58. Three Days to See .
58、假如給我三天光明、
1. All of us have read thrilling stories in which the hero had only a limited and specified time to live. Sometimes it was as long as a year; sometimes as short as twenty-four hours, but always we were interested in discovering just how the doomed man chose to spend his last days or his last hours. I speak, of course, of free men who have a choice, not condemned criminals whose sphere of activities is strictly delimited.
1、我們大家都讀過一些驚心動(dòng)魄的故事，其主人公死期已定，生日無多。有的長達(dá)一年，有的短至24小時(shí)。但是我們總是有興趣搞清楚：這個(gè)壽數(shù)將盡的人究竟愿意怎樣度過他的最后的時(shí)日。當(dāng)然，我所指的是能進(jìn)行選擇的自由的人，而不是活動(dòng)范圍受到嚴(yán)格限制的囚犯。
2. Such stories set us thinking, wondering what we should do under similar circumstances. What events, what experiences, what associations should we crowd into those last hours as mortal beings? What happiness should we find in reviewing the past, what regrets?
2、這些故事啟迪我們思考，誘發(fā)我們想象：我們處于這類情況，該做什么呢?作為注定要死的人，我們在最后的時(shí)刻會(huì)忙不迭地干些什么，體驗(yàn)些什么，聯(lián)想些什么?在回首往事時(shí)，我們又能領(lǐng)略到何種快慰，何種悔恨呢?
3. Sometimes I have thought it would be an excellent rule to live each day as if we should die tomorrow. Such an attitude would emphasize sharply the values of life. We should live each day with a gentleness, a vigor, and a keenness of appreciation which are often lost when time stretches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to come. There are those, of course, who would adopt the epicurean motto of "Eat, drink, and be merry," but most people would be chastened by the certainty of impending death.
3、有時(shí)我想，如果我們度過每一天時(shí)都假定明天即將去世，這將是個(gè)極好的準(zhǔn)則。這樣的處世態(tài)度會(huì)明顯突出生命的價(jià)值。我們就會(huì)高雅地、朝氣蓬勃地、感受強(qiáng)烈地來度過每一天，而當(dāng)我們眼前時(shí)光悠悠，不絕流逝，歲月晝夜，綿綿無期，我們反而因此做不到上述種種。當(dāng)然，在前面提到的假定情況下，有些人會(huì)奉行享樂主義的“吃喝玩樂”的信條。然而大多數(shù)人則會(huì)因迫在眉睫的死亡必定來臨而感受到鞭策。
4. In stories the doomed hero is usually saved at the last minute by some stroke of fortune, but almost always his sense of values is changed. He becomes more appreciative of the meaning of life and its permanent spiritual values. It has often been noted that those who live, or have lived, in the shadow of death bring a mellow sweetness to everything they do.
4、在故事中，那個(gè)命定要死的主人公通常是在最后時(shí)刻交上好運(yùn)氣被搭救了。但他的價(jià)值觀幾乎總是發(fā)生了變化。他變得更加欣賞生命的意義以及其永恒的神圣價(jià)值。人們已常常注意到，那些在死亡的陰影下生活著的人給他所做的每一件事都添上甜美的色彩。
5. Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that day as far in the future, when we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an endless vista. So we go about our petty task, hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life.
5、然而，我們中間大多數(shù)，則把生命視作為理所當(dāng)然的。我們知道，總有一天我們會(huì)死去，但通常我們又把那一天想象為遙遠(yuǎn)的未來。當(dāng)我們身強(qiáng)力壯歡快活潑時(shí)，死亡是件難以想象的事。我們幾乎想不到它。來日方長，無邊無涯。因此我們忙于種種瑣事，幾乎意識不到我們對待生活的漠然的態(tài)度。
6. The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. Particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight and hearing in adult life. But those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sound hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill.
6、我們在應(yīng)用我們的感覺功能時(shí)，恐怕也同樣持有這種冷漠態(tài)度。只有聾者才知道聽覺的重要，只有盲人才理解到視覺所包涵的千姿百態(tài)的賞心樂事。這一觀點(diǎn)特別適用于那些在成年后才喪失視覺和聽覺的人。而那些視覺和聽覺從未受到損害的人則很少充分利用這些有幸獲得的官能。他們的眼睛和耳朵模糊地、漫不經(jīng)心地、不加欣賞地容納入所有的景象和聲音。還是那句老話：失后方知難得，病時(shí)倍思健康。
7. I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.
7、我常常想，如果每個(gè)人在剛成年時(shí)的某個(gè)時(shí)候能失明或失聰幾天，這或許是件大好事。黑暗將使他更深刻地感受景象，而寂靜將教會(huì)他領(lǐng)略聲音的歡樂。
8. Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. "Nothing in particular," she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.
