It is graceful grief and sweet sadness to think of you,but in my heart,there is a kind of soft warmth that can't be expressed with any choice of words.

想你，是一種美麗的憂傷的甜蜜和惆悵，心里面，在我卻是一種用任何語言也無法表達的溫馨。

George Washington to His Wife

喬治·華盛頓致妻子

You may believe me,when I assure you in the most solemn manner that,so far from seeking this employment,I have used every effort in my power to avoid it,not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family,but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity;and I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home that I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad;if my stay were to be seven times seven years.But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service,I shall hope that has my undertaking it is designed to answer some good purpose...

I shall rely confidently on that Providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me,not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall.I shall feel no pain from the toil or danger of the campaign;my unhappiness will flow from the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone.I therefore beg that you will summon your whole fortitude,and pass your times agreeably as possible.Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this,and to hear it from your own pen.

George Washington

你可以相信我，我以最莊嚴(yán)的方式向你保證，我非但沒有主動去謀求這個職位，反而是竭盡所能地推辭它。這不只是因為我不愿意離開你、離開家人，還因為我自知我的能力還不足以擔(dān)此重任。此外，如果要我為了一個遙遠的前程長年奔波在外，我倒寧愿在家與你一起享受哪怕一個月的真正的快樂。但是，既然命運之神選中了我來擔(dān)當(dāng)此職，我謹(jǐn)希望接受此任以實現(xiàn)崇高的目標(biāo)……我將充滿信心地依賴上帝，迄今為止他一直在保佑我并賜福于我。毋庸置疑，這個秋天我一定會安然無恙地回到你的身邊。我不會因為作戰(zhàn)的艱苦和危險而感到痛苦。我的不快樂來自于我知道將你獨自一人留在家，你會感到不安。因此，我乞求你鼓足勇氣，盡可能愉快地度過你的時光。再也沒有比聽到你過得快樂更令我欣慰的了，再也沒有比收到你的親筆回信更令我感到滿足的了。

喬治·華盛頓

名人小課堂

喬治·華盛頓（George Washington,1732～1799年）美國首任總統(tǒng)，美國獨立戰(zhàn)爭大陸軍總司令。1789年當(dāng)選，1793年連任，后隱居。華盛頓被尊稱為美國國父，學(xué)者們將他和亞伯拉罕·林肯并列為美國歷史上最偉大的總統(tǒng)。

Nathaniel Hawthorne to His Wife　納撒尼爾·霍桑致妻子

I do trust,my dearest,that you have been employing this bright day for both of us;for I have spent it in my dungeon and the only light that broke upon me was when I opened your letter.I am sometimes driven to wish that you and I could mount upon a cloud(as we used to fancy in those heavenly walks of ours).And be home quite out of sight and hearing of the world;for now all the people in the world seem to come between us.How happy were Adam and Eve!There was no third person to come between them,and all the infinity around them only seemed to press their hearts closer together.We love one another as well as there is no silent and love Garden of Eden for us.Will you sail away with me to discover some summer island?Do you not think that god has reserved one for us,ever since the beginning of the world?Foolish that I am to raise a question of it,since we have found such an Eden...such an island sacred to us two...whenever we have been together!Men we are the Adam and Eve of a virgin earth.Now,goodbye;for voices are babbling around me and I should not wonder if you were to hear the echo of them while you read this letter.

我最最親愛的妻子，我確信你早已為我們選定了今天這個晴朗的好日子；而我卻一整天悶在城堡的主樓里，我唯一的一縷陽光是在打開你的信件后才得到的。我時常產(chǎn)生這樣的愿望：我和你一同駕馭著一朵白云（就像我們過去曾經(jīng)幻想我們在天堂里的漫步一樣），遠離世俗的喧囂；到目前為止，似乎全世界的人都來妨礙我們。亞當(dāng)和夏娃是多么幸福??！他們之間就沒有第三者介入，沒有任何人騷擾他們，而他們周圍無限的空間似乎把他們的心貼得更緊了。我們也如他們一樣彼此相愛，卻無法擁有一片只屬于我們自己的靜謐的愛的伊甸園。你愿與我一起遠航，去尋覓夏之島嗎？你不認(rèn)為上帝在創(chuàng)世記之初就為我們保留了這樣一座島嶼嗎？我提出這樣的問題是多么愚蠢啊，因為我們已經(jīng)找到了這樣的伊甸園——屬于你我兩人的神圣的愛情島……只要我們彼此在一起，我們就是那片凈土上的亞當(dāng)和夏娃?，F(xiàn)在，我要和你說再見了，因為我的周圍一片嘈雜。不知你展讀此信時，耳邊是否會有這些聲音的回聲縈繞。

名人小課堂

納撒尼爾·霍桑（Nathaniel Hawthorne,1804~1864年）19世紀(jì)美國小說家，代表作《紅字》已成為世界文學(xué)經(jīng)典之一。霍桑是心理小說的開創(chuàng)者，擅長剖析人的“內(nèi)心”。他的作品想象豐富、結(jié)構(gòu)嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)。除了進行心理分析與描寫外，他還擅長象征主義手法?；羯γ绹膶W(xué)的發(fā)展做出了很大貢獻。

John Adams to His Wife　約翰·亞當(dāng)斯致妻子

Prince Town New Jersey Aug.28th,1774

My Dr.,

I received your kind letter,at New York,and it is not easy for you to imagine the pleasure it has given me.I have not found a single opportunity to write since I left Boston,excepting by the post and I don't choose to write by that conveyance,for fear of foul play.But as we are now within forty-two miles of Philadelphia,I hope there to find some private hand by which I can convey this.

The particulars of our journey,I must reserve,to be communicated after my return.It would take a volume to describe the whole.It has been upon the whole an agreeable jaunt.We have had opportunities to see the world and to form acquaintances with the most eminent and famous men in the several colonies we have passed through.We have been treated with unbounded civility,complaisance,and respect.

We yesterday visited Nassau Hall College,and were politely treated by the scholars,tutors,professors and president,whom we are,this day to hear preach.Tomorrow we reach the Theatre of Action.God almighty grant us wisdom and virtue sufficient for the high trust that is devolved upon us.The spirit of the people wherever we have been seems to be very favorable.They universally consider our cause as their own,and express the firmest resolution,to abide the determination of the Congress.

I am anxious for our perplexed,distressed province—hope they will be directed into the right path.Let me in treat you,my dear,to make yourself as easy and quiet as possible.Resignation to the will of heaven is our only resource in such dangerous times.Prudence and caution should be our guides;I have the strongest hopes,that we shall yet see a clearer sky,and better times.

Remember my tender love to my little Nabby.Tell her she must write me a letter and enclose it in the next you send.I am charmed with your amusement with our little Johnny.Tell him I am glad to hear he is so good a boy as to read to his Mamma,for her entertainment,and to keep himself out of the company of rude children.Tell him I hope to hear a good account of his accidence and nomenclature,when I return.Kiss my little Charley and Tommy for me.Tell them I shall be at home by November but how much sooner I know not.

Remember me to all enquiring friends—particularly to Uncle Quincy,your Papa and family,and Dr.Tufts and family.Mr.Thaxter,I hope,is a good companion,in your solitude.Tell him,if he devotes his soul and body to his books,I hope,notwithstanding the darkness of these days,he will not find them unprofitable sacrifices in future.

I have received three very obliging letters,from Tudor,Trumble,and Hill.They have cheered us,in our wanderings,and done us much service.

My compliments to Mr.Wibirt and Coll,Quincy,when you see them.

Your account of the rain refreshed me.I hope our husbandry is prudently and industriously managed.Frugality must be our support.Our expenses,in this journey,will be very great—our only reward will be the consolatory reflection that we toil,spend our time,and tempt dangers for the public good—happy indeed,if we do any good!

The education of our children is never out of my mind.Train them to virtue,habituate them to industry,activity,and spirit.Make them consider every vice,as shameful and unmanly:fire them with ambition to be useful—make them disdain to be destitute of any useful,or ornamental knowledge or accomplishment.Fix their ambition upon great and solid objects,and their contempt upon little,frivolous,and useless ones.It is time,my dear,for you to begin to teach them French.Every decency,grace,and honesty should be inculcated upon them.

I have kept a few minutes by way of journal,which shall be your entertainment when I come home,but we have had so many persons and so various characters to converse with,and so many objects to view,that I have not been able to be so particular as I could wish—I am,with the tenderest affection and concern,your wandering.

John Adams

我親愛的：我在紐約收到了你的來信，你很難想象得到它所帶給我的快樂。自離開波士頓后，我連一次給你寫信的機會都找不到，盡管信件可以通過郵寄信件這一方式，但是因為我害怕有人惡作劇，所以我不會選擇那種傳遞方式給你寫信。不過，現(xiàn)在我倆一共距離費城都不超過42英里，我希望在那兒私下找個專人為我們傳遞這封信。我們旅程的細(xì)節(jié)必須保留到我回去后再與你分享，因為整個旅行經(jīng)歷豐富到都可以寫成一本書了。總體來說，這是一次令人愉快的短途旅行。我們有機會看看世界，并有機會在我們路經(jīng)的幾個殖民地結(jié)識那些最杰出的知名人士。這里的人盛情款待了我們，并對我們表現(xiàn)出了極大的殷勤和尊重。昨天我們參觀了拿騷樓學(xué)院，并受到了學(xué)者們、導(dǎo)師們、教授們以及校長的禮遇，今天我們還要去聽他們的演講。明天我們將要去行動劇院。愿萬能的上帝因?qū)ξ覀兊母叨刃湃?，而賜予我們足夠的智慧和美德。我們所到之處的人們精神似乎都非常良好。他們普遍地把我們的事業(yè)當(dāng)作他們自己的事業(yè)來對待，并表示出堅定地遵守國會決定的決心。我為那些處于困惑和痛苦之中的人們感到憂慮——希望他們會被指引到正確的道路上。親愛的，我希望你盡可能讓自己擁有輕松和平靜的心態(tài)。在這個危險的年代里，順從上帝的意志是我們唯一的辦法。謹(jǐn)慎小心是我們的指導(dǎo)方針。我最強烈的愿望就是：將來能看到一個更加晴朗的天空和更美好的時代。請向我們的小納比轉(zhuǎn)達我溫柔的愛意。告訴她一定要寫信給我，并一起附在你下次寄給我的信里。我為你和我們的小約翰的逗樂而感到無比欣慰。告訴他，我很高興聽到他是一個乖巧懂事的好孩子，讀書給媽媽聽逗她開心，也沒有與那些粗魯?shù)暮⒆訛槲?。告訴他，我希望當(dāng)我回家的時候能看到他對詞法和術(shù)語掌握得很好。代我親吻我的小查里和湯米。告訴他們我應(yīng)該11月份以前可以回家，但現(xiàn)在我還不知道到底多快能回。請向所有問起我的朋友們問好——特別要向昆西叔叔、你的父親及家人、塔夫茨博士及他的家人問好。我希望在你孤獨時撒克斯特先生是一個好伴侶。告訴他，如果他將身心投入他的書中，盡管現(xiàn)在這些日子充滿灰暗，我希望，他會發(fā)現(xiàn)他的付出在未來是不會白白犧牲毫無益處的。我還收到另外三封非常親切的問候信，它們分別來自圖多爾、特魯貝爾以及希爾。在我們的長途旅行中，他們激勵了我們，并給予了我們莫大的幫助。你見到威爾伯特先生、柯爾先生以及昆西先生時，請轉(zhuǎn)達我對他們的問候。你提到了雨，我倍感神清氣爽。我希望我們的畜牧業(yè)得到了謹(jǐn)慎管理和細(xì)心經(jīng)營。勤儉是我們的立足之本。這次旅行的花銷將會很大——我們唯一的回報將是令人安慰的反思，即：我們?yōu)榱斯媸聵I(yè)辛勞工作、甘冒危險，并耗去了我們的時光——如果我們做了有益的事，那的確令人感到幸福！我從未停止過思考孩子們的教育問題。培養(yǎng)他們良好的道德，使他們養(yǎng)成勤勉、活躍和富有進取精神的習(xí)慣；讓他們把每一種缺點視為可恥和怯懦：激勵他們要擁有成為有用之材的雄心壯志——使他們鄙視缺乏有用知識以及一事無成的人；把他們的抱負(fù)建立在偉大、堅定的目標(biāo)之上，而蔑視那些細(xì)小、瑣碎和無價值的事情。親愛的，現(xiàn)在是你開始教他們法語的時候了。應(yīng)該反復(fù)給他們灌輸禮貌、優(yōu)雅和誠實的知識，把這些美德牢牢地銘刻在他們的心中。我以日記的方式記了一些備忘錄，待我回家時可供你瀏覽消遣。不過，我們有那么多不同的人物要交談，有那么多的事物要觀察，所以不能夠如我所希望的那樣詳細(xì)地敘述這一切——我?guī)е顪厝岬膼酆完P(guān)心，你的流浪者。

約翰·亞當(dāng)斯

1774年8月28日寫于新澤西普林斯鎮(zhèn)

名人小課堂

約翰·亞當(dāng)斯（John Adams,1735~1826年）美國第一任副總統(tǒng)，后來接替喬治·華盛頓成為美國第二任總統(tǒng)（1797~1801年）。亞當(dāng)斯也是由托馬斯·杰斐遜組成的《獨立宣言》起草委員會的成員，被美國人視為最重要的開國元勛之一，同華盛頓、杰斐遜和富蘭克林齊名。他的長子約翰·昆西·亞當(dāng)斯后當(dāng)選為美國第六任總統(tǒng)。

Mark Twain to His Wife　馬克·吐溫致妻子

15 February 1869,Ohio

Livy,darling,how are you this morning?For it is morning,I guess,in as much as it is only half past 9,I have not got up yet.I only awoke a little while ago,naturally thought of you the first thing.I don't intend to get up till noon.

I wrote to our Mother,—if she will allow me to call her so—the letter is gone.If I had it back I would write it over again.I see that inletting the letter"write itself"it took entirely too unconventional a form.I forgot,occasionally,the fact that I was really writing to the PUBLIC,instead of to her.And so I elaborated what needed no elaboration,merely touched upon matters which should have been treated more fully.But don't you see?—if I had kept the public in my mind,the sense of being questioned cross questioned by outsiders,upon matters essentially private and personal,would have been so oppressive that I could not have written at all.It is hard to know that what you are writing(confessing)about your most delicate and private affairs is to be read by strangers and unlovingly criticized commented on at tea tables among miscellaneous groups who would often rather say a smart thing than a kind one.So I think that maybe,after all,there may have been a little natural impulse to holdback,instead of speaking out freely,though I was not really conscious of such an impulse.I do not think I am more sensitive than others would be under like circumstances.

I told Mrs.Fairbanks to have the ring made,and then express it to me at Elmira so that it would reach there about the 20th.And so you see I can put it on your finger myself,my precious little wife.

I wrote Twichell a short note yesterday to thank him for his kind efforts in forwarding our affairs.I told him we meant to lead a useful,unostentatious and earnest religious life,and that I should unite with the church as soon as I was settled,and that both of us,on these accounts,would prefer the quiet,moral atmosphere of Hartford to the driving,ambitious ways of Cleveland.I wanted him to understand that what we want is a home—we are done with the shows and vanities of life and are ready to enter upon its realities that we are tired of chasing its phantoms and shadows,and are ready to grasp its substance.At least I am—and"I"means both of us,and"both of us"means I of course—for are not we Twain one flesh?

I read a great deal in the Testament last night—why didn't we read the Testament more,instead of carrying loads of books into the drawing room which we never read?I thought of it Several times.

Clouding up again—well,is it never going to clear off?I will go to sleep again.Take this loving kiss and go to bed yourself,my idol.

