小女孩穿肉色短袜子:听说学英语必须熟读甚至背诵一些能够千古流传的经典作品（五）

XVIII.

Shall I compare thee¹ to a summer's day?
Thou art² more lovely and more temperate³:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease⁴ hath⁵ all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion⁶ dimm'd⁷;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd⁸;
But thy eternal⁹ summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession¹⁰ of that fair thou owest¹¹;
Nor shall Death brag¹² thou wander'st¹³ in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
 So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
 So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

[注释]

1、thee: <古>(thou的宾格)你 2、thou art: [古、诗]be的第二人称、单数、现在时=you are  3、temperate: 温婉的  4、lease: 出赁的期限  5、hath: <废>have的第三人称单数现在式  6、complexion: 肤色（尤指面部肤色）； 外观  7、dimm’d: <古>dimmed 使暗淡  8、untrimm’d: <古> untrimmed 未修饰的  9、eternal: 永恒的  10、possession: 拥有  11、owest: <古> owe  12、brag: 自夸 13、wnader’st: <古> wander

我怎么能够把你来比作夏天？
你不独比它可爱也比它温婉：
狂风把五月宠爱的嫩蕊作践，
夏天出赁的期限又未免太短：
天上的眼睛有时照得太酷烈，
它那炳耀的金颜又常遭掩蔽：
被机缘或无常的天道所摧折，
没有芳艳不终于雕残或销毁。
但是你的长夏永远不会雕落，
也不会损失你这皎洁的红芳，
或死神夸口你在他影里漂泊，
当你在不朽的诗里与时同长。
只要一天有人类，或人有眼睛，
这诗将长存，并且赐给你生命。

22．Martin Luther King 1929—1968

I Have a Dream

  [导读]  马丁·路德·金(Martin Luther King 1929—1968)，美国黑人解放运动的著名领袖，1963年8月23日，马丁·路德·金组织了美国历史上影响深远的“自由进军”运动。他率领一支庞大的游行队伍向首都华盛顿进军，为全美国的黑人争取人权自由平等和就业。8月28日，美国首都华盛顿举行大规模的黑人集会，他在林肯纪念堂前向25万人发表了著名的演说《我有一个梦想》，为反对种族歧视、争取平等发出呼号。马丁·路德·金1964年获诺贝尔和平奖。1968年4月4日他在田纳西州被暗杀。
    I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
    Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic¹ shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation². This momentous³ decree⁴ came as a great beacon⁵ light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared⁶ in the flames of withering⁷ injustice⁸. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity⁹.
    But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled¹⁰ by the manacles¹¹ of segregation¹² and the chains of discrimination¹³. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity¹⁴. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished¹⁵ in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile¹⁶ in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize¹⁷ a shameful condition.
    In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
    But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
   We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
    It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
    But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
   The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
   We cannot walk alone.
   And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.
   There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
   Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
   And so even though we 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, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
   I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering¹⁸ with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis¹⁹ of freedom and justice.
   I have a dream that my four 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.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's²⁰ lips are presently dripping²¹ with the words of interposition²² and nullification²³, will be transformed²⁴ into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted^25, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked²⁶ places will be made straight, and the glory²⁷ of the Lord shall be revealed²⁸, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. 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 discords²⁹ of our nation into a beautiful symphony³⁰ of brotherhood³¹. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail³² together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- 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 mountainside, let freedom ring!
  And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
    Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
    Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
    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 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.
  And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
    Free at last! free at last!
    Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

[注释]

1、symbolic: 象征的  2、the Emancipation Proclamation解放黑奴宣言

2、momentous：重大的 4、decree法令, 政令  5、beacon: 灯塔

6、sear: 烤焦, 使枯萎7、withering：使干枯的 8、injustice：不公平

9、captivity：囚禁  10、crippled：残废的  11、manacle：手铐, 脚镣

12、segregation：种族隔离  13、discrimination：歧视 14、prosperity：繁荣

15、languish：受折磨  16、exile：放逐  17、dramatize：戏剧地表现

18、sweltering：酷热的  19、oasis：(沙漠中)绿洲,舒适的地方 20、governor：统治者  21、drip: (使)滴下22、interposition: n. 异议23、nullification: 无效

