泰西佳文十五篇

泰西佳文十五篇1.TheFirstSnow初雪Thefirstsnowcame.Howbeautifulitwas,fallingsosilentlyalldaylong,allnightlong,onthemountains,onthemeadows,ontheroofsontheliving,onthegravesofthedead!Allwhitesavetheriver,thatmarkeditscoursebyawindingblacklineacrossthelandscape;andtheleaflesstress,thatagainsttheleadenskynowrevealedmorefullythewonderfulbeautyandintricaciesoftheirbranches.Whatsilence,too,camewiththesnow,andwhatseclusion!Everysoundwasmuffled,everynoisechangedtosomethingsoftandmusical.Nomoretrampinghoofs,nomorerattlingwheels!Onlythechimingofsleigh-bell,beatingasswiftandmerrilyastheheartsofchildren.(118words)FromKavanaghByHenryWadsworthLongfellow初雪飄臨。多么美??！它整日整夜那么靜靜地飄著，落在山嶺上，落在草地上，落在世人的屋頂上，落在死才的墳?zāi)股希≡谝黄酌ＣＶ?，只有河流在美麗的畫面上劃出一道曲曲彎彎的黑線；還有那葉兒落凈的樹木，映襯著鉛灰色的天空，此刻更顯得枝丫交錯(cuò)，姿態(tài)萬(wàn)千。初雪飄落時(shí)，是何等的寧謐，何等的幽靜！一切聲響都趨沉寂，一切噪音都化作柔和的音樂。再也聽不見馬蹄得得，再也聽不見車輪轔轔！唯有雪橇的鈴鐺，奏和諧的樂聲，那明快歡樂的節(jié)拍猶如孩子們心房的搏動(dòng)。2.TheHumming-bird蜂鳥Ofallanimalsbeingthisisthemostelegantinformandthemostbrilliantincolors.ThestonesandmetalspolishedbyourartsarenotcomparabletothisjewelofNature.Shehasplaceditleastinsizeoftheorderofbirds."maximeMirandainminimis."Hermasterpieceisthislittlehumming-bird,anduponitshehasheapedallthegiftswhichtheotherbirdsmayonlyshare.Lightness,rapidity,nimbleness,grace,andrichapparelallbelongtothislittlefavorite.Theemerald,theruby,andthetopazgleamuponitsdress.Itneversoilsthemwiththedustofearth,andinitsaeriallifescarcelytouchestheturfaninstant.Alwaysintheair,flyingfromflowertoflower,ithastheirfreshnessaswellastheirbrightness.Itlivesupontheirnectar,anddwellsonlyintheclimateswheretheyperenniallybloom.(149words)FromNaturalHistoryByGeorgeLouiseBuffon在一切生物中，要算蜂鳥體型最優(yōu)美、顏色最鮮艷。經(jīng)過工藝加工和各種寶石和金屬是無(wú)法跟這個(gè)大自然的珍寶媲美的。大自然按照鳥類的大小把它列為最小號(hào)，真是"最小的絕妙珍品"。這種小蜂鳥是大自然的杰作。大自然把其他鳥類只能分其中一部分的種種天賦全部慷慨地給了它。這個(gè)小寵兒具有輕盈、敏捷、靈活、優(yōu)雅以及羽毛絢麗等一切妙外。那翠綠的、艷紅的、嫩黃色的羽毛閃閃發(fā)光。蜂鳥從不讓它的羽毛沾染塵土，它生活在天空中，一刻也不碰在草皮。它總是在空中飛翔，從花叢飛向花叢；它象花一樣的新鮮，又象花一樣的艷麗。蜂鳥靠花蜜為生，它只生活在四季鮮花盛開的地帶。3.PinesThepine,placednearlyalwaysamongscenesdisorderedanddesolate,bringintothemallpossibleelementsoforderandprecision.Lowlandtreesmayleantothissideandthat,thoughitisbutameadowbreezethatbendsthemorabankofcowlipsfromwhichtheirtrunksleanaslope.Butletstormandavalanchedotheirworst,andletthepinefindonlyaledgeofverticalprecipicetoclingto,itwillneverthelessgrowstraight.Thrustarodfromitslastshootdownthestem;itshallpointtothecenteroftheearthaslongasthetreelives.Itmaybewellalsoforlowlandbranchestoreachhitherandthitherforwhattheyneed,andtotakeallkindsofirregularshapeandextension.Butthepineistrainedtoneednothingandendureeverything.Itisresolvedlywhole,self-contained,desiringnothingbutrightness,contentwithrestrictedcompletion.Tallorshort,itwillbestraight.