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，是一种美丽的忧伤的甜蜜和惆怅，心里面，在我却是一种用任何语言也无法表达的温馨。
George Washington to His Wife
乔治·华盛顿致妻子
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，我以最庄严的方式向你保证，我非但没有主动去谋求这个职位，反而是竭尽所能地推辞它。这不只是因为我不愿意离开你、离开家人，还因为我自知我的能力还不足以担此重任。此外，如果要我为了一个遥远的前程长年奔波在外，我倒宁愿在家与你一起享受哪怕一个月的真正的快乐。但是，既然命运之神选中了我来担当此职，我谨希望接受此任以实现崇高的目标……我将充满信心地依赖上帝，迄今为止他一直在保佑我并赐福于我。毋庸置疑，这个秋天我一定会安然无恙地回到你的身边。我不会因为作战的艰苦和危险而感到痛苦。我的不快乐来自于我知道将你独自一人留在家，你会感到不安。因此，我乞求你鼓足勇气，尽可能愉快地度过你的时光。再也没有比听到你过得快乐更令我欣慰的了，再也没有比收到你的亲笔回信更令我感到满足的了。
乔治·华盛顿
名人小课堂
乔治·华盛顿（George Washington,1732～1799年）美国首任总统，美国独立战争大陆军总司令。1789年当选，1793年连任，后隐居。华盛顿被尊称为美国国父，学者们将他和亚伯拉罕·林肯并列为美国历史上最伟大的总统。
Nathaniel Hawthorne to His Wife 纳撒尼尔·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.
我最最亲爱的妻子，我确信你早已为我们选定了今天这个晴朗的好日子；而我却一整天闷在城堡的主楼里，我唯一的一缕阳光是在打开你的信件后才得到的。我时常产生这样的愿望：我和你一同驾驭着一朵白云（就像我们过去曾经幻想我们在天堂里的漫步一样），远离世俗的喧嚣；到目前为止，似乎全世界的人都来妨碍我们。亚当和夏娃是多么幸福啊！他们之间就没有第三者介入，没有任何人骚扰他们，而他们周围无限的空间似乎把他们的心贴得更紧了。我们也如他们一样彼此相爱，却无法拥有一片只属于我们自己的静谧的爱的伊甸园。你愿与我一起远航，去寻觅夏之岛吗？你不认为上帝在创世记之初就为我们保留了这样一座岛屿吗？我提出这样的问题是多么愚蠢啊，因为我们已经找到了这样的伊甸园——属于你我两人的神圣的爱情岛……只要我们彼此在一起，我们就是那片净土上的亚当和夏娃。现在，我要和你说再见了，因为我的周围一片嘈杂。不知你展读此信时，耳边是否会有这些声音的回声萦绕。
名人小课堂
纳撒尼尔·霍桑（Nathaniel Hawthorne,1804~1864年）19世纪美国小说家，代表作《红字》已成为世界文学经典之一。霍桑是心理小说的开创者，擅长剖析人的“内心”。他的作品想象丰富、结构严谨。除了进行心理分析与描写外，他还擅长象征主义手法。霍桑对美国文学的发展做出了很大贡献。
John Adams to His Wife 约翰·亚当斯致妻子
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
