Unit9 The Love of Beauty

 

第九课 爱美

The love of beauty is an essential part of all healthy human nature.

爱美乃是所有正常的人性中不可或缺的一部分。

It is a moral quality.

它是心灵的特质。

The absences of it is not an assured ground of condemnation, but the presence of it is an invariable sign of goodness of heart.

不爱美并不一定是坏事，但爱美则象征了不变的善心。

In proportion to the degree in which it is felt will probably be the degree in which nobleness and beauty of character will be attained.

品德的高尚与美好所达到的程度可能与爱美的感受度成正比。

Natural beauty is an all一pervading presence.

大自然的美是随处可见的。

The universe is its temple.

宇宙即是其殿堂。

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

美存在于春天无数的花蕊开放时，存在于随风摇曳的树枝与片片绿草中。

It haunts the depths of the earth and the sea.

在陆地及海底深处皆可见到美的芳踪。

It gleams from the hues of the shell and the precious stone.

它绽放于贝壳以及宝石的色泽上。

And not only these minute objects but the oceans, the mountains, the clouds, the stars, the rising and the setting sun一all overflow with beauty.

不只是这些细微的东西，还有海洋、山庄、云朵、繁星、日升与日落，无一不美。

This beauty is so precious，and so congenial to our tenderest and noblest feelings，

这样的美是如此珍贵，也如此适合我们最温柔与高尚的情感，

that it is painful to think of the multitude of people living in the midst of it and yet remaining almost blind to it.

以至想到一大群人身处在美之中却几乎对之视若无睹就令人痛心。

All persons should seek to become acquainted with the beauty in nature.

所有的人都应该设法去认识大自然之美。

There is not a worm we tread upon, nor a leaf that dances merrily as it falls before the autumn winds, but calls for our study and admiration.

我们所踩过的小虫以及秋风拂掠前飞舞的树叶，皆值得我们研究与赞赏。

The power to appreciate beauty not merely increases our sources of happiness一it enlarges our moral nature, too.

欣赏美的能力不仅可以增加我们快乐的来源，它也开阔了我们的灵性。

Beauty calms our restlessness and dispels our cares.

美使我们不安的心平静下来，也驱散了我们的忧虑。

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.

走进田野或森林，在夏日的海边或山上待上一天，那么你所有微不足道的困惑与焦虑都会消失。

Listen to sweet music, and your foolish fears and petty jealousies will pass away.

倾听悦耳的音乐，那么你愚昧的恐惧感与微不足道的嫉妒心都会过去。

The beauty of the world helps us to seek and find the beauty of goodness.

世界之美将有助于我们找到善良之美。