1891年,處在寫作生涯巔峰期的王爾德遇見了阿爾弗雷德·“波西”·道格拉斯(Alfred "Bosie" Douglas),兩人很快成為了同性戀人。四年后,因為這段“不敢說出名字的愛”,王爾德被判“有傷 風(fēng)化”罪而入獄。在獄中,王爾德開始反思從前的生活,思索痛苦和人生的意義,藝術(shù)和愛的真諦,最終將那些痛苦的淚水都化作優(yōu) 美而深沉的文字,寫成了這封名為"de profundis"(從深處)的長信。

作者簡介:奧斯卡·王爾德(Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900),英國維多利亞時代著名作家,“唯美主義 運(yùn)動”的領(lǐng)軍人物,倡導(dǎo)“為藝術(shù)而藝術(shù)”(Art for art's sake)。他的代表作有戲劇《莎樂美》(Salome)《認(rèn)真的 重要性》(The Importance of Being Earnest),童話《快樂王子》(The Happy Prince) 《夜鶯與玫瑰》(The Nightingale and the Rose) ,小說《道連·格雷的畫像》(The Picture of Dorian Gray),以及書信《自深深處》(De Profundis)等。

【原著選段】

People point to Reading?Gaol, and say “There is where the artistic life leads a?man.” Well, it might lead one to worse places. The?more mechanical people, to whom life is a shrewd?speculation dependent on a careful calculation of?ways and means, always know where they are going,?and go there. They start with the desire of being the?Parish Beadle, and, in whatever sphere they are?placed, they succeed in being the Parish Beadle and?no more. A man whose desire is to be something?separate from himself, to be a Member of Parliament,?or a successful grocer, or a prominent solicitor, or a?judge, or something equally tedious, invariably?succeeds in being what he wants to be. That is his?punishment. Those who want a mask have to wear?it.

【朱純深譯本】

人們指著雷丁監(jiān)獄說,“藝術(shù)生命就把人帶到這等地方?!?嗯,還可能帶到更糟糕的地方去呢。對頭腦較機(jī)械的人,生活是精明的算計,靠的是對各種利害得失的仔細(xì)計算,他們總是明白要去的地方,并朝那里走去。要是初衷是當(dāng)個教區(qū)執(zhí)事,那不管他們處身什么地位,成功當(dāng)上教區(qū)執(zhí)事就是。如果一個人的意愿是成為一個自己本身以外的什么,比如當(dāng)個議員、生意發(fā)達(dá)的雜貨商、出名的律師、或法官、或者同樣無聊乏味的什么,總是能如愿以償?shù)?。這就是他的懲罰。想要假面具的人就得戴上它。

【讀書筆記】

1、mechanical?a.(行動等)機(jī)械的;呆板的;無感情的;無新意的
【舉例】a mechanical vioce?呆板的嗓音
greet sb. in a mechanical way?毫無熱情地招呼某人
a mechanical compliment?老一套的恭維話

2、shrewd?a.精明的;狡猾的;敏銳的
【舉例】a shrewd businessman?精明的生意人
a shrewd observer 敏銳的觀察家

3、speculation n.思考;沉思;推測;投機(jī)
【舉例】She was much given to speculation.?她很喜歡沉思默想。
The presidents's risignation leads to extensive speculation.?總統(tǒng)的辭職引起了人們的廣泛猜測。
land speculation 地產(chǎn)投機(jī)買賣

4、prominent a.杰出的;著名的;突出的;顯眼的
【舉例】people prominent in science?科學(xué)界的知名人士
His nose is too prominent.?他的鼻子太高了。
promminent markings 顯眼的記號

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