我亲爱的：我在纽约收到了你的来信，你很难想象得到它所带给我的快乐。自离开波士顿后，我连一次给你写信的机会都找不到，尽管信件可以通过邮寄信件这一方式，但是因为我害怕有人恶作剧，所以我不会选择那种传递方式给你写信。不过，现在我俩一共距离费城都不超过42英里，我希望在那儿私下找个专人为我们传递这封信。我们旅程的细节必须保留到我回去后再与你分享，因为整个旅行经历丰富到都可以写成一本书了。总体来说，这是一次令人愉快的短途旅行。我们有机会看看世界，并有机会在我们路经的几个殖民地结识那些最杰出的知名人士。这里的人盛情款待了我们，并对我们表现出了极大的殷勤和尊重。昨天我们参观了拿骚楼学院，并受到了学者们、导师们、教授们以及校长的礼遇，今天我们还要去听他们的演讲。明天我们将要去行动剧院。愿万能的上帝因对我们的高度信任，而赐予我们足够的智慧和美德。我们所到之处的人们精神似乎都非常良好。他们普遍地把我们的事业当作他们自己的事业来对待，并表示出坚定地遵守国会决定的决心。我为那些处于困惑和痛苦之中的人们感到忧虑——希望他们会被指引到正确的道路上。亲爱的，我希望你尽可能让自己拥有轻松和平静的心态。在这个危险的年代里，顺从上帝的意志是我们唯一的办法。谨慎小心是我们的指导方针。我最强烈的愿望就是：将来能看到一个更加晴朗的天空和更美好的时代。请向我们的小纳比转达我温柔的爱意。告诉她一定要写信给我，并一起附在你下次寄给我的信里。我为你和我们的小约翰的逗乐而感到无比欣慰。告诉他，我很高兴听到他是一个乖巧懂事的好孩子，读书给妈妈听逗她开心，也没有与那些粗鲁的孩子为伍。告诉他，我希望当我回家的时候能看到他对词法和术语掌握得很好。代我亲吻我的小查里和汤米。告诉他们我应该11月份以前可以回家，但现在我还不知道到底多快能回。请向所有问起我的朋友们问好——特别要向昆西叔叔、你的父亲及家人、塔夫茨博士及他的家人问好。我希望在你孤独时撒克斯特先生是一个好伴侣。告诉他，如果他将身心投入他的书中，尽管现在这些日子充满灰暗，我希望，他会发现他的付出在未来是不会白白牺牲毫无益处的。我还收到另外三封非常亲切的问候信，它们分别来自图多尔、特鲁贝尔以及希尔。在我们的长途旅行中，他们激励了我们，并给予了我们莫大的帮助。你见到威尔伯特先生、柯尔先生以及昆西先生时，请转达我对他们的问候。你提到了雨，我倍感神清气爽。我希望我们的畜牧业得到了谨慎管理和细心经营。勤俭是我们的立足之本。这次旅行的花销将会很大——我们唯一的回报将是令人安慰的反思，即：我们为了公益事业辛劳工作、甘冒危险，并耗去了我们的时光——如果我们做了有益的事，那的确令人感到幸福！我从未停止过思考孩子们的教育问题。培养他们良好的道德，使他们养成勤勉、活跃和富有进取精神的习惯；让他们把每一种缺点视为可耻和怯懦：激励他们要拥有成为有用之材的雄心壮志——使他们鄙视缺乏有用知识以及一事无成的人；把他们的抱负建立在伟大、坚定的目标之上，而蔑视那些细小、琐碎和无价值的事情。亲爱的，现在是你开始教他们法语的时候了。应该反复给他们灌输礼貌、优雅和诚实的知识，把这些美德牢牢地铭刻在他们的心中。我以日记的方式记了一些备忘录，待我回家时可供你浏览消遣。不过，我们有那么多不同的人物要交谈，有那么多的事物要观察，所以不能够如我所希望的那样详细地叙述这一切——我带着最温柔的爱和关心，你的流浪者。
约翰·亚当斯
1774年8月28日写于新泽西普林斯镇
名人小课堂
约翰·亚当斯（John Adams,1735~1826年）美国第一任副总统，后来接替乔治·华盛顿成为美国第二任总统（1797~1801年）。亚当斯也是由托马斯·杰斐逊组成的《独立宣言》起草委员会的成员，被美国人视为最重要的开国元勋之一，同华盛顿、杰斐逊和富兰克林齐名。他的长子约翰·昆西·亚当斯后当选为美国第六任总统。
Mark Twain to His Wife 马克·吐温致妻子
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
