偶看新闻三宝胶囊价格:陈冠商英语背诵文选
来源：百度文库 编辑：偶看新闻 时间：2024/04/19 02:11:36
1
The first snow
Henry
The first snow came. How beautiful it was, falling so silently all day long, all night long, on the mountains, on the meadows, on the roofs of the living, on the graves of the dead!(1) All white(2) save(3) the river, that marked its course(4) by a winding black line across the landscape; and the leafless trees, that against the leaden sky(5) now revealed more fully the wonderful beauty and intricacies(6) of their branches. What silence, too, came with the snow, and what seclusion! Every sound was muffled(7), every noise changed to something soft and musical. No more tramping hoofs, no more rattling wheels! Only the chiming of sleigh-bells, beating as swift and merrily as the hearts of children(8).
*注释
(1) the living:活着的人；the dead:死去的人。形容词（有时是分词）前面加上定冠词 the 表示具有某一特性的一类人。
(2) all white=All was white, 省略句
(3) save：除……以外，介词
(4) marked its course：标示出它所经过的路线
(5) against the leaden sky：在铅灰色天空的衬托下。
(6) intricacies：这里指树枝的缠结交错。
(7) was muffled：（声音）被压抑而变得低沉
(8) beating…as the hearts of children=beating…as the hearts of children beat,默这个被省略的 beat确作"（心脏的）搏动"解，前面那个 beating指铃儿的碰击。
初雪
享利•沃兹沃思•朗费罗
初雪飘临。多么美啊！它整日整夜那么静静地飘着，落在山岭上，落在草地上，落在世人的屋顶上，落在死才的坟墓上！在一片白茫茫之中，只有河流在美丽的画面上划出一道曲曲弯弯的黑线；还有那叶儿落净的树木，映衬着铅灰色的天空，此刻更显得枝丫交错，姿态万千。初雪飘落时，是何等的宁谧，何等的幽静！一切声响都趋沉寂，一切噪音都化作柔和的音乐。再也听不见马蹄得得，再也听不见车轮辚辚！唯有雪橇的铃铛，奏和谐的乐声，那明快欢乐的节拍犹如孩子们心房的搏动。
2
THE HUMMING-BIRD
George Louis Leclerc Buffon
Of all animated beings this is the most elegant in form and the most brilliant in colors. The stones and metals polished by our arts are not comparable to(1) this jewel of Nature(2). She(3) has placed it least in size of(4) the order of birds(5), "maxime miranda in minimis."(6) Her masterpiece is this little humming-bird, and upon it she has heaped all the gifts(7) which the other birds may only share. Lightness, rapidity, nimbleness, grace, and rich apparel(8) all belong to this little favorite. The emerald(9), the ruby(10), and the topaz(11) gleam upon its dress(12). It never soils them with the dust of earth, and in its aerial life scarcely touches the turf an instant. Always in the air, flying from flower to flower, it has their freshness as well as their brightness. It lives upon their nectar, and dwells only in the climates where they perennially bloom.
*注释
(1) are not compareble t 比不上……的。
(2) this jewel of Nature: 这个大自然的珍宝。这里作者把美丽无比的蜂鸟比作大自然中的一颗天然珍宝。
(3) she: 指 Nature.
(4) in size of: 按……大小。
(5) the order of birds: 鸟类。
(6) maxime niranda in minimis: 拉丁语。 maxime 解作"最大"， miranda 解作"值得称羡的东西"，minimis 解作"最小"。
(7) upon it she has heaped all the gifts...: 大自然赋予蜂鸟……的一切资质。
(8) rich apparel: 原义为色彩鲜艳的衣服，这里借喻蜂鸟绚丽的羽毛。
(9) emerald: 原义绿宝石，这里指翠绿色。
(10) ruby: 原义红宝石，这里指艳红色。
(11) topaz: 原义黄玉，这里指嫩黄色。
(12) dress: 这里借喻蜂鸟的羽毛。
蜂 鸟
乔治·路易·勒克莱尔·布封
在一切生物中，要算蜂鸟体形最优美、颜色最鲜艳。经过工艺加工的各种宝石和金属是无法跟这个大自然的珍宝媲美的。大自然按照鸟类的大小把它列为最小号，真是"最小的绝妙珍品"。这种小蜂鸟是大自然的杰作。大自然把其他鸟类只能分有其中的一部分的种种天赋全部慷慨地给了它。这个不宠儿具有轻盈、敏捷、灵活、优雅以及羽毛绚丽等一切妙处。那翠绿的、艳红的、嫩黄色的羽毛闪闪发光。蜂鸟从不让它的羽毛沾染尘土，它生活在天空中，一刻也不碰到草皮。它总是空中飞翔，从花丛飞向花丛；它象花一样的新鲜，又象花一样的艳丽。鸟*花蜜为生，它只生活在四季鲜花盛开的地带。
3
Pines
John Ruskin
The pine, placed nearly always among scenes disordered and desolate, brings into them all possible elements of order and precision. Lowland trees may lean to this side and that, though it is but a meadow breeze that bends them, or a bank of cowslips(1) from which their trunks lean aslope(2). But let storm and avalanche do their worst(3), and let the pine find only a ledge of vertical precipice to cling to, it will nevertheless grow straight. Thrust a rod from its last shoot down the stem; it shall point to the center of the earth as long as the tree lives.(4) It may be well also for what they need, and to take all kinds of irregular shape and extension. But the pine is trained to need nothing and endure everything. I is resolvedly whole, self-contained, desiring nothing but rightness, content with resrticted completion. Tall or short, it will be straight.
*注释
(1) a bank of cowslips ：一排野樱草。它与上文中的a meadow breeze 是并列成分。
(2) from which their trunks lean aslope：树干由于野樱草的影响而倾斜。
(3) let...do their worst：让……恣意肆虐。
(4) Thrust a rod...as long as the tree lives：这个句子的意思是：松树活着永远长得笔直，象插在一旁的杆子一样的直。松树如果长弯了，就会把插一旁的杆子推歪而不能笔直地指着地心了。 it shall point to... shall用于第三人称时表示说话者的意向。这里作“应该”解。
(5) reach hither and thither：向个方向伸展。 hither and thither=here and there.