24、transform: 改变25、exalt: 升高26、crooked: 弯曲的27、glory: 荣誉, 光荣28、reveal: 显示,透露29、jangling: 刺耳的30、discord：意见不合, 嘈杂声

31、symphony：交响乐, 交响曲32、brotherhood：手足情谊33、jail：监狱

[参考译文] 我有一个梦想

一百年前，一位伟大的美国人签署了解放黑奴宣言，今天我们就是在他的雕像前集会。这一庄严宣言犹如灯塔的光芒，给千百万在那摧残生命的不义之火中受煎熬的黑奴带来了希望。它之到来犹如欢乐的黎明，结束了束缚黑人的漫漫长夜。
     然而一百年后的今天，我们必须正视黑人还没有得到自由这一悲惨的事实。一百年后的今天，在种族隔离的镣铐和种族歧视的枷锁下，黑人的生活备受压榨。一百年后的今天，黑人仍生活在物质充裕的海洋中一个穷困的孤岛上。一百年后的今天，黑人仍然萎缩在美国社会的角落里，并且意识到自己是故土家园中的流亡者。今天我们在这里集会，就是要把这种骇人听闻的情况公诸于众。
     就某种意义而言，今天我们是为了要求兑现诺言而汇集到我们国家的首都来的。我们共和国的缔造者草拟宪法和独立宣言的气壮山河的词句时，曾向每一个美国人许下了诺言。他们承诺给予所有的人以生存、自由和追求幸福的不可剥夺的权利。
    就有色公民而论，美国显然没有实践她的诺言。美国没有履行这项神圣的义务，只是给黑人开了一张空头支票，支票上盖着「资金不足」的戳子后便退了回来。但是我们不相信正义的银行已经破产。我们不相信，在这个国家巨大的机会之库里已没有足够的储备。因此今天我们要求将支票兑现－－这张支票将给予我们宝贵的自由和正义的保障。
    我们来到这个圣地也是为了提醒美国，现在是非常急迫的时刻。现在决非侈谈冷静下来或服用渐进主义的镇静剂的时候。现在是实现民主的诺言的时候。现在是从种族隔离的荒凉阴暗的深谷攀登种族平等的光明大道的时候。现在是向上帝所有的儿女开放机会之门的时候。现在是把我们的国家从种族不平等的流沙中拯救出来，置于兄弟情谊的盘石上的时候。
    如果美国忽视时间的迫切性和低估黑人的决心，那么，这对美国来说，将是致命伤。自由和平等的爽朗秋天如不到来，黑人义愤填膺的酷暑就不会过去。一九六三年并不意味着斗争的结束，而是开始。有人希望，黑人只要消消气就会满足；如果国家安之若素，毫无反应，这些人必会大失所望的。黑人得不到公民的权利，美国就不可能有安宁或平静。正义的光明的一天不到来，叛乱的旋风就将继续动摇这个国家的基础。
    但是对于等候在正义之宫门口的心急如焚的人们，有些话我是必须说的。在争取合法地位的过程中，我们不要采取错误的做法。我们不要为了满足对自由的渴望而抱着敌对和仇恨之杯痛饮。我们斗争时必须求远举止得体，纪律严明。我们不能容许我们的具有崭新内容的抗议蜕变为暴力行动。我们要不断地升华到以精神力量对付物质力量的崇高境界中去。
    现在黑人社会充满着了不起的新的战斗精神，但是我们却不能因此而不信任所有的白人。因为我们的许多白人兄弟已经认识到，他们的命运与我们的命运是紧密相连的，他们今天参加游行集会就是明证。他们的自由与我们的自由是息息相关的。我们不能单独行动。
     我们行动时，我们必须保证向前进。我们不能倒退。现在有人问热心民权运动的人，「你们什么时候才能满足?」
    只要黑人仍然遭受警察难以形容的野蛮迫害，我们就绝不会满足。
    只要我们在外奔波而疲乏的身躯不能在公路旁的汽车旅馆和城里的旅馆找到住宿之所，我们就绝不会满足。
