陈冠商英语背诵文选1

1
The first snow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 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 with(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 Sunrise
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 Oxford(2), who lived between the years 1214 and 1292. He was probably the first, in the mid- tide ages to assert that we must learn science by observing and experimenting on the things around us, and he himself made many remarkable discoveries. Galileo(3), however, who lived more than 800 years later (1564 to 1642), was the greatest of several great men, who in Italy, France, Germany, or Eng- land, began by degrees to show how many important truths could be discovered by well-directed observation. Before the time of Galileo, learned men believed that large bodies fall more rapidly towards the earth than small ones, because Aristotle(4) said so. But Galileo, going to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa(5), let fall two unequal stones, and proved to some friends, whom he had brought there to see his experiment, that Aristotle was in error. It is Galileo’s spirit of going direct to Nature, and verifying our opinions and theories by experiment, that. has led to all the great discoveries of modern science.(6)
*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) inde ed 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) --。