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
tasks, hardly aware of our listless attitude
toward life.
但是,我们大多数人把生活认为是理所当
然的。我们知道,某一天我们一定会死,但通
常我们把那天想象在遥远的将来。当我们心宽
体健时,死亡几乎是不可想象的,我们很少想
到它。时日在无穷的展望中延展着,于是我们
干着琐碎的事情,几手意识不到我们对生活的
漠然度。
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 tech
him the joys of sound.
我常常想,如果每个人在他成年的早期有
一段时间失聪失明。那会是一种幸事,黑暗会
使他更珍惜视力,寂静会教导他享受声音。
Now and them I have tested my
seeing friends to discover what they see.
Recently I was visited by a very good
friends 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
reposes, for long ago I became convinced
that the seeing see little.
我曾不时地询问能看见东西的朋友们,以
了解他们看到什么。最近,我的一位挚友来看
我,她刚从一片森林里散步许久回来,我问她
看到了什么,她答道:“没什么特别的。”若不
是对这种平静习以为常,我会觉得难以置信,
因为很久以来我已确信这种情况:能看得见的人
却看不到什么。
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 the 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 on a small tree and feel the
happy quiver of a bird in full song. I am
delighted to have the cool waters of a
brook rush thought my open finger. To me
a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy
grass is more welcome than the most
luxurious Persian rug.To me the page ant
of seasons is a thrilling and unending
drama, the action of which streams
through my finger tips.
我问自己,在林一了吧散步一小时之久而
没有看到任何值得注意的东两,那怎么可能
呢?我自己,一个不能看见东西的人,仅仅通
过触觉,都发现许许多多令我有兴趣的东西,
我感受到一片树叶的完美的对称性。我.用手喜
爱地抚摸过一株自桦那光滑的树皮,或一棵松
树的粗糙树皮。存天。我摸着树干的枝条满怀
希望地搜索着嫩芽,那是经过严冬的沉睡后。
大自然苏醒的第一个迹象二我抚摸过花朵那令
人愉快的天鹅绒般的质地,感觉到它那奇妙的
卷曲,一些大自然奇迹就这样展示在我而前。
有时,如果幸运,我把手轻轻地放在一棵小树
上,还能感受到一只高声歌唱的小鸟的愉快颤
抖。我喜欢张开手指,让清凉的溪水从指缝间
流过。对我来说,一层茂密的松针叶或一块松
软而富弹性的草地比最豪华的波斯地毯更受欢
迎。对我来说,四季壮观而华丽的展示是一部
令人激动的、无穷无尽的戏剧。这部戏剧的表
演,通过我的指尖缓缓流出。