    只要黑人的基本活动范围只是从少数民族聚居的小贫民区转移到大贫民区，我们就绝不会满足。
    只要密西西比仍然有一个黑人不能参加选举，只要纽约有一个黑人认为他投票无济于事，我们就绝不会满足。
    不!我们现在并不满足，我们将来也不满足，除非正义和公正犹如江海之波涛，汹涌澎湃，滚滚而来。
    我并非没有注意到，参加今天集会的人中，有些受尽苦难和折磨；有些刚刚走出窄小的牢房；有些由于寻求自由，曾在居住地惨遭疯狂迫害的打击，并在警察暴行的旋风中摇摇欲坠。你们是人为痛苦的长期受难者。坚持下去吧，要坚决相信，忍受不应得的痛苦是一种赎罪。
     我们回到密西西比去，回到阿拉巴马去，回到南卡罗来纳去，回到乔治亚去，回到路易斯安那去，回到我们北方城市中的贫民区和少数民族居住区去，要心中有数，这种状况是能够也必将改变的。我们不要陷入绝望而不克自拔。
     友们，今天我对你们说，在此时此刻，我们虽然遭受种种困难和挫折，我仍然有一个梦想。这个梦想是深深扎根于美国的梦想中的。
    我梦想有一天，这个国家会站立起来，真正实现其信条的真谛：「我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等。」
    我梦想有一天，在乔治亚的红山上，昔日奴隶的儿子将能够和昔日奴隶主的儿子坐在一起，共叙兄弟情谊。
    我梦想有一天，甚至连密西西比州这个正义匿迹，压迫成风，如同沙漠般的地方，也将变成自由和正义的绿洲。
    我梦想有一天，我的四个孩子将在一个不是以他们的肤色，而是以他们的品格优劣来评价他们的国度里生活。
    我今天有一个梦想。
    我梦想有一天，亚拉巴马州能够有所转变，尽管该州州长现在仍然满口异议，反对联邦法令，但有朝一日，那里的黑人男孩和女孩将能与白人男孩和女孩情同骨肉，携手并进。
    我今天有一个梦想。
    我梦想有一天，幽谷上升，高山下降，坎坷曲折之路成坦途，圣光披露，满照人间。
    这就是我们的希望。我怀着这种信念回到南方。有了这个信念，我们将能从绝望之嶙劈出一块希望之石。有了这个信念，我们将能把这个国家刺耳争吵的声，改变成为一支洋溢手足之情的优美交响曲。
    有了这个信念，我们将能一起工作，一起祈祷，一起斗争，一起坐牢，一起维护自由；因为我们知道，终有一天，我们是会自由的。
     自由到来的那一天，上帝的所有儿女们将以新的含义高唱这支歌：「我的祖国，美丽的自由之乡，我为您歌唱。您是父辈逝去的地方，您是最初移民的骄傲，让自由之声响彻每个山岗。」
    如果美国要成为一个伟大的国家，这个梦想必须实现。让自由之声从新罕布什尔州的巍峨峰巅响起来!让自由之声从纽约州的崇山峻岭响起来？让自由之声从宾夕法尼亚州阿勒格尼山的顶峰响起来!
    让自由之声从科罗拉多州冰雪覆盖的洛基山响起来!让自由之声从加利福尼亚州蜿蜒的群峰响起来？不仅如此，还要让自由之声从乔治亚州的石嶙响起来？让自由之声从田纳西州的瞭望山响起来!
    让自由之声从密西西比的每一座丘陵响起来？让自由之声从每一片山坡响起来。
    当我们让自由之声响起来，让自由之声从每一个大小村庄、每一个州和每一个城市响起来时，我们将能够加速这一天的到来，那时，上帝的所有儿女，黑人和白人，犹太教徒和非犹太教徒，耶稣教徒和天主教徒，都将手携手，合唱一首古老的黑人灵歌：「终于自由啦!终于自由啦!感谢全能的上帝，我们终于自由啦!」