8、我不時(shí)考問我的有視力的朋友，以了解他們所見的情況。最近有一個(gè)極好的朋友來看我，她是在林中溜達(dá)了好一會(huì)才回來的，我問她觀察到了些什么?！皼]有什么特別的東西。”她回答說。要不是我對類似的反應(yīng)已習(xí)以為常的話，我是會(huì)感到難以置信的。我之所以不覺為奇，是因?yàn)槲以缫训贸鼋Y(jié)論：有視力者所見甚少。
9. How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter's sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently in a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. ! am delighted to have cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips.
9、我問自己，在林中溜達(dá)了一個(gè)小時(shí)而竟沒有看到什么值得注意的東西，這怎么可能呢?我這個(gè)看不見東西的人，僅憑觸摸就發(fā)現(xiàn)千百種使我感興趣的東西。我感覺到葉片的精致的對稱。我用手愛撫著光滑的白樺樹皮，或是粗糙的松樹皮。春天里，我滿懷希望地觸摸樹枝，冀求找著一顆幼芽—大自然經(jīng)過冬日沉睡重又蘇醒的最早的征兆。我摸著花朵的可愛的天鵝絨般的質(zhì)地，并發(fā)現(xiàn)它的花瓣一圈圈疊合得那么巧妙，于是我領(lǐng)略到了某種大自然的神奇。偶爾，如果我十分幸運(yùn)的話，我把手輕輕搭在一棵小樹上，能感到一只小鳥兒盡情歌唱的歡愉的顫動(dòng)。我非常高興讓清涼的溪水流過我的張開的手指。對我來說，那厚密的松針層或茂盛松軟的綠茵地比豪華的波斯地毯更愜意。對我來說，四季的奇瑰變幻猶如一出動(dòng)人心弦的永不落幕的話劇，它的情節(jié)似水般徐徐從我指尖流過。
10. At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight. Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action fill the world is taken for granted. It is human, perhaps, to appreciate little that which we have and to long for that which we have not, but it is a great pity that in the world of light and the gift of sight is used only as mere convenience rather that as a means of adding fullness to life.
58、假如給我三天光明、
1. All of us have read thrilling stories in which the hero had only a limited and specified time to live. Sometimes it was as long as a year; sometimes as short as twenty-four hours, but always we were interested in discovering just how the doomed man chose to spend his last days or his last hours. I speak, of course, of free men who have a choice, not condemned criminals whose sphere of activities is strictly delimited.
1、我們大家都讀過一些驚心動(dòng)魄的故事，其主人公死期已定，生日無多。有的長達(dá)一年，有的短至24小時(shí)。但是我們總是有興趣搞清楚：這個(gè)壽數(shù)將盡的人究竟愿意怎樣度過他的最后的時(shí)日。當(dāng)然，我所指的是能進(jìn)行選擇的自由的人，而不是活動(dòng)范圍受到嚴(yán)格限制的囚犯。
2. Such stories set us thinking, wondering what we should do under similar circumstances. What events, what experiences, what associations should we crowd into those last hours as mortal beings? What happiness should we find in reviewing the past, what regrets?
2、這些故事啟迪我們思考，誘發(fā)我們想象：我們處于這類情況，該做什么呢?作為注定要死的人，我們在最后的時(shí)刻會(huì)忙不迭地干些什么，體驗(yàn)些什么，聯(lián)想些什么?在回首往事時(shí)，我們又能領(lǐng)略到何種快慰，何種悔恨呢?
3. Sometimes I have thought it would be an excellent rule to live each day as if we should die tomorrow. Such an attitude would emphasize sharply the values of life. We should live each day with a gentleness, a vigor, and a keenness of appreciation which are often lost when time stretches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to come. There are those, of course, who would adopt the epicurean motto of "Eat, drink, and be merry," but most people would be chastened by the certainty of impending death.
3、有時(shí)我想，如果我們度過每一天時(shí)都假定明天即將去世，這將是個(gè)極好的準(zhǔn)則。這樣的處世態(tài)度會(huì)明顯突出生命的價(jià)值。我們就會(huì)高雅地、朝氣蓬勃地、感受強(qiáng)烈地來度過每一天，而當(dāng)我們眼前時(shí)光悠悠，不絕流逝，歲月晝夜，綿綿無期，我們反而因此做不到上述種種。當(dāng)然，在前面提到的假定情況下，有些人會(huì)奉行享樂主義的“吃喝玩樂”的信條。然而大多數(shù)人則會(huì)因迫在眉睫的死亡必定來臨而感受到鞭策。
4. In stories the doomed hero is usually saved at the last minute by some stroke of fortune, but almost always his sense of values is changed. He becomes more appreciative of the meaning of life and its permanent spiritual values. It has often been noted that those who live, or have lived, in the shadow of death bring a mellow sweetness to everything they do.
