世界上最动人的书信(常春藤英语书系)(全新中英文对照版)-第3章
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written upon the Cid。 Those； therefore； who flattered skillfully； said little to him of his abilities in state affairs； or at least but en passant； and as it might naturally occur。 But the incense which they gave him—the smoke of which they knew would turn his head in their favor— was as a bel esprit and a poet。 Why？—Because he was sure of one excellency； and distrustful as to the other。 txt小说上传分享
切斯特菲尔德勋爵（4）
You will easily discover every man' s prevailing vanity by observing his favorite topic of conversation； for every man talks most of what he has most a mind to be thought to excel in。 Touch him but there； and you touch him to the quick； The late Sir Robert Walpole （who was certainly an able man）was little open to flattery upon that head； for he was in no doubt himself about it； but his prevailing weakness was； to be thought to have a polite and happy turn to gallantry—of which he had undoubtedly less than any man living。 It was his favorite and frequent subject of conversation； which proved to those who had any penetration that it was his prevailing weakness； and they applied to it with success。
Women have； in general； but one object； which is their beauty， upon which； scarce any flattery is too gross for them to follow。 Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person； if her face is so shocking that she must； in some degree； be conscious of it； her figure and air； she trusts； make ample amends for it。 If her figure is deformed； her face； she thinks； counterbalances it。 If they are both bad； she forts herself that she has graces； a certain manner； a je ne scais quoi still more engaging than beauty。 This truth is evident； from the studied and elaborate dress of the ugliest woman in the world。 An undoubted； uncontested； conscious beauty is； of all women； the least sensible of flattery upon that head； she knows it is her due； and is therefore obliged to nobody for giving it her。 She must be flattered upon her understanding； which； though she may possibly not doubt of herself； yet she suspects that men may distrust。
Do not mistake me； and think that I mean to remend to you abject and criminal flattery： no； flatter nobody's vices or crimes： on the contrary； abhor and discourage them。 But there is no living in the world without a plaisant indulgence for people's weaknesses； and innocent； though ridiculous vanities。 If a man has a mind to be thought wiser； and a woman handsomer； than they really are； their error is a fortable one to themselves； and an innocent one with regard to other people； and I would rather make them my friends by indulging them in it； than my enemies by endeavoring （and that to no purpose） to undeceive them。
There are little attentions； likewise； which are infinitely engaging； and which sensibly affect that degree of pride and selflove； which is inseparable from human nature； as they are unquestionable proofs of the regard and consideration which we have for the persons to whom we pay them。 As for example： to observe the little habits； the likings； the antipathies； and the tastes of those whom we would gain； and then take care to provide them with the one； and to secure them from the other； giving them genteelly to understand； that you had observed they liked such a dish or such a room； for which reason you had prepared it： or； on the contrary； that having observed they had an aversion to such a dish； a dislike to such a person； etc。； you had taken care to avoid presenting them。 Such attention to such trifles flatters selflove much more than greater things； as it makes people think themselves almost the only objects of your thoughts and care。
