背誦短文(16)
Selected Essays
for Recitation
The Love of Beauty
金 陵
輯
January 19, 2002
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The love of beauty is an essential part of all healthy1 human nature. It is a moral quality. The absence of it is not an assured ground2 of condemnation3, but the presence of it is an invariable sign4 of goodness of heart. In proportion to5 the degree in which it is felt, will probably be the degree in which nobleness and beauty of character will be attained. Natural beauty is an all-pervading presence6. The universe7 is its temple8. It unfolds9 into the numberless10 flowers of spring. It waves in the branches of trees and the green blades of grass11. It haunts12 the depths13 of the earth and the see. It gleams14 from the hues15 of the shell and the precious16 one. And not only these minute17 objects, but the oceans, the mountains, the clouds, the heavens, the stars, the rising and the setting sun—all overflow18 with beauty. This beauty is so precious, and so congenial19 to our tenderest20 and noblest feelings, that it is painful to think of the multitude of people21 living in the midst of22 it and yet remaining almost blind to23 it. All persons should seek to become acquainted with24 the beauty in nature. There is not a worm we tread upon25, nor a leaf that dances merrily as it falls before the autumn winds, but has a superior claim26 upon our study and admiration. The power to appreciate27 beauty does not merely increase our sources of happiness—it enlarges out moral nature too. Beauty calms our restlessness28 and dispels29 our cares30. Go into the fields or the woods, spend a summer day by the sea or the mountains, and all your little perplexities31 and anxieties32 vanish33. Listen to sweet music, and your foolish fears and petty34 jealousies35 pass away36. The beauty of the world helps us to seek and find the beauty of goodness. Notes 1. healthy a.: sound. 健全的；完善的。 2. assured ground: certain reason. 一定的理由。 3. condemnation n.: blame. 責難。 4. invariable sign: certain symbol. 一定的象徵。 5. in proportion to: according to. 按照。 6. an all-pervading presence: spreading everywhere. 到處遍布的。 7. universe n.: the whole world. 全世界。 8. temple n.: dwelling place. 居處。 9. unfold v.: develop; spread out. 展開。 10. numberless adj.: countless. 無數的。 11. blades of grass: leaves of grass. 草葉。 12. haunt v.: visit frequently. 常至。 13. depth n.: the deepest part. 深處。 14. gleam v.: flash. 閃爍。 15. hue n.: color; tint. 色；色彩。 16. precious v.: beloved. 珍愛的。 17. minute objects: very small things. 小物。 18. overflow v.: be filled. 充滿。 19. congenial adj.: agreeable; suited. 相投的；合宜的。 20. tenderest a.: most sensitive. 最善感的。 21. the multitude of people: the great number of people. 多數人們。 22. in the midst of: among. 在…中。 23. blind to: incapable of appreciating. 不知。 24. acquainted with: familiar with. 和…熟悉。 25. tread upon: set one’s foot on. 踐踏。 26. claim n: demand. 要求。 27. appreciate v.: enjoy. 欣賞。 28. restlessness n.: uneasiness. 不安。 29. dispel v.: drive away. 驅散。 30. cares n.: worries. 憂慮。 31. perplexity n.: puzzle. 困惑。 32. anxiety n.: concern; uneasiness. 焦慮；不安。 33. vanish v.: disappear. 消失。 34. petty adj.: narrow-minded. 心地偏狹的。 35. jealousy n.: envy. 嫉妒。 36. pass away: cease to exist. 化為烏有。 |