1891年,處在寫作生涯巔峰期的王爾德遇見(jiàn)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?yàn)檫@段“不敢說(shuō)出名字的愛(ài)”,王爾德被判“有傷 風(fēng)化”罪而入獄。在獄中,王爾德開(kāi)始反思從前的生活,思索痛苦和人生的意義,藝術(shù)和愛(ài)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(zhǎng)信。

作者簡(jiǎn)介:奧斯卡·王爾德(Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900),英國(guó)維多利亞時(shí)代著名作家,“唯美主義 運(yùn)動(dòng)”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(lè)美》(Salome)《認(rèn)真的 重要性》(The Importance of Being Earnest),童話《快樂(lè)王子》(The Happy Prince) 《夜鶯與玫瑰》(The Nightingale and the Rose) ,小說(shuō)《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】

All trials are trials for one’s life, just as all?sentences are sentences of death, and three times?have I been tried. The first time I left the box to?be arrested, the second time to be led back to the?House of Detention, the third time to pass into a?prison for two years. Society, as we have?constituted it, will have no place for me, has none?to offer; but Nature, whose sweet rains fall on?unjust and just alike, will have?clefts?in the rocks?where I may hide, and secret valleys in whose?silence I may weep undisturbed. She will hang the?night with stars so that I may walk abroad in the?darkness without stumbling, and send the wind?over my footprints so that none may track me to?my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters,?and with bitter herbs make me whole.

【朱純深譯本】

人所受之審都是永世之審,一如所服之刑都是至死之刑。三次了,我被提審過(guò)。第一次我下了被告席遭逮捕,第二次審后我被帶回拘留所,第三次把我轉(zhuǎn)到監(jiān)獄坐兩年牢。社會(huì),就我們所組成的社會(huì),將不會(huì)有我的安身之處, 也給不出我的安身之處;但是大自然,雨絲親切地同降于義人和小人身上的大自然,將會(huì)有巖縫給我藏身,有無(wú)人知曉的河谷讓我清清靜靜地痛哭。她會(huì)在夜空張掛起星星,讓我在外摸黑行走時(shí)不致絆倒,再送長(zhǎng)風(fēng)抹平我的腳印,不讓人跟蹤害我。她將以浩淼之水潔凈我,用苦口的藥草調(diào)治我復(fù)元。

【讀書筆記】

1、trial?n.審訊;審判;磨難;試驗(yàn)
【舉例】He would be a witness at the trial. 他將在審判時(shí)出庭作證。
Old age has many trials.?人老了就有許多麻煩苦惱。
the trial of a new employee?新雇員的試用期

2、try v.審訊;審判;考驗(yàn)
【舉例】He was tried for murder.?他以謀殺罪受審。
His misfortune tried his faith.?他的不幸經(jīng)歷使他的信心經(jīng)受了考驗(yàn)。
Please do not try my patience!?請(qǐng)不要挑戰(zhàn)我的耐心!

3、stumble?v.絆倒;蹣跚而行;結(jié)巴
【舉例】He stumbled on a stone.?他在一塊石頭上絆了一跤。
He stumbled to the window to get fresh air.?他搖搖晃晃地走到窗前去呼吸新鮮空氣。
The minister stumbled over the major question. 部長(zhǎng)對(duì)主要問(wèn)題支吾其詞。

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