松树
约翰·拉斯金
松树几乎总是长在凌乱荒凉地地方，但它却把周围的景色点缀得井井有条，蔚然可观。低地上的树木会东倒西歪，虽说使它们弓腰曲背的，不过是草地上吹过的一阵阵微风；或者，它们的躯干歪到一边，不过时由于一排野樱草的影响。可是，尽管风暴和寻崩姿意摧残，尽管松树所能依附的只是陡壁上一块凸出的岩石，它依然长得笔挺。从它初发的嫩枝旁沿茎插一根笔直的杆子，只要这树活着，杆子将一直指着地的中心。低地上的树，可能为了获得它们所需要的东西，枝桠四下仲延，形成各种不规则的形状，任意扩张。然而松树却饱经锻炼，什么也不需要，什么都能忍受。它坚定完整，独立成长，除了长得挺拔正直，别无所求，虽受限制而依然完美，它便感到满足。不管是高是矮，它总是长得笔直。
4
Trees
Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree;
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest(1)
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast(2);
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms(3) to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain,
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
*注释
(1) prest: pressed的变体，为了与下面一行最后一个词breast押韵而采用。
(2)flowing breast： 相当于breast flowing with milk，解作"流出奶汁的乳房’，用来比喻土壤的肥沃。
(3)leafy arms： 指叶子茂盛的树枝
树
乔埃斯·基尔默
我想我永远也不会看到
象一棵树那样优美的诗篇，
树那饥渴的嘴唇紧紧贴住
大地乳汁甘美的胸脯，
它整天仰望着上帝，
举起枝叶繁茂的手臂祈祷，
它那茂密如发的枝叶里
夏天会筑起知更鸟的安乐窝，
雪花飘落在它怀里，
它同雨水亲密无间。
诗歌出自我等愚人之手，
而树却是造化的天工。
5
Reading Good Books
Henry Addington Bruce
Devote some of your leisure, I repeat, to cultivating a love of reading good books. Fortunate indeed are those who contrive to make themselves genuine book-lovers. For book- lovers have some noteworthy advantages over other people. They need never know lonely hours so long as they have books around them, and the better the books the more delightful the company(1). From good books, moreover, they draw much besides entertainment. They gain mental food such as few companions can supply.(2) Even while resting from their labors they are, through the books they read, equipping themselves to perform those labors more efficiently. This albeit~ they may not be deliberately reading to improve their mind. All unconsciously the ideas they derive from the printed pages(4) are stored up, to be worked over(5) by the imagination for their future profit.
*注释
(1) the better the books the more delightful the company:书越好，与书作伴就越快活。
(2) They gain mental food such as few companions can supply: 他们得到的那种精神食粮是没有什么同栏能提供的。此处such as相当于 such mental food as
(3) This: 指上句；albeit: 连词，含义是 although it be(尽管，虽然)，用于书面语。
(4) the printed pages:书本。
(5) to be worked over:以便加以研究。
阅读好书
H·爱丁顿·布鲁斯
我再说一遍，把你的一部分空闲时光用来培养阅读好书的爱好吧。那些设法把自己培养成为真正爱好读书的人，确实是幸运的。因为爱读书的人比之别人有着明显的好处。只要手头有书，他们就从来不知寂寞。书越好，读来越是津津有味。他们从好书中不但得到乐趣，而且受到很多教益。他们从中获得的那种精神食粮，从其他地方是很难得到的。即使是在工作休息时，通过读书，他们的工作效率也能更加提高，尽管他们未必有意识地想到读书是为了提高才智。在钱然不知不觉中，他们从书中吸取的知识积累起来，经过想想象力的加工，对将来大有用处。
6
The House Cricket
Gilbert White
Crickets are fond of kitchens and bakers’ ovens on account of (1) their warmth. Tender insects that live abroad (2) either enjoy only the short period of one summer, or else doze away (3) the cold, uncomfortable months in profound slumbers; but these residing, as it were, (4) in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry: a good Christmas fire is to them like the heats of the dog-days. Though they are frequently heard by day, yet is their natural time of motion only in the night. As soon as it grows dusk, the chirping increases, and they come running forth, ranging from the size of a flea to that of their full stature.(5) As one should suppose from the burning atmosphere which they inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for (6) liquids; being frequently drowned in pans of water, milk, broth, and the like.(7) Whatever is moist they affect; and therefore often gnaw holes in wet woolen stockings and aprons that are hung to the fire.
*注释
(1)on account of：因为。
(2)abroad：户外。
(3)doze away： 用瞌睡来度过。doze在句中作及物动词，其宾语为months。
(4)as it were： 可以说是。作插入语。
(5)ranging from the size of a flea to that of their full stature： 大小都有，最小的只如跳蚤那般大，最大的则已完全长足。range：(在一定范围内)变化。
(6) show a great propensity for： 对……有很大的癖好。
(7)and the like： 等等，诸如此类。
(8)whatever is moist： 凡是潮湿的东西。 作affect的宾语。
屋内蟋蟀
吉尔伯特·怀特
蟋蟀喜欢厨房和面包房的烘箱间，因为那些地方暖和。生活于野外的脆弱的昆虫，或者仅能愉快地度过一个短暂的夏季， 或者在沉睡中度过寒冷难受的那几个月，然而这些生活在可以说是"热带"地方的虫儿，却始终是活跃而欢快的。对于它们，熊熊的圣诞节炉火好比是三伏天的暑热。虽然在白天可以经常听到它们的唧唧鸣声，但只有夜晚才是它们天然活动的时间。一到黄昏，不仅那鸣声更为嘹亮，而且它们都跳了出来，小的只有跳蚤那样大，大的可已长够了个头。它们生活于炎热的环境，人们可以猜想出它们是一种嗜水的昆虫，酷爱各种流质，因而常常溺死在有水的、有牛奶的、有汤汁之类的锅盘里。它们爱好潮湿的东西，因此常常把挂在炉边的湿羊毛袜或围裙咬出一个个窟窿。
7
On Etiquette
William Hazlitt
Etiquette to society is what apparel is to the individual. Without apparel men would go in shameful nudity which would surely lead to the corruption of morals; and without etiquette society would be in a pitiable state and the necessary intercourse between its members would be interfered with by needless offences and troubles. If society were a train, the etiquette would be the rails along which only the train could rumble forth; if society were a state coach, the etiquette would be the wheels and axis, on which only the coach could roll forward.(1) The lack of proprieties would make the most intimate friends turn to be the most decided enemies and the friendly or allied countries declare war against each other.(2) We can find many examples in the history of mankind. Therefore I advise you to stand on ceremony(3) before anyone else and to take pains (4) not to do anything against etiquette lest you give offences or make enemies.(5)
*注释
(1)If society were a train，the etiquette would be…roll forward： 这是现在时态的虚拟句，分号后面的是一个同样结构的语句，与这一句并列。
(2)The lack of proprieties would make…friends turn to be…and the．．．countries declare war…：本句中的make有两个宾语。第一个宾语是 friends，turn to be是friends的补语，第二个宾语是countries，declare war是countries的补语。动词不定式作make的宾语补语时，必须省略to。
(3)stand on ceremony：讲究礼节。
(4) take pains： 尽力。后接动词不定式。
(5)lest you give offences or make enemies： 免得触犯人或树敌。lest引导的状语从句中常用should或原形动词。
论礼仪
威廉·黑兹利特
礼仪之于社会犹如衣着之于个人。人若不穿衣服，就会一丝不挂，令人耻笑，必然导致道德败坏，社会要是没有礼仪，就会陷入可悲的境地，而社会成员之间所必需的交往就会被无谓的冲突和纠纷所干扰。假定社会是一列火车，礼仪就好比轨道，火车只能沿着它隆隆前进。假定社会是一辆贵宾车，礼仪就好比轮子与轴，马车只有靠它们才能滚滚前进。缺了礼节，最亲密的朋友会变成死敌，友好或结盟的国家会兵戎相见。我们可以从人类历史上找到许多这种例子。因此我劝你对于任何人都要讲究礼仪，并且尽力不做违背礼仪的事，以免冒犯他人或者树敌。
8
An Hour before
Charles Dickens
An hour before sunrise in the city there is all air of cold, solitary desolation about the noiseless streets, which we are accustomed to see thronged at other times by a busy, eager crowd, and over the quiet, closely shut buildings which throughout the day are swarming with life. (1) The drunken, the dissipated, and tile criminal(2) have disappeared; the more sober and orderly part of the population have not yet awaken- ed to the labors of the day, and the stillness of death is over the streets; its very hue seems to be imparted to them(3), cold and lifeless as they look in the gray, somber light of day- break. A partially opened bedroom window here and there bespeaks the heat of the weather and the uneasy slumbers of its occupant; and the dim scanty flicker of a light through the blinds of yonder windows denotes the chamber of watching and sickness. Save for that sad light, the streets present no signs of life, nor the houses of habitation(4).
