天之后，可以痛快地吃上一顿饱饭……生活如此艰难、如此残酷，这喊声正是最后的绝望的抗议。这就是河之歌。（未完待续）

 第29章 窗外的风景

    the trees outsides my window
    窗外的风景
    anonymous/佚名
    from the window of my room，i could see a tall cotton-rose hibiscus.in spring，when green foliage was half hidden by mist，the tree looked very enchanting dotted with red blossom.this inspiring neighbor of mine often set my mind working.i gradually regarded it as my best friend.
    nevertheless，when i opened the window one morning，to my amazement，the tree was almost bare beyond recognition as a result of the storm ravages the night before.struck by the plight，i was seized with a sudden saddens at the thought“all the blossom is doomed to fall”.i could not help sighing with emotion：the course of life never runs smooth，for there are so many ups and downs，twists and turns.the vicissitudes of my life saw my beloved friends parting one after another.isn’t it similar to the tree shedding its flowers in the wind？
    this event faded from my memory as time went by.one day after i came home from the countryside，i found the room stuffy and casually opened the window.something outside caught my eye and dazzled me.it was a plum tree all scarlet with blossom set off beautifully by the sunset.the surprise discovery overwhelmed me with pleasure.i wondered why i had no idea of some unyielding life sprouting over the fallen petals when i was grieving for the hibiscus.
    从我房间的窗子向外望去，可以看到一株高大的芙蓉树。春日里，芙蓉树在薄雾中若隐若现，红花点点.样子实在迷人。它总会赋予我灵感，让我思如泉涌。时间久了，我竞把这株芙蓉树视为知己了。
    然而，一天清晨，当我推开窗子时，愕然发现前夜的一场风雨已将它摧残得落红满地。刹那间，我有一种“花开终有落”的悲凉感觉。这使我不由得发出一声慨叹：人生的旅程中，总是少不了种种羁绊，那些曲折的经历总会伴随着我们。我曾无数次失去挚爱的朋友，生命的脆弱不正是像这随风而逝的花儿吗？
    随着时间的流逝，我渐渐地把那天的感触淡忘了。一次，我从乡下回来后.感到屋内的空气有些沉闷，于是我在不经意间打开了窗户。可就在那一瞬，我被眼前的景象惊呆了。窗外，一株李子树开花了，火红火红的花朵，满树都是。在夕阳的映衬下，分外美丽。这意外的惊喜让我兴奋不已。没想到当初自己只顾悲伤，却没发现在那凄凉的景象背后，竟孕育着如此坚强的生命。
    when the last withered petal dropped，all the joyful admiration for the hibiscus sank into oblivion as if nothing was left，until the landscape was again ablaze with the red plum blossom to remind people of life‘s alternation and continuance.can’t it be said that life is actually a symphony，a harmonious composition of loss gain.
    standing by the window lost in thought for a long time，i realized that no scenery in the world remains unchanged.as long as you keep your heart basking in the sun，every dawn will present a fine prospect for you to unfold and the world will always be bringing about new hopes.
    是啊，当芙蓉的最后一片花瓣凋落之时，人们以往对它的赞许都已成为过眼云烟。可如今，李子树却成长起来了，那火红的花儿正向人们昭示着生命的更迭与繁衍。谁能否认生命原本就是一场得失共存的交响乐呢？
    我久久地伫立窗前，深深感悟到，生命之中本没有一成不变的风景，只要你的心永远向着太阳，那么每一个清晨就会向你展现出一个等待着由你来开启的美景。不管你正经历着怎样的风雨，请相信，这个世界总会带给你新的希望。（未完待续）

 第30章 尼亚加拉大瀑布(1)

    to the fall of niagara
    尼亚加拉大瀑布
    charles dickens/查尔斯·狄更斯
    i had a desire to travel through the interior of the state of ohio，and to“strike the hikes，”as the phrase is，at a small town called sandusky，to which that route would conduct us on our way to niagara.
    it was a miserable day；chilly and raw；a damp mist falling；and the trees in that northern region quite bare and wintry.whenever the train halted，i listened for the roar；and was constantly straining my eyes in the direction where i knew the falls must be，from seeing the river rolling on towards them；every moment expecting to behold the spray.within a few minutes of our stopping，not before，i saw two great white clouds rising up slowly and majestically from the depths of the earth.that was all.at length we alighted：and then for the first time，i heard the mighty rush of water，and felt the ground tremble underneath my feet.
    我一直都希望自己能有机会到俄亥俄州去游览一番，到一个名叫桑达斯基的小镇上戏水，而且，我们可以顺路去看看尼亚加拉大瀑布。
    那一天阴冷而潮湿，雾气四沉，此时北国的树木依旧赤裸着枝干，一片萧瑟景象。一路上，只要火车停下来，我便会侧耳倾听，希望能听到瀑布的轰鸣。与此同时，我还目不转睛地朝着心中认定的瀑布所在地望去——因为我看到滚滚河水正向那个方向涌去，每分每秒，我都祈盼着能看到飞溅的浪花。就在快要停车的时候，我看到两片白云正从地心处渐渐升腾，那种景象蔚为壮观。但在火车上，我所见到的仅此而已。当火车到站时，我终于有幸听到那激流四溅的声音，甚至感觉到脚下的大地都在颤动。
    the bank is very steep，and was slippery with rain，and half-melted ice.i hardly know how i got down，but i was soon at the bottom，and climbing，with two english officers who were crossing and had joined me，over some broken rocks，deafened by the noise，haft-blinded by the spray，and wet to the skin.we were at the foot of the american fall.i could see an immense torrent of water tearing headlong down from some great height，but had no idea of shape，or situation，or anything but vague immensity.
    when we were seated in the little ferry-boat，and were crossing the swollen river immediately before both cataracts，i began to feel what it was：but i was in a manner stunned，and unable to comprehend the vastness of the scene.it was not until i came on table rock，and looked —great heaven，on what a fall of bright-green water！—that it came upon me in its full might and majesty.
    堤岸陡峭，而且，刚刚下过一场雨，雨水与正在消融的冰混合在一起，使地面变得更加滑溜，我简直不知道自己是怎么走过那段路的。不过，没过多久，我就来到了山脚，与途中偶遇的两位军官同爬上了一片嶙峋的怪石堆。我们刚刚站稳，震耳欲聋的声响便向我们扑来，眼前浪花飞溅，不一会儿，便将我们全部打湿了。原来，我们正站在美国瀑布脚下。我只能看到滔天的巨浪从空中直劈下来，但那巨浪如何形成，从哪个方向奔涌而来，我便不得而知了，只是茫然沉醉于那恢弘的气势之中。
    随后，我们乘着小型渡船，从两大瀑布前的激流之上飞速前行。直到那时，我才真正意识到自己身处何地，不过，我却感到有些目眩，无法知晓眼前的景观究竟有多么宏伟。直到我来到平顶岩上极目眺望的时候——上帝啊，那是怎样一片倒悬的澄莹碧波啊！它那浩大的气势才完全呈现在我面前。
    then，when i felt how near to my creator i was standing，the first effect，and the enduring one—instant and lasting—of the tremendous spectacle，was peace.peace of mind，tranquillity，calm recollections of the dead，great thoughts of eternal rest and happiness：nothing of gloom or terror.niagara was at once stamped upon my heart，an image of beauty；to remain there，changeless and indelible ，until its pulses cease to beat，for ever.（未完待续）

 第31章 尼亚加拉大瀑布(2)

    oh，how the strife and trouble of daily life receded from my view，and lessened in the distance，during the ten memorable days we passed on that enchanted ground！what voices spoke from out the thundering water；what faces，faded from the earth，looked out upon me from its gleaming depths；what heavenly promise glistened in those angels‘tears，the drops of many hues，that showered around，and twined themselves about the gorgeous arches which the changing rainbows made！
    直到那时，我才感觉到自己距离造物者有多么近了，在那一瞬间映入眼帘的景象，永远停留在我心间，永恒的瞬间——那片宏伟的景象，向我展现的是一片平和之感，是内心的平静；是对逝者遥寄的一份淡淡的哀思；是对那永恒的安宁与幸福的无限展望，不掺杂一丝郁悒或惶恐。尼亚加拉大瀑布已被我永远铭记于心，已成为我心中美的象征，这美永远不会改变，永远不会磨灭，直到我的心停止跳动。
    我们在那梦幻般的世界里停留了十天，在那令人难以忘怀的十天里，日常的琐事和烦恼都被抛到了九霄云外，消失得无影无踪！那震耳欲聋的碧涛怒吼之声是何等动人心弦！那绝迹于尘世的澄莹碧波是何等壮观！在那变幻无常、异彩纷呈的虹霓四周，天使的泪滴是何等凄美，何等缤纷！
    i never stirred in all that time from the canadian side，whither i had gone at first.i never crossed the river again；for i knew there were people on the other shore，and in such a place it is natural to shun strange company.to wander to and fro all day，and see the cataracts from all points of view；to stand upon the edge of the great horse-shoe fall，marking the hurried water gathering strength as it approached the verge，yet seeming，too，to pause before it shot into the gulf below；to gaze from the river’s level up at the torrent as it came streaming down；to climb the neighbouring heights and watch it through the trees，and see the wreathing water in the rapids hurrying on to take its fearful plunge；to linger in the shadow of the solemn rocks three miles below；watching the river as，stirred by no visible cause，it heaved and eddied and awoke the echoes，being troubled yet，far down beneath the surface，by its giant leap；to have niagara before me，lighted by the sun and by the moon，red in the day‘s decline，and grey as evening slowly fell upon it；to look upon it every day，and wake up in the night and hear its ceaseless voice：this was enough.
    从我到达的那天起，我就待在加拿大瀑布那一边，整整十天，我一直待在那里。我再也没有乘渡船过河，因为我知道，河的对岸也有人，而在这种地方，理应避免与陌生人交谈。我整天都徘徊于瀑布的周围，分别从不同的角度来观赏尼亚加拉大瀑布：站在马蹄铁大瀑布的边缘上，看着那奔腾的水流直逼岸头。冲劲十足，然而，在湍急的水流从崖顶投向万丈深渊之前，似乎先要停顿一下似的；从河面上看瀑布的洪流，感受着那一泻千里的宏伟景观；攀上毗邻瀑布的山岭，于树丛的缝隙间眺望，看那旋转而下的碧波如何钻进无底深渊：站在距下游三英里的岩上看着眼前的河水，只见它汹涌澎湃，从表面上看不出它涌动的原因，实际上，那正是河水深处受到瀑布水流的冲击所造成的。总之，我的视线始终不离尼亚加拉大瀑布，看着它如何在日光下熠熠生辉，如何在月华中银波粼粼；夕阳下，化为一片红，暮色中，又化为一片灰；白天用眼看.夜晚用耳听，对我而言这就足够了。
    i think in every quiet season now，still do those waters roll and leap，and roar and tumble，all day long；still are the rainbows spanning them，a hundred feet below.still，when the sun is on them，do they shine and glow like molten gold.still，when the day is gloomy，do they fall like snow，or seem to crumble away like the front of a great chalk cliff，or roll down the rock like dense white smoke.but always does the mighty stream appear to die as it comes down，and always from its unfathomable grave arises that tremendous ghost of spray and mist which is never laid：which has haunted this place with the same dread solemnity since darkness brooded on the deep，and that first flood before the deluge —light—came rushing on creation at the word of god.
    如今，每当我沉静下来的时候就会忍不住回想：那倒悬的澄莹碧波，仍如昔日一样怒吼奔腾，虹霓依然横亘在它下面一百英尺的高空之中。太阳将万丈光芒洒向它时，它仍会流光溢彩。天色渐暗时，它便如洁白的飞雪，纷纷扬扬。像轻屑细末从悬崖峭壁上片片剥落；像绵厚的浓烟，从山腹里喷涌而下。但当那巨瀑从天而降之时，就像将要奔赴死亡、从那深不可测的坟墓里喷发而出的巨大幽魂。它永远无法被降伏，在宇宙还是一片混沌，黑暗充斥于深渊之时。在第一场洪流奔涌而来之前，创世的上帝还未将光芒洒向大地之时，它便在这里庄严肃穆地昭显着神之灵性。（未完待续）

 第32章 远处的青山(1)

    a green hill far away
    远处的青山
    john galsworthy/约翰·高尔斯华绥
    was it indeed only last march，or in another life，that i climbed this green hill on that day of dolour，the sunday after the last great german offensive began？a beautiful sun-warmed day it was，when the wild thyme on the southern slope smelled sweet，and the distant sea was a glitter of gold.lying on the grass，pressing my cheek to its warmth，i tried to get solace for that new dread which seemed so cruelly unnatural after four years of wax-misery.
    想来，不单单是刚刚过去的三个月，逝去的岁月已恍如隔世，在那个充满痛苦的日子——德军发动最后一次总攻后的星期天，我是否曾登上过这座青山？正是在那样一个阳光和煦的温馨天气里，南坡上的野茴香飘来阵阵芬芳，远处的海面呈现出一片金灿灿的光影。我俯下身子，用芳草暖着面颊，为新增的恐惧寻找慰藉。眼前这场进攻发生在长达四年的争战之后，显得越发惨烈。
    “if only it were all over！”i said to myself；and i could come here，and to all the lovely places i know，without this awful contraction of the heart，and this knowledge that at every tick of my watch some human body is being mangled or destroyed.ah，if only i could！will there never be an end？
    “但愿这一切早日结束吧！到那时，我便可以再次来到这里，到所有我熟悉的美好地方去，而不会像现在这样黯然神伤，钟表的滴答声也不会成为一批批惨遭荼毒的生灵迈向死亡的计时器。但我又能——难道战争永远不会终结吗？”我自语道。
    and now there is an end，and i am up on this green hill once more，in december sunlight，with the distant sea a glitter of gold.and there is no cramp in my heart，no miasma clinging to my senses.peace！it is still incredible.no more to hear with the ears of the nerves the ceaseless roll of gunfire，or see with the eyes of the nerves drowning men，gaping wounds，and death.peace，actually peace！the war has gone on so long that many of us have forgotten the sense of outrage and amazement we had，those first days of august，1914，when it all began.but i have not forgotten，nor ever shall.
    如今，一切终于结束了！于是，我再次登上了这座青山，沐浴着十二月里的阳光。看着远处海面上那一片金灿灿的光影。这时的我心头已不再阵阵痉挛，身上也不再受硝烟的侵袭。和平到来了！回想起来，仍觉得难以置信。不过.我再也不必凝神屏息地谛听连连不断的炮火声，也不必目睹那些被击倒了的人们，那张裂的伤口和死亡了。和平到来了，真的到来了！战争持续了这么久。许多人早已淡忘了1914年战争全面爆发时的那种狂爆与惊恐了，但我却从没忘记。而且永远也不会忘记。
    in some of us—i think in many who could not voice it—the war has left chiefly this feeling：“if only i could find a country where men cared less for all that they seem to care for，where they cared more for beauty，for nature，for being kindly to each other.if only i could find that green hill far away！”of the songs of theocritus，of the life of st.francis，there is no more among the nations than there is of dew on grass in an east wind.if we ever thought otherwise，we are disillusioned now.yet there is peace again，and the souls of men fresh-murdered are not flying into our lungs with every breath we draw.
    在一些人中（事实上，我认为抱有下述想法的人不在少数，只不过他们无法表达罢了），这场战争给他们留下了这种感觉：“但愿我们能找到这样一个国家，那里的人所关心的不再是我们一直所关心的那些东西，而是美，是大自然，是彼此的爱心。但愿我们能找到远处那座青山！”忒俄克里托斯的诗篇，圣弗兰西斯的高风亮节，在如今的诸国里，就像东风吹起时草上的露珠那样，极为罕见。即便我们过去的想法不同，现在的幻想也终究破灭，但和平最终还是到来了，那些新近死于战事的人们的幽魂总不会再随我们的呼吸而充斥在我们的胸中吧。（未完待续）