莉维，亲爱的，今天早上你好吗？因为现在是早上，我估计只有九点半左右，所以我还没有起床。我刚刚醒过来，自然而然地，我第一个想到的就是你。我打算赖到中午才起床。我给我们的母亲写了一封信——如果她允许我这样称呼她的话——信已经寄出去了。如果我能把信收回，我会重写一遍。我知道，如让这封信“尽情演绎”，那么它将采取的完全是一种非传统的形式。我偶尔忘记了，我实际上不是给她而是给公众写信这一事实。所以我详细地阐述了那些本不该详细阐述的事情，却对那些应该详细阐述的事情一笔带过。但是你明白吗？——如果我把公众记在心上，那种被局外人询问或盘问纯属个人隐私的事情的感觉会是如此难以忍受，以至于使我根本无法写信。很难想象，你所写的（或承认的）关于你的最微妙和隐私的事情是怎样被陌生人阅读，又是怎样在茶余饭后被那些宁愿谈论精明的事也不想谈论一件好事的形形色色的人评头论足的。所以，我想，那也许毕竟只是一点点的本能冲动驱使我忍住，而不是毫无顾忌地畅所欲言，尽管我并非真正意识到这种冲动。在同样的情况下，我并不认为自己比其他人更为敏感。我已经让费尔班克斯夫人去定做戒指，然后用快递寄到埃尔迈拉给我，那样我于20号左右就能收到。你看，这样我就可以亲手把它戴在你的手指上，我亲爱的娇妻。我昨天给特威切尔写了一封短信，感谢他为促成我们的婚事所做出的种种努力。我告诉他，我们打算过一种有意义、朴素、真挚、虔诚的生活；等我一安顿下来，我就将与教堂联系；出于这些原因，我们俩都偏爱哈特福特的这种安宁、有道德的氛围，而不喜欢克利夫兰那种精力过剩、雄心勃勃的生活方式。我想要他明白，我们需要的是一个家——我们经历过生活的表演秀和浮华，准备迈进它的现实里——我们厌倦了追逐生活中的幻影，准备抓住它的实质。至少我是如此——这里的“我”是指我们俩，当然“我们俩”也是指我——因为我们俩不是成为一体了吗？我昨天晚上读了许多《圣约》里的内容——为什么我们不能多读点《圣约》，却偏要把大量的从来都不看的书搬进休息室？我对这个问题想了好几次。又是乌云密布了——唉！难道天空永远不会放晴吗？我还是去睡觉吧。接受我这充满爱意的吻，你自己也去睡吧，我的偶像。
萨姆
1869年2月15日写于俄亥俄州
名人小课堂
马克·吐温（Mark Twain,1835～1910年）美国的幽默大师、小说家、作家，也是著名演说家。他是19世纪后期批判现实主义文学的优秀代表，代表作品有短篇小说《竞选州长》、《百万英镑》等，长篇小说《镀金时代》、《汤姆·索亚历险记》等。《哈克贝利·费恩历险记》是他最优秀的作品，曾被美国小说家海明威誉为是“第一部”真正的“美国文学”。
Winston Churchill to His Wife
(Clementine Churchill) 温斯顿·丘吉尔致妻子
（克莱门汀·丘吉尔）
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
我最亲爱的：亚历克斯和他的副官坦普罗尔勋爵的儿子，在我们这里停留了两个晚上后就走了。我希望亚历克斯下周末还会再回来。他确实非常喜欢作画，而且还画了一幅很棒的作品，这是他操练了六年画笔以来，第一次画得如此好。现在的我熟谙画画之道，已经画了四幅画，其中有三幅大幅的。但是老实说，这几幅画是我迄今为止画得最好的作品了。我把你的消息告诉了亚历克斯，他听后非常高兴。对于我来说，作画是一件非常令人高兴的事。作画时，我的一切烦恼都会被抛到九霄云外。作画真不愧为一个奇妙的疗法，因为此时的人们根本不会有其他杂念。今天是周六，我们出发至今已有一个星期了，可直到星期三我们才收到报纸。我粗略浏览了一下，看来我们真的将经历一段艰难的日子。我觉得政府在裁军方面的工作做得并不够，此外在重新促进贸易发展方面的工作也做得很少。我不知道我们怎样才能偿还债务；至于怎样才可不举债则更加有难度。即使我们全部团结在一起，组成一个联邦，集中起全国的所有力量，我们所面临的这个任务也是超出我们能力范围的，心有余而力不足。不过，这一切似乎已经离我很遥远，在这片美丽的湖上，几乎每天伴随我的都是明媚的阳光和凉爽宜人的气候。你的来信里讲述的关于伍德福德既有趣又惊险的旅行故事可比报纸好看多了。我想听你讲讲我们的事情进展得如何。我真心希望你不要因为那些要做的事而让自己负担过重。我们当然不会忘记玛丽的生日；但是，请告诉我你准备了什么礼物呀。就这些日子而言，真的令人非常惬意，但是我感觉时间还是过得很慢。尽管这里的每一天都充满乐趣，我过得也很充实，但是却依然感到来到这里似乎很长一段时间了。我把我的那间大浴室改装成了一个工作室，里面还摆着临时画架。今天整一上午亚历克斯和我都呆在那儿，努力完成昨天的画。亚历克斯下定决心要买下这儿的一幢海角别墅。我没有看过里面的陈设，但从外面看起来它确实是人们所能想象得出的最漂亮的住宅了。我知道室内甚至要更加浪漫，若是置身其中仿佛回到15世纪。但是，当我告诉他这里可能多年来一直不允许交易购买外国地产时，他颇感惊讶。亚历克斯请求我继续待在这里，想留多久就留多久。但我想18或19号就回去。我还在犹豫途中是否在巴黎停留，但我多么希望再过10天或11天之后能回到我渴望已久的家。萨拉是我们的开心果，她和大家相处得很好。我们俩驾着快艇驰骋于湖上，感觉妙极了，而且比起意大利职业赛车手在连续弯路上全方位、全速驾驶小汽车或卡车可是安全得多。查尔斯多数的日子都打高尔夫球。这里有一个很漂亮的高尔夫球场。有时他和自己打，有时与奥吉尔激烈对决。他对我悉心的照料让我感动万分。我很高兴今天收到了你的电报，当你看到电文里精心制作的格式时，大概被逗笑了吧。默写结束了，丘吉尔继续写他的信——亲爱的，我对你是日思夜想。昨晚我驾着快艇返航时，我脑子里回想起你多年以前对我唱的一首歌，歌名叫做《在黄昏》。多么动听的歌曲！多么美妙的曲调！而且你唱得又是如此地哀婉动人！我的心在震颤，我打从心里喜欢你在我身边的感觉。亲爱的，我对你感到多么温柔啊！这里的风光愈是赏心悦目，日子愈是舒适惬意，我就愈发强烈地渴望你能来到我身边与我分享这一切，并给我一个吻。你瞧，我几乎不知道怎么用笔写字了。我胡乱涂鸦的字迹是不是看着觉得很恐怖？雷顿小姐收到了她“男朋友”从南非的来信。可能的话，她会立马动身去南非（不是加拿大）与他成婚，因此她高兴极了。昨天南非的官员们从他们的酒店过来，把她带到一架“水上飞机”上，那架飞机就停在他们的快艇后面。她在水上旋转着，在别墅的前方转了三个大圈才跌落下来，看起来真是酷毙了！萨拉现在也在给你写信。吃饭铃响了。
永远爱你的丈夫
名人小课堂
温斯顿·丘吉尔（Winston Churchill,1874～1965年）政治家、画家、演说家、作家以及记者，1953年凭借作品《第二次世界大战回忆录》获得诺贝尔文学奖。他曾于1940～1945年及1951～1955年期间两度任英国首相，被认为是20世纪最重要的政治领袖之一，带领英国获得第二次世界大战的胜利。
Clementine Churchill to Her Husband
(Winston Churchill) 克莱门汀·丘吉尔致丈夫
（温斯顿·丘吉尔）
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
