《瓦爾登湖》的寧靜與遙遠(2)

Hi,好久不見。

疫情期間希望各位平平安安。生活要繼續,學習英語也一樣。宅家或小範圍活動的這段時間裡,希望大家跟我們一起繼續學習英語。

《瓦爾登湖》是美國作家亨利·戴維·梭羅(Henry David Thoreau)創作的散文集。這是一部非常經典、深刻的作品,是在下最愛的書。它的偉大意義不僅在於傳達了豐富的主題內涵,全書的英文表達也非常優美,有很多值得我們學習的地方。翻譯這本書的過程是一種樂趣,以下是部分節選,希望大家一邊欣賞經典文學作品,一邊達到學習的目的。


《瓦爾登湖》的寧靜與遙遠(2)

Riverside of Guangzhou


11.

Consider first how slight a shelter is absolutely necessary. I have seen Penobscot Indians, in this town, living in tents of thin cotton cloth, while the snow was nearly a foot deep around them, and I thought that they would be glad to have it deeper to keep out the wind.

首先考慮一下,房屋的絕對必要性有多大。我曾見到過這個鎮上的佩諾布斯科特印第安人,他們住在薄棉布帳篷中,周圍的積雪有一英尺厚,我想,如果雪更深一些,他們會很願意,因為那剛好可以給他們擋風。

12.

Formerly, when how to get my living honestly, with freedom left for my proper pursuits, was a question which vexed me even more than it does now, for unfortunately I am become somewhat callous.

如何誠實地得以生計,並且有自由追求自己的真正所愛,這個問題過去比現在更令我煩惱,所幸的是,我現在已經變得有些麻木了。


《瓦爾登湖》的寧靜與遙遠(2)

Riverside of Guangzhou


13.

I used to see a large box by the railroad, six feet long by three wide, in which the laborers locked up their tools at night; and it suggested to me that every man who was hard pushed might get such a one for a dollar, and, having bored a few auger holes in it, to admit the air at least, get into it when it rained and at night, and hook down the lid, and so have freedom in his love, and in his soul be free.

以前我常常看到,鐵路邊上有一隻大木箱,六英尺長三英尺寬,晚上工人們把他們的工具鎖在裡面。那使我想到,每一個處境艱難的人都可以花上1美元買一隻這樣的箱子,鑽上幾個洞,至少是為了透氣,下雨天和晚上可以住進去,把箱蓋一勾住,這樣,他就擁有了愛他所愛的自由,和靈魂的自由了。

14.

This did not appear the worst, nor by any means a despicable alternative. You could sit up as late as you pleased, and, whenever you got up, go abroad without any landlord or house-lord dogging you for rent.

這其實並不糟糕,也絕對不是一個可鄙的選擇。你可以隨心所欲,想熬夜多晚就多晚,而且無論你何時起床出門,都不會有店主或者房東追著你要房錢。


《瓦爾登湖》的寧靜與遙遠(2)

Riverside of Guangzhou


15.

Many a man is harassed to death to pay the rent of a larger and more luxurious box who would not have frozen to death in such a box as this. I am far from jesting.

許多人為了支付一隻更大、更奢華的箱子而煩惱至死。然而他們其實是不會在這樣一隻小箱子裡被凍死的。我一點兒都不是在開玩笑。




——英文部分節選自亨利·大衛·梭羅《瓦爾登湖》中的第一章:經濟篇

Excerpt from Henry David Thoreau Walden, Chapter 01 Economy

Translated by Queenie Shinemo Hu



假如我們是藝術家,語言就是一門藝術;假如我們是戰士,語言就是一把強有力的武器。用語言捍衛尊嚴,用語言豐富自己。




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