These are some of the arcane necessary for your initiation in the great society of the world。 I wish I had known them better at your age； I have paid the price of threeandfifty years for them； and shall not grudge it if you reap the advantage。 Adieu！
富兰克林致赫伯德小姐
本杰明·富兰克林（1706—1790），美国著名的政治家、社会活动家、科学家、发明家。1706年1月27日；他生于波士顿一个工人家庭，由于家境贫寒，只上了两年学就辍学当了学徒，12岁时到他大哥的印刷所里当学徒，长期从事印刷工作，同时刻苦自学。他曾化名投稿，报纸编辑以为文章“出自名家手笔”。作为政治家，在美国和世界历史上，他与许多重要事件有关。他在北美独立战争中起了重大作用，是美国的创建人之一，参与起草了《独立宣言》和美国宪法。
本篇是富兰克林在弟弟约翰逝世之后，写给约翰第二任妻子与前夫所生的女儿赫伯德小姐的信。
我要向你深表哀悼。我们失去了一位非常可爱、可贵的亲人。这是上帝和自然的旨意，当灵魂进入天堂的时候，躯体就要被置入黄土。或者说它是胚胎的发育期，是新生命的准备阶段。
一个人在死的那一刻才算得到真正的诞生。既然不朽的天堂诞生了一个新婴儿，他们幸福的社会里又增加了一名新的成员，我们为什么还要悲伤呢？我们都是精灵。无比仁慈智慧的上帝行善施恩，赐予我们躯体，让我们享受快乐的生活；帮助我们获取知识，让我们造福于人类。当我们的躯体无法适应这些目的——不能提供给我们快乐，反而让我们痛苦；不能给我们帮助，反而成为我们的累赘——当它们无法完成上帝当初托付的使命时，依然恩惠仁慈的上帝准备了一个办法，让我们摆脱躯体。死亡就是上帝所准备的解脱办法。我们自己有时也会明智地选择一种局部的死亡。受伤疼痛的手脚，已经无法复原，我们会心甘情愿地把它切除。要拔牙的人，也会毅然跟它分手，因为拔掉之后痛苦就会随之消失。一个人如果完全脱离躯壳，就会立刻解脱掉一切痛苦以及引起痛苦和疾病的根源。
我们的朋友和我们自己早就受到邀请去参加一次欢乐的宴会，这是一场永远不散的宴会。他的坐席早已准备好了，所以他会先我们一步而去。我们不可能都很方便地一同前往；既然不久之后我们就要随他而去，并且知道到哪里可以找到他，那我们又为什么因此伤心呢？
再见
本·富兰克林
1756年2月23日于费城
Benjamin Franklin
To
Philadelphia；
February 23； 1756。
I condole with you。 We have lost a most dear and valuable relation。 But it is the will of God and nature； that these mortal bodies be laid aside； when the soul is to enter into real life。 This is rather an embryo state； a preparation for living。
A man is not pletely born until he is dead。 Why then should we grieve； that a new child is born among the immortals； a new member added to their happy society？ We are spirits。 That bodies should be lent us，while they can afford us pleasure； assist us in acquiring knowledge； or in doing good to our fellow creatures； is a kind and benevolent act of God。 When they bee unfit for these purposes； and afford us pain instead of pleasure； instead of an aid bee an encumbrance； and answer none of the intentions for which they were given； it is equally kind and benevolent； that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them。 Death is that way。 We ourselves； in some cases； prudently choose a partial death。 A mangled painful limb； which cannot be restored； we willingly cut off。 He who plucks out a tooth； parts with it freely； since the pain goes with it； and he； who quits the whole body； parts at once with all pains and possibilities of pains and diseases which it was liable to； or capable of making him suffer。
Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure； which is to last for ever。 His chair was ready first； and he is gone before us。 We could not all conveniently start together； and why should you and I be grieved at this； since we are soon to follow； and know where to find him？
Adieu；
B。 Franklin
贝多芬致兄弟（1）
路德维格·凡·贝多芬（1770—1827），德国作曲家。他是从古典音乐向浪漫主义音乐过渡时期的最杰出音乐家，也是人类艺术上最伟大的创造者之一。他有着卓越的音乐天赋、炽热的叛逆气质和巨人般的坚强性格；他那百折不挠的意志和对社会的责任感而产生的崇高理想，形成了他作为一个音乐家的特有品质。他通过自己的创作，特别是在他的九部交响曲中，反映了那个时代人民运动的伟大的、进步的思想风貌。他以时代和个人的命运为主题，通过深刻的哲理和感人的艺术形象的结合，写出了一系列交响乐作品，表现了从斗争到胜利、从黑暗到光明、从苦难到快乐的资产阶级上升时期的精神历程。早在贝多芬在世时他就被公认为具有世界意义的音乐家。作为伟大的古典作曲家兼浪漫派先驱，他被永远载入史册。
1797年后，贝多芬患了耳聋病，病情逐年恶化。对一个音乐家说来，再没有比这更沉重的打击了！在这封信中，他想把所遭受的痛苦向兄弟述说，但写好后并未寄出。
给我的兄弟卡尔和（约翰）贝多芬：
啊，兄弟们，你们说我心肠不好、固执而又厌世，你们多么冤枉我啊！你们只看到外表，却根本不知道其中的原因。我自幼性情温和善良，总想将来做一番事业。然而想想，六年前我得了这种不治之症，又被庸医耽误，病情日益恶化。我起初不知道受他们愚弄，总希望能慢慢治好，可最后却不得不面对终身残疾的命运（这种病需要很多年才能治好，也许根本就治不好）。我天生热情、活跃，喜欢社交，但现在年纪轻轻就被迫离群索居，与世隔绝。有时我试图忘记这一切，但由于耳聋，常遭到非常残酷的挫折。这种经历非常惨痛，我总不能每次都对人家说“大声点，使劲嚷，我耳聋”吧！
我怎么好意思公开承认我的耳朵有问题呢？我的听觉一直比别人
好——以前非常灵敏，同行中很少有人能和我比——这是毫无疑问的，所以，我实在说不出口。当你们看到我躲开你们时（其实我非常想和大家交往），请你们原谅我。我的遭遇真是非常痛苦，它必然会引起别人对我的误解。对我而言，再不能和朋友们一起娱乐、共同交谈、切磋思想了。除非万不得已，我总是避免和外界接触。
我不得不像个流亡者，因为当我和别人接近时，我会立刻感到恐惧，总担心自己的情况被别人发现，这半年来一直是这样。这半年来，我是完全按照医生的嘱咐在乡间度过的，这样做是为了尽量减少使用听觉，这也完全符合我目�
