名人故事英汉对照

名人故事英汉对照

Frederic Francois Chopin, Polish-born composer and renowned pianist, was the creator of 55 mazurkas, 13 polonaises, 24 preludes, 27 etudes, 19 nocturnes, 4 ballads, and 4 scherzos. Frederic Chopin was born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland, on February 22, 1810, to a French father and Polish mother. His father, Nicholas Chopin, was a French tutor to many aristocratic Polish families, later accepting a position as a French teacher at the Warsaw Lyceum. Although Chopin later attended the Lyceum where his father taught, his early training began at home. This included receiving piano lessons from his mother. By the age of six, Chopin was creating original pieces, showing innate prodigious musical ability. His parents arranged for the young Chopin to take piano instruction from Wojciech Zywny. When Chopin was sixteen, he attended the Warsaw Conservatory of Music, directed by composer Joseph Elsner. Elsner, like Zywny, insisted on the traditional training associated with Classical music but allowed his students to investigate the more original imaginations of the Romantic style as well. As often happened with the young musicians of both the Classical and Romantic Periods, Chopin was sent to Vienna, the unquestioned center of music for that day. He gave piano concerts and then arranged to have his pieces published by a Viennese publishing house there. While Chopin was in Austria, Poland and Russia faced off in the apparent beginnings of war. He returned to Warsaw to get his things in preparation of a more permanent move. While there, his friends gave him a silver goblet filled with Polish soil. He kept it always, as he was never able to return to his beloved Poland. French by heritage, and desirous of finding musical acceptance from a less traditional audience than that of Vienna, Chopin ventured to Paris. Interestingly, other young musicians had assembled in the city of fashion with the very same hope. Chopin joined Franz Liszt, Hector Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn, Vincenzo Bellini, and Auguste Franchomme, all proponents of the "new" Romantic style. Although Chopin did play in the large concert halls on occasion, he felt most at home in private settings, enjoying the social milieu that accompanied concerts for the wealthy. He also enjoyed teaching, as this caused him less stress than performing. Chopin did not feel that his delicate technique and intricate melodies were as suited to the grandiose hall as they were to smaller environments and audiences. News of the war in Poland inspired Chopin to write many sad musical pieces expressing his grief for "his" Poland. Among these was the famous "Revolutionary Etude." Plagued by poor health as well as his homesickness, Chopin found solace in summer visits to the country. Here, his most complex yet harmonic creations found their way to the brilliant composer"s hand. The "Fantasia in F Minor," the "Barcarolle," the "Polonaise Fantasia," "Ballade in A Flat Major," "Ballade in F Minor," and "Sonata in B Minor" were all products of the relaxed time Chopin enjoyed in the country. As the war continued in Warsaw and then reached Paris, Chopin retired to Scotland with friends. Although he was far beyond the reach of the revolution, his melancholy attitude did not improve and he sank deeper into a depression. Likewise, his health did not rejuvenate either. A window in the fighting made it possible for Chopin to return to Paris as his health deteriorated further. Surrounded by those that he loved, Frederic Francois Chopin died at the age of 39. He was buried in Paris. Chopin"s last request was that the Polish soil in the silver goblet be sprinkled over his grave. 钢琴诗人—肖邦 肖邦是近代浪漫派的抒情音乐家，他在音乐史中，是一位神秘、爱国而最富于诗意生命的钢琴家。他一生创作了55部马祖卡舞曲，13部波罗涅滋，24首序曲，27首练习曲，19首夜曲，4首叙事曲以及4部诙谐曲。

1810年2月12日，肖邦出生于波兰华沙郊区的热拉佐瓦沃拉。他的父亲尼古拉斯是具有波兰血统的法国人，而母亲却是一位纯粹的波兰人。尼古拉斯原本是波兰贵族家庭的一名法语教师，后来到华沙的一所中学教授法语。

肖邦最初接触音乐的机会是跟随母亲学钢琴。六岁那年，肖邦创作出了人生的第一部作品，充分展现了他与生俱来的非凡的音乐天赋。不久后，他进入了父亲所在的学校学习，并在父母的安排下，跟随捷克音乐家W.日夫尼学习钢琴。

