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11章
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人为他们击钹伴奏。你手上的地图会标出那不勒斯的位置，它位于世界上最可爱的海湾，与最宁静的海域之一毗邻。除了自然美景，它还有许多其他美丽的地方。我们花了两天时间参观那不勒斯周边的名胜，如巴亚湾、古城遗迹、阿韦尔诺湖、硫磺温泉、卡隆的避暑洞穴等。我们去过西比尔的岩洞和许多地下奇怪的洞穴（我只说出它们的名字，因为你可以在桑德的游记中查到）。今天，我进了最奇异的一个岩洞，也就是波尔蒂奇岩洞，这里有着西西里国王建造的乡村别墅。一年前，人们在挖掘时，发现了地底下三十多英尺深处的一些古老建筑。在好奇心的驱使下，他们继续挖掘，自那时起他们就一直挖个不停。他们挖出的通道蜿蜒曲折，现在已经有一英里多长。你边走边看，可以见到一座圆形剧场的遗址，很多房子都装饰着大理石圆柱，其装潢都是一个模样；在一座寺庙的正面，好几个拱顶房间里都装饰着壁画。从这里拿走的一些画是目前为止所发现的最好作品，国王用它们来装饰他的宫殿。这里还有一定数量的雕像、勋章和珍宝；每天都能挖掘出好多。人们认为这是座提图斯皇帝统治时期的罗马古城，附近的维苏威火山爆发，淹没了整座城市。屋木横梁保存完好，能清晰地看见木纹，但它已完全炭化，轻轻一碰就化为灰烬。今天，我们去了那座火山脚下，看到火山熔岩流的物质，大概是四年前冲下山的；现在山口只冒一点儿烟。我们只能在这里逗留几天，说实在的，目睹这样胜地美景的时间真是太短了。
1740年6月17日于那不勒斯
Thomas Gray
To
Naples；
June 17； 1740。
Our journey hither was through the most beautiful part of the finest country in the world； and every spot of it on some account or other； famous for these three thousand years past。 The season has hitherto been just as warm as one would wish it； no unwholesome airs； or violent heats； yet heard of： The people call it a backward year； and are in pain about their corn； wine； and oil； but we； who are neither corn； wine； nor oil； find it very agreeable。 Our road was through Velletri； Cisterna； Terracina； Capua； and Aversa； and so to Naples。 The minute one leaves his Holiness's dominions； the face of things begins to change from wide uncultivated plains to olive groves and welltilled fields of corn； intermixed with ranks of elms； every one of which has its vine twining about it； and hanging in festoons between the rows from one tree to another。 The great old figtrees； the oranges in full bloom； and myrtles in every hedge； make one of the delightfullest scenes you can conceive； besides that； the roads are wide； wellkept； and full of passengers； a sight I have not beheld this long time。 My wonder still increased upon entering the city， which I think for number of people； outdoes both Paris and London。 The streets are one continued market； and thronged with populace so much that a coach can hardly pass。 The mon sort are a jolly lively kind of animals； more industrious than Italians usually are； they work till evening； then take their lute or guitar （for they all play）and walk about the city； or upon the seashore with it； to enjoy the fresco。 One sees their little brown children jumping about starknaked； and the bigger ones dancing with castanets； while others play on the cymbal to them。 Your maps will show you the situation of Naples； it is on the most lovely bay in the world； and one of the calmest seas： it has many other beauties besides those of nature。 We have spent two days in visiting the remarkable places in the country round it； such as the bay of Baya， and its remains of antiquity； the lake Avernus； and the Solfatara； Charon's grotto； etc。， We have been in the Sybil's cave and many other strange holes under ground （I only name them because you may consult Sandy's travels）； but the strangest hole I ever was in； has been today at a place called Portici； where his Sicilian Majesty has a countryseat。 About a year ago； as they were digging； they discovered some parts of ancient buildings above thirty feet deep in the ground： Curiosity led them on； and they have been digging ever since； the passage they have made； with all its turnings and windings； is now more than a mile long。 As you walk you see parts of an amphitheatre； many houses adorned with marble columns； and incrusted with the same the front of a temple； several arched vaults of rooms painted in fresco。 Some pieces of painting have been taken out from hence finer than any thing of the kind before discovered； and with these the king has adorned his palace； also a number of statues； medals； and gems； and more are dug out every day。 This is known to be a Roman town； that in the emperor Titus's time was overwhelmed by a furious eruption of Mount Vesuvius； which is hard by。 The wood and beams remain so perfect that you may see the grain！ but burnt to a coal； and dropping into dust upon the least touch。 We were today at the foot of that mountain； which at present smokes only a little； where we saw the materials that fed the stream of fire； which about four years since ran down its side。 We have but a few days longer to stay here ；too little in conscience for such a place。
西奥多·罗斯福致泰德
西奥多·罗斯福（1858—1919），美国第26届总统。他出生于纽约市的一个荷兰家庭，父亲权势显赫。1880年，罗斯福毕业于哈佛大学，后入哥伦比亚法学院继续学习。他热衷于政治活动，对法律并不感兴趣。23岁时，罗斯福就参加了纽约州议会，成为共和党领袖之一。1900年就任副总统。1901年，麦金利总统遇刺身亡，罗斯福继任总统。罗斯福为人正直，力求公正。在任期间，他主张改革，大力提倡发展经济，关心广大民众的利益，政绩斐然，是一位对美国政坛具有深远影响的总统。
亲爱的泰德：
见到你我真的非常高兴，我们一起度过了愉快的时光。我觉得你干得很不错，离开时我是这么想的。我非常满意你在学习和体育方面的名次。我希望你体育好，更希望你读书好。但是，如果得第一需要你过度用功，甚至损害健康的话，我不期望你在这两方面名列第一。我一直坚信，做任何事，都要全力以赴，无论是学拉丁文还是学数学，练拳击或者打橄榄球，但同时也要均衡适度。如果不是为了远大的目标，绝不值得把人弄得精疲力竭或去冒巨大风险。我要你继续训练本领，一旦需要，就可以拿出你的全部勇气和力量投入竞争。但我不要你滥用这些本领，只是要你尽量打好橄榄球，在拳击和摔跤上赢得一席之地，成为二线队员的领袖人物，而学习要在班上排到二三名，做到这些就足够了。如果看到你在班上仅占中游水平，那我将很伤心，因为（你不到十九岁就不能上大学，因此就要迟一年走向社会）我要你充分准备，以便弥补这种耽搁。但我知道，所有你所能做的一切就是要确保目前你在班上所处的位置。我完全相信你，因为你从未让人失望过。
1901年5月7日于牡蛎湾
Theodore Roosevelt
To
Oyster Bay；
May 7th； 1901。
Blessed Ted；
It was the greatest fun seeing you； and I really had a satisfactory time with you； and came away feeling that you were doing well。 I am entirely satisfied with your standing ；both in your studies and in athletics。 I want you to do well in your sports； and I want even more to have you do well with your books but I do not expect you to stand first in either； if so to stand could cause you overwork and hurt your health。 I always believe in going hard at everything； whether it is Latin or mathematics； boxing or football； but at the same time I want to keep the sense of proportion。 It is never worth while to absolutely exhaust one's self or to take big chances unless for an adequate object。 I want you to keep in training the faculties； which would make you； if the need arose； able to put your last ounce of pluck and strength into a contest。 But I do not want you to squander these qualities。 To have you play football as well as you do； and make a good name in boxing and wrestling； and be cox of your second crew； and stand second or third in your class in the studies； is all right。 I should be rather sorry to see you drop too near the middle of your class； because； as you cannot enter college until you are nineteen； and will therefore be a year later in entering life； I want you to be prepared in the best possible way； so as to make up for the delay。 But I know that all you can do you will do to keep substantially the position in the class that you have so far kept； and I have entire trust in you； for you have always deserved it。
…
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威廉·柯珀致柯珀夫人
威廉·柯珀（1731—1800）生于牧师家庭，母亲安妮·多恩是诗人约翰·多恩的族人。柯珀6岁丧母，童年生活的不幸形成了他忧郁的性格。从威斯敏斯特学校毕业后，他开始学习法律，从事律师工作。不久； 柯珀精神失常，几度想自杀，被送入精神病院。治愈后，他退居乡间，寄住在牧师安文家，受到安文夫妇的悉心照料。两年后，安文去世，其妻玛丽继续无微不至地照顾柯珀达20余年。玛丽还积极鼓励他以写诗来排除忧郁。1785年，柯珀发表长诗《任务》，声誉鹊起，跻身当时第一流诗人之列。该诗属“沉思型”长诗，采用无韵诗体，风格接近华兹华斯。诗人兴之所至，随意成诗，对宇宙人生发表感慨。除《任务》外，柯珀还做有颂体诗、讽刺诗、抒情诗近200首，以及幽默叙事诗一篇。他还翻译出版了荷马史诗和弥尔顿的拉丁文诗歌。
我亲爱的堂嫂：
非常感谢你写的那封长信，虽然它看起来并不怎么长。也非常感谢你的那封短信，此信完全在我的意料之外。虽然它很短，但是它传达了两条有意思的信息：一条是你的热病已经痊愈，另一条是柯珀小姐的过世。我想，后者是意料之中的事情，她在我的记忆中——尽管我和她交往不深——她是一个上了年纪的人，随时有可能步入另一个世界。而你，正值盛年，可以随心所欲地思索死亡（你怎么想它都不会过分），但是我希望你能活下去，花上多年时光来思索它。我不难想像我那些已经上了年岁的朋友们又老了许多，我上次见到他们时情况的确如此。但是，我很难想像那些以前年轻的朋友们也正在慢慢老去。由于没有亲眼目睹时间在他们身上造成的变化，我对于他们以前的印象依然鲜活，记忆中呈现的依然是他们未变的形象。记忆虽然保留了原来的形象，�
