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背景音乐：德彪西《月光》

上回给大家介绍了Samuel Smiles所写的《自助论》(Self-Help)，今天Albert给大家介绍1871年出版的他的另一部著作《品格》(Character)。

Amazon网站是如此介绍这部经典著作的：

“Thisis a self-help book focusing on developing character within one’s self. Most ofwhat Smiles writes about is still very relevant to today's character building……Heshows a deep understanding about the human being which gives his book a soulthat will not die. "Character" will help you not only become a betterperson, but recognize the traits of success within others too. This has thepotential to be a life changing book!”

“这是一本专注于个人品格塑造的自助书籍。Smiles所写的大部分内容与今日世界我们塑造品格仍然息息相关。。。。。。他对于人类入木三分的洞悉让他的书具备不朽的灵魂。《品格》一书不仅可以帮助你成为更好的自己，而且可以帮助你判别别人身上成功的品质。这本书具备改变你人生的潜力！”

今天Albert给大家朗诵的文章选自这本书中“Companionship of Books”这一章节。

Companionship of Books

以书为友

           塞缪尔・斯迈尔斯(Samuel Smiles)

A man may usually be known by the books hereads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of booksas well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether itbe of books or of men.

看一个人读些什么书和交什么样的朋友就可知道他的为人。因为世界上有与人为友的，也有与书为友的。无论是书友或朋友，我们都应该择其最佳者而从之。

A good book may be among the best offriends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. Itis the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back uponus, in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the samekindness, amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling usin age.

一本好书就像是一个最好的朋友。它始终不渝，过去如此，现在仍然如此，将来也永远不变。它是最有耐心、最令人愉快的伴侣。在我们穷困潦倒、临危遭难的时候，它也不会抛弃我们，对我们总是一往情深。在我们年轻时，好书陶冶我们的性情，增长我们的知识；到我们年老时，它又给我们以安慰和勉励。

A good book is often the best urn of a lifeenshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of man's life is;for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books aretreasures of good words, the golden thoughts, which remembered and cherishedbecome our constant companions and comforters. "They are neveralone", said Sir Philip Sydney." that are accompanied by noblethoughts."

好书常如最精美的宝器，珍藏着人一生思想的精华。人生的境界，主要就在于他思想的境界。所以，最好的书是金玉良言的宝库，若将其中的崇高思想铭记于心，就成为我们忠实的伴侣和永恒的慰藉。菲利普•悉尼爵士说得好：“有崇高思想做伴的人永不孤独。”

The good and true thought may in times oftemptation be as an angel of mercy purifying and guarding the soul. It alsoenshrines the germs of action, for good words almost always inspire to goodworks.

当我们面临诱惑的时候，优美纯真的思想会像仁慈的天使一样，纯洁并保卫我们的灵魂。优美纯真的思想也孕育着行动的萌芽，因为金玉良言几乎总会启发善行。

Books possess an essence of immortality.They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay,but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are asfresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago.What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from theprinted pages. The only effect of time has been to sift out the bad products;for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.

书籍具有不朽的本质，是人类勤奋努力的最为持久的产物。寺庙会倒坍，神像会朽烂，而书却经久长存。对于伟大的思想来说，时间是无关重要的。多少年以前初次闪现在作者脑海里的伟大思想今天依然清新如故。他们当时的言论和思想都刊于书页，如今依然那么生动感人。时间惟一的作用是淘汰不好的作品，因为只有真正的佳作才能经久长存。

Books introduce us into the best society;they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. Wehear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; wesympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experiencebecomes ours and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in thescenes which they describe.

书籍引导我们与最优秀的人物为伍，使我们置身历代伟人巨匠之间，如闻其声，如观其行，如见其人。同他们情感交融，悲喜与共。他们的感受成为我们自己的感受，我们觉得有点儿像是在作者所描绘的人生舞台上跟他们一起粉墨登场了。

The great and good do not die even in thisworld. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a livingvoice. It is an intellect to which one still listens. Hence we ever remainunder the influence of the great men of old. The imperial intellects of theworld are as much alive now as they were ages ago.

即使在人世间，伟大杰出的人物，也是永生不灭的，他们的精神载入书册，传之四海。书是人们至今仍在聆听的智慧之声，永远充满着活力。所以，我们永远都是在受着历代伟人的影响。多少世纪以前的盖世英才，如今仍同当年一样，显示着强大的生命力。

生词短语：

company 陪伴

companionship 陪伴

cheerful 愉快的

adversity 困境；逆境

distress 危难；悲痛

urn 壶

enshrine 视…为神圣

germ 胚芽；萌芽

immortality 不朽

decay 腐坏；衰败

sift out 筛去

in a measure 一定程度上

embalm 使不朽

intellect 才智；知识分子