中学毕业后，肖邦进入华沙音乐学院学习，从师德国音乐家J.A.F埃尔斯纳。与日尼夫相同的是，埃尔斯纳在坚持古典派推崇的传统练习外，鼓励学生们从浪漫派中吸取灵感。

离开华沙音乐学院后，肖邦来到了当时的音乐圣地－维。在那里，肖邦不仅举行了多场音乐会，也发表了不少音乐作品。在波兰民族运动走向高潮，与沙俄的战争一触即发的时候，肖邦身在奥地利。不久，他回到华沙为出国做准备。临行前，华沙音乐学院的师生们为他送行，并赠以盛满祖国泥土的银杯。尽管从此肖邦再也没有回到他深爱着的祖国，他一直保存着这捧祖国的泥土。

为了得到更多浪漫派听众的认可，加上自己拥有一半的法国血统，肖邦来到了法国巴黎。有趣的是，许多抱有同样想法的年轻音乐家们也都聚集到了这座流行之都。在这里，肖邦结识了西欧文艺界许多重要人物，包括匈牙利艺术家李斯特，柏辽兹，意大利音乐家贝利尼等新浪漫主义的拥护者。尽管肖邦有时也在大型音乐厅演出，但他更喜欢在家或是一些私人的场合，享受更融洽的氛围。他也更喜欢教学时放松的心情。肖邦认为他细致优美的演奏技巧和纷繁的旋律更适合小环境演奏，而不适合宏伟的音乐厅。

波兰陷入战火的消息促使他写了许多充满悲伤的作品，以表达对祖国波兰的哀伤与思念，其中包括名曲《革命练习曲》。肖邦的健康状况一直不佳，加上思乡心切，一度患上肺病，曾在法国南部疗养。期间写过不少成名的珍品。《F小调幻想曲》，《威尼斯船歌》，《幻想波罗涅滋舞曲》，《降A大调叙事曲》，《F小调叙事曲》，《B小调奏鸣曲》等都是在南部疗养时创作的。

战事从华沙蔓延到了巴黎，肖邦不得不和朋友们躲避至苏格兰。虽然肖邦远离了波兰的战火，但他忧郁的情绪丝毫没有改善，反而陷入了更深的沮丧之中。同样地，他的健康状况也没有恢复。回巴黎后，肖邦的健康状况急剧下降，最终在友人们的陪伴下逝世于巴黎的寓所中，结束了短短39年的生命。他的遗体被安葬在巴黎。

