英语名篇诵读 谈读书

On Reading

谈读书

Arnold Bennett(阿诺德·本涅特)

In your reading you must have in view some definite aim — some aim other than the wish to derive¹ pleasure. I conceive that to give pleasure is the highest end of any work of art, because the pleasure procured² from any art is tonic³ , and transforms the life into which it enters. But the maximum of pleasure can only be obtained by regular effort, and regular effort implies the organization of that effort. Open-air walking is a glorious exercise; it is the walking itself which is glorious. Nevertheless, when setting out for walking exercise, the same man generally has a subsidiary aim in view. He says to himself either that he will reach a given point, or that he will progress at a given speed for a given distance, or that he will remain on his feet for a given time. He organizes his effort, partly in order that he may combine some other advantage with the advantage of walking, but principally in order to be sure that the effort shall be an adequate effort. The same with reading. Your paramount⁴ aim in poring over literature is to enjoy, but you will not fully⁵ achieve that aim unless you also have a subsidiary aim which necessitates⁶ the measurement of your energy. Your subsidiary aim may be aesthetic⁷, moral, political, religious, scientific, erudite ; you may devote yourself to a man, a topic, an epoch⁸ , a nation, a branch of literature, an idea — you have the widest latitude⁹ in the choice of an objective; but a definite objective you must have.

读书时，你心中必须有某种明确的目的——除希望获得乐趣外，还应有别的目的。我认为带来乐趣是任何艺术作品的最高境界，因为从任何艺术中获得的乐趣令人振奋，得以进入的艺术天地也使人焕发出新的面貌。但至高的乐趣只有通过持之以恒的努力才能得到，而持之以恒的努力意味着组织好所做的努力。户外散步是一项极好的锻炼，散步本身就很好。然而，当某人外出散步锻炼时，这个人通常有一个附带的目的。他要么对自己说要到达一个预定的地点，要么在一定距离内按一定速度行走，要么连续走一定的时间。他安排好自己想做的事，部分是为了能够把别的益处同散步的益处结合起来，但主要是为了保证所做的事值得。读书也一样。你倾心阅读文学作品的至高目的是获得乐趣，但是除非你有一个使你觉得花费精力值得的附带目的，否则你就不能完全达到那个目的。你的附带目的可以是在审美、道德、政治、宗教、科学、博学方面；你也可以专门研读一人、一专题、一个时代、一个国家、一个文学分支、一种思想等——你有最充分的余地来选择目的，但你必须有一个明确的目的。

1 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

2 procured   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

3 tonic   

n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的

参考例句：

• It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
• Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。

4 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 necessitates   

使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The increase in population necessitates a greater food supply. 人口的增加需要更多食物供应。
• Your proposal necessitates borrowing money. 你的提议使借款成为必要。

7 aesthetic   

adj.美学的，审美的，有美感

参考例句：

• My aesthetic standards are quite different from his.我的审美标准与他的大不相同。
• The professor advanced a new aesthetic theory.那位教授提出了新的美学理论。

8 epoch   

n.(新)时代；历元

参考例句：

• The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
• We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。

9 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。