23．General Mac Arthur's Prayer for His Son

[导读]道格拉斯·麦克阿瑟(Douglas MacArthur)，美国陆军五星上将。出生于阿肯色州小石城的军人世家。1899年中学毕业后考入西点军校，1903年以名列第一的优异成绩毕业，到工程兵部队任职，并赴菲律宾执勤。麦克阿瑟有过50年的军事实践经验，被美国国民称之为“一代老兵”，而其自身的又曾是“美国最年轻的准将、西点军校最年轻的校长、美国陆军历史上最年轻的陆军参谋长”，凭借精妙的军事谋略和敢战敢胜的胆略，麦克阿瑟堪称美国战争史上的奇才。

Build me a son, Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to have himself when he is afraid：One who will be proud and unbending¹ in honest defeat, and humble² and gentle in victory.

Build me son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds: a son who will know Thee³ -- and that to know himself is the foundation⁴ stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion⁵ for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility6, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness7 of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not live in vain."

[注释]

1、unbending: 不曲的, 坚决的, 不屈的2、humble: 卑下的, 微贱的, 谦逊的

3、Thee: pron. <古> (thou的宾格) 你4、foundation: 基础, 根本5、compassion: 同情,怜悯

6、humility: 谦卑7、meekness: 温顺, 柔和

[参考译文]

请塑造我儿，使他在软弱中能够坚强，在惧怕中勇敢面对，在失败中能不去不扰，在成功时能谦卑。使他务实而不虚幻，使他认识你以及他自己--知识的根基。

我求你别让我儿在安逸的小径中，请用艰难和挑来磨练他，让他学会在风雨中挺立不移，对失败者给予同情。

请陶冶我儿，使他心清志高，在管别人之前知道先管自己，知道期许未来忘记背后。

最后我祈求你再加一点：添增他足够的幽默感。使他虽严谨持守却不苛待自己。给他谦逊以便知道真正的伟大在平时，真正的智慧在于心胸开阔，真正的力量在于柔弱。

然后我敢说，我没白活。

24、Robert Herrick (1591-1674):

To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time

Gather ye¹ rose-buds while ye² may,

Old time is still a flying:

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying

The glorious³ lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he’s a getting;

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best, which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time;

And while ye may, go marry:

For having lost but once your prime,

You may for ever tarry.

[注释]

1、ye: 相当于 the  2、ye: 汝，尔等  3、glorious: 光荣的, 显赫的

[参考译文]

给少女，珍惜青春

---罗伯特 . 赫里克

要摘玫瑰得趁早，

岁月在催人老：

花儿今天在含笑，

明天就会残凋。

太阳是天上华灯，

它正冉冉升空。

越高越快到终点，

越高越近黄昏。

豆蔻年华最美好，

青春热血方盛。

虚度光阴每况下，

时间永不停留。

抓紧时机别害羞，

早嫁个意中人，

青春一去不回头

蹉跎贻误一生。

25. Auld Lang Syne  Robert Burns

[导读] Auld Lang Syne 这首诗被人谱了曲，在每年新年零点到来之时，全欧美都会齐唱的这首不朽之作。在经典电影---“魂断蓝桥”中，此曲被作为主旋律。

Should auld acquanintance be forgot，

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot，

And days of auld long syne?

And here's a hand,

my trusty friend

And gie's a hand o' thine;

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet.

For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

[注释]

1、Auld 相当于Old, Auld Lang Syns 相当于Old Long Since，意思是The good old days.  2.acquaintanc: 熟人.  3. gie's相当于give us  4.o' =of yours  thine, 你的东西, 你的  5. o'=of

[参考译文]

友谊地久天长

怎能忘记旧日朋友

心中能不怀念？

旧日朋友怎能相忘，

友谊地久天长。

我们往日情意相投，

让我们紧握手，

让我们举杯痛饮，

友谊地久天长。

友情常在我心，

亲密的朋友

举杯痛饮，

同声歌唱友谊地久天长。

26． When You Are Old---- William Butler Yeats

[导读]威廉·巴特勒·叶芝,爱尔兰作家，被认为是20世纪最伟大的诗人之一，是都柏林阿贝剧院的爱尔兰国家剧院公司的创始人，他创作了许多短剧，包括《凯瑟琳女伯爵》(1892年)，他的诗作成集出版，如《回旋楼梯》(1929年)，内容从早期的爱情抒情诗到晚年复杂的象征主义作品，他获得了1923年的诺贝尔文学奖

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim¹ soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur², a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid³ a crowd of stars.
[注释]