(160words)FromModernPaintersByJohnRuskin松樹幾乎總是長(zhǎng)在凌亂荒涼地地方，但它卻把周圍的景色點(diǎn)綴得井井有條，蔚然可觀。低地上的樹木會(huì)東倒西歪，雖說使它們弓腰曲背的，不過是草地上吹過的一陣陣微風(fēng)；或者，它們的軀干歪到一邊，不過時(shí)由于一排野櫻草的影響?？墒牵M管風(fēng)暴和尋崩姿意摧殘，盡管松樹所能依附的只是陡壁上一塊凸出的巖石，它依然長(zhǎng)得筆挺。從它初發(fā)的嫩枝旁沿莖插一根筆直的桿子，只要這樹活著，桿子將一直指著地的中心。低地上的樹，可能為了獲得它們所需要的東西，枝椏四下仲延，形成各種不規(guī)則的形狀，任意擴(kuò)張。然而松樹卻飽經(jīng)鍛煉，什么也不需要，什么都能忍受。它堅(jiān)定完整，獨(dú)立成長(zhǎng)，除了長(zhǎng)得挺拔正直，別無(wú)所求，雖受限制而依然完美，它便感到滿足。不管是高是矮，它總是長(zhǎng)得筆直。4.TheHouse-CricketCricketsarefondofkitchensandbakers'ovensonac-countoftheirwarmth.Tenderinsectsthatliveabroadeitherenjoyonlytheshortperiodofonesummer,orelsedozeawaythecold,uncomfortablemonthsinprofoundslumbers;buttheseresiding,asitwere,inatorridzone,arealwaysalertandmerry:agoodChristmasfireistothemliketheheatsofthedog-days.Thoughtheyarefrequentlyheardbyday,yetistheirnaturaltimeofmotiononlyinthenight.Assoonasitgrowsdusk,thechirpingincreases,andtheycomerunningforth,rangingfromthesizeofafleatothatoftheirfullstature.Asoneshouldsupposefromtheburningatmospherewhichtheyinhabit，theyareathirstyrace,andshowagreatpropensityforliquids;beingfrequentlydrownedinpansofwater,milk,broth,andthelikeWhateverismoisttheyaffect;andthereforeoftengnawholesinwetwoolenstockingsandapronsthatarehungtothefire.FromthenaturalhistoryofselborneByGilbertWhite蟋蟀喜歡廚房和面包房的烘箱間，因?yàn)槟切┑胤脚?。生活于野外的脆弱的昆蟲，或者僅能愉快地度過一個(gè)短暫的夏季，或者在沉睡中度過寒冷難受的那幾個(gè)月，然而這些生活在可以說是"熱帶"地方的蟲兒，卻始終是活躍而歡快的。對(duì)于它們，熊熊的圣誕節(jié)爐火好比是三伏天的暑熱。雖然在白天可以經(jīng)常聽到它們的唧唧鳴聲，但只有夜晚才是它們天然活動(dòng)的時(shí)間。一到黃昏，不僅那鳴聲更為嘹亮，而且它們都跳了出來，小的只有跳蚤那樣大，大的可已長(zhǎng)夠了個(gè)頭。它們生活于炎熱的環(huán)境，人們可以猜想出它們是一種嗜水的昆蟲，酷愛各種流質(zhì)，因而常常溺死在有水的、有牛奶的、有湯汁之類的鍋盤里。它們愛好潮濕的東西，因此常常把掛在爐邊的濕羊毛襪或圍裙咬出一個(gè)個(gè)窟窿。5.OnEtiquetteEtiquettetosocietyiswhatapparelistotheindividual.Withoutapparelmenwouldgoinshamefulnuditywhichwouldsurelyleadtothecorruptionofmorals;andwithoutetiquettesocietywouldbeinapitiablestateandthenecessaryintercoursebetweenitsmemberswouldbeinterferedwithbyneedlessoffencesandtroubles.Ifsocietywereatrain,theetiquettewouldbetherailsalongwhichonlythetraincouldrumbleforth;ifsocietywereastatecoach,theetiquettewouldbethewheelsandaxisonwhichonlythecoachcouldrollforward.Thelackofproprietieswouldmakethemostintimatefriendsturnstobethemostdecidedenemiesandthefriendlyoralliedcountriesdeclarewaragainsteachother.Wecanfindmanyexamplesinthehistoryofmankind.ThereforeIadviseyoutostandonceremonybeforeanyoneelseandtotakepainsnottodoanythingagainstetiquettelestyougiveoffencesormakeenemies.(160words)byWilliamHazlitt威廉·黑茲利特禮儀之于社會(huì)猶如衣著之于個(gè)人。人若不穿衣服，就會(huì)一絲不掛，令人恥笑，必然導(dǎo)致道德敗壞，社會(huì)要是沒有禮儀，就會(huì)陷入可悲的境地，而社會(huì)成員之間所必需的交往就會(huì)被無(wú)謂的沖突和糾紛所干擾。假定社會(huì)是一列火車，禮儀就好比軌道，火車只能沿著它隆隆前進(jìn)。假定社會(huì)是一輛貴賓車，禮儀就好比輪子與軸，馬車只有靠它們才能滾滾前進(jìn)。缺了禮節(jié)，最親密的朋友會(huì)變成死敵，友好或結(jié)盟的國(guó)家會(huì)兵戎相見。我們可以從人類歷史上找到許多這種例子。因此我勸你對(duì)于任何人都要講究禮儀，并且盡力不做違背禮儀的事，以免冒犯他人或者樹敵。6.AnHourBeforeSunrise日出前的一小時(shí)Anhourbeforesunriseinthecitythereisanairofcold.Solitarydesolationaboutthenoiselessstreets,whichweareaccustomedtoseethrongedatothertimesbyabusy,eagercrowd,andoverthequiet,closelyshutbuildingswhichthroughoutthedayarewarmingwithlife.Thedrunken,thedissipated,andthecriminalhavedisappeared;themoresoberandorderlypartofthepopulationhavenotyetawakenedtothelaborsoftheday,andthestillnessofdeathisoverstreets;itsveryhueseemstobeimpartedtothem,coldandlifelessastheylookinthegray,somberlightofdaybreak.Apartiallyopenedbedroomwindowhereandtherebespeakstheheatoftheweatherandtheuneasyslumbersofitsoccupant;andthedimscantyflickerofalightthroughtheblindsofyonderwindowsdenotesthechamberofwatchingandsickness.Saveforthatsadlight,thestreetspresentnosignsoflife,northehousesofhabitation.FromBozByCharlesDickens查爾斯·狄更斯日出前的一小時(shí)，城里一片冷清和孤寂，我們慣于看到的在一日中其他時(shí)刻擠滿匆忙人群的大街變得空蕩蕩、靜悄悄，整天人來人往，活動(dòng)頻繁的房屋，此刻門戶緊閉，寂靜無(wú)聲。醉鬼，放蕩者、犯罪分子都不見了，居民中比較循規(guī)蹈矩，持重沉著的人們還沒有醒來開始他們一天的工作，大街死一般地寂靜，似乎也染上了死一般的色彩，在拂曉陰沉、灰暗的光線里顯得冷清而毫無(wú)生氣。到處都有一扇扇半開半掩的臥室窗戶，表明天氣炎熱，屋主人睡眠不寧，那邊百葉窗里透露出搖曳的微光，表明那房間里有人臥病或守夜。除了那憂郁的燈光，街上一片死寂，住房里也沒有人活動(dòng)的跡象。7.NightinTheOpenWorld露天世界的夜晚Nightisadeadandmonotonousperiodunderaroof;butintheopenworlditpasseslightly,withitsstarsanddewsandperfumes,andthehoursaremarkedbychangesinthefaceofNature.Whatseemsakindoftemporaldeathtopeoplechokedbetweenwallsandcurtainsisonlyalightandlivingslumbertothemanwhosleepsafield.AllnightlonghecanhearNaturebreathingdeeplyandfreely;evenasshetakesherrestsheturnsandsmiles;andthereisonestirringhour,unknowntothosewhodwellinhouses,whenawakefulinfluencegoesabroadoverthesleepinghemisphere,andalltheoutdoorworldareontheirfeet.Itisthenthatthecockfirstcrows,notthistimetoannouncetiledawn,butlikeacheerfulwatchmanspeedingthecourseofnight.Cat-fieawakeonthemeadows;sheepbreaktheirfastondewyhill-sides,andchangetoanewlairamongtheferns;andhouselessmen,whohavelaindownwiththefowls,opentheirdimeyesandbeholdthebeautyofthenight.在室內(nèi)，夜是死氣沉沉，單調(diào)乏味的時(shí)刻。但是在露天世界里，有星星，有露珠，還有芬芳的香氣，黑夜輕快地流逝，而大自然的面貌卻在夜里時(shí)刻變化著。禁錮在室內(nèi)和簾后的人們覺得夜似乎是短暫的死亡，而露宿野外的人卻覺得夜只是一場(chǎng)充滿生機(jī)的微睡。他整夜能聽見大自然深沉的、自由自在的呼吸。大自然即使在休息時(shí)也在轉(zhuǎn)動(dòng)和微笑。當(dāng)沉睡著的半球出現(xiàn)韙醒跡象的時(shí)候，室外的萬(wàn)物都起來丁，那種忙碌的時(shí)刻是居住在室內(nèi)的人所不知道的。雄雞最先啼鳴，這時(shí)不是報(bào)曉，而是象歡樂的更夫在催黑夜快走。草地上牛群醒來；露珠晶瑩的山坡上羊群在進(jìn)早餐，并且在羊齒植物叢中改換新的羊窩；與禽鳥共眠的無(wú)家可歸的人們睜開了惺松的雙眼，觀賞美麗的夜色。--羅伯特.路易斯.斯蒂文森8.HappyLifeataTavern小客棧的樂趣WedinedatanexcellentinnatChapelhouse,whereDr.JohnsonexpatiatedonthefelicityofEnglandinitstavernsandinns,andtriumphedovertheFrenchfornothaving,inanyperfection,thetavernlife."Thereisnoprivatehouse,"saidhe,"inwhichpeoplecanenjoythemselvessowellasatacapitaltavern.Lettherebeeversogreatplentyofgoodthings,eversomuchgrandeur,eversomuchelegance,eversomuchdesirethateverybodyshouldbeeasy,inthenatureofthingsitcannotbe:theremustalwaysbesomedegreeofcareandanxiety.Themasterofthehouseisanxioustoentertainhisguests;theguestsareanxioustobeagreeabletohim;andnomanbutaveryimpudentdogindeedcanasfreelycommandwhatisinanother'shouseasifitwerehisown.Whereasatatavernthereisageneralfreedomfromanxiety.Youaresureyouarewelcome;themorenoiseyoumake,themoretroubleyougive,themoregoodthingsyoucallfor,thewelcomeryouare.Noservantswillattendyouwiththealacritywhichwaitersdo,whoareexcitedwiththeprospectofanimmediaterewardinproportionastheyplease.No,sir;thereisnothingwhichhasasyetbeencontrivedbyman,bywhichsomuchhappinessisproducedasbyagoodtavernorinn.我們?cè)诓槠諣柡舅挂患覙O好的小客棧里吃飯，約翰遜博土在那兒詳細(xì)敘述了英格蘭的小客棧和小旅館的妙處，并得意洋洋地指出法國(guó)人沒有任何這等完美的小客棧生活。"任何私人住宅，"他說，"都不能使人們象在一家頂好的小客棧里那樣舒適愉快。盡管那里好東西應(yīng)有盡有，盡管屋宇是那樣的宏偉，陳設(shè)是那樣的雅致，盡管主人一心一意要讓每個(gè)人都感到自由自在，而實(shí)標(biāo)上這是不可能實(shí)現(xiàn)的．相反，那里總是有著某種程度的顧慮和急切的心情．屋主人要小心地招待客人，客人要留神地迎合主人．除了非常無(wú)禮的魯莽家伙，決沒有人在別人的屋于里會(huì)象在自己家里那樣可以隨心所欲，頤指氣使。然而在小客棧里就根本沒有這種顧慮了．在這里，你肯定是受歡迎的，你嗓門越大，你越添麻煩，你要的好東西越多，你就越受歡迎。沒有一個(gè)仆人會(huì)象受到小費(fèi)刺激的店倌那樣殷勤地侍候你，因?yàn)榈曩牡氖毯蛟街幸?，你給小費(fèi)越慷慨。投有的，先生，在人類迄今所創(chuàng)造的一切事物中，投有什么能象一家優(yōu)美的鄉(xiāng)村小客棧或者小旅館那樣給人們提供那么多的樂趣。9.WhoLovesHisCountry愛國(guó)志士Wholoveshiscountrywillnotrest

