《四季隨筆》節(jié)選 - 冬 03

《四季隨筆》是吉辛的散文代表作。其中對(duì)隱士賴克羅夫特醉心于書籍、自然景色與回憶過(guò)去生活的描述，其實(shí)是吉辛的自述，作者以此來(lái)抒發(fā)自己的情感，因而本書是一部富有自傳色彩的小品文集。

吉辛窮困的一生，對(duì)文學(xué)名著的愛好與追求，以及對(duì)大自然恬靜生活的向往，在書中均有充分的反映。本書分為春、夏、秋、冬四個(gè)部分，文筆優(yōu)美，行文流暢，是英國(guó)文學(xué)中小品文的珍品之一。

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It is a pleasant thing enough to be able to spend a little money without fear when the desire for some indulgence is strong upon one; but how much pleasanter the ability to give money away! Greatly as I relish the comforts of my wonderful new life, no joy it has brought me equals that of coming in aid to another's necessity. The man for ever pinched in circumstances can live only for himself. It is all very well to talk about doing moral good; in practice, there is little scope or hope for anything of that kind in a state of material hardship. To-day I have sent S- a cheque for fifty pounds; it will come as a very boon of heaven, and assuredly blesseth him that gives as much as him that takes. A poor fifty pounds, which the wealthy fool throws away upon some idle or base fantasy, and never thinks of it; yet to S- it will mean life and light. And I, to whom this power of benefaction is such a new thing, sign the cheque with a hand trembling, so glad and proud I am. In the days gone by, I have sometimes given money, but with trembling of another kind; it was as likely as not that I myself, some black foggy morning, might have to go begging for my own dire needs. That is one of the bitter curses of poverty; it leaves no right to be generous. Of my abundance—abundance to me, though starveling pittance in the view of everyday prosperity—I can give with happiest freedom; I feel myself a man, and no crouching slave with his back ever ready for the lash of circumstance. There are those, I know, who thank the gods amiss, and most easily does this happen in the matter of wealth. But oh, how good it is to desire little, and to have a little more than enough!

當(dāng)內(nèi)心有一種強(qiáng)烈的放縱自己的愿望時(shí)，能夠沒有任何顧慮地花一點(diǎn)小錢，真是一件讓人愉快的事；但是相比之下，有散財(cái)?shù)哪芰τ肿屓擞淇斓枚?。我非常享受現(xiàn)在的新生活帶給我的舒適，但它帶給我的快樂，無(wú)法與在某人困窘之時(shí)可以施以援手相比。一直受貧困境遇壓迫的人只能為自己生活，談?wù)撟錾剖率遣诲e(cuò)的，但實(shí)際上，在物質(zhì)生活困苦時(shí)，幾乎沒有能力或希望來(lái)做這種事情。今天，我給S先生寄了一張五十英鎊的支票；它像上天的恩澤，一定會(huì)給施與者和受施者帶來(lái)同樣的福祉。區(qū)區(qū)五十英鎊，富裕的蠢人也許會(huì)為某個(gè)無(wú)聊低俗的愿望而輕易揮霍掉，并且不作二想；但是對(duì)S先生來(lái)說(shuō)，這意味生命和光明。而對(duì)我，這種施人恩惠的能力是這樣新鮮，我簽支票時(shí)手都有些顫抖，因?yàn)槲沂嵌嗝锤吲d和驕傲。在過(guò)去，我有時(shí)也給人錢財(cái)，但那是另外一種顫抖；想到在某個(gè)黑暗的霧蒙蒙的早晨，我自己可能要出門，為生活所需而乞討。這是貧窮的一大可惡的詛咒，它讓人沒有慷慨的權(quán)利。當(dāng)我富足的時(shí)候——在我看來(lái)是富足，而在那些富人眼里是可憐巴巴的收入——我可以最快樂自由地給予；我感覺自己像一個(gè)真正的人，而不是一個(gè)縮手縮腳的奴隸，時(shí)刻準(zhǔn)備著受現(xiàn)實(shí)的鞭笞。我知道有些人錯(cuò)誤地感謝神靈，很多人致富后很容易這樣做。噢，不奢望獲得很多，而擁有比足夠多那么一點(diǎn)，是多好的事情啊！