优秀的英语经典必读散文
学习好英语写作的一种方法就是看多点文章,所以小编今天就给大家分享一下英语散文,有兴趣的来学习阅读
The art of living生活的艺术
The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go.
生活的艺术在于懂得什么时候追求,什么时候放弃。
For life is a paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment.
因为生活就是一个矛盾体:它要我们紧紧抓住它赐予我们的生命之礼,然后最终又让它们从我们手中跑掉。
The rabbis of old put it this way: "A man comes into this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open."
老先生们说:“人们紧握着拳头来到这个世界上,离开这个世界时却摊开了双手。”
Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of a beauty that breaks through every pore of God's own earth.
当然我们应该紧紧把握生活,因为它美妙得不可思议,充满了从上帝的每个毛孔里蹦出来的美。
We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what was and then suddenly realize that it is no more.
我们都清楚这一点,但我们常常只有在回首往事时才会想去过去,才会突然意识到过去永远地消逝了,才会承认这个道理。
We remember a beauty that faded, a love that waned. But we remember with far greater pain that we did not see that beauty when it flowered, that we failed to respond with love when it was tendered.
我们都记得美的褪去,爱的老去。但我们更痛苦地记得美正艳时,我们却没有发现,爱正浓时,我们却没有回应。
A recent experience re-taught me this truth. I was hospitalized following a severe heart attack that had been in intensive care for several days. It was not a pleasant place.
最近自己的一个经历又令我悟出了这其中的道理。我因为严重的心脏病发作而住进了加护病房。那地方可不是好呆的。
One morning, I had to have some additional tests. The required machines were located in a building at the opposite end of the hospital, so I had to be wheeled across the courtyard on a gurney.
一天上午时分,我要接受几项辅助检查。因为检查的器械在医院对面的一幢建筑中,所以我就要穿过庭院,躺在轮床上被推到那里。
As we emerged from our unit, the sunlight hit me. That's all there was to my experience. Just the light of the sun, and yet how beautiful it was - how warming, how sparkling, how brilliant!
就在从病房出来的一瞬,迎面的阳光一下子洒在我的身上。我所感受的就只有这阳光,它是如此美丽,如此温暖,如此璀璨和辉煌!
I looken to see whether anyone else relished the sun's golden glow, but everyone was hurrying to and fro, most with eyes fixed on the ground. Then I remembered how often I, too, had been indifferent to the grandeur of each day, too preoccupied with petty and sometimes even mean concerns to respond, from that experience is really as commonplace as was the experience itself: life's gifts are precious-but we are too heedless of them.
我看看周围是否有人也沉醉在这金色的阳光中,而事实是大家都来去匆匆,大都目不斜视,双眼只顾盯着地面。继而我就想到我平常也太过于沉湎于日常的琐碎俗物中,而对身边的美景漠然甚至视而不见。从这次的经历中我所洞悉的实际就像这个经历本身一样并无什么奇特之处:生活的恩赐是珍贵的——只有我们对此留心甚少。
Here then is the first pile of life's paradoxical demands on us: Never too busy for the wonder and the awe of life. Be reverent before each dawning day. Embrace each hour. Seize each golden minute.
那么人生给予我们的第一个矛盾的真理就是:不要太过于忙碌而错过了人生的美好和庄严。虔诚地迎接每个黎明的到来。把握每个小时,抓住宝贵的每分每秒。
Hold fast to life... but not so fast that you cannot let go. This is the second side of life's coin, the opposite pole of its paradox: we must accept our losses, and learn how to let go.
紧紧地把握人生,但是又不能抓得过死,松不开手。这正是人生的另外一面,也就是矛盾的另外一面:我们要接受失去的一切,懂得如何放手。
This is not an easy lesson to learn, especially when we are young and think that world is ours to command, that whatever we desire with the full force of or passionate being can, nay, will, be ours. But then life moves along to confront us with realities, and slowly but surly this truth dawns upon us.
这个其实并不是容易做到的,尤其当我们尚年轻时,自以为世界在我们的掌控之中,而不论什么,只要是心想就会事成,而且一定能事成!但是现实往往事与愿违,然后渐渐地这第二条真理必然显现在我们面前。
At every stage of life we sustain losses- and grow in the process. We begin our independent lives only when we emerge from the womb and lose its protective shelter. We enter a progression of schools, then we leave our mothers and fathers and our childhood homes. We get married and have children and then have to let them go. We get married and have children and then have to let them go. We face the gradual or not gradual waning of our own strength. And ultimately, as the parable of the open and closed hand suggests, we must confront the inevitability of our own demise, losing ourselves, as it were, all that we were or dreamed to be.
在人生的每个阶段我们都会承受失去——也因而成长起来。当我们出生时失去母体的保护,从那一刻我们开始了独立的生命。而后我们上学了,一级一级地升上去,离开了父母和儿时的家庭。我们结婚生子然后又只能看着他们离去。我们遭遇父母及爱人的离逝。我们也要面临自己逐渐或者突然的衰老。而最终,就像握手和松手的比喻那样,我们结婚生子然后又只能看着他们离去,我们必须面对自己不可避免的死亡。就这样我们失去了一切,其中包括我们自己人生已经所有的以及尚未实现的。
Relish the Moment品味现在
Tucked away in our subconsciousness is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of city skylines and village halls.
