英語經典美文

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　　英語經典美文：一位值得紀念的希臘人

　　Diogenes was a famous Greek philosopher of the fourth century B.C., who established the philosophy of cynicism. He often walked about in the daytime holding a lighted lantern, peering around as if he were looking for something. When questioned about his odd behavior, he would reply, "I am searching for an honest man."

　　提奧奇尼斯是公元前四世紀一位著名的希臘哲學家，就是他創(chuàng)立了犬儒派哲學。他經常在白天點著燈籠四處走動、張望，像是在找什么東西似的。當人們問起他這古怪行為時，他會回答說：“我正在尋找正人君子。”

　　Diogenes held that the good man was self-sufficient and did not require material comforts or wealth. He believed that wealth and possessions constrained humanity's natural state of freedom. In keeping with his philosophy, he was perfectly satisfied with making his home in a large tub discarded from the Temple of Cybele, the goddess of nature. This earthen tub, called a pithos, and formerly been used for holding wine or oil for the sacrifices at the temple.

　　提奧奇尼斯認為好人是自給自足的，不需要物質享受和財富。他認為財富、財產束縛了人們天生的自由狀態(tài)。與他的哲學相一致，他拿一個別人從自然之母的廟里丟棄的大壇作為自己的家，還對此萬分滿意。這個陶制的大壇叫做圣壇，過去在廟里是用來盛裝祭祀用的酒和油的。

　　One day, Alexander the Great, conqueror of half the civilized world, saw Diogenes sitting in his tub in the sunshine. So the king, surrounded by his countries, approached Diogenes and said, "I am Alexander the Great." The philosopher replied rather contemptuously, "I am Diogenes, the Cynic." Alexander then asked him if he could help him in any way. "Yes," shot back Diogenes, "don't stand between me and the sun." A surprised Alexander then replied quickly, "If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."

　　一天，征服了半個文明世界的亞歷山大大帝看見提奧奇尼斯坐在大壇里曬太陽。于是這位君王在大臣們的簇擁下去過去，對提奧奇尼斯說：“我是亞歷山大大帝。”哲學家相當傲慢地回答說：“我是提奧奇尼斯--犬儒學者。”然后亞歷山大問他是否需要任何幫助。“是的”，提奧奇尼斯駁回道，“別站在我和太陽之間。”大吃一驚的亞歷山大繼而迅速回答道：“假如我不是亞歷山大，我就會是提奧奇尼斯。”

　　英語經典美文：我所追求的生活

　　That must be the story of innumerable couples, and the pattern of life it offers has a homely grace. It reminds you of a placid rivulet, meandering smoothly through green pastures and shaded by pleasant trees, till at last it falls into the vasty sea; but the sea is so calm, so silent, so indifferent, that you are troubled suddenly by a vague uneasiness. Perhaps it is only by a kink in my nature, strong in me even in those days, that I felt in such an existence, the share of the great majority, something amiss. I recognized its social value. I saw its ordered happiness, but a fever in my blood asked for a wilder course. There seemed to me something alarming in such easy delights. In my heart was desire to live more dangerously. I was not unprepared for jagged rocks and treacherous shoals if I could only have change--change and the excitement of unforeseen.

　　這一定是世間無數(shù)對夫妻的生活寫照，這種生活模式給人一種天倫之美。它使人想起一條平靜的河流，蜿蜒暢流過綠茵茵的草場，濃蔭遮蔽，最后注入煙波浩淼的汪洋大海;但是大海太過平靜，太過沉默，太過不動聲色，你會突然感到莫名的不安。也許這只是我自己的一種怪誕的想法，在那樣的年代，這想法對我影響很深：我覺得這像大多數(shù)人一樣的生活，似乎欠缺了一點兒什么。我承認這種生活有社會價值，我也看到了它那井然有序的幸福，但我血液里的沖動卻渴望一種更桀驁不馴的旅程。這樣的安逸中好像有一種叫我驚懼不安的東西。我的心渴望一種更加驚險的生活。只要生活中還能有變遷--以及不可知的刺激，我愿意踏上怪石嶙峋的山崖，奔赴暗礁滿布的海灘。