Sam

莉維，親愛的，今天早上你好嗎？因為現(xiàn)在是早上，我估計只有九點半左右，所以我還沒有起床。我剛剛醒過來，自然而然地，我第一個想到的就是你。我打算賴到中午才起床。我給我們的母親寫了一封信——如果她允許我這樣稱呼她的話——信已經(jīng)寄出去了。如果我能把信收回，我會重寫一遍。我知道，如讓這封信“盡情演繹”，那么它將采取的完全是一種非傳統(tǒng)的形式。我偶爾忘記了，我實際上不是給她而是給公眾寫信這一事實。所以我詳細(xì)地闡述了那些本不該詳細(xì)闡述的事情，卻對那些應(yīng)該詳細(xì)闡述的事情一筆帶過。但是你明白嗎？——如果我把公眾記在心上，那種被局外人詢問或盤問純屬個人隱私的事情的感覺會是如此難以忍受，以至于使我根本無法寫信。很難想象，你所寫的（或承認(rèn)的）關(guān)于你的最微妙和隱私的事情是怎樣被陌生人閱讀，又是怎樣在茶余飯后被那些寧愿談?wù)摼鞯氖乱膊幌胝務(wù)撘患檬碌男涡紊娜嗽u頭論足的。所以，我想，那也許畢竟只是一點點的本能沖動驅(qū)使我忍住，而不是毫無顧忌地暢所欲言，盡管我并非真正意識到這種沖動。在同樣的情況下，我并不認(rèn)為自己比其他人更為敏感。我已經(jīng)讓費爾班克斯夫人去定做戒指，然后用快遞寄到埃爾邁拉給我，那樣我于20號左右就能收到。你看，這樣我就可以親手把它戴在你的手指上，我親愛的嬌妻。我昨天給特威切爾寫了一封短信，感謝他為促成我們的婚事所做出的種種努力。我告訴他，我們打算過一種有意義、樸素、真摯、虔誠的生活；等我一安頓下來，我就將與教堂聯(lián)系；出于這些原因，我們倆都偏愛哈特福特的這種安寧、有道德的氛圍，而不喜歡克利夫蘭那種精力過剩、雄心勃勃的生活方式。我想要他明白，我們需要的是一個家——我們經(jīng)歷過生活的表演秀和浮華，準(zhǔn)備邁進它的現(xiàn)實里——我們厭倦了追逐生活中的幻影，準(zhǔn)備抓住它的實質(zhì)。至少我是如此——這里的“我”是指我們倆，當(dāng)然“我們倆”也是指我——因為我們倆不是成為一體了嗎？我昨天晚上讀了許多《圣約》里的內(nèi)容——為什么我們不能多讀點《圣約》，卻偏要把大量的從來都不看的書搬進休息室？我對這個問題想了好幾次。又是烏云密布了——唉！難道天空永遠不會放晴嗎？我還是去睡覺吧。接受我這充滿愛意的吻，你自己也去睡吧，我的偶像。

薩姆

1869年2月15日寫于俄亥俄州

名人小課堂

馬克·吐溫（Mark Twain,1835～1910年）美國的幽默大師、小說家、作家，也是著名演說家。他是19世紀(jì)后期批判現(xiàn)實主義文學(xué)的優(yōu)秀代表，代表作品有短篇小說《競選州長》、《百萬英鎊》等，長篇小說《鍍金時代》、《湯姆·索亞歷險記》等?！豆素惱べM恩歷險記》是他最優(yōu)秀的作品，曾被美國小說家海明威譽為是“第一部”真正的“美國文學(xué)”。

Winston Churchill to His Wife

(Clementine Churchill)　溫斯頓·丘吉爾致妻子

（克萊門汀·丘吉爾）

My dearest one,

Alex and his aide-de-camp,who is the son of Lord Templemore,have left us after staying two nights.I hope Alex will come back again next weekend.He certainly enjoyed himself painting,and produced a very good picture considering it is the first time that he has handled a brush for six years.I have now four pictures,three of them large,in an advanced state,and I honestly think they are better than any I have painted so far.I gave Alex your message and he was very pleased.

The painting has been a great pleasure to me,and I have really forgotten all my vexations.It is a wonderful cure,because you really cannot think of anything else.This is Saturday,and it is a week since we started.We have had newspapers up till Wednesday.I have skimmed through them,and it certainly seems we are going to have a pretty hard time.I cannot feel the Government is doing enough about demobilization,still less about getting our trade on the move again.I do not know how we are ever to pay our debts,and it is even difficult to see how we shall pay our way.Even if we were all united in a Coalition,gathering all the strength of the nation,our task might well is beyond our powers.However,all this seems already quite remote from me on this lovely lake,where nearly all the days are full of sunshine and the weather bright and cool.

Much better than the newspapers was your letter,with its amusing but rather macabre account of the journey to Wood Ford.I am longing to hear how our affairs are progressing.I do hope you are not overtaxing yourself with all the business that there is to do.We shall certainly not forget about Mary's birthday,but let me know what you have done about a present.

Considering how pleasant and delightful the days have been,I cannot say they have passed quickly.It seems quite a long time since I arrived,although every day has been full of interest and occupation.I have converted my enormous bathroom into a studio with makeshift easels,and there all this morning Alex and I tried to put the finishing touches on our pictures of yesterday.He has set his heart on buying a villa here on a promontory.I have not seen it inside,but from the outside it looks the most beautiful abode one can possibly imagine,and I understand that inside it is even more romantic,going back to the fifteenth century.He was a little startled when I pointed out to him that no one will be allowed to buy a foreign property across the exchange perhaps for many years.

He begged me to stay on here as long as I like,but I think I shall come back the 18th or 19th.I am doubtful whether I shall stop in Paris.I expect in another ten or eleven days I shall be very keen to get home again.Sarah has been a great joy,and gets on with everybody.She and I both drive the speed-boats.They are a wonderful way of getting about this lake,and far safer than the awful winding roads around which the Italians career with motorcars and Lorries at all sorts of speeds and angles.