在我们的潜意识之中隐藏着一派田园诗般的风景。我们仿佛处在一次横跨大陆的迢迢旅途之中。我们乘着火车,领略着窗外流动的景色:附近公路上驰骋的汽车、十字路口处挥手的孩童、远处山坡上吃草的牛群、不断从电厂排放出的烟雾、成片成片的玉米和小麦、平原和山谷、群山和绵延起伏的丘陵、天空衬托下城市的轮廓,以及乡间的庄园宅第。
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering — waiting,waiting, waiting for the station.
可是我们心中想得最多的却是最后的目的地。在某一天的某一时刻,我们的火车将会到站,迎接我们的将是演奏的乐队和飘舞的旗帜。一旦到了那儿,多少美妙的梦将成为现实,我们的生活也将变得完整,好像一幅拼好了的拼图。我们在车厢过道里烦躁不安地踱来踱去,咒骂火车的磨磨蹭蹭,等待着,等待着,等待着火车进站的时刻。
“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 18.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz.” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the mortgage.” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”
“当我们到站后,一切就好了!”我们呼喊着。“当我到18岁的时候。”“当我有了一辆新的450SL奔驰轿车的时候。”“当我供最小的孩子念完大学的时候。”“当我还清抵押贷款的时候。”“当我升官晋职的时候。”“当我到了退休的时候,从此就可以过上幸福的生活啦!”
Sooner or later, we must realize that there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly out distances us.
可是我们迟早会认识到人生之旅并没有什么车站,也没有什么能够“一到就可永逸”的地方。人生的真正乐趣在于旅行的过程,而车站仅仅是个梦,它总是遥遥领先于我们。
“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
“品味现在”是一句很好的箴言,尤其是把它与《圣经·诗篇》中第118篇第24段的话相结合的时候,更是如此:“今日乃主所创造;生活在今日我们将欢欣、高兴。”让人发疯的不是今天的负担,而是对昨天的悔恨及对明天的恐惧。悔恨和恐惧是一对孪生窃贼,将今天从我们身边偷走。
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more icecream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunset, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Then the station will come soon enough.
那么就停止在车厢过道里徘徊吧,别总惦记着你距离车站还有多远。何不换种活法,去攀爬更多的高山,多吃点冰激淋解解馋,经常光着脚闲游漫步,在更多的河流里畅游,多多欣赏夕阳西下,多点欢笑,少些泪花。生活要过在当下,车站会很快到达。
The unseen power of love无形的爱的力量
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
我要用全身心的爱来迎接今天。
For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men. I will make love my greatest weapon and none can defend against its force.
因为,这是一切成功的最大秘密。强力能够劈开一块盾牌,甚至毁灭生命,但是只有爱才具有无与伦比的力量,使人们敞开心扉。在掌握了爱的艺术之前,我只算商场上的无名小卒。我要让爱成为我最大的武器,没有人能抵挡它的威力。
And how will I do this? Henceforth I will look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
我该怎样做呢?从今往后,我对一切都要满收爱心,这样才能获得新生。我爱太阳,它温暖我的身体;我爱雨水。它洗净我的灵魂;我爱光明,它为我指引道路;我也爱黑夜,它让我看到星辰、我迎接快乐,它使我心胸开阔;我忍受悲伤,它升华我的灵魂;我接受报酬。因为我为此付出汗水;我不怕困难,因为它们给我挑战。
And how will I speak? I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.
我该怎样说呢?我赞美敌人。敌人于是成为朋友;我鼓励朋友,朋友于是成为手足。我要常想理由赞美别人,绝不搬弄是非,道人长短。想要批评人时,咬住舌头,想要赞美人时,高声表达。
Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.
飞鸟,清风,海浪,自然界的万物不都在用美妙动听的歌声赞美造物主吗?我也要用同样的歌声赞美她的儿女。从今往后,我要记住这个秘密。它将改变我的生活。
And how will I act? I will love all manner of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they are hidden. With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.
我该如何行动呢?我要把爱奉献给所有的人,因为每个人都有令人钦佩的优秀品质,虽然有时不易察觉。我要用爱击垮阻碍人们心灵自由沟通的怀疑与仇恨之墙,同时,我要用我的爱在人们之间搭建一座桥梁,使我的爱能自如地进驻他们的灵魂。
I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me! I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely.
我爱雄心勃勃的人,因为他们能激励我!我爱失败者,因为他们能教育我。我爱王侯,他们也是凡人。我爱弱者,他们也是天才。我爱富人,他们更寂寞。
I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for the wisdom they share. I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.
我爱贫者,因为贫者甚多。我爱少年,因为他们纯真。我爱长者,因为他们睿智。我爱貌美的人,因为他们有忧郁的眼神。我爱丑陋的人,因为他们有颗平静的心。
But how will I react to the actions of others? With love. For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains.
我该他们的行为做出怎样的反应呢?爱吧。因为爱不仅是开启人们心灵的钥匙,而且也是低档仇恨之箭与愤怒之矛的盾牌。有了爱,即使逆境与挫折如锋利的长矛攻击我的心盾,也都会变得如细雨般温柔。
And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only way. Silence to myself I will address him and say “I love you”. Though spoken in silence these words shine in my eyes, unwrinkled my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and his heart will be opened.
我该如何面对与我不期而遇的每个人呢?只有一种办法,就是默默地祝福他,并说“我爱你”。那闪现在我的眼神中的无言的爱,会舒展我紧缩的眉头,让我会心的微笑攀至嘴角,在我的声音中回荡;于是,他将向我敞开心扉。
优秀的英语经典必读散文相关文章:
3.经典英语美文摘抄