*注释
(1)An hour before sunrise…swarming with life： 句中about the noiseless streets与over the…buildings是并列成分，作there is an air of cold， solitary desolation的地点状语which we are accustomed．to see thronged…by a busy，eager crowd是修饰streets的定语从句，其中thronged by…是分词短语， 作which的宾语补语。
(2)the drunken，the dissipated，and the criminal： 醉鬼，放荡者，犯罪分子。参阅"The First Snow"注(1)。
(3)its very hue seems to be imparted to them： 这句中its指death；its very hue＝the very hue of death； them指the streets。
(4)nor the houses Of habitation＝nor do the houses present any signs of habitation。
日出前的一小时
查尔斯·狄更斯
日出前的一小时，城里一片冷清和孤寂，我们惯于看到的在一日中其他时刻挤满匆忙人群的大街变得空荡荡、静悄悄，整天人来人往，活动频繁的房屋，此刻门户紧闭，寂静无声。醉鬼，放荡者、犯罪分子都不见了，居民中比较循规蹈矩，持重沉着的人们还没有醒来开始他们一天的工作，大街死一般地寂静，似乎也染上了死一般的色彩，在拂晓阴沉、灰暗的光线里显得冷清而毫无生气。到处都有一扇扇半开半掩的卧室窗户，表明天气炎热，屋主人睡眠不宁，那边百叶窗里透露出摇曳的微光，表明那房间里有人卧病或守夜。除了那忧郁的灯光，街上一片死寂，住房里也没有人活动的迹象。
9
The Flight of Youth
Richard Henry Stoddard
There are gains for all our losses.
There are balms for all our pain:
But when youth, the dream, departs(1)
It takes something from our hearts,
And it never comes again.
We are stronger, and are better,
Under manhood’s sterner reign:(2)
Still we feel that something sweet
Followed youth, with flying feet(3),
And will never come again.
Something beautiful is vanished,
And we sigh for it in vain;
We behold it everywhere(4),
On the earth, and in the air,
But it never comes again !(5)
*注释
(1)when youth, the dream，departs： 时间状语从句。句中dream是youth的同位语，诗人把"青春"比作"梦"。
(2) Under manhood’s sterner reign： 在成年时代较严峻的治理下。意即，成年时代人们不能再象在青春时代那样陶醉在美梦之中了。
(3) with flying feet： 以飞快的脚步，飞速地。
(4) behold it everywhere： behold＝see,看到(文学用语)，it=something beautiful。下一行中的on the earth和in the air进一步说明everywhere。
(5) But it never comes again! 指的是对个人来说，青春一去不复返;与前面behold it everywhere相对照，抒发了诗人惆怅惋惜的心情。
青春的飞逝
理查德·亨利·斯托达德
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!
10
The Importance of Scientific Experiments
William Stanley Jevons
The rise of modern science may perhaps be considered to date as far back as the time of Roger Bacon(1), the wonderful monk and philosopher of
*注释
(1)Roger Bacon： 罗杰·培根(1214-1292)，英国僧侣及哲学家，实验科学的先驱。
(2) Oxford： 牛津，举世闻名的英国的一所大学城。牛津大学(Oxford University)位于此。
(3) Galileo： 伽利略(1564--1642)，意大利物理学家及天文学家。
(4) Aristotle： 亚理斯多德(公元前384-322)，古希腊哲学家和科学家。
(5) the Leaning Tower of Pisa： 比萨斜塔。Pisa：意大利中部城市。
(6) It is Galileo’s spirit…that has led to…：这是强调主语的结构。
科学实验的重要性
威廉·斯坦利·杰文斯
现代科学的兴起也许要追溯到罗杰·培根的时代.罗杰·培根是牛津杰出的僧侣和哲学家，他出生于1214年，死于 1292年。他可能是中世纪第一个提出我们必须通过对周围事物进行观察和实验来学习科学的人，他自己也有许多卓越的发现。然而，生活在三百多年之后的伽利略(1564-1642),却是好几个伟大人物中最伟大的一个，这些人在意大利，法国，德国和英国开始逐步使人们看到许多重要的真理是可以通过掌握得当的观察去发现的。在伽利略之前，学者们相信大的物体掉到地面比小的物体要快，因为亚理斯多德是这样说的。可是，伽利略登上比萨斜塔的顶端，让两块体积不相等的石头同时落地，从而向一些他带去观看实验的朋友们证明，亚理斯多德错了。正是伽利略的这种直接到大自然中去通过实验来证明我们的判断和理论的精神，导致了所有现代科学的伟大发现。
11
Night in the open world
Robert Louis Stevenson
Night is a dead and monotonous period under a roof(1); but in the open world(2) it passes lightly, with its stars and dews and perfumes, and the hours are marked by changes in the face of Nature. What seems a kind of temporal death to people choked between walls and curtains(3) is only a light and living slumber to the man who sleeps afield. All night long he can hear Nature breathing deeply and freely; even as she(4) takes her rest she turns and smiles; and there is one stirring hour, unknown to those who dwell in houses, when a wakeful influence goes abroad over the sleeping hemisphere, and all the outdoor world are on their feet(5). It is then that the cock first crows, not this time to announce tile dawn, but like a cheerful watchman speeding the course of night. Cat- fie awake on the meadows; sheep break their fast(6) on dewy hill-sides, and change to a new lair among the ferns; and houseless men, who have lain down with the fowls, open their dim eyes and behold the beauty of the night.
*注释
（1）under a roof： 在屋顶下，指在室内。
(2) in the open world： 在露天世界，指在室外(野外)。
(3) What seems…walls and curtains： 主语从句，其中 choked between…为分词短语，修饰the people。
(4)she： 指Nature。
(5)all the outdoor world are on their feet： all the outdoor world指室外的万物，所以动词用are，代词用their；(be) on one's feet：站起来。
(6)break their fast：开斋，吃早饭。
露天世界的夜晚
罗伯特·路易斯·斯蒂文森
在室内，夜是死气沉沉，单调乏味的时刻。但是在露天世界里，有星星，有露珠，还有芬芳的香气，黑夜轻快地流逝，而大自然的面貌却在夜里时刻变化着。禁锢在室内和帘后的人们觉得夜似乎是短暂的死亡，而露宿野外的人却觉得夜只是一场充满生机的微睡。他整夜能听见大自然深沉的、自由自在的呼吸。大自然即使在休息时也在转动和微笑。当沉睡着的半球出现韪醒迹象的时候，室外的万物都起来丁，那种忙碌的时刻是居住在室内的人所不知道的。雄鸡最先啼鸣，这时不是报晓，而是象欢乐的更夫在催黑夜快走。草地上牛群醒来露珠晶莹的山坡上羊群在进早餐，并且在羊齿植物丛中改换新的羊窝；与禽鸟共眠的无家可归的人们睁开了惺松的双眼，观赏美丽的夜色。
12
Accepting the Command of the Army
George Washington
You may believe me, when I assure you in the most solemn manner that, so far from(2) 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(3) of its being a trust(4) too great for my capacity; and I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay were to be seven times seven years(5). But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking it(6) is designed to answer some good purpose ....
I shall rely confidently on that Providence(7) which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall(8). I shall feel no pain from the toil or danger of the campaign; my unhappiness will flow from(9) the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone. I therefore beg that you will summon your whole fortitude, and pass your time as agree- ably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this(10), and to hear it from your own pen.
*注释
(1)accepting the command of the army： 受命统率全军。华盛顿于1775年就任全军总司令时给爱妻写了一封信。本文摘自这封信的两段。
(2) far from： 远远不;完全不。
(3) not only from…．but from…： 不仅由于……而且由于……。but后面省去了also. ．
(4) its being a trust： 这是一种信任。动名词短语，作介词of的宾语。
(5)if my stay were to be seven times seven years：假如我在外数十年。虚拟语气。seven times seven：许许多多。
(6) my undertaking it： 我来承担这一任务。动名词短语， 作is designed的主语。
(7) Providence： 大写时，解释为"上帝"。
(8)mot doubting but that…： 深信……。这里but无实义，but that相当于that,
(9)flow from：来自。
(10) this： 代词，代替前面的you will summon your whole fortitude，and pass your time as agreeably as possible。
受命统率全军
乔治·华盛顿
你可以相信我，我极其庄严地向你保证我根本没有追求过这项任命，而是竭尽全力，千方百计地回避它。这不仅是因为我不愿意同你以及全家人分别，而且因为我深知责任重大，苎我力所能及。另外，倘若我出门数十载寻求前景非常遥远的幸福，那还比不上在家中与你相聚一个月那样真正幸福。但是，既然命运已赋予我这个使命，我希望，安排我来承担这个任务是为了使我有所建树。……
我将信赖一直保佑我和降福于我的上帝，深信到秋天我将平安地回到你的身边。对出征所带来的艰辛和危险，我不会感到痛苦，使我难过的是我知道你独自一人留在家中必然感到焦虑不安。因此，我恳求你鼓起全部勇气，尽量愉快地过日子.没有什么比听到你过得愉快的消息--并且是从你的笔下听到这消息，能使我感到更大的欣慰了．
13
Happy Life at a Tavern
James Boswell
We dined at an excellent inn at Chapelhouse(2), where Dr. Johnson expatiated on the felicity of England in its taverns and inns, and triumphed over(3) the French for not having, in any perfection, the tavern life. "There is no private house," said he, "in which people can enjoy themselves so well as at a capital tavern. Let there be ever so great plenty of good things(4), ever so much grandeur, ever so much elegance, ever so much desire that everybody should be easy, in the nature of things(5) it cannot be: there must always be some degree of care and anxiety. The master of the house is anxious to entertain his guests; the guests are anxious to be agreeable to him; and no man but a very impudent dog(6) indeed can as freely command what is in another’s house as if it were his own(7). Whereas at a tavern there is a general freedom from anxiety. You are sure you are welcome; the more noise you make, the more trouble you give, the more good things you call for, the welcomer you are. No servants(8) will attend you with the alacrity which waiters(9) do, who are excited with the prospect of an immediate reward(10) in proportion as(11) they please. No, sir; there is nothing which has as yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.
*注释
(1)tavern： 英国乡村中供给酒莱的小客栈o
(2) Chapelhouse： 查普尔壕斯，英国伦敦附近的一个小村镇。
(3) triumphed over： 因胜过而表现欣喜。
(4) Let there be ever so…： 此句中Let表示假设。
(5) in the nature of things： 按照事物的性质，实际上。
(6) no man but a very impudent dog： 也可译作"除了真正不懂礼貌的畜生外，谁也不……"。a very impudent dog此处指极其无礼的鲁莽汉。
(7) as if it were his own： 行为方式状语，内含与事实相反的情况，所以动词用虚拟语气。
(8) servants： 此处指私人住宅(private house)里的仆人。
(9) waiters： 此处指tavern里的店倌。
(10) an immediate reward： 能立即到手的报酬，意即小费。 ．
(11)in proportion as：与……成比例。通常用in proportion to…，后面接从句时用as。这句的意思是他们所得的小费多少与他们取悦顾客的程度成正比
小客栈的乐趣
詹姆斯·鲍斯韦尔
我们在查普尔壕斯一家极好的小客栈里吃饭，约翰逊博土在那儿详细叙述了英格兰的小客栈和小旅馆的妙处，并得意洋洋地指出法国人没有任何这等完美的小客栈生活。"任何私人住宅，"他说，"都不能使人们象在一家顶好的小客栈里那样舒适愉快。尽管那里好东西应有尽有，尽管屋宇是那样的宏伟，陈设是那样的雅致，尽管主人一心一意要让每个人都感到自由自在，而实标上这是不可能实现的．相反，那里总是有着某种程度的顾虑和急切的心情．屋主人要小心地招待客人，客人要留神地迎合主人．除了非常无礼的鲁莽家伙，决没有人在别人的屋于里会象在自己家里那样可以随心所欲，颐指气使。然而在小客栈里就根本没有这种顾虑了．在这里，你肯定是受欢迎的，你嗓门越大，你越添麻烦，你要的好东西越多，你就越受欢迎。没有一个仆人会象受到小费刺激的店倌那样殷勤地侍候你，因为店倌的侍候越中意，你给小费越慷慨。投有的，先生，在人类迄今所创造的一切事物中，投有什么能象一家优美的乡村小客栈或者小旅馆那样给人们提供那么多的乐趣。
14
Who Loves His Country （1）
Nancy Byrd Turner
Who Loves His Country
Who loves his country will not rest
Content with(2) vow and pledge alone,
But flies her banner in his breast
And counts her destiny his own(3) --
Not only when the bugle plays
Stands forth to give his life for her,
But on the field of common days
Is strong to live his life(4) for her.
He is not satisfied to claim
As heritage her power and fame,(5)
But, striving, earns the light to wear
The shining honor of her name.
