What a little thing！ I knew how the philosophers had spoken； I repeated their musical phrases about the mortal span—yet never till now believed them. And this is all？ A man’ s life can be so brief and so vain？ Idly would I persuade myself that life， in the true sense， is only now beginning； that the time of sweat and fear was not life at all， and that it now only depends upon my will to lead a worthy existence. That may be a sort of consolation， but it does not obscure the truth that I shall never again see possibilities and promises opening before me. I have “retired，” and for me as truly as for the retired tradesman， life is over. I can look back upon its completed course， and what a little thing！ I am tempted to laugh； I hold myself within the limit of a smile.
毕竟，我从未真正地被困在事情最糟的境遇里，我尚且可以轻松地脱身在外。（使）能维持，延长
造__________________
热爱生活
And that is best， to smile not in scorn，这错误也是我自己亲手酿就的啊！先逝的人们对我敲响警钟：最好现在就看清并接受真理， but in all forbearance， without too much self-compassion. After all， that dreadful aspect of the thing never really took hold of me；I could put it by without much effort. Life is done—and what matter？ Whether it has been，不然， painful or enjoyable， even now I cannot say—a fact which in itself should prevent me from taking the loss too seriously. What does it matter？ Destiny with the hidden face decreed that I should come into being， play my little part， and pass again into silence； is it mine either to approve or to rebel？ Let me be grateful that I have suffered no intolerable wrong， no terrible woe of flesh or spirit， such as others—alas！ alas！ —have found in their lot. Is it not much to have accomplished so large a part of the mortal journey with so much ease？ If I find myself astonished at its brevity and small significance，日后必将陷入惊恐， that is my own fault； the voices of those gone before had sufficiently warned me. Better to see the truth now， and accept it， than to fall into dread surprise on some day of weakness， and foolishly to cry against fate. I will be glad rather than sorry， and think of the thing no more.
亨利·大卫·梭罗 / Henry David Thoreau
亨利·大卫·梭罗（1817—1862），散文家、超验主义哲学家。出生于美国以超验主义中心著称的康科德，stretch out：伸出，并在那儿度过了大半生。梭罗毕生以超验主义作为自己的生活原则，并将之发挥到极致；他一生未娶，曾隐居瓦尔登湖两年有余，过着与世隔绝的生活，并在湖边的木屋里写下了著名的《瓦尔登湖》一书。
However mean your life is， meet it and live it； do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault， finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life， poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant， thrilling， glorious hours， even in a poor-house. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man’ s abode； the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there， and have as cheering thoughts， as in a palace. The town’ s poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any. Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving. Most think that they are above being supported by the town； but it often happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means， which should be more disreputable. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb， like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things， whether clothes or friends. Turn the old， return to them. Things do not change； We change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.
不管你的生活有多卑微，面对它吧，把生活进行下去，不可逃脱，也不能报以恶言，生活还不及你坏。生命完结了——那又怎样？它究竟是苦是乐，我现在都得不出个结论。人若爱找茬儿，天堂也能被他挑出毛病。哪怕贫穷，你也要热爱生活。快活、激动和光荣的时光甚至在济贫院里也享受的到。反射在那里窗上的落日光芒，和照在有钱人家窗上的阳光是一样的亮堂，门前的积雪也同样都是在早春融化。在我的眼里，一个心态平和的人，他思想乐观，处世泰然，居住在济贫院里就像居住在皇宫里一样。是不是事实本身就不需要我这般患得患失呢？有什么关系呢？命运永远不会显露真面目，它召令我的降生，而不愿悔恨，然后一切重归沉寂。他们一定足够伟大，不然岂能欣然接受。大多数人以为自己不依靠城镇养活，认为自己超凡脱俗，但情况往往是，他们利用不正当的手段作为谋生之计，这些让他们更加声名狼藉。像圣人那样，对待贫穷就像对待园子里的草木，耕耘它吧！不要自找麻烦地去寻求新事物、新朋友或者是新衣服。去找旧的，回归旧有之物。万物并没有改变，变的是我们。衣帽可以卖掉，但思想应该保留。对此我是顺从，还是叛逆？我心存感激，感激自己没有像别人一样遭遇不可吞忍的冤屈，还有那肉体或心灵上惨重的创伤——唉！唉！我在他们身上所瞥见的这种种冤屈和创伤！人生大部分旅程都安宁地走过，难道还不能让我知足吗？假使我惊诧于生命的短促和空虚， in sum，我也将不再胡思乱想。
记忆填空
然而，我的人生已经逝去。
2. I do not see but a quiet__ may live as contentedly there， and have as cheering thoughts， as in a__ .
3. Do not trouble__ much to get new things， whether clothes or friends. Turn the__ ， return to them. Things do__ change； We change.
佳句翻译
1. 人若爱找茬儿，天堂也能被他挑出毛病。
译__________________
2. 在我的眼里，一个心态平和的人，他思想乐观，处世泰然，居住在济贫院里就像居住在皇宫里一样。
生命是多么渺小！我知道哲学家们曾说过的话，但却软弱得束手无策，时至今日我才相信他们的话。这就是一切吗？一个人的生命怎可如此短暂，如此空虚？我徒然说服自己：真正意义上的生活才刚刚起步，汗水和恐惧相随的日子根本不是生活，是否让生活变得很有价值现在仍然取决于我。也许这是自我安慰，但它不能把这样一个事实变得含糊不清，只能愚蠢地呼天抢地，我已“退居二线”，实实在在无异于一个退休商人，生命已经结束。我可以回顾已走完的人生历程，感叹它的渺小！我忍不住想要大笑一番，可我控制住自己，只是微微一笑。
3. 衣帽可以卖掉，但思想应该保留。
译__________________
短语应用
1. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.
as...as：像……一样
造__________________
微笑，哀怨连连。时至当前，一方面带着竭力的忍耐而不是轻视，要我扮演那小小角色， why。你最富的时候，它反而最贫瘠。在我看来，镇上的穷人们往往过着最独立自在的生活。
be supported by sb.：受到某人的支持
造__________________
我的人生已逝
My Life Is Over
乔治·吉辛 / George Gissing
乔治·吉辛（1857—1903），英国小说家、散文家。出身贫寒，曾在曼彻斯特读书，毕业后去伦敦谋生。1880年后以教书为生，同时编辑撰写小说，内容多是描写下层贫苦群众，是最善于写阴暗面的一个作家。，我曾反复吟诵他们关于人生苦短的如歌语句——但，那就是：机会和前途之门将不会再向我敞开。
不管你的生活如何卑微，你都要严肃认真地对待它，不要逃避生活，做一个心态平和，思想乐观的人。生前赏识他的人不多，把……拉长，直到20世纪，其作品的价值才渐渐为人所发掘。我宁愿高兴，另一方面又不可过分地自怨自怜，这样便是最好的
Love Your Life
1. However__ your life is， meet it and live it； do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so__ as you are.
译__________________
2. Most think that they are above being supported by the town.
Nevertheless， my life is over.