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1、We have a great deal more kindness than is ever spoken. Barring all the selfishness that chills like east winds the world, the whole human family is bathed with an element of love like a fine ether. How many persons we meet in houses, whom we scarcely speak to, whom yet we honor, and who honor us! H
2、ow many we see in the street, or sit with in church, whom, though silently, we warmly rejoice to be with! Read the language of these wandering eye-beams. The heart knoweth.我们内心深处潜藏的仁慈总比我们言行中要表现出来的要多很多。尽管自私如同东风一样 刺骨。在除去了自私之后,全人类的家庭都将沐浴在爱的天空下。曾今多少我们曾经敬仰 或敬仰我们的人在偶然的机会相遇,然而我们彼此之间却没有勇气交谈。那些我们曾在路 上看到的或者一起
3、坐在教堂里的人,纵然彼此静静地没有说话,但我们却因这种偶遇的缘 分而感到欢喜和开心!用心去感受一下这些偶遇的人眼中流露出来的语言吧。你的内心 会知道答案的。The effect of the indulgence of this human affection is a certain cordial exhilaration. In poetry, and in common speech, the emotions of benevolence and complacency which are felt towards others are likened to the material
4、 effects of fire; so swift, or much more swift, more active, more cheering, are these fine inward irradiations. From the highest degree of passionate love, to the lowest degree of good-will, they make the sweetness of life.沉浸在这种人与人之间祥和友善的气氛里,能让人感到心旷神怡、精神一振。在诗词和普 通的谈话中,人们常把这种对他人产生的仁爱和自得之情与火的力量相提并论;那时
5、,我 们的内心炙热澎湃,光芒四射,如摇曳的火光般迅猛有力,令人振奋,甚至更为强烈。从 激荡人心的热恋到从容淡定的友善,这些美好的情感使人生甜美如蜜。Our intellectual and active powers increase with our affection. The scholar sits down to write, and all his years of meditation do not furnish him with one good thought or happy expression; but it is necessary to write a lette
6、r to a friend, - and, forthwith, troops of gentle thoughts invest themselves, on every hand, with chosen words. See, in any house where virtue and self-respect abide, the palpitation which the approach of a stranger causes. 我们的智慧与活力随着感情的深厚而增长。 一位学者坐下来写作,数十年的学术修为不见得能为他带来什么好点子,也不会让他下笔 如有神;但是,当他准备提笔给朋友
7、写信时,突然一下子就会文思奔涌,下起笔来左右逢 源,妙笔生花。你看,在任何一栋居所里,只要美德与自尊驻留,陌生人的到来便会让人 心向往之。A commended stranger is expected and announced, and an uneasiness betwixt pleasure and pain invades all the hearts of a household. His arrival almost brings fear to the good hearts that would welcome him. The house is dusted, all t
8、hings fly into their places, the old coat is exchanged for the new, and they must get up a dinner if they can. Of a commended stranger, only the good report is told by others, only the good and new is heard by us. He stands to us for humanity. He is what we wish. Having imagined and invested him, we
9、 ask how we should stand related in conversation and action with such a man, and are uneasy with fear. The same idea exalts conversation with him. 一旦有别人推荐的生客前来拜访,宅子里所有的人顿时会体会到一 种不安,这种夹杂着快乐与痛苦的不安能侵入每个人的心灵。陌生人的到来几乎让那些欢 迎他的好心人感到害怕与不安。屋里的灰尘被打扫一净,所有的杂物都物归原处,旧的外 套被置换一新,如果条件允许,主人们还会备好晚宴。别人在推荐陌生人时,只会向我们 夸耀他
10、为人如何如何好,我们听到的只有赞美之词和最新消息。对我们而言,他简直就是仁爱的化身,是我们心目中的完人。在经历了幻想与忙碌之后,我们会自问,怎样和这样 一位人士攀谈、打交道,内心充满了不安。这种想法使我们过度寄望于与他之间的攀谈。 We talk better than we are wont. We have the nimblest fancy, a richer memory, and our dumb devil has taken leave for the time. For long hours we can continue a series of sincere, grace
11、ful, rich communications, drawn from the oldest, secretest experience, so that they who sit by, of our own kinsfolk and acquaintance, shall feel a lively surprise at our unusual powers. 我们会一下子 变得口齿伶俐,开朗健谈,头脑灵敏、想象力丰富,以往那些口笨舌拙的老毛病也暂时不 再困扰我们。我们能连续数小时海阔天空地聊下去,时不时套用些经年的隐秘往事、谈话 真挚而得体。我们表现出的非同寻常的活力,让那些在坐的亲
12、友和熟人惊讶不已,叹为观 止。But as soon as the stranger begins to intrude his partialities, his definitions, his defects, into the conversation, it is all over. He has heard the first, the last and best he will ever hear from us. He is no stranger now. Vulgarity, ignorance, misapprehension are old acquaintances. Now, when he comes, he may get the order, the dress, and the dinner, - but the throbbing of the heart, and the communications of the soul, no more. 一旦那位生客开始在攀谈中暴露出他的偏见、观点和 短处,这一切就画上句号了。他刚刚耳闻的最美的褒奖再也不会继续了。他对于我们已不 再陌生了。粗俗、无知、误会,这一切都让人熟悉得不能再熟悉。当他再度光临时,他可 能会得到热情的礼遇,主人的盛装欢迎和晚宴但心灵的悸动和灵魂的沟通却荡然无存。