1、pilgrim: 朝圣者  2、murmur: 低语  3、amid: 在...中

[参考译文] 当你老了

当你老了，头白了，睡思昏沉，
炉火旁打盹，请取下这部诗歌，
慢慢读，回想你过去眼神的柔和，
回想它们过去的浓重的阴影；

多少人爱你年轻欢畅的时候，
爱慕你的美丽、假意或真心，
只有一个人爱你那朝圣者的灵魂，
爱你衰老了的脸上的痛苦的皱纹；

垂下头来，在红光闪耀的炉子旁，
凄然地轻轻诉说那爱情的消逝，
在头顶的山上它缓缓踱着步子，
在一群星星中间隐藏着脸庞。

27．Dance Like No One’s Watching

We always convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated¹ that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content² when they are. After that we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We always tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse³ gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, and are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there’s no better time than right now. If not now, when? Our life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this to ourselves and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred Souza. He said, “ For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin---real life. But there was always some obstacle⁴ in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned⁵ onto me that these obstacles were my life.” This perspective⁶ has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure⁷ every moment that you have. And remember that time waits for no one. So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you get married, until you get divorced, until you have kids, until your kids leave home, until you start work, until you retire, until you get a new car or home, until spring, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy…

Happiness is a journey, not a destination⁸. So,

Work like you don’t need money;

Love like you’ve never been hurt;

And dance like no one’s watching.

[注释]

1.      frustrated: 失意的; 失望的  2.content: 满足的  3. spouse: 配偶(指夫或妻)

4.obstacle: 障碍  5. dawn: 变得(为人所)明白  6. perspective:  看法, 观点

7. treasure: 珍爱, 珍惜  8. destination: 目的地

[参考译文]                纵情地舞蹈

我们总是相信，等我们结了婚，生了孩子生活会更好。等有了孩子，我们又因为他们不够大而烦恼，想等他们大些时，我们就会开心了。可等他们进入青少年时期，我们还是同样的苦恼，于是又相信等他们过了这一阶段，幸福就会到来。

我们总是告诉自己，等夫妻间任何一方肯于合作，等我们拥有更好的车，等我们能去度一次美妙的假期，等我们退休后，我们的生活一定会完美的。而事实的真相是，没有任何时刻比现在更宝贵。倘若不是现在，又会是何时？我们的生活每时每刻都会有挑战。最好是让自己接受这一事实，无论如何使自己保持快乐的心境。

我很欣赏艾尔弗雷德·苏泽的一段名言。他说：“长期以来，我都觉得生活——真正的生活似乎即将开始。可是总会遇到某种障碍，如得先完成一些事情。没做完的工作，要奉献的时间，该付的债，等等。之后生活才会开始。最后我醒悟过来了，这些障碍本身就是我的生活。” 这一观点让我意识到没有什麽通往幸福的道路。幸福本身就是路。所以，珍惜你拥有的每一刻，且记住时不我待，不要再做所谓的等待——等你上完学，等你再回到学校；等你结婚或离婚；等你有了新车或新房；等春天来临；等你有幸再来世上走一遭才明白此时此刻最应快乐…

幸福是一个旅程，不是终点站。所以，

投入地工作吧，就像你根本不需要钱；

尽情地去爱吧，就像你从未受过伤；

纵情地舞蹈吧，就像根本无人在观望。

28．Pride and Prejudice: Chapter 1

Jane Austen

[导读]英国女小说家。生于乡村小镇斯蒂文顿，父亲是当地教区牧师。奥斯丁没有上过正规学校，在父母指导下阅读了大量文学作品。她20岁左右开始写作，共发表了6部长篇小说。1811年出版的《理智和感伤》是她的处女作，随后又接连发表了《傲慢与偏见》（1813）、《曼斯菲尔德花园》（1814）和《爱玛》（1815）。《诺桑觉寺》和《劝导》（1818）是在她去世后第二年发表的，并署上了作者真名。

IT is a truth universally¹ acknowledged², that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property³ of some one or other of their daughters.

``My dear Mr. Bennet,'' said his lady to him one day, ``have you heard that Netherfield Park is let⁴ at last?''

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

``But it is,'' returned she; ``for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.''

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

``Do not you want to know who has taken it?'' cried his wife impatiently⁵.