Charles plays golf most days.There is a very pretty link here,and he has fierce contests with himself or against Ogier.His devoted care of me is deeply touching.

You maybe amused to see the elaborate form in which your telegram,which I rejoiced to receive today,was sent.

His dictation over,Churchill continued in his own handwriting:

My Darling I think a great deal of you and last night when I was driving the speed-boat back there came into my mind your singing to me"In the Gloaming"years ago.What a sweet song and tune and how beautifully you sang it in all its pathos.My heart thrills and I love to feel you near me in thought.I feel so tenderly towards you my darling and the more pleasant and agreeable the scenes and days,the more I wish you were here to share them and give me a kiss.

You see I have nearly forgotten how to write with a pen.Isn't awful my scribble?

Miss Layton has heard from her"boy-friend'in S.Africa that she is to go out there(not Canada)immediately if possible to marry him.So she is very happy.Yesterday the South African officers came from their hotel and took her out to"water-plane'behind their speed boat.She looked very handsome whirling along in the water and made three large circles in front of the villa before she tumbled in.Sarah is writing you now.The DB is starting.

Always your loving husband

我最親愛的：亞歷克斯和他的副官坦普羅爾勛爵的兒子，在我們這里停留了兩個晚上后就走了。我希望亞歷克斯下周末還會再回來。他確實非常喜歡作畫，而且還畫了一幅很棒的作品，這是他操練了六年畫筆以來，第一次畫得如此好?，F(xiàn)在的我熟諳畫畫之道，已經(jīng)畫了四幅畫，其中有三幅大幅的。但是老實說，這幾幅畫是我迄今為止畫得最好的作品了。我把你的消息告訴了亞歷克斯，他聽后非常高興。對于我來說，作畫是一件非常令人高興的事。作畫時，我的一切煩惱都會被拋到九霄云外。作畫真不愧為一個奇妙的療法，因為此時的人們根本不會有其他雜念。今天是周六，我們出發(fā)至今已有一個星期了，可直到星期三我們才收到報紙。我粗略瀏覽了一下，看來我們真的將經(jīng)歷一段艱難的日子。我覺得政府在裁軍方面的工作做得并不夠，此外在重新促進貿(mào)易發(fā)展方面的工作也做得很少。我不知道我們怎樣才能償還債務(wù)；至于怎樣才可不舉債則更加有難度。即使我們?nèi)繄F結(jié)在一起，組成一個聯(lián)邦，集中起全國的所有力量，我們所面臨的這個任務(wù)也是超出我們能力范圍的，心有余而力不足。不過，這一切似乎已經(jīng)離我很遙遠，在這片美麗的湖上，幾乎每天伴隨我的都是明媚的陽光和涼爽宜人的氣候。你的來信里講述的關(guān)于伍德福德既有趣又驚險的旅行故事可比報紙好看多了。我想聽你講講我們的事情進展得如何。我真心希望你不要因為那些要做的事而讓自己負(fù)擔(dān)過重。我們當(dāng)然不會忘記瑪麗的生日；但是，請告訴我你準(zhǔn)備了什么禮物呀。就這些日子而言，真的令人非常愜意，但是我感覺時間還是過得很慢。盡管這里的每一天都充滿樂趣，我過得也很充實，但是卻依然感到來到這里似乎很長一段時間了。我把我的那間大浴室改裝成了一個工作室，里面還擺著臨時畫架。今天整一上午亞歷克斯和我都呆在那兒，努力完成昨天的畫。亞歷克斯下定決心要買下這兒的一幢海角別墅。我沒有看過里面的陳設(shè)，但從外面看起來它確實是人們所能想象得出的最漂亮的住宅了。我知道室內(nèi)甚至要更加浪漫，若是置身其中仿佛回到15世紀(jì)。但是，當(dāng)我告訴他這里可能多年來一直不允許交易購買外國地產(chǎn)時，他頗感驚訝。亞歷克斯請求我繼續(xù)待在這里，想留多久就留多久。但我想18或19號就回去。我還在猶豫途中是否在巴黎停留，但我多么希望再過10天或11天之后能回到我渴望已久的家。薩拉是我們的開心果，她和大家相處得很好。我們倆駕著快艇馳騁于湖上，感覺妙極了，而且比起意大利職業(yè)賽車手在連續(xù)彎路上全方位、全速駕駛小汽車或卡車可是安全得多。查爾斯多數(shù)的日子都打高爾夫球。這里有一個很漂亮的高爾夫球場。有時他和自己打，有時與奧吉爾激烈對決。他對我悉心的照料讓我感動萬分。我很高興今天收到了你的電報，當(dāng)你看到電文里精心制作的格式時，大概被逗笑了吧。默寫結(jié)束了，丘吉爾繼續(xù)寫他的信——親愛的，我對你是日思夜想。昨晚我駕著快艇返航時，我腦子里回想起你多年以前對我唱的一首歌，歌名叫做《在黃昏》。多么動聽的歌曲！多么美妙的曲調(diào)！而且你唱得又是如此地哀婉動人！我的心在震顫，我打從心里喜歡你在我身邊的感覺。親愛的，我對你感到多么溫柔啊！這里的風(fēng)光愈是賞心悅目，日子愈是舒適愜意，我就愈發(fā)強烈地渴望你能來到我身邊與我分享這一切，并給我一個吻。你瞧，我?guī)缀醪恢涝趺从霉P寫字了。我胡亂涂鴉的字跡是不是看著覺得很恐怖？雷頓小姐收到了她“男朋友”從南非的來信?？赡艿脑挘龝ⅠR動身去南非（不是加拿大）與他成婚，因此她高興極了。昨天南非的官員們從他們的酒店過來，把她帶到一架“水上飛機”上，那架飛機就停在他們的快艇后面。她在水上旋轉(zhuǎn)著，在別墅的前方轉(zhuǎn)了三個大圈才跌落下來，看起來真是酷斃了！薩拉現(xiàn)在也在給你寫信。吃飯鈴響了。