*注释
(1)Who loves his country：who在这里作whoever解，意即"热爱祖国的人"；这种用法在现代英语中已属罕见。
(2)rest content with： 以……为满足。
(3) And counts her destiny his own： 把祖国的命运视为自己的命运。
(4) to live his life： 度过他的一生。不定式短语，修饰strong。
(5)He is not satisfied to claim as heritage her power and fame： 他并不满足于要求承袭祖国的威力与声望。as heritage为宾语补语。这里把as heritage提前，是为了使诗句押韵(claim, fame，name)。
爱国志士
南希·伯德·特纳
爱国志士决不满足于
泛泛的誓词与诺言，
而要在胸中扬起祖国的旗帜
与她共命运，同呼吸--－
不只是在军号吹响的时刻
毅然挺身而出，为国捐躯，
就是在平常的日子里
也为她呕心沥血，坚定不渝。
爱国志士决不满足于
承袭祖国的威力与声望，
而要奋发图强，去赢得权利
以分享祖国英名的光辉荣誉。
15
Address at
Abraham Lincoln
Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. (2)
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated(3), can long endure. We are met(4) on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live(5). It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow(6) -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us- that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under Cod, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of tile people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth(7).
*注释
(1) Gettysburg： 葛提斯堡。美国宾夕法尼亚州南部边境的小镇。美国内战史上南、北军之间规模量大的关键一仗在此发生，双方死伤各约二万五千人．林肯总统于
(2)"All men are created equal"： "一切人生来平等"，是美国第三，四届总统杰佛逊在美国"独立宣言’中写下的名言。
(3) so conceived and so dedicated： 指第一句中的conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal。so是副词，意为，这样地，如上所述那样地。
(4)are met： 集会。
(5)who here gave their lives that that nation might live： 为了这个国家的生存而献身的……。定语从句，其中第一个that是连词，引导目的状语，第二个that是指示代词．修饰nation。
(6) we cannot..： 我们无法……。这里we cannot重复了三次，以加深印象井抒发强烈的情感。这种修饰法称为句首重复(Anaphora)．常用于演说和诗歌。
(7)--that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion...shall not perish from the earth： 破折号后面以分号隔开的四个以that引导的从句是 the great task的同位语并列结构。
葛提斯堡演说
亚伯拉罕·林肯
八十年前，我们的先辈在这块大陆上创建了一个新的国家。他孕育了自由之中，奉行一切人生来平等的原则。现在，我们正从事于一场伟大的内战，以考验这个国家，或者说，以考验任何孕育于自由并奉行上述原则的国家能否长久生存。我们聚集在这场战争中的一个伟大的战场上。我们在此集会，是为了把这战场的一部分奉献给那些为这个国家的生存而献身的烈士，作为他们的最后安息之所。我们这样做，是理所当然、恰如其分的。
但是，从更为广泛的意义上来说，我们无法奉献、无法圣化、无法神化这块土地。那些曾在这里战斗过的勇敢的生者与死者已经将这块土地圣化，这远不是我们微薄的力量所能增减的。全世界不会注意，也不会长久记住我们今天在这里所讲的话。但是，全世界永远不会忘记这些勇士在这里做过的事。对我们这些活着的人来说，倒是应该把自己奉献于勇士们以崇高的精神向前推进而尚未完成的事业，应该把自己奉献于依然摆在我们面前的伟大任务--我们要从这些可敬的死者身上汲取更多的献身精神，来完成他们为之献出全部忠诚的事业；我们要在这里下定最大的决心，不让烈士们的鲜血白流；要在上帝的保佑下，使我们的国家获得自由的新生；要使我们这个民有、民治、民享的政府永世长存。
16
Animal And Machine
The body of an animal may well be compared with(1) some machine like a locomotive engine. Indeed, the animal body is a machine. It is a machine composed of(2) many parts, each part doing some particular kind of work for which a particular kind of structure fits it(3); and all the parts are dependent on each other and work together for the accomplishment of the total business of the machine. The locomotive must be provided with fuel, such as coal or wood or other combustible substance, the consumption of which furnishes the force or energy of the machine. The animal body must be provided with fuel, which is called food, which furnished similarly the energy of the animal. Oxygen must be provided for the combustion of the fuel in the locomotive and of the food(4) in the body. The locomotive is composed of special parts: the fire box for the reception and combustion of fuel; the steam pipes for the carriage of steam; the wheels for locomotion; the smokestack for throwing off waste. The animal body is similarly composed of parts: the alimentary canal for the reception and assimilation of food; the excretory organs for the throwing off of waste matter; the arteries and veins for the carriage oxygen and food-holding blood; the legs or wings for locomotion.
*注释
(1)may well be compared with…： 很可以与……相比。
(2)composed of…： 由……组成。分词短语作定语。
(3) for which a particular kind of structure fits it： 有种特殊结构使它适合起这种作用。定语从句，修饰some particular kind of work．句中的it代替each part．
(4) of the food： 即for the combustion of the food．这里的combustion意为氧化．
动物与机器
乔丹和凯洛格
动物的身体很可以与某种机器如火车头相比。实际上，动物的身体就是一台机器．它是一台由许多部件组成的机器。每个部件起某种特定的作用，并具有特殊构造使它适合于这种作用，所有的部件互相依赖、彼此合作，以完成机器的整个任务。火车头必须添加燃料，如煤，木柴或其他可燃物质。燃料的消耗给机器提供动力或能量。动物的身体也得补充燃料，它被称为食物，给动物同样地提供能量。为使火车头里的燃料燃烧以及动物体内的食物氧化，必须提供氧气。火车头是由特殊部件构成的；接受并燃烧燃料的炉膛、运送蒸气的管道，使车头运行的轮子及排出废气的烟囱。与此相似，动物的身体也是由各种部件构成的：摄入并吸收食物的消化道、排出废物的排泄器官以及运送氧气和保存养料的血液的动脉与静脉，还有使动物行进的腿或翅膀。
17
A little Girl
Watts-Dunton Theodore
Sitting on a grassy grave, beneath one of the windows of the church, was a little girl.(1) With her head bent back(2) she was gazing up at the sky and singing, while one of her little hands was pointing to a tiny cloud that hovered like a golden feather above her head. The sun, which had suddenly become very bright, shining on her glossy hair, gave it a metallic luster, and it was difficult to say what was the color, dark bronze or black. So completely absorbed was she in watching the cloud to which her strange song or incantation seemed addr0ssed, that she did not observe me when I rose and went towards her.