《西南联大英文课》学习笔记I （1-11）
2018.12.14
第一篇。贫瘠的春天 Barren spring. —— by Pearl S. Buck
warm evening 温煦的黄昏
the swelling buds 就要抽条的嫩芽；pink-tipped buds 粉嫩的花苞
willow tree 柳树；apricot tree 杏树
the bitter winter when they were straving for food 严冬饥荒时
at the height of their time 正值壮年
But the land told nothing, this year. 但是今年地里啥也没有。
Was there sense in stripping the coat off one’s back to feed one’s belly?剥掉衣服来填肚子有意义吗？
Face set as though dead 面如死灰
Set forth 动身启程，出发，陈述，提出
He sat on heavily 他一屁股坐下
He felt helpless as a leaf tossed upon the flood. 他觉得十分无助，就像扔进洪水的一片孤叶。
摘抄：
On that day when he had seen the faces of his old parents set as though dead, on that day when he had heard the crying of his children and seen his little daughter dying, such a despair had seized him as made him like a man withou his reason, so that he had gathered together his feeble strength and he had done what he said he never would.
那一天，他看到自己年迈的父母面如死灰，听到孩子们哭泣不停，眼见小女儿奄奄一息，他被一阵惨痛的绝望钳住，变得失去了理智，然后鼓起虚弱的气力，做了他说过永远不会做的事情。
(っ•̀ω•́)っ✎⁾⁾
还好，生词不是很多，能断断续续的读完了全文。学到很多表达方式，以前从来没有见到过的。
这种描写中国饥荒时期的文章，真的通篇处处都是helpless，面对饥荒这种自然灾害真的没有办法，无奈无助无望。人命如芥草，没了就没了，也没法救；活着的人也不是幸运的，反而还要继续熬着，痛苦着，绝望着。
第二篇。负重的牲口 The beast of burden. —— by W. Somerset Maugham
Strike the eye冲击着眼球
Paleness of a milky sky 泛白的乳蓝
He fits the landscape. 很应景
He takes anything that comes handy. 手头什么方便就用什么。
The day wears on. 日子一天天地过去了。
Strip to the waist 光着膀子
Notwithstanding adv. Prep.conj. 尽管，仍然
To the edge of the grave 走向坟墓的边缘
wend their way 缓慢迂回地行进
摘抄：
But beating heart or angry sore, bitter rain or burning sun notwithstanding, they do eternally, from dawn till dusk, year in year out, from childhood to the extreme of age. You see old men without an ounce of fat on their bodies, their skin loose on their bones, wizened, their little faces wrinkled and apelike, with hair thin and grey; and they totter under their burdens to the edge of the grave in which at last they shall have rest.
但是尽管心在狂跳，疤在怒吼，不管苦雨还是烈日，他们永远都行在路上，从黎明到黄昏，年复一年，从童年到迟暮。你看到那些老人骨瘦如柴，皮肤松弛地耷拉在骨头上，干瘪枯槁，脸上满是皱纹，像瘦猴一样，头发灰白稀疏，在重担之下跌跌撞撞，一直走向坟墓的边缘，那是他们最后休息的场所。
“与物相刃相靡，其行尽如驰而莫之能止，不亦悲乎！终身役役而不见其成功，苶然疲役而不知所归，可不哀耶？” （庄子，齐物论）
“To be harassed by the wear and tear of life, and to pass rapidly, through it without the possibility of arresting one's course,-is not this pitful indeed? To labor without ceasing, and then, without living to enjoy the fruit,worn out, to depart, suddenly, one knows not whither,-is not that a just cause for grief?"
“被生活损耗、折磨，然后迅速走完生命历程，根本得不到休息－这不是很可怜吗？苦苦地干，没完没了，然后还没活到享受劳动果实的日子，就疲惫地突然逝去，也不知道会落个什么归宿－这能够不令人悲哀吗？”
(っ•̀ω•́)っ✎⁾⁾
译文很像是高中时的课文，应当是那种在课堂上被反复诵读讲解分析的好文。嗯，多读几遍吧。
第三篇。河之歌 The song of the river —— by W. Somerset Maugham
bent double 腰弯成了九十度
on all fours 全身趴地
heart-rending 撕心裂肺
ultimate sob of humanity 人性的终极哭诉
摘抄：
You hear it, loud and strong, from the rowers as they urge the junk with its high stern, the mast lashed alongside, down the swift running stream.
这是桨手的歌声，响亮有力。他们奋力地划着木船，顺急流而下，船尾翘的老高，桅杆猛烈地摆动。
It serves to express the straining heart, the breaking muscles, and at the same time the indomitable spirit of man which overcomes the pitiless force of nature.