肖邦最后的遗愿是将银杯中祖国波兰的泥土撒在他的墓碑上。

名人故事英汉对照

FredericFrancois Chopin Frederic Francois Chopin, Polish-born composer renownedpianist, 55mazurkas, 13 polonaises, 24 preludes, 27 etudes, 19 nocturnes, scherzos.Frederic Chop(原文来自：wWW.DxF5.com 东 星资源网:名人故事英汉对照)in ZelazowaWola, Poland, February22, 1810, Frenchfather Polishmother. His father, Nicholas Chopin, Frenchtutor manyaristocratic Polish families, later accepting Frenchteacher WarsawLyceum. Although Chopin later attended Lyceumwhere his father taught, his early training began includedreceiving piano lessons from his mother. six,Chopin creatingoriginal pieces, showing innate prodigious musical ability. His parents arranged youngChopin takepiano instruction from Wojciech Zywny. When Chopin sixteen,he attended WarsawConservatory Music,directed composerJoseph Elsner. Elsner, like Zywny, insisted traditionaltraining associated Classicalmusic allowedhis students moreoriginal imaginations Romanticstyle oftenhappened youngmusicians RomanticPeriods, Chopin unquestionedcenter day.He gave piano concerts havehis pieces published Viennesepublishing house WhileChopin Austria,Poland Russiafaced off apparentbeginnings war.He returned gethis things morepermanent move. While hisfriends gave him silvergoblet filled Polishsoil. He kept neverable hisbeloved Poland. French findingmusical acceptance from lesstraditional audience than Vienna,Chopin ventured Paris.Interestingly, other young musicians had assembled verysame hope. Chopin joined Franz Liszt, Hector Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn, Vincenzo Bellini, AugusteFranchomme, all proponents "new"Romantic style. Although Chopin did play largeconcert halls occasion,he felt most privatesettings, enjoying socialmilieu accompaniedconcerts wealthy.He also enjoyed teaching, causedhim less stress than performing. Chopin did hisdelicate technique intricatemelodies were grandiosehall smallerenvironments audiences.News Polandinspired Chopin writemany sad musical pieces expressing his grief "his"Poland. Among famous"Revolutionary Etude." Plagued poorhealth hishomesickness, Chopin found solace summervisits country.Here, his most complex yet harmonic creations found brilliantcomposer"s hand. "PolonaiseFantasia," "Ballade FlatMajor," "Ballade Minor"were all products relaxedtime Chopin enjoyed warcontinued reachedParis, Chopin retired friends.Although he farbeyond revolution,his melancholy attitude did hesank deeper depression.Likewise, his health did rejuvenateeither. fightingmade hishealth deteriorated further. Surrounded heloved, Frederic Francois Chopin died 39.He Paris.Chopin"s last request Polishsoil silvergoblet sprinkledover his grave. 钢琴诗人—肖邦 肖邦是近代浪漫派的抒情音乐家，他在音乐史中，是一位神秘、爱国而最富于诗意生命的钢 琴家。他一生创作了55 部马祖卡舞曲，13 部波罗涅滋，24 首序曲，27 首练习曲，19 首夜曲， 首叙事曲以及4部诙谐曲。

1810 月12日，肖邦出生于波兰华沙郊区的热拉佐瓦沃拉。他的父亲尼古拉斯是具有波 兰血统的法国人，而母亲却是一位纯粹的波兰人。尼古拉斯原本是波兰贵族家庭的一名法语 教师，后来到华沙的一所中学教授法语。

肖邦最初接触音乐的机会是跟随母亲学钢琴。六岁那年，肖邦创作出了人生的第一部作品， 充分展现了他与生俱来的非凡的音乐天赋。不久后，他进入了父亲所在的学校学习，并在父 母的安排下，跟随捷克音乐家W.日夫尼学习钢琴。

中学毕业后，肖邦进入华沙音乐学院学习，从师德国音乐家J.A.F 埃尔斯纳。与日尼夫相同 的是，埃尔斯纳在坚持古典派推崇的传统练习外，鼓励学生们从浪漫派中吸取灵感。

离开华沙音乐学院后，肖邦来到了当时的音乐圣地－维。在那里，肖邦不仅举行了多场音乐 会，也发表了不少音乐作品。在波兰民族运动走向高潮，与沙俄的战争一触即发的时候，肖 邦身在奥地利。不久，他回到华沙为出国做准备。临行前，华沙音乐学院的师生们为他送行， 并赠以盛满祖国泥土的银杯。尽管从此肖邦再也没有回到他深爱着的祖国，他一直保存着这 捧祖国的泥土。

为了得到更多浪漫派听众的认可，加上自己拥有一半的法国血统，肖邦来到了法国巴黎。有 趣的是，许多抱有同样想法的年轻音乐家们也都聚集到了这座流行之都。在这里，肖邦结识 了西欧文艺界许多重要人物，包括匈牙利艺术家李斯特，柏辽兹，意大利音乐家贝利尼等新 浪漫主义的拥护者。

尽管肖邦有时也在大型音乐厅演出，但他更喜欢在家或是一些私人的场合，享受更融洽的氛 围。他也更喜欢教学时放松的心情。肖邦认为他细致优美的演奏技巧和纷繁的旋律更适合小 环境演奏，而不适合宏伟的音乐厅。

波兰陷入战火的消息促使他写了许多充满悲伤的作品，以表达对祖国波兰的哀伤与思念，其 中包括名曲《革命练习曲》。肖邦的健康状况一直不佳，加上思乡心切，一度患上肺病，曾在 法国南部疗养。期间写过不少成名的珍品。《F 小调幻想曲》，《威尼斯船歌》，《幻想波罗涅滋 舞曲》，《降A 大调叙事曲》，《F 小调叙事曲》，《B 小调奏鸣曲》等都是在南部疗养时创作的。

战事从华沙蔓延到了巴黎，肖邦不得不和朋友们躲避至苏格兰。虽然肖邦远离了波兰的战火， 但他忧郁的情绪丝毫没有改善，反而陷入了更深的沮丧之中。同样地，他的健康状况也没有 恢复。回巴黎后，肖邦的健康状况急剧下降，最终在友人们的陪伴下逝世于巴黎的寓所中， 结束了短短39 年的生命。他的遗体被安葬在巴黎。

肖邦最后的遗愿是将银杯中祖国波兰的泥土撒在他的墓碑上。

魔法妈妈— J.K.Rowling Like herown character, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling"s life has fairytale. Divorced, living publicassistance tinyEdinburgh flat herinfant daughter, Rowling wrote Harry Potter Sorcerer"sStone cafeduring her daughter"s naps HarryPotter rescuedher. Joanne Kathleen Rowling entered ChippingSodbury General Hospital Bristol,England, fittingbeginning someonewho would later enjoy making up strange names people,places gamesplayed flyingbroomsticks. Her younger sister Di bornjust under two years later. Rowling remembers shealways wanted firststory she actually wrote down, when she storyabout rabbitcalled Rabbit. Many herfavorite memories center around reading—hearing Willowsread aloud herfather when she had measles,enjoying fantasticadventure stories Nesbit,reveling magicalworld Lewis"sNarnia, herfavorite story LittleWhite Horse ElizabethGoudge. ExeterUniversity Rowling took her degree spentone year studying Paris.After college she moved AmnestyInternational bilingualsecretary. bestthing about working office,she has said, typingup stories computerwhen watching.During particularlylong train ride from Manchester ideacame boywho doesn"tknow Heattends wizardry--shecould see him very plainly hermind. trainpulled King"sCross Station four hours later, many earlystages plotwere fully formed herhead. storytook further shape shecontinued working cafesover her lunch hours. 1992Rowling left off working teachEnglish SecondLanguage. herstudents making jokes about her name calledher "Rolling Stone"), she enjoyed teaching. She worked afternoons evenings,leaving mornings free writing.After her marriage PortugueseTV journalist ended p>

乔安?凯瑟琳?罗琳出生在英格兰的一家综合医院里，这对一个喜欢给别人起奇怪名字，喜欢 坐着扫帚满场飞奔的小姑娘来说，是个合适的开始。她的妹妹两年后来到这个世上。

罗琳从小就喜欢写作，五、六岁时就写了一篇跟兔子有关的故事。小时候美好的记忆似乎总 是围绕阅读的—得麻疹时听爸爸大声讲故事，读奇异的冒险故事，沉浸在奇妙的故事世界里。

大学里，罗琳主修法语，在巴黎留学一年。毕业后，她搬去伦敦担任调查员和双语秘书。罗 琳回忆说，那段时间最有趣的事情就是趁没人的时候在电脑上打小说。1990 年，时值 24 的罗琳坐在由曼撤斯特出发前往伦敦的火车上，哈利?波特闯入了她的生命。她可以在脑海里清晰地勾画他的模样，看到他进入魔法学校。四小时后，当火车驶入王十字车站时，大部分 人物和故事的前期框架已经在她的脑海里形成了。当她午餐时间坐在咖啡馆里继续构思时， 故事的结构变得更加清晰。

1992 年，罗琳结束了白领生涯，前往葡萄牙做英语教师。尽管学生们常拿她的名字开玩笑， 叫她滚石（英语中Rowling 与rolling 同音），她仍然非常喜欢教书。她在下午和晚上去学校 工作，上午用来写作。不久后，她与一名葡萄牙的电视台记者结婚，但这段婚姻最终以离婚 告终。离婚后，罗琳带着女儿和满满一箱子哈利?波特的笔记与手稿回到了英国。为了能住得 靠近妹妹，罗琳在爱丁堡定居下来，准备在找新工作前完成这部小说。她常常推着女儿的手 推车四处闲逛，只是为了逃离又小又冷的公寓。她会躲到咖啡馆里，趁女儿睡着时写作。就 这样，罗琳在咖啡馆里完成了哈利?波特的创作，开始寻找出版商。但她的稿件被多次退回， 直到她找到了一个伦敦的经纪人。罗琳之所以会找到他，仅仅是因为喜欢他可爱的名字—克 里斯多夫?里特（Christopher Little）。

当罗琳得知这本关于小巫师的小说被出版商接受时，她正在一所学校教法语。《哈利?波特》 才一出版，就大获成功。随着哈利?波特1998 年在美国的出版，罗琳的书继续创造着出版界 的历史。哈利?波特登上了儿童与成人书籍的最佳销售榜的首位。确实，这个小巫师的故事， 他灰姑娘一样的童年，和他在霍格华兹魔法学校的历险引发了各个年龄读者的丰富想象力。

在英国，出版商出版了一种更成人化封面的版本，使得大人们能在火车或者地铁里阅读而不 用把书藏在报纸后面。

现在，J.A.罗琳和她的女儿捷西卡住在苏格兰的爱丁堡，继续完成哈利?波特的冒险故事。

FirmHelen Keller babygirl caught sofierce she nearly died. She survived feverleft its mark shecould longersee hear.Because she could hearshe also found verydifficult speak.1882年，一名女婴因高发烧差点丧命。

她虽幸免于难，但发烧给她留下了后遗症-- 她再也看不见、听不见。因为听不见，她想讲话 也变得很困难。

Before her seventh birthday, familyhired privatetutor AnneSullivan.Anne teachHelen especially those subjects whichshe resultHelen became gentler shesoon learnt Braille.She also learnt readpeople"s lips pressingher finger-tips against them calledTadoma very,very few people manage acquire.She also learnt majorachievement someonewho could all.在她快到七岁生日时，家里便雇了一名家庭教师 安尼?沙利文。安尼悉心地教授海伦，特别是她感兴趣的东西。这样海伦变得温和了而且很快学会了用布莱叶盲文朗读和写作。靠用手指接触说话人的嘴唇去感受运动 和震动，她又学会了触唇意识。这种方法被称作泰德马，是一种很少有人掌握的技能。她也 学会了讲话，这对失聪的人来说是个巨大的成就。

Helen proved remarkablescholar.While she collegeshe wrote MyLife". immediatesuccess earnedher enough money buyher own house.海伦证明了自己是个出色的学者，上大学时她就写了《我的生命》。这使她取 得了巨大的成功从而有能力为自己购买一套住房。

After her death setup hername combatblindness developingworld. Today agency,Helen Keller International, biggestorganizations working blindpeople overseas1968 年她去世后，一个 以她的名字命名的组织建立起来，该组织旨在与发展中国家存在的失明缺陷做斗争。如今这 所机构，"国际海伦?凯勒"，是海外向盲人提供帮助的最大组织之一。

从街头流浪汉到百万富翁 Chris Gardner tells 20/20 how he worked movehimself from successfullife businessman。Chris Gardner 在《美国广播公司新闻》20/20 点节目讲述了他如何从街头流浪到成为百万富 翁的经历。

Gardner hisown brokerage firm ChicagoTownhouse－ －one histhree homes tailoredsuits， designer shoes， MilesDavis albums。

Gardner 自己开了一家经纪人公司并任总管，住在芝加哥别墅区－－他三处住宅中的其中一 处，里面收藏有西装，时装鞋和Miles Davis 的唱片集。

His path extraordinarysuccess took extraordinaryturns。

Just 20 years ago， Gardner BayArea Rapid Transit station Oakland，Calif。

在成功的道路上，他历经了一系列坎坷挫折。20 年前，Gardner 无家可归，有时就住在加州 奥克兰市湖湾区快速运输站上的洗手间里过夜。

Gardner hismother， schoolteacher。He says he never knew his father while he growingup。

hismother had keepinghim grounded when he dreamed thingslike being jazztrumpeter。