(3) Over her head, high up in the blue, a lark that was soaring towards’ the same gauzy cloud was singing, as if in rivalry(4). As I slowly approached the child, I could see by her forehead, which, in the sunshine seemed like a globe of pearl, and especially by her complexion, that she was uncommonly lovely. Her eyes, which at one moment seemed blue-gray, at another violet(5), were shaded by long black lashes, curving backward in a most peculiar way, and these matched in hue her eyebrows, and the tress- es that were tossed about her tender throat and were quivering in the sunlight. All this I did not take in(6) at once; for at first I could see nothing but those quivering, glittering, changeful eyes turned up into my face. Gradually the other features, especially the sensitive full-lipped mouth, grew upon me as I stood silently gazing. Here seemed to me a more perfect beauty than had ever come to me in my loveliest dreams of beauty. Yet it was not her beauty so much as the look she gave me that fascinated me, melted
*注释
(1)Sitting on a grassy grave…Was a little girl： 这是一句全倒装句，按正常语序可以写成:A little girl was sitting on a grassy grave．．．．
(2)with her head bent back： with+名词或代词宾格十分词(或形容词，介词短语等)作状语，表示伴随情况。
(3)So completely absorbed was she…that．．．： 这是一个so…that…结构的主从复合句，其中主句采用全倒装语序。address…to：对……说话。这里是指对着云彩歌唱或念念有词。that引导的是一个本身带有时间状语从句的结果状语从句。
(4)in rivalry(with)：与……比高低，争雄，斗艳，等等。
(5)at another violet：＝at another moment(seemed) violet：一会儿又象是紫罗兰色的．
(6)take in：接受，领会。
(7) Yet it was not her beauty so much as the look．．．that fascinated me, melted me：not so much．．．as作"与其说……不如说……"解释. It was…that…用作强调结构。melted me： 融化了我，即；使我陶醉。
小 女 孩
西奥多·瓦茨·邓顿
在教堂的一扇窗下长满绿草的坟堆上，坐着个小女孩。她仰着头，望着天空，唱着歌儿。她的小手指点着一朵飘浮在她头顶的金色羽毛般的小彩云。突然间，阳光显得格外灿烂，照在她光泽的头发上，给它涂上一层金属似的光彩，很难说出它突竟是什么颜色，是深褐色，还是黑色。她是那么全神贯注地望着彩云，她那奇妙的歌声，或可说是喃喃自语，似乎是对着那彩云而发的。因而她没有注意到我站起身来朝她走去。在她上空高高的蓝天里，一只展翅飞向那朵轻盈透明的彩云的云雀也在歌唱，似乎在与她赛e(。我慢步向小女孩走去，她那在阳光下如同珍珠一样圆润的前额，特别是她那肤色，使我感到她真是异常可爱。媳耶黑黑的长睫毛非常别致地朝后弯曲着，掩映着一双一会儿象是蓝灰色的，一会儿又象是紫罗兰色的眼睛。她的长睫毛同她的眉毛和头发色泽调和，披拂在她娇嫩的脖子上的发绺，在阳光里轻轻飘动。我并没有马上领略到这一切，因为我一开始只注意了那双闪闪发光、富于表情、盯着我看的眼睛。我伫立在一边默默地注视着她，才渐渐地看清了她容貌的其他部分，特别是那张灵敏而又丰满的小嘴。呈现在我眼苎的这一美的形象似乎比我在最美好的梦境中所见过的更美。然而，与其说是她的美丽，不如说是她朝我看的那种眼神，更使我着迷，更使我陶醉．
18
Spring
Thomas Nashe
Spring, the sweet Spring, is the year’s pleasant king(1);
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting(2), the pretty birds do sing(3),
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!(4)
The palm(5) and may(6) make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk’ and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay,(7)
Cuckoo, jug-jug’ pu,we, to-witta-woo !
The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit(8),
In every street these tunes bur ears do greet(9),
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
Spring! The sweet Spring!
*注释
(1)the year’s Pleasant king： 涵义是"一年四季中以春为最欢乐的时期"，king比喻一岁之首。
(2)Cold doth not sting： 寒冷不再砭骨。doth是古英语中do的第三人称现在时态形式，现仅用于诗歌中。
(3)the pretty birds do sing： 助动词do是为了韵律的需要而加进去的。
(4)cuckoo： 布谷鸟叫声;jug：夜莺的呜叫声;pu-we：田凫的鸣声 to-witta-woo：泛指各种鸟鸣。
(5)palm: 棕榈。其枝叶常作为胜利的象征。
(6)may： 山楂花。因在五月盛开，故名may。
(7)And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay： 句中aye是古英语副词，解作"经常"s tune用作动词，在古英语中解作"唱"; lay是名词，在古英语中解作"歌曲"。这些词常见于诗歌中。
(8)old wives a-sunning sit：sit是谓语动词。a-sunning：晒太阳，作状语; a-作为特殊介词，在现代英语中已不如此使用。例如：在现代英语中不说He went a-fishing而说He went fishing。
(9)these tunes our ears do greet：do greet是谓语动词， our ears是它的宾语。把greet放在句尾是为了和该节第一行的feet押韵
春天
托马斯·纳什
春天，甜蜜的春天，一年中欢乐的君王，
春光中万物昌盛，春光中少女们团团起舞，
寒冷不再砭骨，美丽的鸟儿处处啼唱，
咕咕，喳一喳，卜一威，嘟一威嗒一喔!
棕榈树和山楂花把乡村房舍点缀得喜气洋洋，
小羔羊活蹦欢跳，牧羊人整日价笛声袅袅，
我们时时斯到鸟儿唱起快乐的曲调，
咕咕，喳一喳， 卜一威，嘟一威嗒一喔!
田野间一片芬芳，盛开的雏菊紧贴在我们脚旁，
年轻的情侣对对相聚，老妇人坐着沐浴阳光，
每条街上都有这样的曲调在我们耳边回荡，
咕咕，喳一喳， 卜一威，嘟一威嗒一喔!
春天!甜蜜的春天!
19
Choosing An Occupation
Hodeslea,
November 5, 1892
Dear Sir,
I am very sorry that the pressure of other occupations has prevented me from sending an earlier reply to your letter.
In my opinion a man’s first duty is to find a way(1) of supporting himself, thereby relieving other people of(2) the necessity of supporting him. Moreover, the learning to do work of practical value in the world, in an exact and careful manner, is of itself(3) a very important education, the effects of which make themselves felt(4) in all other pursuits. The habit of doing that which you do not care about’ when you would much rather be doing something else, is invaluable. It would have saved me a frightful waste of time if I had ever had it drilled into me in youth.(5)
Success in any scientific career requires an unusual equipment of capacity, industry, and energy. If you possess that equipment, you will find leisure enough after your daily commercial work is over, to make an opening(6) in the scientific ranks for yourself. If you do not, you had better stick to commerce. Nothing is less to be desired than the fate of a young man who, as the Scotch proverb says, in "trying to make a spoon spoils a horn,"(7) and becomes a mere hanger- on in literature or in science, when he might have been a useful and a valuable member of Society in other occupations.(8)
I think that your father ought to see this letter.