4、在故事中，那個(gè)命定要死的主人公通常是在最后時(shí)刻交上好運(yùn)氣被搭救了。但他的價(jià)值觀幾乎總是發(fā)生了變化。他變得更加欣賞生命的意義以及其永恒的神圣價(jià)值。人們已常常注意到，那些在死亡的陰影下生活著的人給他所做的每一件事都添上甜美的色彩。
5. Most of us, however, take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that day as far in the future, when we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out in an endless vista. So we go about our petty task, hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life.
5、然而，我們中間大多數(shù)，則把生命視作為理所當(dāng)然的。我們知道，總有一天我們會(huì)死去，但通常我們又把那一天想象為遙遠(yuǎn)的未來。當(dāng)我們身強(qiáng)力壯歡快活潑時(shí)，死亡是件難以想象的事。我們幾乎想不到它。來日方長，無邊無涯。因此我們忙于種種瑣事，幾乎意識不到我們對待生活的漠然的態(tài)度。
6. The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. Particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight and hearing in adult life. But those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sound hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill.
6、我們在應(yīng)用我們的感覺功能時(shí)，恐怕也同樣持有這種冷漠態(tài)度。只有聾者才知道聽覺的重要，只有盲人才理解到視覺所包涵的千姿百態(tài)的賞心樂事。這一觀點(diǎn)特別適用于那些在成年后才喪失視覺和聽覺的人。而那些視覺和聽覺從未受到損害的人則很少充分利用這些有幸獲得的官能。他們的眼睛和耳朵模糊地、漫不經(jīng)心地、不加欣賞地容納入所有的景象和聲音。還是那句老話：失后方知難得，病時(shí)倍思健康。
7. I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.
7、我常常想，如果每個(gè)人在剛成年時(shí)的某個(gè)時(shí)候能失明或失聰幾天，這或許是件大好事。黑暗將使他更深刻地感受景象，而寂靜將教會(huì)他領(lǐng)略聲音的歡樂。
8. Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. "Nothing in particular," she replied. I might have been incredulous had I not been accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little.
8、我不時(shí)考問我的有視力的朋友，以了解他們所見的情況。最近有一個(gè)極好的朋友來看我，她是在林中溜達(dá)了好一會(huì)才回來的，我問她觀察到了些什么?！皼]有什么特別的東西。”她回答說。要不是我對類似的反應(yīng)已習(xí)以為常的話，我是會(huì)感到難以置信的。我之所以不覺為奇，是因?yàn)槲以缫训贸鼋Y(jié)論：有視力者所見甚少。
9. How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter's sleep. I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently in a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. ! am delighted to have cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers. To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. To me the pageant of seasons is a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips.
9、我問自己，在林中溜達(dá)了一個(gè)小時(shí)而竟沒有看到什么值得注意的東西，這怎么可能呢?我這個(gè)看不見東西的人，僅憑觸摸就發(fā)現(xiàn)千百種使我感興趣的東西。我感覺到葉片的精致的對稱。我用手愛撫著光滑的白樺樹皮，或是粗糙的松樹皮。春天里，我滿懷希望地觸摸樹枝，冀求找著一顆幼芽—大自然經(jīng)過冬日沉睡重又蘇醒的最早的征兆。我摸著花朵的可愛的天鵝絨般的質(zhì)地，并發(fā)現(xiàn)它的花瓣一圈圈疊合得那么巧妙，于是我領(lǐng)略到了某種大自然的神奇。偶爾，如果我十分幸運(yùn)的話，我把手輕輕搭在一棵小樹上，能感到一只小鳥兒盡情歌唱的歡愉的顫動(dòng)。我非常高興讓清涼的溪水流過我的張開的手指。對我來說，那厚密的松針層或茂盛松軟的綠茵地比豪華的波斯地毯更愜意。對我來說，四季的奇瑰變幻猶如一出動(dòng)人心弦的永不落幕的話劇，它的情節(jié)似水般徐徐從我指尖流過。
10. At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight. Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action fill the world is taken for granted. It is human, perhaps, to appreciate little that which we have and to long for that which we have not, but it is a great pity that in the world of light and the gift of sight is used only as mere convenience rather that as a means of adding fullness to life.