永遠愛你的丈夫

名人小課堂

溫斯頓·丘吉爾（Winston Churchill,1874～1965年）政治家、畫家、演說家、作家以及記者，1953年憑借作品《第二次世界大戰(zhàn)回憶錄》獲得諾貝爾文學(xué)獎。他曾于1940～1945年及1951～1955年期間兩度任英國首相，被認(rèn)為是20世紀(jì)最重要的政治領(lǐng)袖之一，帶領(lǐng)英國獲得第二次世界大戰(zhàn)的勝利。

Clementine Churchill to Her Husband

(Winston Churchill)　克萊門汀·丘吉爾致丈夫

（溫斯頓·丘吉爾）

My Darling,

I'm so distressed about the truss—I hope it is comfortable and does not worry you.Did you strain yourself or stretch unduly,and will you now be able to do your exercises which are so potent a preventative of indigestion?Please take great care of yourself.

I have big news.Mary is home from Germany for good and has applied for a position in London or nearby.It's very good of her because she was having a thrilling time in Germany.She asked to be sent home so that she could be near us.And they granted her request.She rang me up from Tilbury,and said‘I'm home for good’.I think she may be demobilized in February—I feel warmed and comforted by her presence.

I'm so happy to see from your letter that you are enjoying the beauty of the Lake sand the comfort and elegance of the Villa.I have had a most amusing letter from Sarah describing her apricot colored and mirrored bathroom.

Work is progressing rather slowly,but I hope surely,on the Chartwell and London fronts—Whitbread is industrious and thorough and smiling.Max's hens are beautiful and have laid a few(a very few)eggs,of exquisite flavor but of diminutive size—about the size of a pigeon's egg.So we have to give two instead of one,to those who are registered with us.But Moppett says,they will get bigger and more numerous presently.

No German prisoners yet till after the Harvest.It will be lovely when the lake camouflage is gone and also the barbed wire.

Your Pal,Damaskinos is here being entertained by Mr.Attlee and Crankie.I see Anthony Eden attended the dinner.

I must hurry because your mail is just off.I'm sending 2 bottles of brandy as requested.I hope they are the right sort?

I enclose a cutting from the DT.

Yours loving

Clemmie

親愛的：關(guān)于那個托帶的事情，我感到非?？鄲馈蚁Ｍ粫屇愀械诫y受，也不會讓你為此犯愁。你不要把托帶繃得太緊，當(dāng)然，也不要繃得太松，你現(xiàn)在還能運動嗎？適當(dāng)?shù)倪\動能預(yù)防消化不良。請務(wù)必細(xì)心照顧好自己。我有重大消息告訴你。瑪麗已從德國回來再也不走了，并在倫敦或者是其附近謀了一份工作。這樣對她很好，因為她在德國經(jīng)歷了一段令人不寒而栗的生活。她要求他們遣送她回國，那樣她能和我們離得近了，他們也答應(yīng)了她的請求。她從蒂爾伯里給我打來電話說：“我要回家啦，而且永遠不走了！”。我想她可能2月就可以回來了——一想到她就要回來，我內(nèi)心就感到溫暖與安慰。從你的來信中，我非常高興看到你在享受著湖景的美麗風(fēng)光以及別墅的舒適優(yōu)雅。我還收到薩拉寫來的一封有趣的信，她在信中描述了她那杏黃色的浴室，浴室里還裝了鏡子。這里的工作進展相當(dāng)緩慢，但我真的希望在查特維爾和倫敦前線的惠特布萊德勤勉、徹底并快樂地工作。馬克斯家的母雞很漂亮，到目前為止已經(jīng)下了幾個蛋了（僅有的幾個），味道確實不錯，但就是太小了——大概只有鴿子蛋那么大而已。因此，我們需要給那些跟我們登記過的人兩個雞蛋，一個不夠。不過據(jù)莫皮特說，最近那些母雞會產(chǎn)出更多且更大的雞蛋。豐收過后就看不到德國囚犯出來干活了。當(dāng)湖上的掩飾物及鐵絲網(wǎng)消失后，那周圍將會變得非常美麗。你的朋友，達馬斯金諾斯在這里受到了艾德里和克蘭基先生的款待；我見到安東尼·伊登也出席了晚宴。你的信剛寄出，我必須快一點。我按你的要求寄去了兩瓶白蘭地，希望是你要的那種。隨信附上一篇來自《每日電訊報》的剪報。

愛你的克萊米

Charles Dickens to His Wife　查爾斯·狄更斯致妻子

Tuesday morning,15th April,1851

My dearest Kate,—Now observe,you must read this letter very slowly and carefully.If you have hurried on thus far without quite understanding(apprehending some bad news)I rely on your turning back and reading again.