 第33章 远处的青山(2)

    each day this thought of peace becomes more real and blessed.i can lie on this green hill and praise creation that i am alive in a world of beauty.i can go to sleep up here with the coverlet of sunlight warm on my body，and not wake to that old dull misery.i can even dream with a light heart，for my fair dreams will not be spoiled by waking，and my bad dreams will be cured the moment i open my eyes.i can look up at that blue sky without seeing trailed across it a mirage of the long horror，a film picture of all the things that have been done by men to men.at last i can gaze up at it，limpid and blue，without a dogging melancholy；and i can gaze down at that far gleam of sea，knowing that there is no murk of murder on it any more.
    我们思想之中的和平之感正变得日益清晰，与我们的幸福也联系得越来越紧密。此时的我已可以站在这座青山之上，为自己仍活在这样一个美好世界而感叹造物的美妙。我能在阳光的抚慰下安然入睡，而不致醒后再度陷入悲伤和绝望之中。我甚至可以欣然入睡，不必担心醒后好梦破灭；而且即使做了噩梦，只要睁开眼睛，一切就都会烟消云散。我可以抬头仰望碧蓝的晴空，而不会在刹时间瞥见哪里有一条拖曳着长尾的恐怖幻像，也不必担心看到人与人互相残杀的悲惨情形。我终于可以静静地凝望晴空，凝望着那澄清而又蔚蓝的晴空，再也不会时刻为痛苦所羁绊。我还可以眺望远方那波光滟滟的海面，而不必担心看到海面漂浮着屠杀后的血色。
    and the flight of birds，the gulls and rooks and little brown wavering things which flit out and along the edge of the chalk-pits，is once more refreshment to me，utterly untempered .a merle is singing in a bramble thicket；the dew has not yet dried off the bramble leaves.a feather of a moon floats across the sky；the distance sends forth homely murmurs；the sun warms my cheeks.and all of this is pure joy.no hawk of dread and horror keeps swooping down and bearing off the little birds of happiness.no accusing conscience starts forth and beckons me away from pleasure.everywhere is supreme and flawless beauty.whether one looks at this tiny snailshell，marvellously chased and marked，a very elf’s horn whose open mouth is coloured rose；or gazes down at the flat land between here and the sea，wandering under the smile of the ‘afternoon sunlight，seeming almost to be alive，hedgeless，with its many watching trees，and silver gulls hovering above the mushroom-coloured “ploughs，”and fields green in manifold hues；whether one muses on this little pink daisy born so out of time，or watches that valley of brownrose-grey woods，under the drifting shadows of low-hanging chalky clouds—all is perfect，as only nature can be perfect on a lovely day，when the mind of him who looks on her is at rest.
    无论是天空中的飞鸟，还是地面上的白嘴鸭，或是往来于白垩坑边的棕色小东西，都会带给我无限欣慰，它们是那样自由自在、无拘无束。一只画眉正在一丛露珠未干的黑莓中啼鸣。轻如蝉翼的新月在天空中若隐若现，远方不时传来熟悉的声音，而晨曦正温暖着我的面颊。这一切让人如此愉悦。不见凶猛的苍鹰疾飞而下，把快乐的小鸟捉去，也不再有愧疚不安的心将我唤走。留下来的只有一个充满无限温馨的完美世界。此时环视四周，你会看到蜗牛那精致如雕镂画卷的甲壳，那童话故事中角端呈蔷薇色的纤纤细角；也会看到脚下延伸至远海的那平芜，它们浮游于午后阳光的灿烂笑容下，显得生机勃勃。这里没有树篱，但仍有许多苍翠的大树，以及滑翔在蘑菇色的耕地或田野之间的银白色海鸥：你可以在凝视那株小小的粉红色雏菊时发出其生不逢时的感叹，也可以关注棕、红、灰、褐的茂密林木在流云的暗影下树影斑驳的景象——一切都那么美好，却只有当风和日丽的天气和观者平和的心境合二为一时才能见到。
    on this green hill i am nearer than i have been yet to realisation of the difference between war and peace.in our civilian lives hardly anything has been changed—we do not get more butter or more petrol，the garb and machinery of war still shroud us，journals still drip hate；but in our spirits there is all the difference between gradual dying and gradual recovery from sickness.
    伫立于青山之上，我感到战争与和平之间的差距越发明显，认识也比以往更加透彻。在平静的生活中，一切似乎未曾发生多大改变——我们没有领到更多的奶油或更多的汽油，战争的阴影依然笼罩着我们，报刊杂志上依然充斥着敌意与仇恨，但我们在精神上以及情绪上都有显著的差别，一种久病后归于尘土，或逐渐恢复的巨大差别。（未完待续）

 第34章 西雅图的雨

    rain of seattle
    西雅图的雨
    anonymous/佚名
    i’ve got a deep secret few people understand and even fewer will admit to sharing.it‘s time to tell the truth：i love the rain，deeply and passionately and more than the sun.at least i live in the right place，famous for its damp weather and spawning its own genuine rainforest.i can’t imagine living anywhere else than the pacific northwest.the sun shines so infrequently that my friends forget where they put their sunglasses.gloomy clouds cause many people around here to suffer from seasonal affective disorder.yet i welcome the rain.
    seattleites will say they like how rain keeps the city green，how clean the air tastes afterwards.my real reason for enjoying the rain is steeped in pure selfishness when it‘s mucky outside，i don’t have to do anything.i can spend the afternoon curled up reading，build a fire and make a big pot of spiced tea.i can sleep in late，waking up occasionally to hear soothing patter on the roof，water racing down the gutter.nobody expects me to leave my house or do anything overly productive.maybe i‘ll invite a few friends over to watch an old movie or play a board game.friends’expectations are low and easy to meet.
    summer in seattle is beautiful but exhausting.the sunny，gorgeous weather and blue skies draw seattleites from their cozy little homes，ready to dry out and have fun.people go hiking，biking，canoeing.folks work in their gardens，wash their cars and attend outdoor concerts in the park all in the same day！the effort involved to throw a party ratchets up several notches，as people host barbecues and picnics and water-skiing parties.
    我有一个秘密，这个秘密很少有人知道，而且几乎无人愿意与我分享。现在该是把它公之于众的时候了：我爱雨，如此之深、如此之切，甚至超过了对太阳的热爱。至少我的容身之地刚好符合这个条件——因其潮湿的天气和郁郁葱葱的雨林而遐迩闻名。我想不出哪儿还能比太平洋西北部更适合自己居住了。在这里，太阳总是“深居简出”，以至于我的朋友们都不知把太阳镜放到哪里去了。阴郁的天空总会让许多生活在这里的人遭受季节性的情绪躁动，然而我却欢迎雨天的到来。
    西雅图人会说他们喜欢让雨把整个城市变绿，雨后的空气总是清新怡人。但对我而言，喜欢雨的真正原因却完全是出于自身的考虑。因为每到雨天，外面的道路泥泞不堪时，我就会把一下午的大部分时间耗在自家的火炉旁，除了品茶看书，什么也不做。我可以睡到很晚，时而醒来倾听雨水打在屋檐上的声音，以及雨水从屋檐上急流而下的声音。没有人会邀我去干些特别有建设性的事情。
    西雅图的夏天如此美丽却又令人疲惫不已。晴朗的天气和蔚蓝的天空吸引着西雅图人走出安逸舒适的小家，去干爽的户外寻找乐趣。人们会去远足、骑车、划船，还会修整自家的花园、洗车以及去公园听露天音乐会——所有这一切都要在这一天做完！不过，在他们参加烤肉、野餐以及水上派对时，会把派队分组来进行活动。（未完待续）

 第35章 荷塘月色(1)

    the lotus pool by moonlight
    荷塘月色
    zhu zi qing/朱自清
    the last few days have found me very restless.this evening as i sat in the yard to enjoy the cool，it struck me how different the lotus pool i pass every day must look under a full moon.the moon was sailing higher and higher up the heavens，the sound of childish laughter had died away from the lane beyond our wall，and my wife was in the house patting juner and humming a lullaby to him.i quietly slipped on a long gown，and walked out leaving the door on the latch.
    a cinder -path winds along by the side of the pool.it is off the beaten track and few pass this way even by day，so at night it is still more quiet.trees grow thick and bosky all around the pool，with willows and other trees i cannot name by the path.on nights when there is no moon the track is almost terrifyingly dark，but tonight it was quite clear，though the moonlight was pale.
    这几天心里颇不宁静。今晚在院子里坐着乘凉，忽然想起日日走过的荷塘，在这满月的光里，总该另有一番样子吧。月亮渐渐地升高了，墙外马路上孩子们的欢笑，已经听不见了；妻在屋里拍着闰儿，迷迷糊糊地哼着眠歌。我悄悄地披了大衫，带上门出去。
    沿着荷塘，是一条曲折的小煤屑路。这是一条幽僻的路；白天也少人走，夜晚更加寂寞。荷塘四面，长着许多树，蓊蓊郁郁的。路的一旁，是些杨柳，和一些不知道名字的树。没有月光的晚上，这路上阴森森的，有些怕人。今晚却很好，虽然月光也还是淡淡的。
    strolling alone down the path，hands behind my back，i felt as if the whole earth and sky were mine and i had stepped outside my usual self into another world.i like both excitement and stillness，under the full moon，i could think of whatever i pleased or of nothing at all，and that gave me a sense of freedom.all daytime duties could be disregarded.that was the advantage of solitude：i could savour to the full that expanse of fragrant lotus and the moonlight.
    as far as eye could see，the pool with its winding margin was covered with trim leaves，which rose high out of the water like the flared skirts of dancing girls.and starring these tiers of leaves were white lotus flowers，alluringly open or bashfully in bud，like glimmering pearls，stars in an azure sky，or beauties fresh from the bath.the breeze carried past gusts of fragrance，like the strains of a song faintly heard from a far-off tower.and leaves and blossoms trembled slightly，while in a flash the scent was carried away.as the closely serried leaves bent，a tide of opaque emerald could be glimpsed.that was the softly running water beneath，hidden from sight，its colour invisible，though the leaves looked more graceful than ever.
    路上只我一个人，背着手踱着。这一片天地好像是我的；我也像超出了平常的自己，到了另一世界里。我爱热闹，也爱冷静；爱群居，也爱独处。像今晚上，一个人在这苍茫的月下，什么都可以想，什么都可以不想，便觉是个自由的人。白天里一定要做的事，一定要说的话，现在都可不理。这是独处的妙处，我且受用这无边的荷香月色好了。
    曲曲折折的荷塘上面，弥望的是田田的叶子。叶子出水很高，像亭亭的舞女的裙。层层的叶子中间，零星地点缀着些白花，有袅娜地开着的，有羞涩地打着朵儿的；正如一粒粒的明珠，又如碧天里的星星，又如刚出浴的美人。微风过处，送来缕缕清香，仿佛远处高楼上渺茫的歌声似的。这时候叶子与花也有一丝的颤动，像闪电般，霎时传过荷塘的那边去了。叶子本是肩并肩密密地挨着，这便宛然有了一道凝碧的波痕。叶子底下是脉脉的流水，遮住了，不能见一些颜色；而叶子却更见风致了。（未完待续）

 第36章 荷塘月色(2)

    moonlight cascaded like water over the lotus leaves and flowers，and a light blue mist floating up from the pool made them seem washed in milk or caught in a gauzy dream.though the moon was full，a film of pale clouds in the sky would not allow its rays to shine through brightly；but i felt this was all to the good -though refreshing sleep is indispensable，short naps have a charm all their own.as the moon shone from behind them，the dense trees on the hills threw checkered shadows，dark forms loomed like devils，and the sparse，graceful shadows of willows seemed painted on the lotus leaves.the moonlight on the pool was not uniform，but light and shadow made up a harmonious rhythm like a beautiful tune played on a violin.
    far and near，high and low around the pool were trees，most of them willows.these trees had the pool entirely hemmed in，the only small clearings left being those by the path，apparently intended for the moon.all the trees were somber as dense smoke，but among them you could make out the luxuriant willows，while faintly above the tree-tops loomed distant hills -their general outline only.and between the trees appeared one or two street lamps，listless as the eyes of someone drowsy.the liveliest sounds at this hour were the cicadas chirruping on the trees and the frogs croaking in the pool；but this animation was theirs alone，i had no part in it.
    月光如流水一般，静静地泻在这一片叶子和花上。薄薄的青雾浮起在荷塘里。叶子和花仿佛在牛乳中洗过一样；又像笼着轻纱的梦。虽然是满月，天上却有一层淡淡的云，所以不能朗照；但我以为这恰是到了好处——酣眠固不可少，小睡也别有风味的。月光是隔了树照过来的，高处丛生的灌木，落下参差的斑驳的黑影，峭楞楞如鬼一般；弯弯的杨柳的稀疏的倩影，却又像是画在荷叶上。塘中的月色并不均匀；但光与影有着和谐的旋律，如梵婀玲上奏着的名曲。
    荷塘的四面，远远近近，高高低低都是树，而杨柳最多。这些树将一片荷塘重重围住；只在小路一旁，漏着几段空隙，像是特为月光留下的。树色一例是阴阴的，乍看像一团烟雾；但杨柳的丰姿，便在烟雾里也辨得出。树梢上隐隐约约的是一带远山，只有些大意罢了。树缝里也漏着一两点路灯光，没精打采的，是渴睡人的眼。这时候最热闹的，要数树上的蝉声与水里的蛙声；但热闹是它们的，我什么也没有。
    then lotus-gathering flashed into my mind.this was an old custom south of the yangtse，which apparently originated very early and was most popular in the period of the six kingdoms，*as we see from the songs of the time.the lotus were picked by girls in small boats，who sang haunting songs as they padded.they turned out in force，we may be sure，and there were spectators too，for that was a cheerful festival and a romantic one.we have a good account of it in a poem by emperor yuan of the liang dynasty called lotus gatherers：
    deft boys and pretty girls reach an understanding while boating；
    their prows veer slowly，
    but the winecups pass quickly；
    their oars are entangled，
    as they cut through the duckweed，
    and girls with slender waists turn to gaze behind them.
    now spring and summer meet，
    leaves are tender，flowers fresh；
    with smiles they protect their silks，
    drawing in their skirts，afraid lest the boat upset.
    忽然想起采莲的事情来了。采莲是江南的旧俗，似乎很早就有，而六朝时为盛；从诗歌里可以约略知道。采莲的是少年的女子，她们是荡着小船，唱着艳歌去的。采莲人不用说很多，还有看采莲的人。那是一个热闹的季节，也是一个风流的季节。梁元帝《采莲赋》里说得好：
    于是妖童媛女，
    荡舟心许；
    鷁首徐回，
    兼传羽杯；
    欋将移而藻挂，
    船欲动而萍开。
    尔其纤腰束素，
    迁延顾步；
    夏始春余，
    叶嫩花初，
    恐沾裳而浅笑，
    畏倾船而敛裾。
    there we have a picture of these merry excursions.this must have been a delightful event，and it is a great pity we cannot enjoy it today.
    i also remember some lines from the poem west islet：
    when they gather lotus at nantang in autumnthe lotus blooms are higher than their heads；they stoop to pick lotus seeds，seeds as translucent as water.
    if any girls were here now to pick the lotus，the flowers would reach above their heads too—ah，rippling shadows alone are not enough！i was feeling quite homesick for the south，when i suddenly looked up to discover i had reached my own door.pushing it softly open and tiptoeing in，i found all quiet inside，and my wife fast asleep.
    可见当时嬉游的光景了。这真是有趣的事，可惜我们现在早已无福消受了。
    于是又记起《西洲曲》里的句子：
    采莲南塘秋，
    莲花过人头；
    低头弄莲子，
    莲子清如水。
    今晚若有采莲人，这儿的莲花也算得“过人头”了；只不见一些流水的影子，是不行的。这令我到底惦着江南了。——这样想着，猛一抬头，不觉已是自己的门前；轻轻地推门进去，什么声息也没有，妻已睡熟好久了。（未完待续）

 第37章 秋日夕阳

    autumn sunset
    秋日夕阳
    henry david thoreau/亨利·大卫·梭罗
    the sun sets on some retired meadow，where no house is visible，with all the glory and splendor that it lavishes on cities，and，perchance，as it has never set before，——where there is but a solitary marsh-hawk to have his wings glided by it，or only a musquash looks out from his cabin，and there is some little black-veined brook in the midst of the marsh，just beginning to meander，winding slowly round a decaying stump.we walked in so pure and bright a light，gilding the withered grass and leaves，so softly and serenely bright，i thought i had never bathed in such a golden flood，without a ripple or a murmur to it.the west side of every wood and rising ground gleamed like a boundary of elysium，the sun on our backs seemed like a gentle herdsman driving us home at evening.
    so we saunter toward the holy land，till one day the sun shall shine more brightly than ever he has done，shall perchance shine into our minds and hearts，and light up our whole lives with a great awakening light，as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn.
    落照沉坠在一处窈窕草地上，不见一房一舍，唯有倾泻于城郭的好一派灿烂辉煌，或许以前夕阳从未在此坠落过，——这儿但见一只孤零零的白尾鹞，羽翼抹上一层金光，但见一只麝鼠从小棚里往外张望，沼泽中央有条黑幕遮掩似的溪流，刚刚蜿蜒而过，缓缓流过一块朽木。我们在这般清澈明媚的日光下漫步，枯草败叶都染上了金色，灿烂而显得柔和明净，想想自己还不曾沐浴在如此金潮之中，不起漪涟不闻喃喃。每处林木的西边和凸起的地面流光溢彩，宛如乐园的边际，夕阳在背好似和蔼的牧人晚间赶车送我们回家。
    我们就这样闲步走向圣地，直到有那么一天日光烨烨，前所未见，或许照耀到我们的思想感情，一道令人觉醒的光明点亮我们的全部生命，如同照在秋日岸坡上那般温暖明净金光灿烂。（未完待续）

 第38章 心如花园

    your mind is a garden
    心如花园
    anonymous/佚名
    some time ago，sofan and i were visiting some friends in the country.we were staying a beautiful little guest cabin，surrounded by fruit trees，flowers and even a few goats.painted above the doorway in brightly coloured，flowing letters were the words：
    your mind is a garden.
    your thoughts are the seeds.
    you can grow flowers or
    you can grow weeds...
    little did we know it at the time，but this little poem was to have a profound affect both on our thought patterns as well as our artworks.
    it started almost as a kind of game.we decided to make a real effort to watch our thoughts and see exactly what it was that we were planting in our own “mind gardens”.it was difficult at first，but gradually，we began to pay more and more attention to what thoughts were repeatedly flashing across our minds.
    how disturbing it was to discover that many of these “seeds”were extremely negative thoughts destined to grow patches of thorny thistles and stinging nettles in our daily lives！
    we gradually came to see how so many of the problems and difficulties we were encountering in our lives had their beginnings in the seeds of doubt，fear and anxiety that we were continually planting in our minds.
    不久前，我和索芬于乡间访友，暂居在一个给客人住的小木屋里。木屋很是漂亮，四周果树环绕，花开遍野，甚至还有几只山羊在屋旁踯躅。屋门上几行漆字，颜色鲜亮，字体流畅。写的是：
    心如花园，思想为种。
    既得繁花，亦生野稗。
    当时我们不甚懂得这首小诗，但后来它却给我们的思维模式与艺术作品带来了深远的影响。
    刚开始的时候几乎就像一场游戏。我们决定下一番真功夫去观察自己的思想，把我们在自己“心园”里种下的东西看个真切。起初并不容易，但渐渐地，我们开始愈发关注在自己心中反复闪过的是何种思想。
    当发现大多数的“思之种子”都是很负面的思想，注定要在我们的日常生活中长成一丛丛带刺的野蓟、荨麻的时候，这是多么让人烦恼啊！
    我们渐渐发现，我们在生活中遇到的诸多问题与困难，其源头正是我们不断在心中种下的疑惑、恐惧与焦虑的种子。
    it does take effort，but like anything else it gets easier with practice，and the amazing thing is，as we became more and more aware of these negative thoughts we are able to say：
    “no！i will not plant this weed in the garden of my mind.”
    i will consciously choose to plant something better.the results are truly spectacular.
    when you start to consciously cultivate your own mind garden，you will truly be amazed at the changes which begin to happen in your life.obstacles disappear，barriers fall away，and things that you once thought were either impossible or very far away will suddenly come into view.
    any garden is an ongoing process.it’s not enough to just plant a single seed of happiness and then forget about it.your frail little seedling would soon be choked by weeds.it is necessary to continuously pull out and throw away those weeds of fear，doubt and anxiety as soon as they appear.
    love，happiness and tranquility are all contagious.people who are continuously planting these seeds in their own minds are also planting them in other people’s.
    remember，
    your mind is a garden.
    your thoughts are the seeds.
    you can grow flowers or
    you can grow weeds...
    so ask yourself，what are you going to grow in the glorious garden of your mind？may your life be filled with love，happiness and inspiration.
    这确是件费劲的事，但跟其他所有事一样，它也是熟能生巧，令人惊异的是当我们越来越意识到这些负面的思想时，我们就能说：
    “不！我不会把这颗杂草种在我的心园。”
    我会有意识地去选择，种一些更好的东西，收获颇丰。
    当你开始有意识地去耕作自己的心园，生命中因此发生的改变会令你大为惊异。障碍消失了，隔阂不见了，你一度认为不可能或离你很遥远的事情突然展现在你眼前。
    每一个花园都处在不断变化之中。仅种下一颗幸福的种子，接着又抛之脑后是不行的。你那孱弱的秧苗很快就会被野稗吞噬。那些恐惧、疑惑与焦虑的野稗一长出来，就要持之以恒地把它们拔除扔掉。
    爱、幸福与宁静都是有感染力的。那些在自己心园里不断播种这些种子的人们，他们也会把爱、幸福与宁静种到别人的心里去。
    请记住，
    心如花园，思想为种。
    既得繁花，亦生野稗。
    故而问问自己，你会在自己绚丽的心园里种些什么呢？愿你的生活充满爱、幸福与灵感。（未完待续）

 第39章 哥哥的心愿

    the wish of brother
    哥哥的心愿
    anonymous/佚名
    a friend of mine named paul received an automobile from his brother as a christmaspresent.on christmas eve when paul came out of his office，a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car，admiring it.
    “is this your car，mister？”he said.
    paul nodded，“my brother gave it to me for christmas.”the boy was astounded，“you mean your brother gave it to you and it didn‘t cost you anything？boy，i wish ...”he hesitated.
    of course paul knew what he was going to wish for.he was going to wish he had a brother like that.but what the lad said jarred paul all the way down to his heels.
    “i wish，”the boy went on，“that i could be a brother like that.”
    paul looked at the boy in astonishment，and then impulsively he added，“would you like to take a ride in my car？”
    “oh yes，i’d love that.”
    after a short fide，the boy turned with his eyes aglow，said，“mister，would you mind driving in front of my house？”
    我有个朋友叫保罗，他的哥哥送给他一辆车作为圣诞礼物。圣诞节前夜，保罗下班走出办公室，看见一个淘气的小男孩绕着他那辆崭新的车欣赏着，不时地发出赞叹声。
    “这是您的车吗.先生？”他问道。
    保罗点了点头，说：“这是我哥哥送给我的圣诞礼物。”男孩很吃惊，激动得有些语无伦次：“您是说这是您哥哥送的，您没花一分钱？噢，我真希望……”
    保罗当然知道男孩希望什么，无非希望也有这样一位哥哥。但是，小男孩接下来的话却完全出乎他的意料。
    “我希望，”男孩继续说道，“我也成为那样的哥哥，可以送车给弟弟。”
    保罗吃惊地看着男孩，随口问道：“你想坐我的车去兜兜风吗？”
    “哦，当然想了，我太高兴了。”
    车开了一会儿后，那孩子转过头来，用炽热的眼神望着保罗说：“先生，您能把车子开到我家门口吗？”
    paul smiled a little.he thought he knew what the lad wanted.he wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile.but paul was wrong again.“will you stop where those two steps are？”the boy asked.
    he ran up the steps.then in a little while paul heard him coming back，but he was not coming fast.he was carrying his little crippled brother.he sat him down on the bottom step，then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.
    保罗微笑着，他以为自己知道小男孩想干什么，一定是想向邻居炫耀一番，让大家看到他坐着一辆气派的轿车回家。但这次他又想错了。“您把车子停在那两个台阶前好吗？”男孩问。
    男孩跑上台阶，不一会儿，保罗听到他回来的声音，但动作似乎较先前慢了好多。原来他领着他跛脚的弟弟来了，他将弟弟安置在第一个台阶上，然后靠紧他坐下，甩手指着那辆新车。
    “there she is，buddy，just like i told you upstairs.his brother gave it to him for christmas and it didn‘t cost him a cent.and some day i’m gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the christmas windows that i‘ve been trying to tell you about.”
    paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car.the shining--eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday fide.that christmas eve，paul learned what jesus meant when he said：“it is more blessed to give...”
    “就是它，弟弟，这就是我刚刚在楼上和你说的那辆新车，是保罗的哥哥送给他的圣诞礼物，他没花一分钱哦。总有一天，我会送你这样一辆车，那样，到了圣诞节，你就可以自己去看商店里那些漂亮的饰品了，就像我以前告诉你的那些一样。”
    保罗下了车，把跛脚男孩抱到前座。哥哥兴奋的眼睛闪着奇异的光芒，他也爬上车子，坐在弟弟身边。就这样，三人开始了令人难忘的假日之旅。那个圣诞夜，保罗才真正领悟耶稣讲过的道理“施与比索取更幸福……”（未完待续）

 第40章 心灵之歌

    heart song
    心灵之歌
    patty hanson/帕蒂·汉森
    once upon a time，there was a great man who married the woman of his dreams.with their love，they created a little girl.she was a bright and cheerful little girl and the great man loved her very much.
    when she was very little，he would pick her up，hum a tune and dance with heraround the room，and he would tell her，“i love you，little girl！”
    when the little girl was growing up，the great man would hug her and tell her，“i love you，little girl.”the little girl would pout and say，“i’m not a little girl anymore.”then the man would laugh and say，“but to me，you‘ll always be my little girl.”
    the little girl who-was-not-little-anymore left her home and went into the world.as she learned more about herself，she learned more about the man.she saw that he truly was great and strong，for now she recognized his strengths.one of his strengths was his ability to express his love to his family.it didn’t matter where she went in the world，the man would call her and say，“i love you，little girl.”
    从前，有个男人娶到了他梦寐以求的人为妻。后来，他们有了一个聪明伶俐的小女儿，那是他们爱情的结晶，男人很爱她。
    女孩很小时，男人就抱着她，哼着小曲，在屋子里翩翩起舞，并告诉她：“小女儿，我爱你！”
    小女孩渐渐长大了，这个男人仍然经常拥抱她，并告诉她：“我爱你，小女儿！”此时小女孩会撅起嘴一脸严肃地说：“我已不再是小女孩了。”男人就笑着说：“但在我眼里，你永远都是我的小女孩。”
    后来，小女孩长大了，离开家，步人了社会。她逐渐对自己有了进一步的了解，也更理解爸爸了。她觉得爸爸的确很了不起，因为现在她看到了他的力量，他能向家人表达自己的爱，这就是其中之一。无论她走到哪里，男人都会打来电话对她说：“小女儿，我爱你！”
    the day came when the little girl who—was—not—little—anymore received a phone call.the great man was damaged.he had had a stroke.he was aphasic，they explained to the girl.he couldn‘t talk anymore and they weren’t sure that he could understand the wordsspoken to him.he could no longer smile，laugh，walk，hug，dance or tell the little girl who—was—not—little—anymore that he loved her.
    and so she went to the side of the great man.when she walked into the room and saw him，he looked small and not strong at all.he looked at her and tried to speak，but he could not.
    the little girl did the only thing she could do.she climbed up on the bed next to the great man.tears ran from both of their eyes and she drew her arms around the useless shoulders of her father.
    已不再是小女孩的她，有一天接到一个电话，得知爸爸中了风，患了失语症，再也不能说话了。他们不知道他还能否理解别人对他说的话。他不能再微笑、大笑、走路、拥抱、跳舞或对这个不再是小女孩的女儿说他爱她了。
    于是，她回到了这个男人身边。在走人病房，看到爸爸的一刹那，她顿时觉得他是那么的微小而虚弱。他望着她，欲言又止。
    小女孩做了她唯一能做的事。她爬上床，挨着爸爸躺下。他们对视着，双眼噙满了泪水。她用双臂搂着父亲虚弱的臂膀。
    her head on his chest，she thought of many things.she remembered the wonderfultimes together and how she had always felt protected and cherished by the great man.she felt grief for the loss she was to endure，the words of love that had comforted her.
    and then she heard from within the man，the beat of his heart.where the music and the words had always lived is the heart.the heart beat on，steadily unconcerned about the damage to the rest of the body.and while she rested there，the magic happened.she heard what she needed to hear.
    his heart beat out the words that his mouth could no longer say...
    i love you i love you i love you
    little girl little girl little girl
    and she was comforted.
    她的头靠近他的胸口，许多往事涌上心头。他们一起度过的幸福时光历历在目，那里总有爸爸悉心呵护她的身影。她觉得很伤心，因为那些曾给她慰藉和鼓励的话语，如今再也听不到了。
    她听到了爸爸的心跳声——发自内心深处的声音，那颗心曾饱藏着音乐和爱语。身体的其他病痛对它没有任何影响，它仍在不停地跳了。她听到了她渴望听到的话。
    他的心碰撞出他无法从口中说出的话……
    我爱你我爱你我爱你
    小女儿小女儿小女儿
    她得到了慰藉。（未完待续）

 第41章 爱的故事

    a love story
    爱的故事
    anonymous/佚名
    once upon a time，there was an island where all the feelings lived：
    happiness，sadness，knowledge，and all of the others including love.one day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink，so all repaired their boats and left.
    love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment.when the island was almost sinking，love decided to ask for help.richness was passing by love in a grand boat.love said，“richness，can you take me with you？”richness answered，“no，i can‘t.there is a lot of gold and silver in my boat.there is no place here for you.”
    很久以前，快乐、悲伤、知识还有爱等，都住在一个小岛上。一天，它们被告知，小岛快要沉没了。于是，所有的情感都修理各自的小船，然后离开了。
    爱想要坚守，直到最后一刻。当小岛几乎要完全沉没时，爱决定寻求求帮助。财富刚好经过爱身边，它乘坐在一艘豪华轮船上。爱说道：“财富，你能带我一起走吗？”财富回答：”不，我不能，我船上的金银财宝太多了，没有空余的地方给你。”
    love decided to ask vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel，“vanity，please help me！”“i can’t help you love.you are all wet and might damage my boat.”vanity answered.
    sadness was close by so love asked for help，“sadness，let me go with you.”“oh...love，i am so sad that i need to be by myself！”
    happiness passed by love too，but she was so happy that she did not even hear when love called her！
    虚荣也驾着漂亮的船路过，爱决定去恳求她，“虚荣，请帮帮我！”“我不能帮你，你浑身都湿透了，会把我的船损坏的。”虚荣答道。
    爱又向附近的悲伤求助，“悲伤，让我和你一起走吧。”“噢……爱，我真的很伤心，我需要一个人独处。”
    快乐也在爱的一旁路过，但是，她太开心了，甚至都没有听见爱对她的呼唤。
    suddenly，there was a voice，“come love，i will take you.”it was an elder.love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder his name.when they arrived at dry land，the elder went his own way.
    love realized how much he owed the elder and asked knowledge，another elder，“who helped me？”
    “it was time，”knowledge answered.“time？”asked love.
    “but why did time help me？”knowledge smiled with deep wisdomand answered，“because，only time is capable of understanding how great love is.”
    突然，有一个声音传来，“爱，过来吧，我带你一起走。”是一位年老的长者。爱感到异常幸运，他沉浸在巨大的喜悦中，甚至连老人的名字都忘了问。当他们到达陆地，老者独自走远了。
    爱意识到自己受到他的恩泽实在太多了，便去问另一位老者知识，“是谁帮助了我啊？”
    知识答道：“是时间。”“时间？”爱问道。
    “为什么时间会帮我呢？”知识笑了.他意味深长地答道，“因为爱的伟大只有时间才能理解。
    如果能再活一回
    if i had my life to live over
    如果能再活一回
    anonymous/佚名
    i would have gone to bed when i was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if i weren‘t there for the day.
    i would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
    i would have talked less and listened more.
    i would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained，or the sofa faded.
    i would have eaten the popcorn in the“good“living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
    i would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
    生病时，我会卧床休息，不会假装自己一天不工作，地球就会停止转动。
    我要将雕成玫瑰花状的粉红蜡烛点燃。而不会让它在闲置中熔化。
    我会少说多听。
    我会邀请朋友来吃饭，哪怕地板会弄脏，哪怕沙发会褪色。
    我会在“上等”的客厅吃玉米花，若是有人想在壁炉生火，我才不会担心有烟尘冒出呢。
    我会听爷爷漫谈他年轻时的往事。
    i would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
    i would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
    i would have cried and laughed less while watching television—and more while watching life.
    i would never have bought anything just because it was practical，wouldn’t show soil，or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy，i‘d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist god in a miracle.
    我不会因为夏日里头发刚刚梳理过，喷过发胶就紧闭车窗。
    我会和孩子们一起坐在草坪上，而不会担心衣服被染上草渍。
    我会在看电视时少哭一点少笑一点——而对待生活，我则会多哭一点多笑一点。
    我不会因为东西实用，显得干净，甚至能够用上一辈子就将它买下。
    我不会盼着九个月的妊娠期早些结束。我会珍惜每一刻，更要意识到体内孕育的神奇是我今生帮助上帝创造奇迹的惟一机会。
    when my kids kissed me impetuously，i would never have said，“later.now go get washed up for dinner.”there would have been more，“i love you’s”...more“i‘m sorry’s”...but mostly，given another shot at life，i would seize every？minute ...look at it and really see it...live it...and never give it back.
    stop sweating the small stuff.don‘t worry about who doesn’t like you，who has more，or who‘s doing what.instead，let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.let‘s think about what god has blessed us with.
    and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally，physically，emotionally，as well as spiritually.
    life is too short to let it pass you by.we only have one shot at this and then it’s gone.i hope you all have a blessed day.
    孩子们急切地来亲吻我，我不会对他们说：“等等，先去洗手准备吃晚餐。”我会更多地说：“我爱你……对不起……”
    如果让我再活一次，我一定会把握好分分秒秒……关注生活，观察生活……品味生活……决不使岁月再蹉跎。
    不要为琐事烦心。不要担心谁会不喜欢你，谁富有，谁在做着什么。让我们珍惜人与人之间的那份情感吧。让我们多想想上帝赐予我们的幸福。多想想我们每天做了哪些有益于自己思想、身体、感情和精神的事。
    人生短暂，不要虚度。每个人只有短暂的一生，生命将会倏然而逝。祝愿大家都能生活幸福。（未完待续）