Contentwithvowandpledgealone,

Butfliesherbannerinhisbreast

Andcountsherdestinyhisown--

Notonlywhenthebugleplays

Standsforthtogivehislifeforher,

Butonthefieldofcommondays

Isstrongtolivehislifeforher.

Heisnotsatisfiedtoclaim

Asheritageherpowerandfame,

But,striving,earnsthelighttowear

Theshininghonorofhername.愛國(guó)志士決不滿足于

泛泛的誓詞與諾言，

而要在胸中揚(yáng)起祖國(guó)的旗幟

與她共命運(yùn)，同呼吸--－

不只是在軍號(hào)吹響的時(shí)刻

毅然挺身而出，為國(guó)捐軀，

就是在平常的日子里

也為她嘔心瀝血，堅(jiān)定不渝。

愛國(guó)志士決不滿足于

承襲祖國(guó)的威力與聲望，

而要奮發(fā)圖強(qiáng)，去贏得權(quán)利

以分享祖國(guó)英名的光輝榮譽(yù)。--南?！げ隆ぬ丶{10.AddressatGettysburg葛提斯堡演說Fourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfathersbroughtforthonthiscontinentanewnationinliberty,anddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequal.Nowweareengagedinagreatcivilwar,testingwhetherthatnation,oranynationsoconceivedandsodedicated,canlongendure.Wearemetonagreatbattlefieldofthatwar.Wehavecometodedicateaportionofthatfieldasafinalrestingplaceforthosewhoheregavetheirlivesthatthatnationmightlive.Itisaltogetherfittingandproperthatweshoulddothis.But,inalargersense,wecannotdedicate-wecannotconsecrate-wecannothallow-thisground.Thebravemen,livinganddead,whostruggledhere,heaveconsecrateditfaraboveourpoorpowertoaddordetract.Theworldwilllittlenotenorlongrememberwhatwesayhere,butitcanneverforgetwhattheydidhere.Itisforus,theliving,rather,tobededicatedheretotheunfinishedworkwhichtheywhofoughtherehavethusfarsonoblyadvanced.Itisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattaskremainingbeforeus-thatformthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheygavethelastfullmeasureofdevotion;thatweherehighlyresolvethatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain;thatthisnation,underGod,shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom;andthatgovernmentofthepeople,bythepeople,forthepeople,shallnotperishfromtheearth.(268words)ByAbrahamLincoln亞伯拉罕·林肯八十年前，我們的先輩在這塊大陸上創(chuàng)建了一個(gè)新的國(guó)家。他孕育了自由之中，奉行一切人生來平等的原則?，F(xiàn)在，我們正從事于一場(chǎng)偉大的內(nèi)戰(zhàn)，以考驗(yàn)這個(gè)國(guó)家，或者說，以考驗(yàn)任何孕育于自由并奉行上述原則的國(guó)家能否長(zhǎng)久生存。我們聚集在這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)中的一個(gè)偉大的戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)上。我們?cè)诖思瘯?huì)，是為了把這戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)的一部分奉獻(xiàn)給那些為這個(gè)國(guó)家的生存而獻(xiàn)身的烈士，作為他們的最后安息之所。我們這樣做，是理所當(dāng)然、恰如其分的。但是，從更為廣泛的意義上來說，我們無(wú)法奉獻(xiàn)、無(wú)法圣化、無(wú)法神化這塊土地。那些曾在這里戰(zhàn)斗過的勇敢的生者與死者已經(jīng)將這塊土地圣化，這遠(yuǎn)不是我們微薄的力量所能增減的。全世界不會(huì)注意，也不會(huì)長(zhǎng)久記住我們今天在這里所講的話。但是，全世界永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)忘記這些勇士在這里做過的事。對(duì)我們這些活著的人來說，倒是應(yīng)該把自己奉獻(xiàn)于勇士們以崇高的精神向前推進(jìn)而尚未完成的事業(yè)，應(yīng)該把自己奉獻(xiàn)于依然擺在我們面前的偉大任務(wù)--我們要從這些可敬的死者身上汲取更多的獻(xiàn)身精神，來完成他們?yōu)橹I(xiàn)出全部忠誠(chéng)的事業(yè)；我們要在這里下定最大的決心，不讓烈士們的鮮血白流；要在上帝的保佑下，使我們的國(guó)家獲得自由的新生；要使我們這個(gè)民有、民治、民享的政府永世長(zhǎng)存。