Little Dora,without being in the least pain,is suddenly stricken ill.There is nothing in her appearance but perfect rest—you would suppose her quietly asleep,but I am sure she is very ill,and I cannot encourage myself with much hope of her recovery.I do not(and why should I say I do to you,my dear?)I do not think her recovery at all likely.

I do not like to leave home,I can do no good here,but I think it right to stay.You will not like to be away,I know,and I cannot reconcile it to myself to keep you away.Forster,with his usual affection for us,comes down to bring you this letter and to bring you home,but I cannot close it without putting the strongest entreaty and injunction upon you to come with perfect composure—to remember what I have often told you,that we never can expect to be exempt,as to our many children,from the afflictions of other parents,mad that if—if when you come.I should even have to say to you,"Our little baby is dead,"you are to do your duty to the rest,and to show yourself worthy of the great trust you hold in them.

If you will only read this steadily I have a perfect confidence in your doing what is right.

Ever affectionately,

Charles Dickens

我最親愛的凱特，——現(xiàn)在請注意：你必須慢慢地仔細(xì)閱讀這封信件。假如到目前為止你是匆匆讀過，而未很好地理解（看出一些壞消息）的話，我指望你再從頭看起。小多拉突然病倒了，但她絲毫沒有表現(xiàn)出一點疼痛的樣子。她的臉上除了輕松安詳，其余什么也沒有——如果你見到她那模樣，你會誤以為她在靜靜地睡覺呢，但是我可以肯定她的病很嚴(yán)重，而且我對她的痊愈不敢抱太大的希望。我不認(rèn)為（我為什么要跟你說我認(rèn)為呢，親愛的？），我完全不認(rèn)為她有痊愈的可能。我不喜歡離家外出，盡管我留在這里也無濟于事，但我覺得我應(yīng)該留在這兒。我知道你也不喜歡離開，讓你離開我內(nèi)心里也于心不忍。福斯特對我們還是像往常一樣關(guān)心，他現(xiàn)在給你捎去這封信來并接你回家。不過，我在結(jié)束這封信之前，我不得不強烈地懇求和勸告你，回來時要完全保持鎮(zhèn)靜——記住我經(jīng)常對你說的話：我們兒女多，其他父母們遭到的苦難，我們決不能心存僥幸自己能夠豁免。假如——假如你回來的時候，我甚至可能不得不對你說，“我們的小寶寶死了”，你仍然要對其他孩子盡到做母親的職責(zé)，要向他們證明你自己值得他們對你的無限信賴。只要你能冷靜地讀完這封信，我對你完全充滿信心，你知道怎么做才是正確的。

永遠的摯愛，查爾斯·狄更斯

寫于1851年4月15日星期二早晨

名人小課堂

查爾斯·狄更斯（Charles Dickens,1812～1870年）英國小說家。生于海軍小職員家庭，只上過幾年學(xué)，全靠刻苦自學(xué)和艱辛勞動成為知名作家。主要作品有《匹克威克外傳》、《霧都孤兒》、《雙城記》、《遠大前程》等，他是19世紀(jì)英國現(xiàn)實主義文學(xué)的主要代表。

Abigail Adams to Her Husband　阿比蓋爾·亞當(dāng)斯致丈夫

Braintree August 19.1774

The great distance between us,makes the time appear very long to me.It seems already a month since you left me.The great anxiety I feel for my country,for you and for our family renders the day tedious,and the night unpleasant.The rocks and quick sands appear upon every side.What course you can or will take is all wrapted in the bosom of futurity.Uncertainty and expectation leave the mind great scope.Did ever any kingdom or state regain their liberty,when once it was invaded without bloodshed?I cannot think of it without horror.

Yet we are told that all the misfortunes of Sparta were occasioned by their too great solicitude for present tranquility,and by an excessive love of peace they neglected the means of making it sure and lasting.They ought to have reflected says Polibius that as there is nothing more desirable,or advantageous than peace,when founded in justice and honor,so there is nothing more shameful and at the same time more pernicious when attained by bad measures,and purchased at the price of liberty.

I have received a most charming letter from our friend Mrs.Warren.She desires me to tell you that her best wishes attend you through your journey both as a friend and patriot—hopes you will have no uncommon difficulties to surmount or hostile movements to impede you—but if the Locrians should interrupt you,she hopes you will beware that no future annals may say you chose an ambitious Philip for your leader,who built up a monarchy on the ruins of the happy institution.

I have taken a very great fondness for reading Rollin's Ancient History since you left me.I am determined to go through with it if possible in these my days of solitude.I find great pleasure and entertainment from it,and I have persuaded Johnny to read me a page or two every day,and hope he will form his desire to oblige me entertain a fondness for it—we have had a charming rain which lasted 12 hours and has greatly revived the dying fruits of the earth.

I want much to hear from you.I long impatiently to have you upon the stage of action.The first of September or the month of September,perhaps may be of as much importance to Great Britain as the Ides of March were to Caesar.I wish you every public as well,as private blessing,and that wisdom which is profitable both for instruction and edification to conduct you in this difficult day—the little flock remember Papa,and kindly wish to see him.So does your most affectionate.