这里面带着心脏的拉扯，肌肉的撕裂，还有人们克服无情大自然时所表现出的不屈不挠的精神。
The sweat pours down their faces and their song is a groan of pain. It is a sigh despair. It is heart-rending. It is hardly human. It is the cry of souls in infinite distress, only just musical, and that last note is the ultimate sob of humanity. Life is too hard, too cruel, and this is the final despairing protest. This is the song of the river.
他们赤着脚，光着膀子，汗水顺着脸颊直流。歌声里渗透着痛苦的呻吟。这是一种绝望的叹息，撕心裂肺，惨绝人寰。这是灵魂在极度痛苦中的呐喊，只不过带着音乐的节奏罢了。那最后的音符是对人性的终极哭诉。生活太难，太残酷，这是最后的绝望的反抗。那就是河之歌。
(っ•̀ω•́)っ✎⁾⁾
前三篇怎么都这么苦啊，饥荒的农民，负重的苦力，拉船的纤夫，大概这些挣扎在生活底线的劳动人民是那个艰苦时代的标志吧。
感恩我们今天的幸福生活~
2018.12.17
第四篇。妹妹的出生 Birth of a sister —— by Tan Shih hua
Holidays in China are as rare as springs in a desert. 中国的节假日少得仿佛沙漠里的甘泉。（真是神吐槽）
hieroglyphic 象形文字
2018.12.18
第五篇。论烤猪 A dissertation upon roast pig —— by Charles Lamb
obliging: helpful, kind, civil
mundane mutations 易经
eat their meat raw, clawing or biting it from the living animal 茹毛饮血
utmost consternation 惊慌失措
wringing his hand 他搓着手
dog's trick 恶作剧
rend it asunder 撕成碎片
make sour mouth 嘴硬
摘抄：
A premonitory moistening at the same time overflowed his nether lip. 同时，好像有了一种预感似的，口水顺着他那下嘴唇一个劲儿的往下流。
He burned his fingers, and to cool them he applied them in his booby fashion to his mouth. 结果他的手指被烫了，他赶快把手指头缩了回来，放到嘴边，傻傻地吹着。
The truth at length broke into his slow understanding. 他那迟钝的大脑这才慢慢回过味儿来。
...when his sire entered amid the smoking rafters, armed with retributory cudgel, and finding how affairs stood, began to rain blows upon the young rogue’s shoulders, as thick as hailstones, which Bo-bo heeded not any more than if they had been flies. 这时候，他父亲大人手里拿着打人的棍棒，从还在冒烟的檩椽中间走进来了，一看家里的惨状，手里的棍棒像下冰雹似的密集地打在那个小淘气的肩膀上，可是宝宝就像被苍蝇叮了几口似的，理也不理。
(っ•̀ω•́)っ✎⁾⁾
挺有意思的一则故事，生词好多QAQ
第六篇。乐观看中国 An optimist looks at China —— by Hu Shih
foot-binding 缠足
unlimited number of wives and concubines 妻妾成群
eunuchism 太监
Octopartite 八股文
Confucianist humanitarianism 倡导仁义道德的儒家
第七篇。生活的目的 The end of life —— by Lin Yutang
past master 老手；对某种技艺有丰富经验者
whole-hearted 全心全意
freakish extreme theories 怪异极端的理论
after all is said and done 归根结底
in the heart of our hearts 在我们内心深处
It made us lay emphasis on certain common virtues, like endurance, industry, thrift, moderation, and pacificism. 它使我们注重这样几种美德：忍耐，勤劳，节俭，中庸与和平主义。
We drink what wine there is in the pot and enjoy what scenery there is before our eyes. 我们信奉今朝有酒今朝醉，花开堪折直须折。
So much of life is merely a farce. 人生在很大程度上就是一场闹剧。
Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor of the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. 秋天的金碧辉煌所展示的不是春天的单纯，也不是夏天的伟力，而是接近高迈之年的老成和睿智。
An early mountain breeze brushes by and sends its shivering leaves dancing gaily to the ground, and you do not know whether the song of the falling leaves is the song of laughteror of parting tears. 山间的晨风拂过，枝杈间片片颤动着的秋叶舞动着飘向大地，你真不知道这落叶的歌吟是欣喜的欢唱还是离别的泪歌。
“In my young days, I had tasted only gladness, 【少年不识愁滋味】
But loved to mount the top floor, 【爱上层楼】
But loved to mount the top floor, 【爱上层楼】
To write a song pretending sadness. 【为赋新词强说愁】
And now I've tasted sorrow's flavors, bitter and sour, 【而今识尽愁滋味】
And can't find a word, 【欲说还休】
And can't find a word, 【欲说还休】
But merely say, 'What a golden autumn hour!' ” 【却道天凉好个秋】
(っ•̀ω•́)っ✎⁾⁾
读到现在最喜欢的一篇，原文很美，译文也很美啊~
2018.12.20
第八篇。圣山 A sacred mountain —— by G. Lowes Dickinson
A great ladder of eighteen flights climbs the last ravine, and to see it from below, sinuously mounting the precipitous face to the great arch that leads on to the summit, is enough to daunt the most ardent walker. 泰山十八盘有双崖夹道，犹如天门云梯，自下向上望去，蜿蜒耸立，险峻丛生，直到与天穹相接，这足以让任何一个狂热的旅者望而却步。
goddess of procreation, gold as the cloud, blue as the sky 泽被万物，霞光万丈，宛如青天
2018.12.24 ¡Come una manzana y feliz nochebuena!
第九篇。花事记忆 Fragments from a flower diary—— by Nora Waln
foremost man：leader
stiff with anger 怒气冲冲
reward by genius 有如天助
perform an infinite amoount toil in 殚精竭虑做sth.
lily 百合，magnolia 玉兰，pansies 蝴蝶花，narcissus 水仙，violet 紫罗兰，peach blossom 桃花，orange blossom 橙花，peony 牡丹，jasmine 茉莉，lotus 荷花，balsam 凤仙花，cassia flower 桂花， chrysanthemum 菊花，marigold 金盏花，camellia 山茶花，plum flower 梅花，wisteria 紫藤，azaleas 杜鹃花，tulip 郁金香，phlox 夹竹桃
The ancient stone-paved trail led up along a narrow ledge. 沿着古老的石头小径向上，就到了一处狭窄的岩架。
The furniture on an altar is but the symbol of religion... in the face of a flower the heart of God is revealed. 祭坛的摆设不过是宗教的符号......而在花的面前才能见到自性。
People can be too concerned regarding physical health and neglect the health of the spirit. 人不能成天想着身体健康，反倒把精神健康给忽略了。
He told me that a country in which flowers—— a necessity for the refinement of the heart—— were priced so as to make them a luxury was a country which had yet to learn the first principles of civilization. 他说花草乃是修身养性之道，如果哪个国家把花草作为奢侈品来定价，那么这个国家恐怕连文明最基本的原则都还没用弄明白。
2018.12.25 ¡Feliz Navidad!
第十篇。致青年 A word to youth —— by Andre Maurois
more often still 但更多时候
long-faced 拉长着脸的；忧愁的，闷闷不乐的
The man or woman who has lived through the experience of an unendurable present transformed into a blurred past has more power to face affliction. 如果有人曾经历过难以承受的挫折或痛苦，而后这些经历变成了模糊的过去，那么这个人将更有力量面对痛苦。
" What is the most valuable lesson life has taught me?" A passionate belief in human nature, in spite of her crimes, in spite of her madness. For that madness is a result: it is not a cause. “生活教给我的最宝贵的教训是什么？” 是对人性的坚定信念。尽管人会犯罪，人会疯狂，但我依然对人性充满信心。因为疯狂是果，不是因。
But one of life's conditions is that he must limit himself; he has to choose. Then, and only then, can he live deeply and steadily. 但生活的一个条件是，人必须限制自己；他必须做出选择。那时，而且只有那时，他才能够深入生活，稳步向前。
(っ•̀ω•́)っ✎⁾⁾
刚好到年底了，想说今年过的真是无比坎坷和艰难，简直让人绝望到根本不相信2019年会好起来。但是我想，应该不会更糟了吧。
话说我这么悲观的人，根本就不相信人性啊，我对人性根本一点信心都没有。我也接受过陌生人的帮助，感受过来自这个世界的善意，我也愿意尽我所能帮助别人。可是啊，我依然对这个世界不抱有希望。
2018.12.26
第十一篇。一对啄木鸟 A pair of woodpeckers —— by 佚名
exuberant foliage 枝繁叶茂
brake ferns 凤尾蕨
shouldering my way into the rank break ferns 我挤进了茂密的凤尾蕨中（shouldering真是太形象了）
The sauce to meat is ceremony. 席面上最让人开胃的就是主人的礼节。
well-regulated 井然有序
in vulgar phrase 通俗点说
bring home the bacon 养家糊口
spit out 吐出
masculine endurance has its limitations 凡事总有度
very much to the point 一针见血
...And as I walked along the highway that stretched like a gray sword slash through the exuberant foliage with which a wet June had clothed the forest of broad-leaved maple, alder willow, and ash that had taken possession of the logged-off land beyond my ranch... 曾经湿润的六月让森林里的大叶枫、赤杨、柳树和梣树枝繁叶茂、郁郁葱葱。如今远望去，延伸至远方的公路好比一把灰色的利剑，将整片绿荫密林从中一劈两半。
Like most fathers when under fire, his woodpeckership assumed an indifferent air, as if to say, "I don't mind your senseless chatter in the least". 像多数被数落了的爸爸们一样，雄性啄木鸟看起来跟平时一样淡定，如同在说：“你就唠叨吧，反正我压根不当回事儿。”