 第42章 心灵的平静(1)

    serenity of mind
    心灵的平静
    anonymous/佚名
    we enjoy inner peace and feel happy and satisfied when life flows smoothly and we have a good job，good relationships，good health，and our financial situation is good.when there is nothing to worry about，no tension and no hurry，we are at peace.
    in day-to-day life it is not always like this.there is always something that causes worry，tension and lack of ease，and does not let us feel peaceful.in spite of this，we can enjoy peace regardless of our outer circumstances.peace of mind is an inner state and is independent of outer conditions.why wait for never for circumstances to be“right”？why rely on outside circumstances to bring us peace of mind？
    我们享受到内心的宁静，并感到快乐和心满意足时，往往是生活之河平稳地向前流淌之时，拥有一份满意的工作、良好的人际关系、健康的身体和优越的经济条件。当我们没有焦虑和压力，也不繁忙时，便会平静下来。
    但是，日常生活并不总是如此。我们总会为一些事情焦虑、紧张和不安，无法平静下来。尽管如此，我们仍然可以享受到宁静，而忽略外在的条件。内心的宁静是一种心理状态，并不受外在条件的约束。为什么一定要等到“合适”的环境呢？为什么要让内心的平静取决于外在的条件呢？
    a person may be rich or poor.one may be healthy or sick，free，or live in closed cell.inner peace and calmness is within reach of everyone.one can be a slave，the other freeman，yet both have the potential to enjoy peace of mind.
    peace of mind seems to be in this world but out of this world.it is experienced here and now，yet independent of outer circumstances.inner calmness and serenity can be experienced even under the most trying circumstances.of course some training is needed first.
    一个人可能贫穷，也可能富有；可能健康，也可能患病；可能自由，也可能受约束。但内心的平静和安宁每个人都能得到。不管是奴隶，还是自由人，都可能享受到内心的平静。
    在这个世界上，内心的平静似有似无。但如果摆脱外在条件的束缚，此时此刻你就能感受到。即使是在最艰难的条件下，你仍然可以拥有内心的安宁和平静。当然，首先你要接受一些培训。
    thoughts and peace of mind
    thoughts arise in us and we think them.we may choose to ignore them and experience real inner freedom，or we may choose to water them with the power of our attention and make them grow.
    when you have to think，choose only positive，happy and uplifting thoughts.think about and imagine only what you really and truly desire and that will come to pass.always remember that life is shaped according to your thoughts.
    when the mind is silent there is happiness inside and happiness outside.
    it is a great asset and advantage to be able to silence the mind when its services are not needed.
    the attainment of serenity of mind，which is actually freedom from the compulsion of incessant thinking，is open for everyone，provided the proper training is taken.just reading this article you will not bring you peace of mind.when you understand the value of inner peace，and you have a true desire to succeed，nothing can stand in your way，though this is an inner power，the way to its attainment is not different from other tangible goals.work and persistence are necessary.
    思索会让内心平静
    我们会产生想法，并会去思考这些想法。我们可以选择忽视它们，去体验内心真正的自由。或者，我们选择用更多的关注去浇灌它们，促使其成长。
    当你必须思考时，只选择积极、快乐和乐观的想法。要去思考和想像你真正的渴望.并相信它们迟早会实现。永远记住，生活是由你的思想决定的。
    当心灵静默时，你就会拥有一种内心的幸福和外在的快乐。
    如果心灵的需要得不到满足，仍能保持静默，这就是一笔巨大的资本和优势。
    要使心灵平静，实际上是要从难以抗拒的不断思考中解脱出来。人人都可以做到，只是要经过适当的训练，光读这篇文章并能让你的内心平静下来。当你懂得了内心平静的价值，就会真正渴望成功，并在追求过程中克服一切阻碍。尽管这是一种内在的能量。但获取它的方式与其他实际目标一样，必须努力和坚持。
    most people are enslaved by their thoughts.it does not occur to man that he can become free from their grasp.from the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep at night，this chatter of the mind continues incessantly.the habit of thinking is very deeply ingrained in the human race.yet，this habit can be undone.
    to change or stop a habit we have to act consciously in the opposite direction.whatever new skill we develop，we have to work at it until it turns into second nature，and becomes easy to perform.the same is with mind control.
    true control of the mind is not just the ability to concentrate on one thought and disregard other thoughts.it is the ability to cleanse the mind completely and make it silent.a great indian sage said：“mind is only a bundle of thoughts，stop thinking and show me the mind.”
    大多数人都沉迷在自己的思考中，很少人能摆脱它，获得身心自由。从我们清晨醒来的那一刻起，脑子里一直在思考，直到晚上入睡为止。思考是人类根深蒂固的习惯.但这种习惯仍可以改变。
    要改变或戒掉一种习惯，我们必须有意识地采取相反方式的行动。不管我们是在学习什么新的技能，都要努力学习，直到它转化成第二天性，变得随心所欲。控制心灵也是如此。
    真正控制心灵，并不是仅仅在一种思考上集中注意力，忽视其他思考的能力.而是一种完全净化思考，让它静默的能力。印度有一位伟大的智者说过：“心灵只是各种思想的综合，停止思考，方可表露心灵。”（未完待续）

 第43章 心灵的平静(2)

    when one is really free from thoughts he becomes free from the mind as both are one and the same thing.one comes to see and understand the illusiveness of the mind.when the clouds hide the sun，it is still there，beyond the clouds.our essence，our inner self，is always here.we only need to remove the sheets and covers that envelope it in order to experience peace and calmness.these sheets and covers are our thoughts，ideas，habits and beliefs.i do not mean to tell you that you have to stop using your mind.you need it in order to carry on your life.i mean that it has to be under the control of the self.it should be your servant to serve you fight，and not your master.
    当一个人真正摆脱了思想的束缚，心灵也就不再受禁锢，一个人才能认清并懂得心灵的幻觉，因为两者是合二为一并且本质相同的东西。当乌云蔽日时，太阳还在.只不过被云遮住了。我们的本质，内心的真我也一直存在，只是需要除去包裹和封套，才能体会到平静和安宁。这些包裹和封套就是我们的思想、观念、习惯和信仰。我并不是让你停止思考，你需要思考来延续自己的生命。我的意思是，你必须控制自己的思考.它必须是你的仆人，为你服务，而不是你的主人。
    advice for you don‘t
    you don’t have to fell uncomfortable with words such as self，inner self essence，universal consciousness etc.they may now seem to you meaningless“high”words，but they are not.they symbolize something very real，not hazy concepts.concentration and meditation make these words meaningful.advancing on the spiritual path is not something hazy，imaginative and unpractical as some may imagine.by personal experience you will come to really know what i mean.
    everyone can learn a new language，but not everyone can reach the same level of expertise.everyone can engage in bodybuilding，painting or writing，but each will reach a different level.it depends on the inner aptitude，the earnestness，and the time devoted to this activity.yet，everyone can benefit from these activities.so it is with training towards freedom from thoughts.
    达到心灵平静的忠告
    你不必对这些诸如自我、内在本质、普遍意识等词汇反感，现在，它们对于你来说.也许是些“高深莫测”的词，但其实不是。它们象征着一些非常实际的东西，而不是一些朦胧的概念。集中精力和冥思苦想会让它们意味深长。精神之路的探索并不是某些人想像中的那些模糊、虚幻和不切实际的东西。通过亲身经历，你就会明白我的意思。
    每个人都能学会一种新的语言，但不是每个人都能达到相同的专业水平。每个人都可以塑造体型、画画或者写作，但每个人所达到的水平都会有所不同。这取决于内在的才能、认真的程度和从事这项活动投入的时间。然而，从这些活动中，每个人都会有所收获。所以，关于解放思想的培训也是如此。
    try to calm your mind when you feel agitated.take a step back in your mind and watch it.this has the tendency to calm and relax the mind.develop concentration power and meditate.all these actions calm the mind and make it serene.
    following the suggestions and using the techniques mentioned above will start you on a marvelous journey.practice，read articles and books on the subject and persevere in your training.one day you may meet someone who may teach you personally，as the saying goes：“when the student is ready，the teacher appears.”
    try to watch your thoughts during the day，as if they are not yours，without being sucked into them.become conscious of the fact that you are watching your thoughts.then this awareness of watching will increase.
    you will have to remind yourself incessantly to practice watching your thoughts，as your mind will probably make you forget.do not give up and you will succeed.if you practice as often as you can，you will be on the way to success.it may take some time，but the effort is more than worthwhile.
    you c*****so increase your peace of mind by developing the power of concentration，by meditation，by physical exercise and by correct breathing.
    当你感到紧张不安时，试着平静你的思绪。让思想退后一步，然后静静注视。这样会慢慢平静，让思想放松下来，培养聚精会神的能力和思考方式。所有这些方法都能平定心绪，让心灵宁静下来。
    遵循这些建议，并运用上面提到的这些技巧，你将会开始一段奇妙的旅程。多练习、多阅读这方面的文章和书籍，并坚持训练，总有一天，你可能会遇到一个愿意亲自教你的人。正如谚语所说的，“当学生准备好时，老师就出现了。”
    试着关注你一天的思想，好像它们并不属于你，不要陷入其中。要有意识地观察你的思想，这样，有意识的观察能力就会增加。
    你必须持之以恒地提醒自己去练习观察你的想法，因为你可能会忘记。不要放弃你一定会成功。如果你竭尽所能地去锻炼，你将会踏上成功之旅。这可能需要一些时间，但得到的回报会比付出的努力更大。
    你也可以通过培养聚精会神的能力、冥思苦想、体育锻炼和正确的呼吸来提高心灵的平静。
    the important thing is，practice，practice，and practice.remember！
    you are not your mind！
    you are not your thoughts！
    you are not your ideas！
    you are not your beliefs！
    they may be yours，but they are not you.
    they are instruments you use，do not let them control you.
    what remains after they are rejected is you，the real i.
    when thoughts cease，you still exist.there is no vacuum.when the emptiness of no thoughts is reached，you begin to feel your existence，your being.this emptiness is filled with something great，wonderful，powerful and sweet.you start living in peace.you sail on the water of the calm mind.this is pure existence.
    when you realize this state you are free from thoughts.
    then you are really free.
    最重要的是：锻炼、锻炼、再锻炼。要记住！
    你不是你的心智！
    你不是你的思想！
    你不是你的观念！
    你不是你的信仰！
    它们都是你的，但都不是你！
    它们是你的工具，不要让它们控制你！
    隐藏在它们背后的是你，真正的自己。
    尽管思想停止，你仍然存在，并没有与世隔绝。当你达到无思的空虚境界时，你才开始感受自我的存在和本质所在。这种虚无充满了一些伟大、精彩、强大和甜美的东西。你开始平静地生活，你的生命之舟航行在平静的海面，这就是纯粹的存在。
    当你达到了这种境界，就真正从思想中解脱出来了。
    那么，你就真正自由了。
    in this state nothing can influence you.you stop acting instinctively on the prompt of each passing thought.you become a completely conscious being，alive，strong，beyond everything.
    you stay in this world.your life continues，but you are beyond.
    true peace of mind is the gate to enlightenment.
    think of serenity of mind as a feasible possibility.calm your mind by autosuggestions，meditation and concentration，and start enjoying peace of mind.
    在这种状态下，你不再受任何东西的影响，不再一时冲动地去行动。你变得非常理智、活泼、强壮，超越一切。
    你存于这个世界，你的生活还在延续，但你超越了它。
    心灵的真正宁静，是启迪智慧的大门。
    把心灵的平静当作一种切实可行的事物。通过自我暗示、苦思冥想和聚精会神来平静你的心灵，开始享受心灵的平静吧。（未完待续）

 第44章 假如拥有三天光明

    three days to see
    假如拥有三天光明
    helen keller/海伦·凯勒
    all of us have read thrilling stories in which the hero had only a limited and specified time to live.sometimes it was as long as a year；sometimes as short as twenty-four hours，but always we were interested in discovering just how the doomed man chose to spend this fast days of this last hours.i speak，of course，of free men who have a choice，not condemned criminals whose sphere of activities is strictly delimited.
    such stories set us thinking，wondering what we should do under similar circumstances.what associations should we crowd into those last hours as mortal beings？what happiness should we find in reviewing the past，what regrets？
    我们都读过这样一些动人的故事，故事里主人公将不久于人世。长则一年，短则24小时。但是我们总是很想知道这个即将离开人世的人是决定怎样度过他最后的日子的。当然，我所指的是有权做出选择的自由人，不是那些活动范围受到严格限制的死囚。
    这一类故事会使我们思考在类似的处境下，我们自己该做些什么？在那临终前的几个小时里，我们会产生哪些联想？会有多少欣慰和遗憾呢？
    sometimes i have thought it would be an excellent rule to live each day as if we should die tomorrow.such an attitude would emphasize sharply the values of life.we should live each day with a gentleness，a vigor，and a keenness of appreciation which are often lost when time stretches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to come.there are those，of course，who would adopt the epicurean motto of“eat，drink and be merry，”but most people would be chastened by the certainty of impending death.
    有时我想，把每天都当作生命的最后一天来度过，也不失为一个很好的生命法则。这种人生态度会使人非常重视人生的价值。每一天我们都应该以和善的态度、充沛的精力和热情的欣赏来度过，而这些恰恰是在来日方长时往往被我们忽视的东西。当然，有这样一些人奉行享乐主义的座右铭——吃喝玩乐，但是大多数人却不能摆脱死亡定会来临的恐惧。
    most of us take life for granted.we know that one day we must die，but usually we picture that day as far in the future，when we are in buoyant health，death is all but unimaginable.we seldom think of it.the days stretch out in an endless vista.so we go about our petty task，hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life.
    我们大多数人认为生命理所当然，我们明白总有一天我们会死去，但是我们常常把这一天看得非常遥远。当我们身强体壮时，死亡便成了难以想像的事情了。我们很少会考虑它，日子一天天过去，好像没有尽头。所以我们为琐事奔波，并没有意识到我们对待生活的态度是冷漠的。
    the same lethargy，i am afraid，characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses.only the deaf appreciate hearing，only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight.particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight and hearing in adult life.but those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties.their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily，without concentration，and with little appreciation.it is the same old story of not being grateful for what we conscious of health until we are ill.
    我想我们在运用我们所有五官时恐怕也同样是冷漠的。只有聋子才珍惜听力，只有盲人才能认识到能见光明的幸运。对于那些成年致盲或失聪的人来说尤其如此。但是那些听力或视力从未遭受损失的人却很少充分利用这些幸运的能力，他们对所见所闻不关注、不欣赏。这与常说的不失去不懂得珍贵，不生病不知道健康可贵的道理是一样的。
    i have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life.darkness would make him more appreciative of sight；silence would teach him the joys of sound.
    我常想如果每一个人在他成年的早些时候，有几天成了聋子或瞎子也不失为一件好事。黑暗将使他更珍惜光明，沉寂将教他知道声音的乐趣。
    now and then i have tested my seeing friend to discover what they see.recently i was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods，and iasked her what she had observed.“nothing in particular，”she replied.i might have been incredulous had i not been accustomed to such responses，for long ago i became convinced that the seeing see little.
    有时我会试探我的非盲的朋友们，想知道他们看见了什么。最近我的一位非常要好的朋友来看我，她刚刚在树林里走了很长时间，我问她看见了什么。“没什么特别的，”她回答说。如不是我早已习惯了这样的回答，我也许不会轻易相信，因为很久以前我就相信了有眼人看不见什么。
    how was it possible，i asked myself，to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note？i who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch.i feel the delicate symmetryof a leaf.i pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch，or the rough shaggy bark of a pine.in spring i touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud，the first sign of awakening nature after her winter‘s sleep i feel the delightful，velvety texture of a flower，and discover its remarkable convolutions，and something of the miracle of nature is revealed to me.
    我问自己，在树林中走了一小时，怎么可能什么值得注意的东西都没有看到呢？而我一个盲人仅仅透过触摸，就发现了数以百计的有趣的东西。我感到树叶的对称美，用手抚摸着白桦树光滑的树皮或松树那粗糙的厚皮。春天里我满怀着希望触摸着树枝寻找新芽，那是大自然冬眠后醒来的第一个征象。我感到了花朵的可爱和草草的感觉，发现它层层迭迭地绽开着，大自然的神奇展现在我的面前。
    occasionally，if i am very fortunate，i place my hand gently in a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.i am delighted to have the cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers.to me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious persian rug.to me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama，the action of which streams through my finger tips.at times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things.if i can get so much pleasure from mere touch，how much more beauty must be revealed by sight yet，those who have eyes apparently see little.the panorama of color and action fill the world is taken for granted it is human，perhaps，to appreciate little that which we have and to long for that which we have not，but it is a great pity that in the world of light the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of adding fullness to life.
    oh，the things that i should see if i had the power of sight for three days！
    当我把手轻轻地放在一棵小树上，如果幸运的话，偶尔会感到歌唱的小鸟欢快的颤动。我会愉快地让清凉的溪水从指间流过。对我来说，满地厚厚的松针和松软的草坪，比奢华的波斯地毯更惹人喜爱。对我来说四季变换的景色如同一场动人心魄的不会完结的戏剧，剧中的人物动作从我的指尖流过。我的心不时在呐喊，带着对光明的渴望。既然仅仅透过触摸就能使我获得如此多的喜悦，那么光明定会展示更多美好的事物啊。可惜的是那些有眼睛的人分明看到很少，整个世界缤纷的色彩和万物的活动都被认为是理所当然。也许不珍惜已经拥有的，想得到还没有得到的是人的特点，但是在光明的世界里只把视觉当做一种方便的工具，而不是丰富生活的工具，这是令人多么遗憾的事情啊。
    噢，假如我拥有三天光明，我将会看见多少事物啊！（未完待续）

 第45章 生命的启示

    instructions for life
    生命的启示
    anonymous/佚名
    give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
    memorize your favorite poem.
    don’t believe all you hear，spend all you have or sleep all you want.
    when you say“i love you”，mean it.
    when you say“i‘m sorry”，look the person in the eye.
    be engaged at least six months before you get married.
    believe in love at first sight.
    never laugh at anyone’s dreams.people who don‘t have dreams don’t have much.
    施与别人尽可能多的东西，并要欣然而为之。
    牢记你最爱的诗歌。
    不要相信你所听来的一切；也不要耗尽你所拥有的一切；更不要将时间都浪费在睡眠上。
    说“我爱你”时，要满怀诚意。
    说“对不起”时，要注视对方的眼睛。
    至少在订婚半年后再结婚。
    要笃信一见钟情。
    对别人的梦想不妄加嘲讽，没有梦想的人不会拥有很多。
    love deeply and passionately.you might get hurt but it‘s the only way to live completely.
    in disagreements，fight fairly.don’t shout fiercely.
    don‘t judge people by their relatives.
    talk slowly but think quickly.
    when someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer，smile and ask：“why you want to know？”
    remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
    call your parents.
    全心投入地去爱，或许你会受到伤害，可是，这却是使生活完整的唯一途径。
    意见相悖时，要公正地争论，切不可大吵大嚷。
    不要以一个人的亲戚的言行来评判此人。
    说话语速宜慢，但反应要快。
    当有人问及你不想回答的问题时，要笑问对方：“为何想知道答案？”
    谨记：不朽的爱情和伟大的成就要冒巨大风险才可获得。
    要多打电话问候父母。
    say“bless you”when you hear someone sneeze.
    when you lose，don‘t lose the lesson.
    remember the three r’s：respect for self；respect for others；responsibility for all your actions.
    don‘t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
    when you realize you’ve made a mistake，take immediate steps to correct it.
    smile when picking up the phone.the caller will hear it in your voice.
    marry a man/woman you love to talk to.as you get older，their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
    spend some time alone.
    听到某人打喷嚏时，要说：“上帝保佑你。”
    失败时.要记着吸取教训。
    铭记3r原则，即：尊重自己，尊重他人，对自己的行为负责。
    不可因小事而伤害友谊。
    一旦意识到自己犯了错误，就要及时采取措施予以补救。
    接听电话要保持微笑，因为对方可以从你的声音感受到你的热情。
    与有共同语言的人结为夫妻，那样在你年老时，就会发觉有共同的话题比其他任何事情都更为重要。
    给自己留些独处的时间。
    open your arms to change，but don‘t let go of your values.
    remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
    read more books and watch less tv.
    live a good，honorable life.then when you get older and think back，you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
    trust in god but lock your car.
    a loving atmosphere in your home is so important.do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home！
    in disagreement with loved ones，deal with the current situation.
    don‘t bring up the past.
    勇于改变，但切不可放弃你的价值观。
    记住：有时沉默是最好的回答。
    多读书，少看电视。
    过一种优质而高尚的生活，那样，当你逐渐老去回首往事时，才会再次体味到生命的意义。
    相信上帝，但要锁好你的车。
    爱的氛围对一个家是何等重要，努力营造一个温馨和睦的家吧。
    与至爱的人意见相左时，要恰当处理当前事态。
    不要总翻旧账，过去的就让它过去吧。
    read between the lines.
    pray.there’s immeasurable power in it.
    never interrupt when you are being flattered.
    mind your own business.
    don‘t trust a man/woman who doesn’t close his/her eyes when you kiss.
    once a year，go someplace you‘ve never been before.
    if you make a lot of money，put it to use helping others while you are living.that is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
    要透过现象看事情的本质。
    经常祈祷，它会使你力量倍增。
    不要打断别人对你的溢美之词。
    管好自己的事儿。
    不可相信睁眼接受你亲吻的人。
    一年当中，去一次你从未去过的地方。
    倘若你发了财，要在有生之年用这些钱去帮助别人。
    这是财富最伟大的满足。
    remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
    remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
    judge your success by what you have done compared to what you could have done，not to what others have done with their abilities.
    approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
    谨记：塞翁失马，安知非福？
    谨记：伟大的友情往外都是付出的多，而索取的少。
    判断一个人成功与否，要将他的办事能力与实际结果予以比较；而不是将他与别人作比较。
    要想得到爱情和粮食，就要不吝舍弃。（未完待续）

 第46章 心灵的愈合

    the healing
    心灵的愈合
    anonymous/佚名
    the shock of events of the past 30hours overwhelmed jim all at once.his body felt numb，and while the world was moving along，he felt removed from it.
    jim and his wife，connie，had just lost their beautiful four-month-old son.pre-liminary diagnosis6：sids，sudden infant death syndrome.
    过去三十个小时所发生的一切将吉姆彻底击垮了。他感觉浑身麻木.虽然世界依旧未变，他却觉得自己已被世界抛弃。
    吉姆和他的妻子康妮刚刚失去了四个月大的儿子——可爱的约书亚。医生初步诊断为“婴儿猝死综合征”。
    thirty hours ago jim had driven to the baby-sitter‘s home to pick up joshua.it was a routine trip，like the one he made five days every week...until he arrived，and little joshua could not be awakened from his nap.the next few hours were a blur.wailing sirens，swift -moving paramedics ，critical-care doctors and reassuring nurses，holding hands and praying.a decision to life-flight joshua to children’s hospital 60miles away ...but all in vain.twelve hours later，the doctors had ex-hausted all attempts at revival.there was no brain activity.the decision was to turn off life-support.little joshua was gone.yes，they wanted all of joshua‘s usable organs to be readied for donation.that was not a difficult decision for jim and connie，a loving and giving couple.
    三十个小时之前，吉姆驱车前往婴儿看护室去接儿子。这是吉姆除了周六周日外每天都要做的事。然而，当他到达目的地时，却发现约书亚已处于深度昏迷状态。接下来的几个小时是一片混乱：急救笛鸣响不停，急救人员、医生和护士们均投入到紧急状态中……医生们决定立即乘飞机将约书亚送到六十英里以外的儿童医院进行抢救……然而，一切都是徒劳的。十二小时后，医生用尽了办法，而约书亚的大脑依然没有任何反应。医生们只得取掉他身上所有维持生命的医疗器械，就这样，小约书亚走了。医生们希望能够得到约书亚的器官捐赠。而对于吉姆和康妮这对极具爱心的夫妇来说，这是他们义不容辞的事。
    the next morning dawned.more decisions and arrangements.telephone calls and funeral plans.at one point jim realized he needed a haircut，but being new to the community，he didn’t have his own regular barber yet.jim‘s brother volunteered to call his hairdresser and get jim an appointment.the schedule was full，but after a few words of explanation，the salon owner said，“just send him right over and we’ll take care of him.”
    第二天清晨，夫妇俩有了许多新的决定和安排——他们需要打电话安排葬礼。就在这时，吉姆想去理发，但是由于他是这个社区的新成员，还没有自己的理发师。因此，他的哥哥主动打电话给自己的理发师，替吉姆预约。那位理发师的日程表原本已排满了，不过，当理发店的老板听说了吉姆的遭遇后，立即决定：“现在就让他过来吧，我们会为他安排好一切的。”
    jim was exhausted as he settled into the chair.he had had little sleep.he began to reflect on the past hours，trying desperately to make some sense of it all.why had joshua，their firstborn，the child they had waited so long for，been taken so soon...he had barely begun his life...the question kept coming，and the pain in jim‘s heart just enveloped him.he thought about the words spoken by the hospital chaplain.“we don’t fully understand what part we have in god‘s plan.perhaps joshua had already completed his mission on earth.”those words didn’t ease the bitterness that was creeping in.
    吉姆坐在椅子上时，早已精疲力竭了。这几天，他始终没怎么睡觉。他开始回想起过去几十个小时里发生的事情，试图把整件事情想个明白。为什么他们在等待了那么久之后才得到的第一个儿子这么快就离开了他们……小约书亚的生活甚至还没有开始……问题一个接一个地出现，痛苦几乎将吉姆吞噬了。他突然想起了在医院时，牧师曾说过一段话：“我们并不明白自己在上帝的计划中扮演什么样的角色，也许约书亚已经完成了他在人间的使命。”可是，这些话根本无法减轻吉姆内心的痛苦——痛苦仍在一点点地吞噬着他。
    the hairdresser expressed her sympathy，and jim found himself telling her all about the events of the last 30hours.somehow it helped to tell the story.maybe if he told it enough times，he would gain some understanding.
    as jim mentioned the organ donations，he looked at his watch and remembered what was happening 60miles away...where he had said good-bye to his beloved joshua a few short hours earlier.“they are transplanting one of his heart valves right now.”
    吉姆将自己的不幸遭遇告诉了理发师。他似乎觉得将这一切说出来能够使自己舒服点儿，或许多说几次，痛苦就会减少一些。
    当吉姆提到将约书亚的器官捐赠出去的事情时，他看了看手表，想着六十英里以外正在发生的事情……那里正是他与心爱的约书亚作别的地方。“现在，他们正在将他的心脏瓣膜取出来。”
    the hairdresser stopped and stood motionless.finally she spoke，but her voice quivered and it was only a whisper.“you‘re not going to believe this...but about an hour ago the customer sitting in this chair wanted me to hurry so she could get to children’s hospital.she left here so full of joy...her prayers had been answered.today her baby granddaughter is receiving a desperately needed transplant...a heart valve.”
    jim‘s healing began.
    理发师听了他的话立即停了下来，站在那里一动不动。过了好久，她才再次开口了，她用一种颤抖着的、近乎耳语的声音说：“这听上去也许使人有些难以置信……不过，就在一个小时以前，同样坐在这把椅子上的顾客希望我能够替她快点剪，因为她急着要去儿童医院。她离开的时候满心欢喜……她对我说，她的祈祷应验了。今天，她那个还在襁褓中的孙女要接受一个迫在眉睫的手术……移植一片心脏瓣膜。”
    吉姆心灵上的创伤开始渐渐愈合了。（未完待续）

 第47章 我有一个梦

    i have a dream
    我有一个梦
    马丁·路德·金/martin luther king
    ……i say to you，my friends，so even though we must face the difficulties of today and tomorrow，i still have a dream.it is a dream deeply rooted in the american dream.
    i have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed—we hold these truths to be self-evident，that all men are created equal.
    i have a dream that one day on the red hills of georgia，sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
    ……今天，我对你们说，我的朋友们，尽管此时的困难与挫折，我们仍然有个梦，这是深深扎根于美国梦中的梦。
    我有一个梦：有一天，这个国家将站起来，并实现它的信条的真正含义：“我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的，即所有的人都生来平等。”
    我有一个梦：有一天，在乔治亚州的红色山丘上，从前奴隶的子孙们和从前奴隶主的子孙们将能像兄弟般地坐在同一桌旁。
    i have a dream that one day，even the state of mississippi，a state sweltering with the heat of injustice，sweltering with the heat of oppression，will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
    i have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
    i have a dream today！
    我有一个梦：有一天，甚至密西西比州，一个有着不公正和压迫的热浪袭人的荒漠之州，将改造成自由和公正的绿洲。
    我有一个梦：我的4个小孩将有一天生活在一个国度里，在那里，人们不是从他们的肤色，而是从他们的品格来评价他们。
    今天我有一个梦想！
    i have a dream that one day down in alabama，with its vicious racists，with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification，one day right there in alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
    i have a dream today.
    i have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted，every hill and mountain shall be made low，the rough places shall be made plain，and the crooked places shall be made straight and the glory of the lord will be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
    我有一个梦：有一天，阿拉巴马州将变成这样一个地方，那里黑人小男孩、小女孩可以和白人小男孩、小女孩，像兄弟姐妹一样手牵手并肩而行。
    今天我有一个梦想。
    我有一个梦：有一天，每一个峡谷将升高，每一座山丘和高峰被削低，崎岖粗糙的地方改造成平原，弯弯曲曲的地方变得笔直，上帝的荣耀得以展露，全人类都将举目共睹。
    this is our hope.this is the faith that i go back to the south with.with this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.
    with this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
    with this faith we will be able to work together，to pray together，to go to jail together，knowing that we will be free one day.
    这是我们的希望，这是信念，带着这个信念我回到南方。
    怀着这个信念我们将能从绝望之山中开采出一块希望之石。
    怀着这个信念，我们将能把我们国家的刺耳的不和音，转变成一曲优美动听的兄弟情谊交响曲。
    怀着这个信念，我们将能工作在一起，祈祷在一起，奋斗在一起，一起赴监狱，一起为自由而挺住。因为我们知道，有一天我们将获自由。
    this will be the day when all of god’s children will be able to sing with new meaning—“my country tis of thee；sweet land of liberty；of thee i sing；land where my fathers died，land of the pilgrim‘s pride；from every mountain side，let freedom ring”—and if america is to be a great nation，this must become true.
    so let freedom ring—from the prodigious hill tops of new hampshire，let freedom ring；from the mighty mountains of new york.let freedom ring—from the heightening alleghenies of pennsylvania.
    将会有一天，那时，所有上帝的孩子们将能以新的含义高唱：
    我的祖国，你是自由的乐土。我为你歌唱：我的先辈的安葬之地，让自由的声音，响彻每一道山岗。
    如果说美国是一个伟大的国家，这必须要成真。因此，让自由的声音从新罕布什尔州巨大的山巅响起吧。让自由的声音从纽约州巍巍群山响起吧，让自由的声音从宾夕法尼亚州阿拉根尼高原响起吧！
    let freedom ring from the snow-capped rockies of colorado.
    let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of california.
    but not only that.let freedom ring from the stone mountain of georgia.
    let freedom ring from lookout mountain of tennessee.
    let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of mississippi，from every mountainside，let freedom ring.
    让自由的声音从科罗拉多州冰雪覆盖的落基山脉响起吧！
    让自由的声音从加利福尼亚婀娜多姿的山峰上响起吧！
    但不仅如此，还让自由之声从乔治亚州的石峰上响起吧！
    让自由之声从田纳西州的观景峰响起吧！
    让自由之声从密西西比州的每一道山丘响起吧！在每一道山坡上，让自由之声响起吧！
    when we allow freedom to ring，when we let it ring from every village and hamlet，from every state and city，we will be able to speed up that day when all of god’s children—black men and white men，jews and gentiles，catholics and protestants -will be able to join hands and to sing in the words of the old negro spiritual，“free at last，free at last；thank god almighty，we are free at last.”
    当我们让自由之声响彻之时，当我们让它从每一座村庄，从每一个州和每一座城市响起时，我们将能加速这一天的到来，那时，所有上帝的孩子们，黑人和白人，犹太人和异教徒们，基督徒和天主教徒们，将能手挽手，以那古老的黑人圣歌的歌词高唱：“终于自由了！终于自由了！感谢全能的上帝，我们终于自由了！”（未完待续）

 第48章 永远的关系

    relationship that lasts
    永远的关系
    anonymous/佚名
    if somebody tells you，“i’ll love you for ever，”will you believe it？
    i don‘t think there’s any reason not to.we are ready to believe such commitment at the moment，whatever change may happen afterwards.as for the belief in an everlasting love，that‘s another thing.
    you may unswervingly love or be loved by a person.but love will change its composition with the passage of time.it will not remain the same.in the course of your growth and as a result of your increased experience，love will become something different to you.
    in the beginning you believed a fervent love fo******rson could last indefinitely.by and by，however，“fervent”gave way to “prosaic”.precisely because of this change it became possible for love to last.then what was meant by an everlasting love would eventually end up in a sort of interdependence.
    假如有人对你说，我永远爱你，你是否会相信呢？
    我想不到有什么理由不相信。无论将来变成怎样，那一刻，我们会愿意相信这个承诺。是否相信有永远的爱，那又是另一回事。
    你也许永远爱一个人，或永远被一个人所爱。但是，爱的成分会在年月中改变。爱不是只有一样。当你成长，当你经历愈来愈多的事情，你对爱的体会也会不一样了。
    从前所相信的永远，是永远炽热地爱一个人。后来的永远，也许是从炽热走到平淡。因为平淡，才可以更长久。然后，所谓永远，有一天又会变成互相依存。
    we used to insist on the difference between love and liking.the former seemed much more beautiful than the latter.one day，however，it turns out there’s really no need to make such difference.liking is actually a sort of love.by the same token，the everlasting interdependence is actually an everlasting love.
    i wish i could believe there was somebody who would love me for ever.that‘s，as we all know，too romantic to be true.instead，it will more often than not be a case of lasting relationship.
    我们曾经坚持把爱和喜欢分开。爱是比喜欢美丽许多的。终有一天，我们开始相信，不必把喜欢和爱分开。喜欢也是一种爱。正如，永远的依存，也是永远的爱。
    我希望我能够相信一个人永远地爱我。可是，我们都知道，那只是过于浪漫的想法。永远的关系，反而更有可能。（未完待续）

 第49章 一百对零

    100/0
    一百对零
    anonymous/佚名
    as a teenager i had certain ideas in my mind that constituted the idyllic life of love and marriage.in home economics，our teacher had us plan the perfect wedding and the perfect reception，right down to the throwing of rice and driving away in a limousine.it was just like the movies where the nice guy gets the beautiful girl and they live happily ever after.reality was not a part of the picture.
    after high school，i went to college and was determined to become a nurse.i forgot about marriage.i could put that on hold since i was going to help people and travel.surprisingly，two years later i met the man i would marry.it’s often said，“opposites attract.”this was really true about us.
    还是十几岁的少女时，我脑子里对爱情与婚姻所想像的是诗情画意般的生活。在家政学课上，老师让我们设计理想的婚礼、理想的婚庆招待会，一直到撒大米、新郎新娘开着豪华轿车缓缓离去。这就像电影中俊男靓女终成眷属，他们从此幸福地生活在一起。但现实可不是如此。
    高中后，我上了大学，立志要做一名护士。我把婚姻抛在了脑后。我暂不考虑结婚，因为我要帮助他人，我要周游四方。令人惊奇的是，两年后我遇到了我要嫁的男人。常常有人说，“对立物互相吸引。”我们俩就是这么回事。
    he was from a small town in idaho and farmed with his father.i was from a southern town，which had a greater population than the entire state of idaho.i had always been emphatic that i didn‘t know whom i would marry，but one thing was for sure--he would not be a farmer or dairyman！well，i was wrong in both cases.they were not only farmers but dairymen as well.
    他来自爱达荷州的一个小镇，和他父亲一起经营农场。我来自南方的一个城镇，那里的人口比整个爱达荷州的总人口都多。我一直都是态度坚决地表明我不知道要嫁给什么样的男人，但有一点是肯定无疑的——他不会是务农的或养乳牛的！但是结果我都错了。我遇到的这个男人和他父亲既耕作也养牛。
    we were married in october just prior to the beginning of heavy snowfalls.it would snow heavily throughout the whole winter.our only entertainment was listening to the radio or the local high school sporting events.my new husband was a lover of sports.he had been a champion boxer and also participated in most sports.i was a lover of the arts.speech，drama and dance were my first love.the nearest town with this kind of entertainment was forty miles away and the highway was closed off and on1all winter.
    我们在10月结了婚，就在大雪迫近之际。大雪会下一冬天。我们惟一的娱乐就是听收音机或观看当地高中体育比赛。我新婚的丈夫是个体育爱好者。他曾是拳击冠军，也参加过很多种体育活动。而我是个艺术迷。演说、戏剧、舞蹈是我的挚爱。有这类艺术活动的城镇，最近的离我们也有40英里，而高速公路在整个冬天是时而封闭时而开放的。
    we had only been married seven months when i received word that my mother，who was battling cancer，would not live much longer.even though there was the dairy with 75cows and 1400acres to farm，as soon as my husband read the telegram，he sadly said，“honey，get your bags packed while i make reservations for you.your place is with your mother and your father right now.”to him there had been no other decision to make.every week i would receive a letter telling me all about how the farm was doing and inquiring about my parents and how we were all doing.little was said about his sadness of being alone，or of missing his new bride，except at the very end of his letters where an u****takable “i love you”was written.teenage dream letters would have been filled with remarks of undying love and pain of missing me，but his letters were simple words of reality.
    在我们结婚仅7个月的时候，我得到消息：我母亲在与癌症作抗争，恐怕活不了多久了。尽管有75头牛和1400亩地要照顾，但我丈夫读完电报就悲伤地说：“亲爱的，我去给你订票，你收拾好行李。你现在是该和你父母在一起。”对于他来说没有什么别的决定可作。每周我会收到他的来信，告诉我农场的情况，并询问我父母如何，我们全家人怎么样。他很少流露他孤独一人的悲伤，或他如何思念他的新婚妻子，只是在每封信的结尾都清楚无误地写了“我爱你”。我十几岁时想像的梦中情书应该满纸都是诉说永恒的爱和思念我的痛苦，但是我丈夫的信就是简简单单描述现实生活的几行字。4个月后，举行完葬礼，在和我父亲与兄弟一同落实了最后事宜之后，我返回爱达荷州。我知道我丈夫会到机场来接我。
    four months later，after the funeral and final matters were taken care of with my father and brother，i returned to idaho where i knew my husband would be at the airport to meet me.
    the look in his eyes told me more than any dream letter could.the joy and honesty of love was deep.on the 80mile drive to our home，i talked incessantly while he quietly listened，without interrupting.when he finally had a chance to respond，he asked me to open the glove compartment of the car and take out an envelope with my name on it.“i wanted to give you something special to let you know how much i missed you，”he said quietly.
    他的眼神告诉我的远比任何梦中情书所能写的还要多，充满了深切的爱的喜悦和诚挚。在开车80英里回我们家的路上，我不停地说这说那，而他只是静静地听着，并不打断我的话。当他终于有机会讲话时，他叫我打开汽车仪表板上的储物箱，拿出上面写有我名字的一个信封。“我想给你一样特别的东西，让你知道我有多么想你，”他平静地说。
    我打开信封，发现里面有不少季节门票，是我们两人的，是去参加该地区所有艺术活动的门票。我们的收入还没到那个水平，我真是惊呆了。“我不相信，”我哭着说，“你并不喜欢这些东西！”
    i opened the envelope to find season tickets，for both of us，to all of the area’s fine art functions.our income was not all that great and i was stunned.“i don‘t believe this，”i cried.“you don’t enjoy these things！”
    when i finally stopped protesting，he reached out，hugged me and quietly said，“no，but you do，and i will learn.”in that moment i realized marriage wasn‘t 50/50，but real love was made of 100/0sometimes.love means putting the other one first.his example taught his young wife a great lesson--a lesson that has made a happy marriage for 51years.
    当我终于停止抗议时，他伸出臂膀，将我搂抱在怀，静静地说：“是的，但是你喜欢，而我可以学。”
    在那一刻，我领悟到婚姻不是50对50，真正的爱有时是100对0。爱意味着把对方放在首位。他用实例给他年轻的妻子上了深刻的一课，这一课促成了51年的幸福婚姻。（未完待续）

 第50章 爱的丝语

    love
    爱的丝语
    anonymous/佚名
    i love you not because of who you are，but because of who i am when i am withyou.
    no man or woman is worth your tears，and the one who is，won’t make you cry.
    the worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing youcan‘t have them.
    never frown，even when you are sad，because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
    to the world you may be one person，but to one person you may be the world.
    don’t waste your time on a man/woman，who isn‘t willing to waste their time on you.
    just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to，doesn‘t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
    don‘t try to hard，the best things come when you least expect them to.
    maybe god wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one，so that when we finally meet the person，we will know how to be grateful .don’t cry because it is over，smile because it happened.
    我爱你，并不是因为你的为人，而是因为和你在一起时我能找到真正的自我。
    没有人值得你流泪，而若真的有人值得你这样做，他也决不会让你哭泣。
    世间失去一个人最痛苦的方式，莫过于他在你身旁，却犹如远在天边。
    即便伤心，也不要愁眉不展，因为你无从知道谁会迷恋上你的笑容。
    对于世界而言，或许你只是一个人；但是对于某人而言，你可能就是他的整个世界。
    不要为与你无缘的人浪费宝贵的时间。
    如果爱你的人没有用你所期望的方式来爱你，那并不代表着他没有对你全身心地投入。
    不要将自己逼得太紧，你的心愿总会在你不经意时达成。
    在你得到真爱之前，上天也许会让你先遇到别的人，这样，当你最终获得真爱之时，便会心存感激。不要因为结束而哭泣，要为曾经拥有过而微笑。（未完待续）

 第51章 生活之路

    the road of life
    生活之路
    anonymous/佚名
    the lives of most men are determined by their enviroment.they accept the circumstances amid which fate has thrown them not only resignation but even with good will.they are like streetcars running contendedly on their rails and they despise the sprightly flitter that dashes in and out of the traffic and speeds so jauntily across the open country .i respct them；they are good citizens，good husbands，and good fathers ，and of course somebody has to pay the taxes；but i do not find them exciting.i am fasinated by the men，few enough in all conscience ，who take life in their own hands and seem to mould it in to their own liking.it may be that we have no such thing as free will，but at all events，we have the illusion of it.at a cross-road it does seem to us that we might go either to the right or to the left and ，the choice once made，it is difficult to see that the whole course of the world‘s history obliged us to take the turning we did.
    大多数人的生活被他们身处的环境所决定。他们不仅接受既定的命运，而且顺从命运的安排。他们就像街上的电车一样，在他们既定的轨道上行驶，而对于那些不时出没于车水马龙间和欢快地奔驰在旷野上的廉价小汽车却不屑一顾。我尊重他们，他们是好公民、好丈夫和好父亲。当然，总得有些人来支付税收，但是，他们并没有令人激动的地方。另外有一些人，他把生活掌握在自己的手里，可以按照自己的喜好去创造生活，尽管这样的人少之又少，但我却被他们深深的吸引着。可能世界上并没有诸如自由意志这样的事情，但是无论怎样，我们总有关于自由意志的幻想。当我们处在一个十字路口时，我们似乎可以决定向左走还是向右走，可是一旦做出选择，我们却很难意识到，实际上是世界历史的全部进程强迫我们做出了那样的选择。（未完待续）

 第52章 华盛顿致妻子的信

    george washington to his wife
    华盛顿致妻子的信
    anonymous/佚名
    you may believe me，when i assure you in the most solemn manner that，so far from seeking this employment，i have used every effort in my power to avoid it，not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family，but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity；and i should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home that i have the most distant prospect of finding abroad；if my stay were to be seven times seven years.but as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service，i shall hope that has my undertaking it is designed to answer some good purpose…i shall rely confidently on that providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me，not doubting but that i shall return safe to you in the fall.i shall feel no pain from the toil or danger of the campaign；my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness i know you will feel from being left alone.i therefore beg that you will summon your whole fortitude，and pass your times agreeably as possible.nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this，and to hear it from your own pen.
    ——george washington
    当我以最庄严的方式向您保证时，希望您能相信我，我并没有去谋求这个职位；相反，我始终竭尽全力去回避这个职位。这不仅因为我自觉难以胜任；恐怕我在异乡待上七七四十九年所寻求的快乐也比不上你我在家相守一个月所享受的快乐。可是，既然被委以重任是命中注定了的是，我只求接受这一重任是为了实现崇高的目的……我祈求一直庇护着我的上帝，能够让我在今秋安然无恙地回到你身边。我不会因军营之中的种种磨练和危险而感到痛苦，可是当我想到你独资一人在家为我感到不安的时候却常常忧心忡忡。正因如此，我希望你能够鼓足勇气，坚强地面对生活，要尽可能让自己快乐起来。如果能够收到你的亲笔来信，告诉我一切都好，那将是最令我感到安慰的事情。
    ——乔治·华盛顿（未完待续）

 第53章 论青年与老年

    of youth and age
    论青年与老年
    francis bacon/弗朗西斯·培根
    a man that is young in years，may be old in hours，if he have lost no time.but that happened rarely.generally，youth is like the first cogitations，not so wise as the second.for there is a youth in thoughts，as well as in ages.
    and yet the invention of young men，is more lively than that of old；and imaginations stream into their minds better，and，as it were，more divinely.natures that have much heat，and great and violent desires and perturbations，are not ripe for action，fill they have passed the meridian of their years；as it was with julius caesar and septimius severus ...
    young men are fitter to invent，than to judge；fitter for execution，than for counsel；and fitter for new projects，than for settled business.for the experience of age，in things that fall within the compass of it，directeth them；but in new things，abuseth them.
    一个人假使不曾虚度生活，年岁不大也可以表现得成熟老练，只不过这种情况少有发生罢了。深思未必出自风霜，岁月同样可见年轻，可一般的青年毕竟谋划不过长辈，智慧也不及他们少年老成的同龄人。
    但青年的创造性是更为丰富的，想像力也如涌泉一样奔放灵活，这似乎更得益于神助。天性刚烈、心怀热望、情绪敏感的人不历经中年，行事总是青涩，恺撒和塞维拉斯即为例证……青年擅长创造却缺乏判断，擅长行动却缺乏商讨，擅长革新却缺乏对经验的借鉴。日积月累的经验可以引导他们掌握旧事物，但也会遮盖他们看见新事物的视线。
    the errors of young men，are the ruin of business；but the errors of aged men，amount but to this，that more might have been done，or sooner.young men，in the conduct and manage of actions，embrace more than they can hold；stir more than they can quiet；fly to the end，without consideration of the means and degrees；pursue some few principles，which they have chanced upon absurdly care not to innovate，which draws unknown inconveniences；use extreme remedies at first；and，that which doubleth all errors，will not acknowledge or retract them；like an unready horse，that will neither stop nor turn.men of age object too much，consult too long，adventure too little，repent too soon，and seldom drive business home to the full period，but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.certainly it is good to compound employments of both；for that will be good for the present.because the virtues of either age，may correct the defects of both；and good for succession，that young men may be learners，while men in age are actors；and，lastly，good for extern accidents，because authority followeth old men，and favor and popularity，youth.but for the moral part，perhaps youth will have the preeminence，as age hath for the politic.
    青年人犯错往往毁坏大局，而老年人的错则是迈步太小或行动太缓。无论谋事还是操行，青年都婺远喜功，基调高，动幅大，好走极端；他们藐视前例，目空一切，革新的勇气绰绰有余，而欠方式和分寸上的考虑，结果反而招致意外的麻烦。他们有如不羁的野马，行事极端而不自知自救，一旦开蹄犯错，就泻至千里，不可复回。老年人呢，他们顾忌太多，议论过长，宁求安稳，不愿冒险，总是满足于平平成绩而不向往极至的辉煌。毫无疑问，最好是将两者特点结合。就现在来说，青年和老年可以互相取长补短。就发展来说，老年人是主事者，而青年可以学习取经。最后就社会来说，老年人以权威之姿指引方向，青年人则能振奋民心、鼓舞士气。但如果从政治上讲，老人的阅历是珍贵的，那么，青年人的纯真则在人性中熠熠闪光。（未完待续）

 第54章 论人间荣誉之飘渺

    on the instability
    论人间荣誉之飘渺
    daniel defoe/丹尼尔·笛福
    what then is the work of life？what the business of great men，that pass the stage of the world in seeming triumph as these men we call heroes have done？is it to grow great in the mouth of fame and take up so many pages in history？alas！that is no more than making a tale for the reading of posterity till it turns into fable and romance.is it to furnish subjects to the poets，and live in their immortal rhymes as they call them？that is，in short，no more than to be hereafter turned into ballad and song and be sung by old women to quiet children，or at the corner of the street to gather crowds in aid of the pickpocket and the poor.or is their business rather to add virtue and piety to their glory，which alone will pass them into eternity and make them truly immortal？what is glory without virtue？a great man without religion is no more than a great beast without a soul.what is honour without merit？and what can be called true merit but that which makes a person be a good man as well as a great man？
    人生的工作是什么？那些伟大人物们，被我们称作英雄的人们，他们得意洋洋地走过了世界的舞台又做了些什么呢？难道就是要在众口喧称中变得伟大，还要在历史上占据许多篇章吗？唉！那只不过是编一个故事，供后人阅读，直到它变成了神话或传奇罢了。难道就是要供给诗人们以吟咏的题材，生活在他们那些所谓不朽的诗篇之中吗？说起来那只不过是在将来变为歌谣，由老奶奶唱给凝神静听的孩子，或由卖唱的在街角唱出，以吸引大批的听众，使扒手和穷人多了一个谋生机会而已。他们所应做的事情，是不是要为自己的荣耀添加上美德和虔诚呢？只有这两样东西才可以使他们进入永生，真正不朽！如果没有美德，荣耀又算什么呢？一个没有宗教信仰的伟人，和一只没有灵魂的巨兽又有什么区别。如果没有价值存在，荣誉又算什么呢？被称作真正有价值的东西，除了那种不仅把一个人造就成伟人，并且使他具有好人的本质之外，还有什么呢？（未完待续）

 第55章 论自私者的聪明

    of wisdom for a man’s self
    论自私者的聪明
    francis bacon/弗朗西斯·培根
    an ant is a wise creature for itself，but it is a shrewd thing in an orchard or garden.and certainly men that are great lovers of themselves waste the public.divide with reason between selflove and society；and be so true to thyself，as thou be not false to others；specially to thy king and country.it is a poor centre of a man‘s actions，himself.it is right earth.for that only stands fast upon his own centre；whereas all things that have affinity with the heavens，move upon the centre of another，which they benefit.the referring of all to a man’s self is more tolerable in a sovereign prince；because themselves are not only themselves，but their good and evil is at the peril of the public fortune.but it is a desperate evil in a servant to a prince，or a citizen in a republic.for whatsoever affairs pass such a man‘s hands，he crooketh them to his own ends；which must needs to be often eccentric to the ends of his master or state.therefore let princes，or states，choose such servants as have not this mark；except they mean their service should be made but the accessory.
    that which maketh the effect more pernicious is that all proportion is lost.it were disproportion enough for the servant’s good to be preferred before the master‘s；but yet it is a greater extreme，when a little good of the servant shall carry things against a great good of the master’s.and yet that is the case of bad officers，treasurers，ambassadors，generals，and other false and corrupt servants；which set a bias upon their bowl，of their own petty ends and envies，to the overthrow of their master‘s great and important affairs.
    蚂蚁本是聪明灵巧的小动物，却也是果园菜圃里的害虫。因而十分自恋的人确有可能会损害公众。用理智将自爱与爱人区分开吧！忠实于己，不要欺骗别人；尤其不要欺君叛国。人类行为卑劣的中心，就是自我。正如地球，它只以自我为中心。而与日月五行亲近的东西，也就有其他的中心，并从中得利。凡事从自我出发，君主这样做倒是可以容忍，因为君王是一己之主，且他们的祸福关系着公众的福祉。但臣仆之于君主，人民之于国家也是这样的话，就罪过之极了，因为任何事一经此种人的手，他都要为一己之私服务，经常背离君主、君国的目标行事。所以君王、国家从来都不会挑选有这种弊病的奴仆，除非他们认为所需要的服务无关紧要。更糟的是，当比例失调时，奴仆利益优先于主人，已经有失体统了；而如果奴仆的微薄私利牵制影响了主人的利益，就更是无法无天了。然而，卑劣的军官、会计、使者和将军等贪官污吏之事，使球偏离轨道，他们为了自己的微利，出于妒忌，将主人的宏绩伟业毁于一旦。
    and for the most part，the good such servants receive is after the model of their own fortune；but the hurt they sell for that good is after the model of their master’s fortune.and certainly it is the nature of extreme self-lovers，as they will set an house on fire，and it were but to roast their eggs；and yet these men many times hold credit with their masters，because their study is but to please them and profit themselves；and for either respect they will abandon the good of their affairs.
    多数情况下，这种人所获的好处无济于他们的幸运，可为了那微利所作出的出卖行为带来的灾害却与主人的洪福差不多。自恋者会为了烤熟鸡蛋而放火烧屋，这当然是他们的本性使然。然而，这些家伙往往能取信于主人，因为他们所擅长的就是溜须拍马、谋求私利，不论是为了讨好主人，还是为了谋取私利，他们都会把正义之事的利益抛弃。
    wisdom for a man‘s self is，in many branches thereof，a depraved thing.it is the wisdom of rats，that will be sure to leave a house somewhat before it fall.it is the wisdom of the fox，that thrusts out the badger，who digged and made room for him.it is the wisdom of crocodiles，that shed tears when they would devour.but that which is specially to be noted is，that those which （as cicero says of pom-pey）are sui amantes，sine rivali，are many times unfortunate.and whereas they have all their time sacrificed to themselves，they become in the end them-selves sacrifices to the inconstancy of fortune；whose wings they thought by their self-wisdom to have pinioned.
    自私者的聪明，在许多方面都犯下罪恶。房屋轰塌前一定要逃生，那是老鼠的机智；把小动物从它们挖好了的栖身之处驱逐出来，鸠占鹊巢，那是狐狸的狡猾；边吞食边落泪，那是鳄鱼的阴险。尤其要指出的是，“有己为人”（西塞罗告诉庞培语），往往倒霉。即使耗尽毕生的精力为自己牟利，最终还是要被无常的命运收拾掉；而他们还自忖，以自私者的明智，足以能束缚住生命的翅膀呢。（未完待续）

 第56章 论自立

    essay i self-reliance
    论自立
    emerson/爱默生
    there is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance；that imitation is suicide；that he must take himself for better，for worse，as his portion；that though the wide universe is full of good，no kerne of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed onthat plot of ground which is given to him to till.the power which resides in him is new in nature，and none but he knows what that is which he can do，nor does he know until he has tried.not for nothing one face，one character，one fact，makes much impression on him，and another none.this sculpture in the memory is not without preestablished harmony.the eye was placed where one ray should fall，that it might testify of that particular ray.we but half express ourselves，and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents.it may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues，so it be faithfully imparted，but god will not have his work made manifest by cowards.a man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best；but what he has said or done otherwise，shall give him no peace.it is a deliverance which does not deliver.in the attempt his genius deserts him；no muse befriends；no invention，no hope.
    每个人在求知的过程中都会有一段时期，坚信这样的道理：嫉妒即是无知的表现，仿效他人就等同于自毁前程；思想由心而生，无论会将其引至更好或更坏的境地，都将成为其人生不可或缺的一部分；虽然广阔的宇宙不乏美事，但不经过辛勤的劳作，就想等着玉米大获丰收是根本不可能的事情。隐藏在一个人身上的潜能是怎样的，完全取决于自身的天赋，那是一种全新的力量，除非他本人将自身的长处展现出来，否则，不会有人知道他究竟能有怎样的成就，而且不经过一番尝试，就连他自己也无法弄清自己究竟有什么本领。也许一张面孔、一个人、一件事情会在他的脑海中留下深刻的印象，但别人却丝毫不曾留意。记忆的雕塑一定蕴涵着一种预定的和谐。只有把目光投向光线可能出现的地方，才有可能察觉到光线的到来。我们常常不能充分地表达自己的思想，而且对自己内心深处的真理羞于开口。事实上，也许我们的思想恰好完全合情合理，甚至堪称至理名言。因此，我们应该毫无顾忌地直抒胸臆。不过，上帝绝不会让一个懦夫来表达他的意志。当一个人做事时能够竭尽所能，力求做到最好时，就能够得到真正的宽慰与欢乐，否则，他将永远得不到内心的平静，也无法得到灵魂的解脱。最终，他的天赋会弃他而去，灵感也不再眷顾于他，创造力与希望也同样会一去不复返。
    beauty，convenience，grandeur of thought，and quaint expression are as near to us as to any.
    insist on yourself；never imitate.your own girl you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life‘s cultivation；but of the adopted talent of another，you have only an extemporaneous8，half possession.that which each can do best，none but his maker can teach him.no man yet knows what it is，nor can，till that person has exhibited it.where is the master who could have taught shakspeare？where is the master who could have instructed franklin，or washington，or bacon，or newton？every great man is a unique.the scipionism of scipio is precisely that part he could not borrow.shakspeare will never be made by the study of shakspeare.do that which is assigned you，and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.there is at this moment for you an utterance brave and grand as that of the colossal chisel of phidias，or trowel of the egyptians，or the pen of moses，or dante，but different from all these.not possibly will the soul all rich，all eloquent，with thousand-cloven tongue，deign to repeat itself；but if you can hear what these patriarchs say，surely you can re-ply to them in the same pitch of voice；for the ear and the tongue are two organs of one nature.abide in the simple and noble regions of your life，obey thy heart，and thou shalt reproduce the foreworld again.
    与任何一种思想一样，那些美好的、有益的、伟大的，以及新奇的思想也同样存在于我们每个人的头脑中。
    坚守自己的思想，切忌模仿。一生的辛勤劳作所积蓄的力量，足以助你在每一刻都能将自己的天赋以最完美的方式展现出来。可是，如果你仅仅沿袭了他人的思想，那么它只会在你心中做短暂的停留，你永远也无法真正拥有它。一个人的长处，是造物主赋予的，除非他将自己所擅长的东西展现出来，否则不会有人知道他究竟有怎样的长处。莎士比亚的授业恩师是谁？又是哪位大师造就了富兰克林、华盛顿、培根，以及牛顿呢？每一个伟大人物都具有独一无二的特点。西庇阿的西庇阿主义是常人无法模仿的。对莎士比亚的研究无法造就另外一个莎士比亚。做好自己分内的事情，做人不要太过奢求。也不要贸然尝试。对于你，此刻就有一句箴言，无畏而恢弘，如同菲迪亚斯的巨凿、埃及人的泥铲、摩西或但丁的手笔，然而这一切却都不尽相同。心灵不可能丰富到没有任何缺陷，雄辩再精彩，多说也会出现重复的语句，但是。如果你能聆听前辈所言，就一定会以他们的说话方式来做出答复，因为耳朵与舌头是同一属性的两种器官。要做到身处质朴而又崇高的境界，遵循自己的思想，你就能再创历史。（未完待续）

 第57章 论宁静的心境

    on peace of mind
    论宁静的心境
    joshua loth liebman/约书·罗斯·李希曼
    “on my head pour only the sweet waters of serenity.give me the gift of the untroubled mind.”
    once，as a young man full of exuberant fancy，i undertook to draw up a catalogue of the acknowledged“goods”of life.as other men sometimes tabulate lists of properties they own or would like to own，i set down my inventory of earthly desirables：health，love，beauty，talent，power，riches，and fame.
    when my inventory was completed i proudly showed it to a wise elder who had been the mentor and spiritual model of my youth.perhaps i was trying to impress him with my precocious wisdom.anyway，i handed him the list.“this”，i told him confidently，“is the sum of mortal goods.could a man possess them all，he would be as a god.”
    只在我头上灌注宁静的蜜露。赐予我一片不受干扰的心境。
    曾经，当我是一个充满了丰富幻想的年轻人时，着手起草了一份被认为人生“幸福”的目录。就像别人有时会将他们所拥有或想拥有的财产列成表一样，我将世人希求之物列成表：健康、爱情、美丽、才智、权力、财富和荣誉。
    当我完成清单后，我自豪地将它交给一位睿智的长者，他曾是我少年时代的良师和精神楷模。或许我是想用此来加深他对我早熟智慧的印象。无论如何，我把单子递给了他。我充满自信地对他说：“这是人类幸福的总和。一个人若能拥有这些，就和神差不多了。”
    at the corners of my friend’s old eyes，i saw wrinkles of amusement gathering in a patient net.“an excellent list，”he said，pondering it thoughtfully.“well digested in contented and set down in not-unreasonable order.but it appears，my young friend，that you have omitted the most important element of all.you have forgotten the one ingredient，lacking which each possession becomes a hideous torment.”
    “and what，”i asked，peppering my voice with truculence，“is that missing ingredient ？”
    with a pencil stub he crossed out my entire schedule.then，having demolished my adolescent dream structure at a single stroke，he wrote down three syllables：peace of mind.“this is the gift that god reserves for his special proteges，”he said.
    “talent and beauty he gives to many.wealth is commonplace，fame not rare.but peace of mind--that is his final guerdon of approval，the fondest insignia of his love.he bestows it charily.most men are never blessed with it；others wait all their lives—yes，far into advanced age—for this gift to descend upon them.”
    在我朋友老迈的眼角处，我看到了感兴趣的皱纹，汇聚成一张耐心的网。他深思熟虑地说：“是一张出色的表单，内容整理详细，记录顺序也合理。但是，我的年轻朋友，好像你忽略了最重要的一个要素。你忘了那个要素，如果缺少了它，每项财产都会变成可怕的折磨。”
    我立即暴躁地逼问：“那么，我遗漏的这个要素是什么？”
    他用一小段铅笔划掉我的整张表格。在一拳击碎我的少年美梦之后，他写下三个单词：心之静，“这是上帝为他特别的子民保留的礼物。”他说道。
    他赐予许多人才能和美丽。财富是平凡的，名望也不稀有，但心灵的宁静才是他允诺的最终赏赐，是他爱的最佳象征。他施予它的时候很谨慎。多数人从未享受过，有些人则等待了一生——是的，一直到高龄，才等到赏赐降临他们身上。（未完待续）

 第58章 论美

    of beauty
    论美
    francis bacon/弗朗西斯·培根
    virtue is like a rich stone，best plain set；and surely virtue is best，in a body that is comely，though not of delicate features；and that hath rather dignity of presence，than beauty of aspect.
    neither is it almost seen，that very beautiful persons are otherwise of great virtue；as if nature were rather busy，not to err，than in labor to produce excellency.and therefore they prove accomplished，but not of great spirit；and study rather behavior，than virtue.but this holds not always：for augustus caesar，titus vespasianus，philip le belle of france，edward the fourth of england，alcibiades of athens，ismael the sophy of persia，were all high and great spirits；and yet the most beautiful men of their times.
    美德好比宝石，在朴素背景的衬托下反而会显得更加华丽。同样。一个打扮并不华贵，却端庄、严肃且具有高尚美德的人是令人肃然起敬的，这与所谓的外表美毫无关系。
    美貌的人并不见得在其他才能上也会显得出众，就仿佛天地在创造万事万物之时，只求无过，不求完美一样。因此，许多容貌出众的人往往一无所有。他们所追求的不过是外在的东西，而不是高尚的品德。但这种观点也并非绝对，比如罗马的奥古斯塔斯？凯撒、菲斯帕斯，法国俊美的菲利普，英王爱德华四世，雅典的阿尔西巴底斯，波斯王伊梅尔等。他们不但是品德高尚的人，而且。他们又是各自时期远近闻名的美男子。
    in beauty，that of favor，is more than that of color；and that of decent and gracious motion，more than that of favor.that is the best part of beauty，which a picture cannot express；no，nor the first sight of the life.there is no excellent beauty，that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.a man cannot tell whether apelles，or albert durer，were the more trifler；whereof the one，would make a personage by geometrical proportions；the other，by taking the best parts out of divers faces，to make one excellent.such personages，i think，would please nobody，but the painter that made them.not but i think a painter may make a better face than ever was；but he must do it by a kind of felicity （as a musician that maketh an excellent air in music），and not by rule.a man shall see faces，that if you examine them part by part，you shall find never a good；and yet altogether do well.
    就美而言，形体之美要胜于外貌之美，而端庄优雅的行为之美又胜于形体之美。最高境界的美是无法用图画表现出来的。也无法在生活中一眼看透。每种绝妙之美都有其独特之处。没有人可以告诉我们阿佩利斯与艾伯特？杜勒二人谁更玩世不恭，他们一个是按照几何比例描绘人像。另一个则通过选取不同人身上的最佳部位创造出最完美的画像。这些画坛名人画出来的画恐怕只会取悦他们自身，而其他人是不会喜欢的。我并非认为画家无法画出一张更加美丽的脸，只是觉得他们应该用一种更加巧妙的绘画方式来做到这一点（就如同音乐家创作出一曲优美的歌一样），而不是只凭借呆板的公式。我们常会看到这样的面孔，如果只是从局部加以观察，是找不到什么优点的，但作为一个整体却非常美丽。
    if it be true that the principal part of beauty is in decent motion，certainly it is no marvel，though persons in years seem many times more amiable；pulchrorum autumnus pulcher；for no youth can be comely but by pardon，and considering the youth，as to make up the comeliness.beauty is as summer fruits，which are easy to corrupt，and cannot last；and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth，and an age a little out of countenance；but yet certainly again，if it light well，it maketh virtue shine，and vices blush.
    如果美的主体的确存在于端庄的举止之间，那么有些人在年老的时候反而会显得更加可爱就不足为奇了。人们常说：“美丽的人，即便是到了暮年也是美丽的。”美就像盛夏里的果实，很难保持长久。它通常会使许多人在年轻的时候过着放荡不羁的生活，在年老的时候却悔恨不已。不过，毫无疑问，如果美能恰如其分地展现，那么就会使人们身上的美德昭然，恶行羞隐。（未完待续）

 第59章 论读书

    of studies
    论读书
    francis bacon/弗朗西斯·培根
    studies serve for delight，for ornament，and for ability.their chief use for delight，is in privateness and retiring；for ornament，is in discourse；and forability，is in the judgment，and disposition of business.for expert men can exe-cute，and perhaps judge of particulars，one by one；but the general counsels，and the plots and marshalling of affairs，come best，from those that are learned.to spend too much time in studies is sloth；to use them too much for ornament，is affectation；to make judgment wholly by their rules，is the humor of a scholar.they perfect nature，and are perfected by experience：for natural abilities are like natural plants，that need proyning，by study；and studies themselves，do give forth directions too much at large，except they be bounded in by experience.crafty men contemn studies，simple men admire them，and wise men use them；for they teach not their own use；but that is a wisdom without them，and above them，won by observation.read not to contradict and confute；nor to believe and take for granted；nor to find talk and discourse；but to weigh and consider.some books are to be tasted，others to be swallowed，and some few to be chewed and digested；that is，some books are to be read only in parts；others to be read，but not curiously；and some few to be read wholly，and with diligence and attention.some books also may be read by deputy，and extracts made of them bothers；but that would be only in the less important arguments，and the meaner sort of books，else distilled books are like common distilled waters，flashy things.
    读书足以怡情，足以博彩，足以长才。其怡情也，最见于独处幽居之时；其傅彩也，最见于高谈阔论之中；其长才也，最见于处世判事之际。练达之士虽能分别处理细事或一一判别枝节，然纵观统筹、全局策划，则舍好学深思者莫属。读书费时过多易惰，文采藻饰太盛则矫，全凭条文断事乃学究故态。读书补天然之不足，经验又补读书之不足，盖天生才干犹如自然花草，读书然后知如何修剪移接；而书中所示，如不以经验范之，则又大而无当。有一技之长者鄙读书，无知者羡读书，唯明智之士用读书，然书并不以用处告人，用书之智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。读书时不可存心诘难作者，不可尽信书上所言，亦不可只为寻章摘句，而应推敲细思。书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。换言之，有只须读其部分者，有只须大体涉猎者，少数则须全读，读时须全神贯注，孜孜不倦。书亦可请人代读，取其所作摘要，但只限题材较次或价值不高者，否则书经提炼犹如水经蒸馏、淡而无味矣。
    reading makes a full man；conference a ready man；and writing an exact man.and therefore，if a man write little，he had need have a great memory；if he confer little，he had need have a present wit：and if he read little，he had need have much cunning，to seem to know，that he doth not.histories make men wise；poets witty；the mathematics subtitle；natural philosophy deep；moral grave；logic and rhetoric able to contend.nay，there is no stand or impediment in thewit，but may be wrought out by fit studies；like as diseases of the body，may have appropriate exercises.bowling is good for the stone and reins；shooting for the lungs and breast；gentle walking for the stomach；riding for the head；and the like.so if a man‘s wit be wandering，let him study the mathematics；for in demonstrations，if his wit be called away never so little，he must begin again.if his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences，let him study the schoolmen；for they are cymini sectors.if he be not apt to beat over matters，and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another，let him study the lawyers’cases.so every defect of the mind，may have a special receipt.
    读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。因此不常作笔记者须记忆特强，不常讨论者须天生聪颖，不常读书者须欺世有术，始能无知而显有知。读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻，伦理学使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩：凡有所学，皆成性格。人之才智但有滞碍，无不可读适当之书使之顺畅，一如身体百病，皆可借相宜之运动除之。滚球利睾肾，射箭利胸肺，慢步利肠胃，骑术利头脑，诸如此类。如智力不集中，可令读数学，盖演题须全神贯注，稍有分散即须重演；如不能辨异，可令读经院哲学，盖是辈皆吹毛求疵之人；如不善求同，不善以一物阐证另一物，可令读律师之案卷。如此头脑中凡有缺陷，皆有特药可医。（未完待续）

 第60章 论毅力

    perseverance
    论毅力
    anonymous/佚名
    napoleon declared，“victory belongs to the most persevering.”upon careful study we find perseverance depends upon three things--purpose，will，and enthusiasm.he who has a purpose is always concentrating his forces.by the will，the hope and the plan are prevented from evaporating into dreams.enthusiasm keeps the interest up，and makes the obstacles seem small.
    life is in a sense a battle.the man who thinks to get on by mere smart-ness and by idling meets failure at last.perseverance is the master impulse of the firmest souls，and holds the key to those treasure--houses of knowledge from which the world has drawn its wealth both of wisdom and of moral worth.
    great men never wait for opportunities；they make them.they seize upon whatever is at hand，work out their problem，and master the situation.the greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given to him.this is success and there is no other.
    拿破仑主张：“胜利是属于最有毅力的人的。”根据精细的研究，我们发现毅力取决于三件事——目标、意志与热忱。有目标的人永远会集中他的力量；藉由意志，可使希望和计划不致于化为梦想；热忱则可以保持兴致盎然，并使阻碍显得渺小。
    就某种意义而言，生活是一种战斗。只想凭藉机智，无所事事就想出人头地的人，终会遭遇失败。毅力是信心坚定者的主要推动力，毅力也掌握了世人从中攫取智慧和道德价值的知识宝库之钥匙。
    伟人决不会等待机会，他们会制造机会。他们掌握手边任何一样东西，解决问题，并主宰形势。在这个世界上，一个人所能做出最伟大的事情，便是将所得资源发挥最大效用；这不是别的，这就是成功。
    one of the important lessons of life is to learn how to get victory out of de-feat.it takes courage and stamina，when mortified by humiliating disaster，to seek in the ruins the elements of future conquest.yet this measures the difference between those who succeed and those who fail.we cannot measure a man by his failures.we must know what use he makes of them.the man who has not fought his way upward and does not bear the scar of desperate conflict does not know the highest meaning of success.
    人生最重要的课程之一，是学习如何从失败中获胜。在受到令人羞耻的不幸时，我们需要勇气与毅力，从损失中探索未来致胜的要素；然而这样可以衡量出成功者与失败者之间的差别。我们不能以失败来衡量一个人，我们必须了解他如何运用失败。一个没有经过力争上游及遭受严酷战斗创伤的人，无法体会成功的最大意义。（未完待续）

 第61章 论招人讨厌的人

    on being a bore
    论招人讨厌的人
    robert lynd/罗伯特·林德
    the worst bores，i sometimes think，are those who love telling people the various routes from one place to another.i have never been more bored in my life than when listening to an old gentleman explaining to an old lady the several ways in which she might have come from notting hill gate to hampstead.she had complained of the time the journey had taken and immediately he was off on a long rigmarole consisting of the number of buses and the frames of streets and stations.he went on in a flat voice conducting her，as it seemed to me，through every street in west and north london.he told her of all the various places where she might have changed buses and named most of the public-houses on the way.in the end，it seemed to me，he was boring himself as well as the rest of us；but he dared not stop，i fancy，because he could think of nothing else to talk about.by the time he rose to go i was in a coma with words like camden high street，prince of wales road and britannia jostling each other in my brain.
    我有时觉得，最招人厌烦的人就是那种喜欢跟人讲从一个地方到另一地方有多少条路好走的人。我一生中感到最厌烦的一回，是听一位老先生向一位上年纪的女人讲解，她从诺丁山门回汉普斯特德可能走的全部街道。她向他抱怨说她走的那条路太费时间。于是，他一大串的絮絮叨叨便开了头，其中包括所有的公共汽车路线、街道名和站名。接下来，他用一种平铺直叙的语调指点给她整个西部和北部伦敦的每一条路。他告诉她所有可以换车方的地名，并且还为她一一详述一路上所有的酒店名称。最后我感觉到，他好像把他自己也弄烦了，至于我们这些人就更不用说了；但他还是不敢把话停下来，想来或许因为他再没有别的什么好谈了。等到最后他起身走开时，我早已陷入昏迷状态，什么卡门敦大街、威尔士亲王路以及不列颠街等等之类街名在我的脑海中不断碰撞，乱作一团。
    another boring form of conversation is that of the man who，when talking politics，trots out all the old threadbare arguments with the air of a person using them for the first time.i have been a bore of this kind myself.as a boy i was blind enough to regard mr.gladstone‘s proposal of home rule for ireland as both dangerous and wicked，and，whenever i met a great friend of mine who was a home ruler，i would drag the conversation round to the great theme.
    i shouted the wildest nonsense into his ear as i walked beside him in the streets，telling him with blazing eyes of all the good england had done to ireland and yelling all the usual musty quotations from the pre-home-rule gladstone and sir william harcourt.not once did i use an original argument，for i knew none.i was merely an infuriated parrot，speaking out of the richest store of ignorance conceivable.signs of distress on his patient face could not stop me；but one day，driven beyond endurance，he turned to me with a slight flush and said quietly，“my god，what a bore you are！”now no one likes to be thought a bore，and it is difficult to go on arguing with a man who tells you that you are boring him.to realize that one is boring somebody is to become a pricked balloon.i certainly did.la roche-foucauld tells us that“we can forgive those who bore us，but we cannot forgive those whom we bore，”yet，after the first moment of shock，i never liked my friend the less for his candour.since then i must have bored many people；but outside the family circle no one has since told me that i was boring them.i have to study the expression on their faces to know...
    另外一种使人厌烦的谈话方式是这样一种人的谈话方式，这种人一谈起政治来，就把所有陈词滥调全都抖搂出来，那神情活像他是第一次使用这些语句。我自己就一向是这类讨人厌烦的人。年轻的时候，我因为认识不清，曾误以为格莱斯顿先生的爱尔兰自治提案是危险和有害的，于是每次遇见我那位倡议地方自治的好朋友时，我总爱把话题扯到那个大问题上去。路上并肩走着的时候，我便往他的耳朵里塞那些荒唐的糊涂话，目光炯炯地为他讲述英国历来对爱尔兰的全部德政，并向他大声疾呼那些从自治之前的格莱斯顿以及威廉？哈考特爵士那里引来的尽人皆知的陈词滥调。我从来没有发表过一点新鲜的议论，因为我对那些一无所知。我像一只被激怒了的鹦鹉，只知道重复一大堆可以想到的愚昧无知的话语。就连他那张很有耐性的脸孔上的痛苦表情也不能让我停止。但是有一天，他实在忍无可忍，突然脸一红，冲着我冷冷来了句：“我的天，你真是个够讨厌的人。”当然，谁也不愿意被人当成讨厌的人，而对一个当面说你讨厌的人，你便很难继续再和他辩论下去了。当我们了解到自己在招人厌烦时，我们就像泄气的气球。我当时的情况就是这样。拉？罗什富科曾说过：“我们能原谅那些使我们感到厌烦的人，但不能原谅感到我们厌烦的人。”不过震动一过，我倒没有因为友人的坦率而减少了对他的友情。从那次以后我肯定还曾经招不少人厌烦过；但是除了家里人之外，倒一直还没有人向我讲过我令他们厌烦。我得认真研究别人的面部表情才能知道我是否在招他们厌烦……青春的飞逝the flight of youth青春的飞逝richard henry stoddard/理查德·亨·斯托达德there are gains for all our losses.
    there are balms for all our pain：
    but when youth，the dream，departs
    it takes something from our hearts，
    and it never comes again.
    we are stronger，and are better，
    under manhood’s sterner reign：
    still we feel that something sweet
    followed youth，with flying feet，
    and will never come again.
    something beautiful is vanished，
    and we sigh for it in vain；
    we behold it everywhere，
    on the earth，and in the air，
    but it never comes again！
    我们失去的一切都能得到补偿，
    我们所有的痛苦都能得到安慰；
    可是梦境似的青春一旦消逝，
    它带走了我们心中某种美好的事物，
    从此一去不复返回。
    严峻的成年生活将我们驱使，
    我们变得日益刚强、更臻完美；
    可是依然感到某种甜美的东西，
    已随着青春飞逝，
    永不再返回。
    美好的东西已经消失，
    我们枉自为此叹息；
    虽然在天地之间，
    我们到处能看见青春的魅力，
    可是它永不再返回！
    告诉我爱的真相
    tell me the truth of love
    告诉我爱的真相
    anonymous/佚名
    some say that love‘s a little boy，
    and some say it’s a bird，
    some say it makes the world go round，
    and some say it makes that‘s absurd，
    and when i asked the man next-door，
    who looked as if he knew，
    his wife got very cross indeed，
    and said it wouldn’t do.
    有人说爱情是个小男孩，
    也有人说像只小鸟；
    有人说它令世界运行，
    也有人说那是荒谬。
    当我去询问邻居的男子，
    他仿佛对爱情了然，
    而他的妻子怒火填膺，
    说那并无可能。
    does it look like a pair of pyjamas
    or the ham in a temperance hotel
    does its odor remind one of llamas
    or has it a comforting smell？
    is it quickly to touch as a hedge is，
    or soft as eiderdown fluff？
    is it sharp or quite smooth at the edges？
    oh tell me the truth about love.
    爱情看起来像一条睡裤，
    还是像无酒旅馆的火腿？
    它闻起来是骆驼的气味，
    还是芬芳而温馨？
    它摸起来是犹如多刺的树篱。
    还是柔软若鸭绒？
    它的棱角是凌厉还是光滑？
    哦，告诉我爱情的真相吧。
    when it comes，will it come without warningjust as i‘m picking my nose？
    will its knock on my door in he morning，or tread in he bus on my toes？
    will it come like a change in the weatherwill its greeting be courteous or rough？
    will it alter my life altogether？
    oh tell me the truth about love
    爱情的来临是否悄无预告，
    像我挖鼻子那样吗？
    它是否会在早晨敲响我的门，
    还是会给我一脚踩到公共汽车里？
    它的到来会不会像季候的变化？
    它的问候是谦恭抑或粗鲁？
    它会让我的生活天翻地覆吗？
    哦，告诉我爱情的真相吧。（未完待续）

 第62章 像太阳一样照耀

    shine like the sun
    像太阳一样照耀
    anonymous/佚名
    we all know that
    no matter how many clouds
    get in the way，
    the sun keeps on shining.
    no matter how many times its rays
    are blocked from our view，
    the sun will reappear on another day
    to shine more brilliantly than before.
    it takes determination
    to outlast those dark clouds
    that sometimes enter your life，
    and patience to keep on shining
    no matter what gets in your way.
    but it all pays off eventually.
    one of these days
    when you least expect it，
    you’ll overcome your difficulties，
    because you and the sun
    have a lot in common：
    you are both going to shine
    no matter what！
    我们都知道，
    无论乌云怎样密布，
    太阳依然照耀。
    无论有多少次，
    我们看不到太阳的光芒，
    太阳总会再现，
    阳光更加灿烂。
    有时候，
    乌云会侵入你的生活，
    你需要决心和耐心来驱散乌云，
    让阳光继续照耀，
    无论怎样阻碍重重。
    付出终究会有回报。
    在某一天，
    你最不经意的时候，
    你会克服困难，
    因为你和太阳有许多的共性：
    无论怎样都会闪耀发光。（未完待续）

 第63章 这些美好不会消逝

    these things shall never die
    这些美好不会消逝
    charles dickens/查尔斯·狄更斯
    the pure，the bright，the beautiful，
    that stirred our hearts in youth，
    the impulses to wordless prayer，
    the dreams of love and truth；
    the longing after something‘s lost，
    the spirit’s yearning cry，
    the striving after better hopes—
    these things can never die.
    the timid hand stretched forth to aid
    a brother in his need，
    a kindly word in grief‘s dark hour
    that proves a friend indeed；
    the plea for mercy softly breathed，
    when justice threatens nigh，
    the sorrow of a contrite heart
    these things shall never die.
    let nothing pass for every hand
    must find some work to do；
    lose not a chance to waken love—
    be firm，and just，and true：
    so shall a light that cannot fade
    beam on thee from on high.
    and angel voices say to thee
    these things shall never die.
    一切纯洁的、辉煌的、美丽的，强烈地震撼着我们年轻的心灵，推动着我们做无言的祷告，让我们梦想着爱与真理；在失去后感到珍惜的，使灵魂深切地呼喊着，为了更美好的梦想而奋斗着——这些美好不会消逝。
    羞怯地伸出援助的手，
    在你的弟兄需要的时候，伤痛、困难的时候，一句亲切的话就足以证明朋友的真心；轻声地乞求怜悯，在审判临近的时候，懊悔的心有一种伤感——这些美好不会消逝。
    在人间传递温情，
    尽你所能地去做；别错失了唤醒爱的良机——为人要坚定，正直，忠诚：因此上方照耀着你的那道光芒就不会消失。你将听到天使的声音在说——这些美好不会消逝。（未完待续）

 第64章 朋友和永远的朋友

    friends and friends forever
    朋友和永远的朋友
    nancy hoback/南希·霍巴克
    a friend is a friend forever，
    they’ll ignite a flame of love，
    and set your heart aglow，
    and light up your life，
    from your head down to your toe.
    a faithful friend is always there，
    to lend a helping hand，
    they‘ll be there to defend your honor
    and take a firm or gentle stand，
    when you least expect it，
    they may drop in to say，
    “hello，how have you been？
    i love you with all my heart，
    my true and special friend.”
    a friend will add beauty to your life，
    like a sweet scented flower.
    a good conversation may last into the night，or for many，many，hours，they will take time to stop and listen，when your life is in doubt，that’s what a good friend‘s love is all about.
    真正的朋友是永远的朋友。
    他们会激起友情的火花，
    温暖你的心房，点亮你的生活，把你从头到脚照亮。
    忠实的朋友总是会及时出现，向你伸出援助之手。
    他们总会处处为你维护声誉，
    他们的立场要么温和，要么坚定。
    在你最不经意的时候，
    他们会突然光临而只为对你说声，“喂，过得还好吗？我真心真意地关爱着你呢，你是我真正的挚友。”
    朋友就像芬芳怡人的鲜花，
    总会为你的生活增光添彩。
    愉快的交谈持续到深夜，
    或者持续多时仍然不能尽兴。
    他们会找时间驻足聆听你诉说，
    你生活中的忧虑烦恼。
    这便是对友谊最好的诠释。（未完待续）

 第65章 歌

    song
    歌
    christina georgia rossetti/克里斯蒂娜·乔治娜·罗塞蒂
    when i am dead，my dearest，
    sing no sad songs for me；
    plant thou no roses at my head，
    nor shady cypress tree：
    be the green grass above me
    with showers and dewdrops wet；
    and if thou wilt，remember，
    and if thou wilt，forget.
    i shall not see the shadows，
    i shall not feel the rain；
    i shall not hear the nightingale
    sing on，as if in pain；
    and dreaming through the twilight
    that doth not rise nor set，
    haply i may remember，
    and haply may forget.
    当我死后，我最亲爱的，
    别为我唱悲伤的歌曲；
    别在我坟头栽种蔷薇，
    或是遮蔽阳光的柏枝：
    就让坟上青青的小草
    被阵雨和露珠儿浸湿；
    如果你愿意，请将我记住，
    如果你愿意，请将我忘记。
    我再也看不见树木的阴影，
    感觉不到淅沥的小雨；
    我再也听不见夜莺的歌唱
    像痛苦催发出的悲啼；
    我将在冥冥之中长梦
    幕帐不再为我降下升起；
    也许，我会记住，
    也许，我会忘记。（未完待续）

 第66章 世界上最遥远的距离

    the furthest distance in the world
    世界上最遥远的距离
    tagore/泰戈尔
    the furthest distance in the world
    is not between life and death
    but when i stand in front of you
    yet you don’t know that i love you
    the furthest distance in the world
    is not when i stand in front of you
    yet you can‘t see my love
    but when undoubtedly knowing the love from bothyet cannot be togetherthe furthest distance in the worldis not being apart while being in lovebut when painly cannot resist the yearningyet pretending you have never been in my heartthe furthest distance in the worldis not but using one’s indifferent heartto dig an uncrossable riverfor the one who loves you.
    世界上最遥远的距离不是生与死
    而是我就站在你面前
    你却不知道我爱你
    世界上最遥远的距离
    不是我就站在你面前
    你却不知道我爱你
    而是明明知道彼此相爱
    却不能在一起
    世界上最遥远的距离
    不是明明知道彼此相爱却不能在一起
    而是明明无法抵挡这股思念
    却还得故意装作丝毫没有把你放在心里
    世界上最遥远的距离
    不是明明无法抵挡这股思念却还得故意装作丝毫没有把你放在心里而是用自己冷漠的心对爱你的人掘了一条无法跨越的沟渠（未完待续）