Abigail Adams

你我之間遙遠的距離讓我感覺到，時間對我來說顯得是那么漫長。自你離開我，差不多已有一個月了。我為我的祖國、為你、為我們的家庭感到無比憂慮，這種感覺使我白天過得沉悶，夜晚也過得不愉快。礁石和流沙到處都是。你能夠或?qū)⒁獙ξ磥聿扇∈裁礃拥姆结樎肪€完全還不得而知。不確定性和期望令人思緒萬千。一旦受到侵略，有哪個王國或政府不必經(jīng)歷殺戮就可以重新獲得自由呢？一想到這，我就不寒而栗。然而，據(jù)我們所知，斯巴達的一切不幸緣于他們太渴望現(xiàn)在的安寧，緣于他們對和平的過分鐘愛卻忽略了那些保證國家持續(xù)和平的手段。他們應(yīng)該思考波利比烏斯的話，基于正義與榮譽，沒有什么東西是比和平更值得渴望或者更具有優(yōu)勢的；因此，再也沒有比以卑劣的手段和以犧牲自由為代價來獲取和平更令人感到恥辱、同時更致命的了。我從我們的朋友沃淪太太那里收到了一封令人無比欣慰的信。她希望我告訴你，她以一個朋友同時也是一個愛國者的身份，衷心祝愿你旅途順利——希望你沒有克服不了的困難，也沒有帶有敵意的運動阻礙你——但如果洛克里斯人阻撓你，她希望你要意識到未來的編年史不會說你選擇了一個野心勃勃的菲利普人作為你們的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，并在幸福制度的廢墟上建立了君主制。自你離開我后，我非常喜歡讀羅林的《古代歷史》一書，并決定假如可能的話，在我獨處的這些日子里讀完這本書。我從中得到了極大的快樂和消遣，而且我說服了約翰尼每天給我讀一到兩頁，并希望他也能從滿足我的愿望中形成他自己的讀書欲望——我們這兒下了一場及時雨，連續(xù)下了12個小時，充分灌溉了大地上的果樹，使其得以復(fù)蘇。我非常想收到你的來信。我迫不及待地想要知道你們的行動到達什么階段了。對于英國來說，9月的第一周或是整個9月，或許就像3月15日對于愷撒一樣，具有重要意義。我祝愿你公事私事一切順利，并希望那益于引導(dǎo)和啟迪人的智慧在這困難的日子里為你指明前進的方向——小家伙們向他們的爸爸問好，并期盼著能見到他。你最摯愛的人也是一樣。

阿比蓋爾·亞當(dāng)斯

1774年8月19日寫于布倫特里

名人小課堂

阿比蓋爾·亞當(dāng)斯夫人（Mrs.Abigail Adams,1744～1818年）美國政界人物、女權(quán)運動先驅(qū)、書簡作家，美國第二任總統(tǒng)約翰·亞當(dāng)斯的夫人。她出生于馬薩諸塞州的韋茅斯一頗具影響的殖民地政治家族。父親威廉·史密斯為公會理事長，母親伊麗莎白。有姊妹三人，排行老二。1764年10月25日與約翰·亞當(dāng)斯結(jié)為夫婦，此后，阿比蓋爾便獨自經(jīng)營農(nóng)場和操持家務(wù)，并擔(dān)負(fù)起培養(yǎng)教育5個子女的責(zé)任。

Ludwig van Beethoven to His

Immortal Beloved　貝多芬致“永恒的愛人”

Evening,Monday,July 6

You are suffering,my dearest creature—only now have I learned that letters must be posted very early in the morning.Mondays,Thursdays—the only days on which the mail coach goes from here to K.You are suffering—ah!Wherever I am there you are also.I shall arrange affairs between us so that I shall live and live with you,what a life!Thus!Thus without you—pursued by the goodness of mankind hither and thither—which I as little try to deserve as I deserve it.

Humility of man toward man—it pains me—and when I consider myself in connection with the universe,what am I and what is he whom we call the greatest—and yet—herein lies the divine in man.I weep when I reflect that you will probably not receive the first intelligence from me until Saturday—much as you love me,I love you more—but do not ever conceal your thoughts from me—good night—as I am taking the baths I must go to bed.Oh,God!So near so far!Is our love not truly a celestial edifice—firm as Heaven's vault

讓你受苦了，我最親愛的人兒——直到現(xiàn)在我才得知，郵件必須得在周一或周四早上很早的時候就寄出去——只有這些時間段才有從這兒到K城的郵車。讓你受苦了——啊，無論我在哪兒，你都與我同在——為了生活，與你一起生活，我要安排好你我之間的事情。什么樣的生活??！就這樣！就這樣沒有你在身邊的日子——處處遭遇人性之良善的追擊——我一點也不愿意這樣。一個人對另一個人的卑躬屈膝刺痛了我。當(dāng)我把自己置身于浩瀚的宇宙時，我在思考自己是什么，而世人所稱為偉人的又是什么——然而——這里蘊含著人類的神圣性。當(dāng)我想到你也許要到周六才能收到我的第一封信時，我不禁潸然淚下——你深深地愛著我，而我對你的愛則更為濃厚——但在我的面前，請決不要把你的想法隱藏起來——晚安——我要去洗澡，然后必須去睡了。噢，上帝啊，我們距離這么近，卻又相隔如此遠！我們的愛情不是正像是一座天上宮殿——如蒼穹一樣堅固嗎？

寫于7月6日星期一晚上

名人小課堂

路德維?！し病へ惗喾遥↙udwig van Beethoven,1770～1827年）德國作曲家、音樂家、指揮家，維也納古典樂派代表人物之一。他與海頓、莫扎特一起被后人稱為“維也納三杰”。他的代表作品主要有《英雄》、《命運》、《月光曲》等。貝多芬的音樂制作對音樂發(fā)展有著深遠影響，他也因此被后世尊稱為“樂圣”。