英语名篇诵读 爱美之心

The Love of Beauty

爱美之心

John Ruskin(约翰·罗斯金)

The love of beauty is an essential part of all healthy human nature. It is a moral quality. The

absence of it is not an assured ground of condemnation¹ , but the presence of it is an

invariable sign of goodness of heart. In proportion to the degree in which it is felt will

probably be the degree in which nobleness and beauty of character will be attained².

Natural beauty is an all-pervading presence. The universe is its temple. It unfolds into the

numberless flowers of spring. It waves in the branches of trees and the green blades of grass. It

haunts the depths of the earth and the sea. It gleams from the hues³ of the shell and the

precious stone. And not only these minute objects but the oceans, the mountains, the clouds, the

stars, the rising and the setting sun — all overflow⁴ with beauty. This beauty is so precious, and so

congenial to our tenderest and noblest feelings, that it is painful to think of the multitude of

people living in the midst of it and yet remaining almost blind to it.

All people should seek to become acquainted with the beauty in nature. There is not a worm

we tread upon, nor a leaf that dances merrily as it falls before the autumn winds, that does not

call for our study and admiration⁵. The power to appreciate beauty not only increases our sources

of happiness — it enlarges our moral nature, too. Beauty calms our restlessness and dispels⁶

our cares. Go into the fields or the woods, spend a summer day by the sea or the mountains, and all

your little perplexities and anxieties will vanish. Listen to sweet music, and your foolish fears

and petty jealousies⁷ will pass away. The beauty of the world helps us to seek and find the beauty

of goodness.

爱美之心是健全人性不可缺少的一部分，是一种道德品质。爱美之心的缺失不是谴责

的充分理由，但具有爱美之心则是拥有美好心灵的恒久标志。品德的高尚与美好所达到的

程度将与所感受到的美的程度成正比。

在大自然的殿堂中，美无处不在——绽放于春天的百花中，摇曳于树枝绿草间，徜徉

在深壑幽谷中，辉映于贝壳和宝石的光泽中。美不仅洋溢在这些小东西上面，还现身于海

洋、高山、云朵上，微笑于星辰、日出、日落里。美是那么珍贵，那么契合我们最温柔高

贵的感情，想到芸芸众生身在美中不见美，很令人痛心。

所有的人都应该努力去感受大自然的美。每一只我们踩到的虫子，每一片秋风中翩然

飘落的树叶，无不唤起我们的兴致和赞美。欣赏美的能力不仅增加了我们快乐的源泉，也

提高了我们的灵性。美抚平了我们心中的不安，驱散了我们的忧虑。走进原野和山林吧，

在海边或山中度一个夏日，你所有的困惑与焦虑将烟消云散。听听优美的曲子，你所有愚

蠢的恐惧和猥琐的嫉妒都将荡然无存。自然之美帮我们寻找并发现心灵之美。

1 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

2 attained   

（通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况）

参考例句：

• She has attained the degree of Master of Arts. 她已获得文学硕士学位。
• Lu Hsun attained a high position in the republic of letters. 鲁迅在文坛上获得崇高的地位。

3 hues   

色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点

参考例句：

• When the sun rose a hundred prismatic hues were reflected from it. 太阳一出，更把它映得千变万化、异彩缤纷。
• Where maple trees grow, the leaves are often several brilliant hues of red. 在枫树生长的地方，枫叶常常呈现出数种光彩夺目的红色。

4 overflow   

v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出

参考例句：

• The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.浴缸里的水溢到了地板上。
• After a long period of rain,the river may overflow its banks.长时间的下雨天后，河水可能溢出岸来。

5 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

6 dispels   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• This landmark case dispels the absolute finality of this dreaded disease. 这个划时代的病例终于改观了这可怕疾病的绝对结局。 来自辞典例句
• Charles's experience--and that of all other researchers I have met--dispels many myths about water buffaloes. 查尔斯以及我所见到的其他研究人员的经验破除了关于水牛的许多奇谈。 来自辞典例句

7 jealousies   

n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡

参考例句：

• They were divided by mutual suspicion and jealousies. 他们因为相互猜疑嫉妒而不和。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• I am tired of all these jealousies and quarrels. 我厌恶这些妒忌和吵架的语言。 来自辞典例句