Companionship of Books

曲永华

①A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company， whether it be of books or of men.

A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was， and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. ② It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth， and comforting and consoling us in age.

Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb， ③ “Love me， love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this：“ Love me， love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think， feel， and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together， and he in them.

A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man’s life is， for the most part， but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words， the golden thoughts， which remembered and cherished， become our constant companions and comforters.

Books possess an essence of immortality. ④They 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 as fresh 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 the printed page. The only effect of time have been to sift out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.

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

The great and good do not die， even in this world. Embalmed in books， their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which on still listens.

[精彩譯文]

通常看一个人读些什么书就可知道他的为人，就像看他同什么人交往就可知道他的为人一样，因为有人以人为伴，也有人以书为伴。无论是书友还是朋友，我们都应该以最好的为伴。

好书就像是你最好的朋友。它始终不渝，过去如此，现在如此，将来也永远不变。它是最有耐心、最令人愉悦的伴侣。在我们穷困潦倒、临危遭难时，它也不会抛弃我们，对我们总是一如既往地亲切。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，它又给我们慰藉和勉励。

人们常常因为喜欢同一本书而结为知己，就像有时两个人因为敬慕同一个人而成为朋友一样。有句古谚说道：“爱屋及乌。”其实，“爱我及书”这句话蕴含更多哲理。书是更为真诚而高尚的情谊纽带。人们可以通过共同喜爱的作家沟通思想，交流感情，彼此息息相通，并与自己喜欢的作家思想相通，情感相融。

好书常如最精美的宝器，珍藏着人生的思想精华，因为人生的境界主要在于其思想的境界。因此，最好的书是金玉良言和崇高思想的宝库，这些良言和思想若铭记于心并多加珍视，就会成为我们忠实的伴侣和永恒的慰藉。

书籍具有不朽的本质，是人类努力创造的最为持久的成果。寺庙会倒塌，神像会朽烂，而书却经久长存。对于伟大的思想来说，时间是无关紧要的。多年前初次闪现于作者脑海的伟大思想今日依然清新如故。时间唯一的作用是淘汰不好的作品，因为只有真正的佳作才能经世长存。

书籍介绍我们与最优秀的人为伍，使我们置身于历代伟人巨匠之间，如闻其声，如观其行，如见其人，同他们情感交融，悲喜与共，感同身受。我们觉得自己仿佛在作者所描绘的舞台上和他们一起粉墨登场。

纵然在今世，伟人亦长存。他们的精神被载入书册，传于四海。书是人生至今仍在聆听的智慧之声，永远充满着活力。

[重点词汇]

as well as  既……又…… ; 除……之外

as well  也;还

in times of  在……的时刻; 在……的时期

adversity [əd'vɜːsəti] n.困境;逆境

distress [dɪ'stres] n.窘迫

amusing [ə'mjuːzɪŋ] adj.逗人笑的;有乐趣的;好笑的 v.逗笑;逗乐;（提供）消遣;（使）娱乐（amuse的现在分词）

sympathize ['sɪmpəθaɪz] v.同情;赞同;支持

enshrining v.把（法律、权利等）奉为神圣;把……庄严地载入（enshrine的现在分词）

intellect n.（尤指高等的）智力;思维逻辑领悟力;智力高的人;才智超群的人

[难点句子]

①A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps.一个人通常可以通过他所读的书和他所结交的朋友来认识。

情态动词may + be known by sb.意为“可能被某人认识”，是情态动词的被动语态。

②It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress.它不會在逆境或痛苦的时候背弃我们。

turn one’s back upon 背弃;置……于不顾

③Love me， love my dog. 爱屋及乌，打狗要看主人面。

④They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. 它们是迄今为止人类努力创造的最为持久的成果。

by far 到目前为止