Yours faithfully,
T. H. Huxley
*注释
(1)to find a way： 设法。
(2)relieving other people of．．．： 使别人免除……。relieve Sb．of sth．：free sb．from sth．
(3)of itself：本身。
(4)make themselves felt： felt是过去分词，作宾语补语，意为"被人感觉到"，此处可解释为"体现"。
(5) It would have saved．．．if l had ever had it drilled into me…： 过去时态虚拟语气。第二个it指the habit。drill into：通过反复教导或训练使人学会。
(6)to make an opening：开辟一条路。
(7) trying to make a spoon spoils a horn： 原为苏格兰谚语："匙子做不成反而毁了做匙子的羊角"，含有两者都落空之意。
(8)Nothing is less to be desired than…in other occupations： 这是一个比较复杂的主从复合句，主句为Nothing is less to be desired，它带有一个比较状语从句than the fate of a young man(is to be desired)，该从句本身又带有一个定语从句，定语从句中who的谓语动词是spoils和becomes，as the Scotch proverb says是插入语。when he might…为定语从句中的状语从句，修饰becomes…。
选择职业
伊斯特本，荷达斯里亚
亲爱的阁下：
近来忙于各种事务，未能及早复信，深感抱歉。
依我看来，一个．人的首要职责是设法自立，以免除别人对他生活的负担。此外，学会严谨而审慎地从事社会上有实际价值的工作，其本身就是一种非常重要的教育，其效果必将体现在所有别的事业上。在你宁愿做其他事情的时候，却仍能够从事你不感兴趣的工作，这种习惯是十分可贵的。要是我在年轻时养成了这种习惯，就可以避免时间上惊人的浪费。
任何科学事业上的成就，都需要具有不寻常的才能、勤勉和精力。你若具有上述资质，你在日常商业工作之余，将有足够的闲暇为自己在科学界觅得立足之地。你若不具有那种资质，还是一心经商为宜。天下最不足取的事情，莫过于一个年轻人如同苏格兰谚语所说的那样，"匙子没做成，倒毁了羊角，"成为在文学或科学领域里滥竽充数的食客，要是去从事其他工作的话，他或许会成为社会上有用和有价值的一员。
我认为此信应请你父亲一阅。
你的忠实的
T．H·赫胥黎
20
A Curious Decision
A poor chimney-sweeper, who had not enough money to buy a meal, stopped one hot summer day at noon before an eating-house, and remained regaling his nose with the smell of the victuals. The master of the shop told him several times to go away, but the sweep(1) could not leave the savory smell, though unable to purchase the taste of the food. At last the cook came out of the shop, and taking hold of the sweep, declared that, as he had been feeding upon(2) the smell of his victuals, he should not go away without paying half the price of a dinner. The poor fellow said that he neither could nor would pay, and that he would ask the first person who should pass, whether it was not an unreasonable and un- just demand.
The case was referred to a policeman,(3) who happened to pass at that moment. He said to the sweep: "As you have been feasting one of your senses with the odor of this man’s meat(4), it is but just you should make him some recompense; therefore you shall(5), in your turn, regale one of his senses, which seems to be more insatiable than your appetite. How much money have you ?"
"I have but two pence in all the world, sir, and I must buy me some bread."
"Never mind," answered tile officer, "take your two pence between your hands; now rattle them loudly."
The sweep did so, and the officer, turning to the cook, said: "Now, sir, I think he has paid you: the smell of you victuals regaled his nostrils; the sound of his money has tick- led your ears."
This decision gave more satisfaction to the bystanders than to the cook, but it was the only payment he could obtain.
*注释
(1) the sweep： 扫烟囱的工人。
(2) feed upon(on)...： 以……为食物。
(3) The case was referred to a policeman： 此事提交警察处理。to refer…to：把……提交。
(4)meat： 这里作"食物"解．
(5) you shall： shall用于陈述句的第二、第三人称时，表示说话者的意向，命令，允诺，警告等。这里作"应该" 解。在现代英语中，表示这种意思时，一般都用should代替shall。
奇妙的载决
有一个贫穷的扫烟囱工人，穷得连一顿饭也买不起。一个炎热的夏天中午，他在一家餐馆前停下来，站在那儿用鼻子贪婪地嗅着食物的香味。餐馆老板儿次叫他走开，但他虽然没有能力买食物来尝尝，却又舍不得离开这令人馋涎欲滴的香味。最后，厨师从店堂内走了出来，一把抓住那个扫烟囱工人，说他闻饱了菜肴的捍味，硬要他付一半饭钱，不然，就不放他走。那个穷汉子说他既付不起，也不愿意付，并且提出要请第一个过路人来评一评这样的要求是否公道合理。
这时候，一个警察碰巧从旁边经过，这事就告到了他那里。警察对扫烟囱工人说："既然你的一个感官享受了这人烹调的食物的香味，你就应该给他一定的报酬，这是公平合理的；所以现在该轮到你使他的一个感官得到享受，他的这一感官看来比的胃口更难以满足。你身上有多少钱？"
"总共只有两个便士，我还要买面包吃呢，先生。"
"不要紧，"警察回答道，"把你的两个便士用双手捂着；现在使劲把它们咔嗒咔嗒地摇出声音来。"
扫烟囱的工人这样做了。于是警察转身对厨师说："先生，我想现在他给了你报酬了；你那食物的香味给了他鼻子以享受；他那钱币的响声也饱了斧耳福。"
这一裁决使旁观者大为满意，厨师虽然不满意，但他也只能得到这样的报酬了。
21
James Watt And The Teakettle
James Baldwin
A little Scotch boy was sitting in his grandmother’s kitchen. He was watching the red flames in the wide open fire- place and quietly wondering about the causes of things. In- deed, he was always wondering and always wanting to know.
"Grandma," he presently asked, "what makes the fire burn ?"
This was not the first time he had puzzled his grand- mother with questions that she could not answer. So she went on with her preparations for supper and paid no heed to his query.
Above the fire an old-fashioned teakettle was hanging. The water within it was beginning to bubble. A thin cloud of steam was rising from the spout. Soon the lid began to rattle and shake. The hot vapor puffed out at a furious rate(2). Yet when the lad peeped under the lid he could see nothing.
"Grandma, what is in the teakettle ?" he asked.
"Water, my child--nothing but water(3)."
"But I know there is something else. There is some- thing in there that lifts the lid and makes it rattle."
The grandmother laughed. "Oh, that is only steam," she said. "You can see it coming out of the spout and puffing up under the lid."
"But you said there was nothing but water in the kettle. How did the steam get under the lid ?"
"Why(4), my dear, it comes out of the hot water. The hot water makes it." The grandmother was beginning to feel puzzled.
The lad lifted the lid and peeped inside again. He could see nothing but the bubbling water. The steam was not visible until after it was fairly out of the kettle.
"How queer !" he said. "The steam must be very strong to lift the heavy iron lid. Grandma, how much water did you put into the kettle?"
"About a quart(5), Jamie(6)."
"Well, if the steam from so little water is so strong, why would not the steam from a great deal of water be a great deal stronger? Why couldn’t it be made to lift a much greater weight ? Why couldn’t it be made to turn wheels ?"
The grandmother made no reply. These questions of Jamie’s were more puzzling than profitable,(7) she thought. She went about(8) her work silently, and Jamie sat still in his place and studied the teakettle.