亲爱的：关于那个托带的事情，我感到非常苦恼——我希望它不会让你感到难受，也不会让你为此犯愁。你不要把托带绷得太紧，当然，也不要绷得太松，你现在还能运动吗？适当的运动能预防消化不良。请务必细心照顾好自己。我有重大消息告诉你。玛丽已从德国回来再也不走了，并在伦敦或者是其附近谋了一份工作。这样对她很好，因为她在德国经历了一段令人不寒而栗的生活。她要求他们遣送她回国，那样她能和我们离得近了，他们也答应了她的请求。她从蒂尔伯里给我打来电话说：“我要回家啦，而且永远不走了！”。我想她可能2月就可以回来了——一想到她就要回来，我内心就感到温暖与安慰。从你的来信中，我非常高兴看到你在享受着湖景的美丽风光以及别墅的舒适优雅。我还收到萨拉写来的一封有趣的信，她在信中描述了她那杏黄色的浴室，浴室里还装了镜子。这里的工作进展相当缓慢，但我真的希望在查特维尔和伦敦前线的惠特布莱德勤勉、彻底并快乐地工作。马克斯家的母鸡很漂亮，到目前为止已经下了几个蛋了（仅有的几个），味道确实不错，但就是太小了——大概只有鸽子蛋那么大而已。因此，我们需要给那些跟我们登记过的人两个鸡蛋，一个不够。不过据莫皮特说，最近那些母鸡会产出更多且更大的鸡蛋。丰收过后就看不到德国囚犯出来干活了。当湖上的掩饰物及铁丝网消失后，那周围将会变得非常美丽。你的朋友，达马斯金诺斯在这里受到了艾德里和克兰基先生的款待；我见到安东尼·伊登也出席了晚宴。你的信刚寄出，我必须快一点。我按你的要求寄去了两瓶白兰地，希望是你要的那种。随信附上一篇来自《每日电讯报》的剪报。
爱你的克莱米
Charles Dickens to His Wife 查尔斯·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
我最亲爱的凯特，——现在请注意：你必须慢慢地仔细阅读这封信件。假如到目前为止你是匆匆读过，而未很好地理解（看出一些坏消息）的话，我指望你再从头看起。小多拉突然病倒了，但她丝毫没有表现出一点疼痛的样子。她的脸上除了轻松安详，其余什么也没有——如果你见到她那模样，你会误以为她在静静地睡觉呢，但是我可以肯定她的病很严重，而且我对她的痊愈不敢抱太大的希望。我不认为（我为什么要跟你说我认为呢，亲爱的？），我完全不认为她有痊愈的可能。我不喜欢离家外出，尽管我留在这里也无济于事，但我觉得我应该留在这儿。我知道你也不喜欢离开，让你离开我内心里也于心不忍。福斯特对我们还是像往常一样关心，他现在给你捎去这封信来并接你回家。不过，我在结束这封信之前，我不得不强烈地恳求和劝告你，回来时要完全保持镇静——记住我经常对你说的话：我们儿女多，其他父母们遭到的苦难，我们决不能心存侥幸自己能够豁免。假如——假如你回来的时候，我甚至可能不得不对你说，“我们的小宝宝死了”，你仍然要对其他孩子尽到做母亲的职责，要向他们证明你自己值得他们对你的无限信赖。只要你能冷静地读完这封信，我对你完全充满信心，你知道怎么做才是正确的。
永远的挚爱，查尔斯·狄更斯
写于1851年4月15日星期二早晨
名人小课堂
查尔斯·狄更斯（Charles Dickens,1812～1870年）英国小说家。生于海军小职员家庭，只上过几年学，全靠刻苦自学和艰辛劳动成为知名作家。主要作品有《匹克威克外传》、《雾都孤儿》、《双城记》、《远大前程》等，他是19世纪英国现实主义文学的主要代表。
Abigail Adams to Her Husband 阿比盖尔·亚当斯致丈夫
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