11.AnimalandMachine動(dòng)物與機(jī)器Thebodyofananimalmaywellbecomparedwithsomemachinelikealocomotiveengine.Indeed,theanimalbodyisamachine.Itisamachinecomposedofmanyparts,eachpartdoingsomeparticularkindofworkforwhichaparticularkindofstructurefitsit;andallthepartsaredependentoneachotherandworktogetherfortheaccomplishmentofthetotalbusinessofthemachine.Thelocomotivemustbeprovidedwithfuel,suchascoalorwoodorothercombustiblesubstance,theconsumptionofwhichfurnishestheforceorenergyofthemachine.Theanimalbodymustbeprovidedwithfuel,whichiscalledfood,whichfurnishedsimilarlytheenergyoftheanimal.Oxygenmustbeprovidedforthecombustionofthefuelinthelocomotiveandofthefoodinthebody.Thelocomotiveiscomposedofspecialparts:thefireboxforthereceptionandcombustionoffuel;thesteampipesforthecarriageofsteam;thewheelsforlocomotion;thesmokestackforthrowingoffwaste.Theanimalbodyissimilarlycomposedofparts:thealimentarycanalforthereceptionandassimilationoffood;theexcretoryorgansforthethrowingoffofwastematter;thearteriesandveinsforthecarriageoxygenandfood-holdingblood;thelegsorwingsforlocomotion.動(dòng)物的身體很可以與某種機(jī)器如火車頭相比。實(shí)際上，動(dòng)物的身體就是一臺(tái)機(jī)器．它是一臺(tái)由許多部件組成的機(jī)器。每個(gè)部件起某種特定的作用，并具有特殊構(gòu)造使它適合于這種作用，所有的部件互相依賴、彼此合作，以完成機(jī)器的整個(gè)任務(wù)?；疖囶^必須添加燃料，如煤，木柴或其他可燃物質(zhì)。燃料的消耗給機(jī)器提供動(dòng)力或能量。動(dòng)物的身體也得補(bǔ)充燃料，它被稱為食物，給動(dòng)物同樣地提供能量。為使火車頭里的燃料燃燒以及動(dòng)物體內(nèi)的食物氧化，必須提供氧氣?；疖囶^是由特殊部件構(gòu)成的；接受并燃燒燃料的爐膛、運(yùn)送蒸氣的管道，使車頭運(yùn)行的輪子及排出廢氣的煙囪。與此相似，動(dòng)物的身體也是由各種部件構(gòu)成的：攝入并吸收食物的消化道、排出廢物的排泄器官以及運(yùn)送氧氣和保存養(yǎng)料的血液的動(dòng)脈與靜脈，還有使動(dòng)物行進(jìn)的腿或翅膀。12.ChoosinganOccupationHodeslea,Eastbourne,November5,1892DearSir,Iamverysorrythatthepressureofotheroccupationshaspreventedmeformsendinganearlierreplytoyourletter.Inmyopinionaman'sfirstdutyistofindawayofsupportinghimself,therebyrelievingotherpeopleofthenecessityofsupportinghim.Moreover,thelearningtosoworkofpracticalvalueintheworld,inanexactandcarefulmanner,isofitself,averyimportanteducationtheeffectsofwhichmakethemselvesfeltinallotherpursuits.Thehabitofdoingthatwhichyoudonotdareaboutwhenyouwouldmuchratherbedoingsomethingelse,isinvaluable.ItwouldhavesavedmeafrightfulwasteoftimeifIhadeverhaditdrilledintomeinyouth.Successinanyscientificcareerrequiresanunusualequipmentofcapacity,industry,andenergy.Ifyoupossessthatequipment,youwillfindleisureenoughafteryourdailycommercialworkisover,tomakeanopeninginthescientificranksforyourself.Ifyoudonot,youhadbettersticktocommerce.Nothingislesstobedesiredthanthefateofayoungmanwho,astheScotchproverbsays,in'tryingtomakeaspoonspoilsahorn,"andbecomesamerehanger-oninliteratureorinscience,whenhemighthavebeenausefulandavaluablememberofSocietyinotheroccupations.Ithinkthatyourfatheroughttoseethisletter.(244words)YoursfaithfullyT.H.HuxleyFromLifeandLettersofThomasHenryHuxleyByLeonardHuxley親愛的閣下：近來忙于各種事務(wù)，未能及早復(fù)信，深感抱歉。依我看來，一個(gè)．人的首要職責(zé)是設(shè)法自立，以免除別人對(duì)他生活的負(fù)擔(dān)。此外，學(xué)會(huì)嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)而審慎地從事社會(huì)上有實(shí)際價(jià)值的工作，其本身就是一種非常重要的教育，其效果必將體現(xiàn)在所有別的事業(yè)上。在你寧愿做其他事情的時(shí)候，卻仍能夠從事你不感興趣的工作，這種習(xí)慣是十分可貴的。要是我在年輕時(shí)養(yǎng)成了這種習(xí)慣，就可以避免時(shí)間上驚人的浪費(fèi)。任何科學(xué)事業(yè)上的成就，都需要具有不尋常的才能、勤勉和精力。你若具有上述資質(zhì)，你在日常商業(yè)工作之余，將有足夠的閑暇為自己在科學(xué)界覓得立足之地。你若不具有那種資質(zhì)，還是一心經(jīng)商為宜。天下最不足取的事情，莫過于一個(gè)年輕人如同蘇格蘭諺語(yǔ)所說的那樣，"匙子沒做成，倒毀了羊角，"成為在文學(xué)或科學(xué)領(lǐng)域里濫竽充數(shù)的食客，要是去從事其他工作的話，他或許會(huì)成為社會(huì)上有用和有價(jià)值的一員。我認(rèn)為此信應(yīng)請(qǐng)你父親一閱。你的忠實(shí)的T．H·赫胥黎13.ACuriousDecision奇妙的載決Apoorchimney-sweeper,whohadnotenoughmoneytobuyameal,stoppedonehotsummerdayatnoonbeforeaneating-house,andremainedregalinghisnosewiththesmellofthevictuals.Themasteroftheshoptoldhimseveraltimestogoaway,butthesweepcouldnotleavethesavorysmell,thoughunabletopurchasethetasteofthefood.Atlastthecookcameoutoftheshop,andtakingholdofthesweep,declaredthat,ashehadbeenfeedinguponthesmellofhisvictuals,heshouldnotgoawaywithoutpayinghalfthepriceofadinner.Thepoorfellowsaidthatheneithercouldnorwouldpay,andthathewouldaskthefirstpersonwhoshouldpass,whetheritwasnotanunreasonableandun-justdemand.Thecasewasreferredtoapoliceman,whohappenedtopassatthatmoment.Hesaidtothesweep:"Asyouhavebeenfeastingoneofyoursenseswiththeodorofthisman'smeat,itisbutjustyoushouldmakehimsomerecompense;thereforeyoushall,inyourturn,regaleoneofhissenses,whichseemstobemoreinsatiablethanyourappetite.Howmuchmoneyhaveyou?""Ihavebuttwopenceinalltheworld,sir,andImustbuymesomebread.""Nevermind,"answeredtileofficer,"takeyourtwopencebetweenyourhands;nowrattlethemloudly."Thesweepdidso,andtheofficer,turningtothecook,said:"Now,sir,1thinkhehaspaidyou:thesmellofyouvictualsregaledhisnostrils;thesoundofhismoneyhastick-ledyourears."Thisdecisiongavemoresatisfactiontothebystandersthantothecook,butitwastheonlypaymenthecouldobtain.有一個(gè)貧窮的掃煙囪工人，窮得連一頓飯也買不起。一個(gè)炎熱的夏天中午，他在一家餐館前停下來，站在那兒用鼻子貪婪地嗅著食物的香味。餐館老板兒次叫他走開，但他雖然沒有能力買食物來嘗嘗，卻又舍不得離開這令人饞涎欲滴的香味。最后，廚師從店堂內(nèi)走了出來，一把抓住那個(gè)掃煙囪工人，說他聞飽了菜肴的捍味，硬要他付一半飯錢，不然，就不放他走。那個(gè)窮漢子說他既付不起，也不愿意付，并且提出要請(qǐng)第一個(gè)過路人來評(píng)一評(píng)這樣的要求是否公道合理。這時(shí)候，一個(gè)警察碰巧從旁邊經(jīng)過，這事就告到了他那里。警察對(duì)掃煙囪工人說："既然你的一個(gè)感官享受了這人烹調(diào)的食物的香味，你就應(yīng)該給他一定的報(bào)酬，這是公平合理的；所以現(xiàn)在該輪到你使他的一個(gè)感官得到享受，他的這一感官看來比的胃口更難以滿足。你身上有多少錢？""總共只有兩個(gè)便士，我還要買面包吃呢，先生。""不要緊，"警察回答道，"把你的兩個(gè)便士用雙手捂著；現(xiàn)在使勁把它們咔嗒咔嗒地?fù)u出聲音來。"掃煙囪的工人這樣做了。于是警察轉(zhuǎn)身對(duì)廚師說："先生，我想現(xiàn)在他給了你報(bào)酬了；你那食物的香味給了他鼻子以享受；他那錢幣的響聲也飽了斧耳福。"這一裁決使旁觀者大為滿意，廚師雖然不滿意，但他也只能得到這樣的報(bào)酬了。14.AboutReadingBooksItissimpleenoughtosaythatsincebookshaveclasses—fiction,biography,poetry—weshouldseparatethemandtakefromeachwhatitisrightthateachshouldgiveus.Yetfewpeopleaskfrombookswhatbookscangiveus.Mostcommonlywecometobookswithblurredanddividedminds,askingoffictionthatitshallbetrue,ofpoetrythatitshallbefalse,ofbiographythatitshallbeflattering,ofhistorythatitshallenforceourownprejudices.Ifwecouldbanishallsuchpreconceptionswhenweread,thatwouldbeanadmirablebeginning.Donotdictatetoyourauthor;trytobecomehim.Behisfellow-workerandaccomplice.Ifyouhangback,andreserveandcriticizeatfirst,youarepreventingyourselffromgettingthefullestpossiblevaluefromwhatyouread.Butifyouopenyourmindaswidelyaspossible,thensignsandhintsofalmostimperceptiblefineness,fromthetwistandturnofthefirstsentences,willbringyouintothepresenceofahumanbeingunlikeanyother.Steepyourselfinthis,acquaintyourselfwiththis,andsoonyouwillfindthatyourauthorisgivingyou,orattemptingtogiveyou,somethingfarmoredefinite.Thethirty-twochaptersofanovel—ifweconsiderhowtoreadanovelfirst—areanattempttomakesomethingasformedandcontrolledasabuilding:butwordsaremoreimpalpablethanbricks;readingisalongerandmorecomplicatedprocessthanseeing.Perhapsthequickestwaytounderstandtheelementsofwhatanovelistisdoingisnottoread,buttowrite;tomakeyourownexperimentwiththedangersanddifficultiesofwords.Recall,then,someeventthathasleftadistinctimpressiononyou—howatthecornerofthestreet,perhaps,youpassedtwopeopletalking.Atreeshook;anelectriclightdanced;thetoneofthetalkwascomic,butalsotragic;awholevision,anentireconception,seemedcontainedinthatmoment.ByVirginiaWoolf說來容易：既然書有各種各樣—如小說、傳記、詩(shī)歌—那我們就應(yīng)該把它們分門別類，并且各按其類來汲取每本書理應(yīng)給予我們的內(nèi)容。然而，很少人讀書時(shí)想過書本能夠提供些什么問題。既然書籍有不同的門類，如小說、傳記、詩(shī)歌等，我們就應(yīng)該把它們區(qū)分開來，并從每種中汲取它應(yīng)當(dāng)給我們提供的正確的東西;這話說起來固然容易。然而，很少有人要求從書籍中得到它們所能提供的東西。最普通的現(xiàn)象是，我們拿起書本時(shí)頭腦并不清醒，目標(biāo)并不一致，我們要求小說敘述真人真事，要求詩(shī)歌表現(xiàn)虛假，要求傳記給人捧場(chǎng)，要求歷史證實(shí)我們自己的偏見。通常我們總是三心二意地帶著模糊的觀念去看書：要求小說情節(jié)真實(shí)，要求詩(shī)歌內(nèi)容虛構(gòu)，要求傳記阿諛奉承，要求歷史能加深我們自己的偏見。如果我們打開書本之前先驅(qū)除掉這些先入為主的看法，那將是個(gè)值得慶幸的良好開端。不要去指揮作者，要設(shè)身處地去替他設(shè)想，當(dāng)他的合作者或者朋友。如果你一開始便采取退縮矜持、有所保留或指指點(diǎn)點(diǎn)的態(tài)度，那你就在為自己設(shè)置障礙，使自己不能充分地從所閱讀的書本中獲得益處。如果我們讀書時(shí)能拋棄所有這些成見，那將是一個(gè)極可貴的開端。我們對(duì)作者不要指手劃腳，而應(yīng)努力站在作者的立場(chǎng)上，設(shè)想自己在與作者共同創(chuàng)作。假如你退縮不前，有所保留并且一開始就批評(píng)指責(zé)，你就在妨礙自己從你所讀的書中得到最大的益處。然而，如果你沒有先入之見，虛懷若谷，那么，打開書本，隱晦曲折的字里行間，難以覺察的細(xì)微跡象和暗示便會(huì)向你展示一個(gè)與眾不同的人。然而，如果你能盡量敞開思想，那么，書中開頭幾句迂回曲折的話里所包含的幾乎難以覺察的細(xì)微的跡象和暗示，就會(huì)把你引到一個(gè)與眾不同的人物的面前去。深入進(jìn)去，沉浸其中，諳熟這一切，你會(huì)很快發(fā)現(xiàn)，書的作者正在，或努力在給予你一些十分明確的東西。如果你深入下去，如果你去認(rèn)識(shí)這個(gè)人物，你很快就會(huì)領(lǐng)悟作者正在給你或試圖給你某些明確得多的東西。15.Versatileman多才多藝的人Itis,perhaps,noaccidentthatmanyoftheoutstandingfiguresofthepastwereexceptionallyversatilemen.Rightupuntilcomparativelyrecenttimes,itwaspossibleforanintelligentpersontoacquainthimselfwithalmosteverybranchofknowledge.Thus,menofgeniuslikeLeonardodaVinciorSirPhilipSidney,