*注释
(1)James Watt： 詹姆斯·瓦特(1736--1819)，苏格兰工程师，蒸汽机的发明者。
(2) at a furious rate： 猛烈地。
(3) nothing but water： 除了水以外什么也设有；只有水，
(4) why： 感叹词,"嗳"(此处表示犹豫)。
(5) quart： 夸脱(英美容量单位，等于四分之-加仑或二品脱)。
(6) Jamie： 杰米，是James的爱称。
(7) These questions…more puzzling than profitable： 这句的意思是：与其说杰米的问题有什么用处，倒不如说它们令人困惑。
(8)went about：从事;干。
詹姆斯·瓦特和水壶
詹姆斯．鲍德温
一个苏格兰小男孩坐在祖母的厨房里。他望着大壁炉里逼红的火焰，默默地思索着事物发生的缘由。确实，他总是产生疑惑，总是想要知道究竟。
"奶奶，什么东西使炉火燃烧的?"一会儿他问道。
奶奶被他提出的问题所难倒已经不是第-次了。所以她继续做她的晚餐，不理会他的疑问。
悬吊在炉子上的一只老式水壶里，水开始沸腾，壶嘴冒出淡淡的云雾般的蒸气。不一会儿，壶盖开始掀动，发出格格的响声。接着，热气猛烈地喷将出来。可是，孩子仔细窥看壶盖下面，却什么也没看见。
"奶奶，壶里装的是什么呀？"他问道。
"水呀，孩子，没有别的东西。"
"但是我知道还有别的东西，里面有东西在把壶盖顶起来，而且使壶盖格格响。"
奶奶笑了起来，说："啊那是蒸气。你可以看见蒸气从壶口冒出来，还在壶盖底下噗吱噗吱着。"
"但你刚才说壶里只有水，没有别的东西。那未壶盖底下的蒸气又是打哪儿来的呢？"
"嗳，亲爱的，它是从热水里出来的。热水产生蒸气。"奶奶开始感到说不清楚了。
孩子拎起壶盖，再一次缶壶里窥探，只见壶里的水在噗噗地冒着气泡，其他可什么也没发现。蒸气只有在完全离开水壶以后才看得见。
"多么奇怪！"他说。"蒸气要顶起这样重的铁盖子，力量一定很不小。奶奶，你在壶里装了多少水呢？"
"大约
"噢，如果这么一点点水产生的蒸气力量有那么大，那末大量的水产生的蒸气力量不就大得多了吗？为什么不可以使蒸气顶起比这重得多的东西呢？为什么不可以使蒸气转动轮子呢？"
奶奶没有回答。她想：杰米的这些问题没有什么用处，却难以回答。她默默地继续干她的活，而杰米仍一动不动地坐在老地方研究着这把水壶。
22
A Wet Sunday In A Country Inn
A wet Sunday in a country inn ! Whoever has had the luck to experience one(1) can alone judge of(2) my situation. The rain pattered against the casements; the bells tolled for church with a melancholy sound. I went to the windows in quest of something to amuse the eye; but it seemed as if I had been placed completely out of the reach of ail amusement. The windows of my bed-room looked out(3) among tiled roofs and stacks of chimneys, while those of my sitting-room commanded a full view of(4) the stable yard. I know of nothing more calculated to make a man sick of this world than a stable yard on a rainy day. The place was littered with wet straw that had been kicked about by travellers and stable-boys. In one corner was a stagnant pool of water, surrounding an island of muck; there were several half-drowned fowls crowded together under a cart, among which was a miserable, crest-fallen cock, drenched out of ail life and spirit; his drooping tail matted, as it were, into a single feather, along which the water trickled from his hack; near the cart was a half- dozing cow, chewing her cud, and standing patiently to be rained on, with wreaths of vapour(5) rising from her reeking hide; a wall-eyed(6) horse, tired of the loneliness of the stable, was poking his spectral head out of a window, with the rain dripping on it from the eaves; an unhappy cur, chained to a dog-house hard by, uttered something every now and then between a bark and a yelp; a drab of a kitchen wench(7) tramped backwards and forwards through the yard in pat- tens, looking as sulky as the weather itself; everything, iq short, was comfortless and forlorn, excepting a crew of hardened ducks, assembled like boon companions round a puddle and making a riotous noise over their liquor.
*注释
(1) One： 代词：这里指的是"A wet Sunday in a country inn"，作experience的宾语。
(2)judge of：对……作出评价。
(3)looked out： (房间等)面朝。
(4)commanded a full view of…． 俯瞰……的全景;居高临下，可以全部看见…"。
(5) wreaths of vapour： wreath是烟、云作螺旋状的涡圈，这里的wreath of vapour指缭绕升起的水气涡圈。
(6) wall-eyed： 眼白特别大的，两醒珠向外斜视的。
(7)a drab of a kitchen wench： 一个邋遢厨娘。drab：不整洁的女人，邋遢女人。荚语中常用a … of a…这种名词结构来描写人或物，如a fool or a man(一个呆子般的男人)，a beast of a Place(一个很脏的地方)等等。
乡村客栈一个阴雨的星期天
华盛顿·欧文
乡村客栈一个阴雨的星期天!凡有幸度过这样一天的人，都能体会我现在的处境。雨点子噼噼啪啪地打在窗子上，教堂里传来沉重的钟声，召唤人们去做礼拜．我走到窗前，想找一些赏心悦目的东西，但看来我已完全被摒于一切欢乐之外．从卧室的窗口望出去，是一片砖瓦的屋顶和林立的烟囱，而从起居室的窗口往下看，则能望见整个马厩院子。我觉得再电没有比雨天的马厩院子更令人厌舸的了．遍地是淋湿了的稻草，被旅客和小马倌们踢得凌乱不堪。在院子的一角，一潭污水围着孤岛似的粪堆，几只几平被雨水淋透的鸡簇拥在一辆马车底下，其中一只可怜的公鸡，倒垂着鸡冠，被淋得没精打彩，毫无生气，它那耷拉着的尾巴粘结在一起，仿佛只成了一根羽毛，雨水顺着它从背脊往下直淌，高马车不远处．有一头睡跟惺忪的奶牛，嘴里嚼着反刍的食物，默默地站在那里，任凭雨水打在身上，湿淋琳的背上日出缭绕的水气；一匹眼珠小而眼白特大的马厌倦了马厩里的寂寞，把它那幽灵似的脑袋从窗口探了出来，屋檐上的雨水漓沥滴沥地落在它头上；一只不幸的杂种狗被链条拴在近旁的狗窝里，时时发出似吠似嗥的声音；一个邋遢厨娘拖着木屐，迈着沉重的步子在院子里进进出出，她那郁郁不乐的神色，就象阴沉的天气一样；总之，除了一群饱经风雨的鸭子，象饮酒作乐的朋友那样聚集在污水潭的四周呷呷嬉水而外，这儿的一切都令人感到凄凉的沮丧。
23
Youth
Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spring back to dust.
Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80.
青 春
青春不是年华，而是心境；青春不是桃面、丹唇、柔膝，而是深沉意志，恢宏想象，炙热恋情；青春是生命深泉在涌流。
青春气贯长虹，勇锐盖过怯弱，进取压倒苟安。如此锐气，二十后生而有之，六旬男子则更多见。年岁有加，并非垂老，理想丢弃，方堕暮年。
岁月悠悠，衰微只及肌肤；热忱抛却，颓废必致灵魂。忧烦，惶恐，丧失自信，定使心灵扭曲，意气如灰。
无论年届花甲，拟或二八芳龄，心中皆有生命之欢乐，奇迹之诱惑，孩童般天真久盛不衰。人人心中皆有一台天线，只要你从天上人间接受美好、希望、欢乐、勇气和力量信号，你就青春永驻，风华常存。
一旦天线下降，锐气便被冰雪覆盖，玩世不恭、自暴自弃油然而生，即使年方二十，实已垂垂老矣；然则只要树起天线，捕捉乐观信号，你就有望在八十高龄告别尘寰时仍觉年轻。