你我之间遥远的距离让我感觉到，时间对我来说显得是那么漫长。自你离开我，差不多已有一个月了。我为我的祖国、为你、为我们的家庭感到无比忧虑，这种感觉使我白天过得沉闷，夜晚也过得不愉快。礁石和流沙到处都是。你能够或将要对未来采取什么样的方针路线完全还不得而知。不确定性和期望令人思绪万千。一旦受到侵略，有哪个王国或政府不必经历杀戮就可以重新获得自由呢？一想到这，我就不寒而栗。然而，据我们所知，斯巴达的一切不幸缘于他们太渴望现在的安宁，缘于他们对和平的过分钟爱却忽略了那些保证国家持续和平的手段。他们应该思考波利比乌斯的话，基于正义与荣誉，没有什么东西是比和平更值得渴望或者更具有优势的；因此，再也没有比以卑劣的手段和以牺牲自由为代价来获取和平更令人感到耻辱、同时更致命的了。我从我们的朋友沃沦太太那里收到了一封令人无比欣慰的信。她希望我告诉你，她以一个朋友同时也是一个爱国者的身份，衷心祝愿你旅途顺利——希望你没有克服不了的困难，也没有带有敌意的运动阻碍你——但如果洛克里斯人阻挠你，她希望你要意识到未来的编年史不会说你选择了一个野心勃勃的菲利普人作为你们的领导，并在幸福制度的废墟上建立了君主制。自你离开我后，我非常喜欢读罗林的《古代历史》一书，并决定假如可能的话，在我独处的这些日子里读完这本书。我从中得到了极大的快乐和消遣，而且我说服了约翰尼每天给我读一到两页，并希望他也能从满足我的愿望中形成他自己的读书欲望——我们这儿下了一场及时雨，连续下了12个小时，充分灌溉了大地上的果树，使其得以复苏。我非常想收到你的来信。我迫不及待地想要知道你们的行动到达什么阶段了。对于英国来说，9月的第一周或是整个9月，或许就像3月15日对于恺撒一样，具有重要意义。我祝愿你公事私事一切顺利，并希望那益于引导和启迪人的智慧在这困难的日子里为你指明前进的方向——小家伙们向他们的爸爸问好，并期盼着能见到他。你最挚爱的人也是一样。
阿比盖尔·亚当斯
1774年8月19日写于布伦特里
名人小课堂
阿比盖尔·亚当斯夫人（Mrs.Abigail Adams,1744～1818年）美国政界人物、女权运动先驱、书简作家，美国第二任总统约翰·亚当斯的夫人。她出生于马萨诸塞州的韦茅斯一颇具影响的殖民地政治家族。父亲威廉·史密斯为公会理事长，母亲伊丽莎白。有姊妹三人，排行老二。1764年10月25日与约翰·亚当斯结为夫妇，此后，阿比盖尔便独自经营农场和操持家务，并担负起培养教育5个子女的责任。
Ludwig van Beethoven to His
Immortal Beloved 贝多芬致“永恒的爱人”
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
让你受苦了，我最亲爱的人儿——直到现在我才得知，邮件必须得在周一或周四早上很早的时候就寄出去——只有这些时间段才有从这儿到K城的邮车。让你受苦了——啊，无论我在哪儿，你都与我同在——为了生活，与你一起生活，我要安排好你我之间的事情。什么样的生活啊！就这样！就这样没有你在身边的日子——处处遭遇人性之良善的追击——我一点也不愿意这样。一个人对另一个人的卑躬屈膝刺痛了我。当我把自己置身于浩瀚的宇宙时，我在思考自己是什么，而世人所称为伟人的又是什么——然而——这里蕴含着人类的神圣性。当我想到你也许要到周六才能收到我的第一封信时，我不禁潸然泪下——你深深地爱着我，而我对你的爱则更为浓厚——但在我的面前，请决不要把你的想法隐藏起来——晚安——我要去洗澡，然后必须去睡了。噢，上帝啊，我们距离这么近，却又相隔如此远！我们的爱情不是正像是一座天上宫殿——如苍穹一样坚固吗？
写于7月6日星期一晚上
名人小课堂
路德维希·凡·贝多芬（Ludwig van Beethoven,1770～1827年）德国作曲家、音乐家、指挥家，维也纳古典乐派代表人物之一。他与海顿、莫扎特一起被后人称为“维也纳三杰”。他的代表作品主要有《英雄》、《命运》、《月光曲》等。贝多芬的音乐制作对音乐发展有着深远影响，他也因此被后世尊称为“乐圣”。
