散文：There is no Frigate like a Book

There is no Frigate¹ like a Book 

To take us Lands away 

Nor any Coursers like a Page 

Of prancing² Poetry - 

This Traverse may the poorest take 

Without oppress of Toll³ - 

How frugal⁴ is the Chariot 

That bears the Human soul. 

 

A book is compared to a ship because it will bring you anywhere you want to go without the use of money. A book is compared to a horse because after reading one page, you are jumping to the next page just like a prancing horse. A book is compared to a cart because a book can carry your soul to another dimension of life like a place of fantasy. This string of comparisons reminds us of the true joy of reading - the fact that it let us travel far and wide with them in our imaginations, without even paying a cent. A book can take you ages back in time, and ages ahead in the future. As a magical carpet, it carries you to the wonders of the far lost worlds, through the dark jungle with its old trees, above the golden shore of the unknown islands, to the mysterious lights of tomorrow's worlds. 

 

没有一艘非凡的战舰  

能像一册书  

把我们带到浩瀚的天地  

没有一匹神奇的骏马  

能像一首诗  

带我们领略人世的真谛  

即令你一贫如洗  

也没有任何栅栏能阻挡  

你在书的王国遨游的步履  

多么质朴无华的车骑  

可是它装载了  

人类灵魂的全部美丽！

 

1 frigate   

n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰

参考例句：

• An enemy frigate bore down on the sloop.一艘敌驱逐舰向这只护航舰逼过来。
• I declare we could fight frigate.我敢说我们简直可以和一艘战舰交战。

2 prancing   

v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风，神气地走来走去。
• The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马，他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 frugal   

adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的

参考例句：

• He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
• The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。