``You want to tell me, and I have no objection⁶ to hearing it.''

This was invitation enough.

……

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic⁷ humour, reserve⁸, and caprice⁹, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient¹⁰ to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develope. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied¹¹ herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace¹² was visiting and news.

[注释]

1.      universally: 普遍地,全体地  2. acknowledge: 承认  3. property: 所有物

4. let: 出租  5. impatiently: 无耐性地  6. objection: 异议 

7. sarcastic:  讽刺的, 挖苦的  8. reserve: 谨慎, 不拘言笑  9. caprice: 反复无常

10. insufficient: 不足的, 不够的  11. fancy: 设想, 认为  12. solace: 安慰

 [参考译文]傲慢与偏见

第一章

凡是有钱的单身汉，总想娶位太太，这已经成了一条举世公认的真理。这样的单身汉，每逢新搬到一个地方，四邻八舍虽然完全不了解他的性情如何，见解如何，可是，既然这样的一条真理早已在人们心目中根深蒂固，因此人们总是把他看作自己某一个女儿理所应得的一笔财产。

有一天班纳特太太对她的丈夫说：“我的好老爷，尼日斐花园终于租出去了，你听说过没有？”

班纳特先生回答道，他没有听说过。

“的确租出去了，”她说，“朗格太太刚刚上这儿来过，她把这件事的底细，一五一十地告诉了我。”

班纳特先生没有理睬她。

“你难道不想知道是谁租去的吗？”太太不耐烦地嚷起来了。

“既是你要说给我听，我听听也无妨。”

这句话足够鼓励她讲下去了。

……

班纳特先生真是个古怪人，他一方面喜欢插科打浑，爱挖苦人，同时又不拘言笑，变幻莫测，真使他那位太太积二十三年之经验，还摸不透他的性格。太太的脑子是很容易加以分析的。她是个智力贫乏、不学无术、喜怒无常的女人，只要碰到不称心的事，她就以为神经衰弱。她生平的大事就是嫁女儿；她生平的安慰就是访友拜客和打听新闻。

29．John Donne (1572-1631)：

Death Be Not Proud

Death be not proud, though some have called thee 

Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so,

For, those, whom thou think'st1, thou dost2 overthrow3,

Die not, poor death, nor yet can thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and souls deliver4.

Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate5 men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

And poppy6, or charms7 can make us sleep as well,

And better than thy stroke8; why swell9 thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt10 die.

 [注释]

1.think’st: think 2. dost: [古]do的第二人称单数.现在式  3. overthrow: 推翻, 颠覆  4. deliver: 拯救；释放  5. desperate: 铤而走险的；亡命的

6. poppy: 罂粟  7. charm: 迷药  8. stroke: 打击  9. swell: 使自负；得意洋洋　10. shalt: shall的第二人称单数现在式

[参考译文] 死亡，不要骄傲 

死亡，不要骄傲,虽然有人说你

强大而由恐怖，而你并不真的这样

因为你只是威吓害怕你的人们

可怜的死亡，本身无法死亡，也不能将我杀死

休憩与睡眠，这就是你的写照

无数的欢乐，也是从你，涌流出来

我们中的最优秀的人随你去得越早

越能早日获得身体的休息，灵魂的解脱。

你是奴隶，服从于命运、机会、君王和亡命之徒，

在毒药、战争与急病间徘徊

鸦片、迷药也可以让我们甜美地睡去

那么你的突然降临又有什么好呢？你又为什么骄傲？

一旦短暂的睡眠过去，我们将永远觉醒

死亡再也不会有，死亡，你自己应该死去！

30. My heart

[导读]由英国“先拉菲尔派”女诗人面罗塞蒂(Ch. G. Rossetti  1830-1894)写的小诗：

      My heart

My heart is like a singing bird

Whose nest is in a water’d¹ shoot²;

My heart is like an apple tree

Whose boughs³ are bent with thick-set⁴ fruit.

 [注释]

1. water’d: watered洒了水的 2. shoot: 嫩枝  3. bough: 树枝  4. thick-set:累累的

[参考译文] 我的心

我的心像一只歌唱的小鸟

鸟巢筑在洒了水的嫩枝上；

我的心像一棵苹果树，

枝上挂满累累果实。