Gardner 从小由当教师的母亲抚养长大。他说自己从未见过父亲。但是，当他梦想作一名爵 士乐小号手时，他母亲有一套方法指导他。

Mothers have sayingthings， Gardner said， She explained me，‘Son， onlyone Miles Davis hegot job。So you have dosomething else。

somethingelse know。‘母亲有自己的表述方法。Gardner 说：她对我说，‘儿子，只有一个Miles Davis，他从事这 个行业。因此，你就得做其他的事情，至于那是什么事情，我就不知道了。‘ Gardner credits his uncles maleinfluence he needed。

Many themwere military veterans。

So， straight out highschool， he enlisted fouryears。

He says gavehim possible。Gardner 认为是他的叔叔给他提供了影响他的人生道路的男人。他们中许多人是部队里的老 兵。因此，高中一毕业，他就报名参军当了四年的海军。他称这给他带来一种成就感。

RedFerrari TurningPoint 一辆红色法拉利，一次人生转折点 After military，Gardner took medicalsupply salesman。

hesays， he reached another turning point hislife。

parkinglot， he met mandriving redFerrari。

He parkingspace。

said，‘You can have mine。

gottaask you two questions。‘ twoquestions were： What do you do？ howdo you do Turnsout making$80， 000 month。退役以后，Gardner 作起了医药销售员。他说，那时，他经历了人生又一个转折点。在一处 停车场，他遇见一名男子驾着一辆红色法拉利。他正在找一个停车摊位。我说，‘你可以停 我这里。但我要问你两个问题。这两个问题是：你做什么工作？你怎样去做？这个人原来是 股票经纪人，月薪8 万美元。

Gardner began knocking doors，applying trainingprograms brokerages，even though meanthe would have nothingwhile he learned。

When he finally program，he left his job medicalsales。

hisplans collapsed hadmaterialized。

manwho offered him trainingslot Gardnerhad goback Gardner开始上门申请学习经纪人课程，即使这意味着在他学习期间会衣食无着。当他终于 被录取上培训班时，他辞掉销售员的工作。然而，他的计划突然之间转为泡影正如他们突然 呈现一样。那个曾经答应给他上培训课的人被辞退了，而Gardner 又丢掉了自己的工作。

Things got worse。

He hauledoff parkingviolations hecouldn‘t pay。

His wife left him。

sheasked him youngson without her。

Despite his lack resources，Gardner said， madeup my mind youngkid hadchildren Rags Riches陌生人施善帮助 When he could afford hestayed hisson， Chris Jr。， cheapmotels。

When returnedhome night，Gardner says， he received help from some unexpected sources。

eveningwere beginning wouldalways see myself， stroller。当他交起学费时，他和儿子Chris Jr。住在 廉价汽车旅馆里。

Gardner 说，他们深更半夜回家时意外地受到一些人的帮助。晚上，女士 来汽车旅馆上夜班，总是看见我、小婴儿和那辆推车。

So startedgiving him $5 bills。

Without help，Gardner said， wouldhave been nights when he couldnt have fed his son。

Rev。Cecil Williams， founder GlideMemorial Church SanFrancisco， remembers firsttime he saw Gardner， who had gone hisson mealline。

He said， wondered，What mandoing baby？于是，她们就掏出五块钱给他。Gardner 说，没有她们的帮助，儿子可能就会挨饿。旧金山 Glide 教堂的创建人Rev。

Cecil Williams 回忆第一次见到Gardner 的情形，当时他带着儿 子排在就餐队伍中间。他说，我当时纳闷：一个大男人怎么会身边拖着一个婴儿？ Even unusualsight。

UrbanInstitute estimates childrenmake up 25 percent nationshomeless population， singlemother，not father。就连Williams 也弄不明白这是怎么回事。根据 城市协会估算，全国无家可归的人口中儿童占到百分之二十五。但是，绝大多数儿童和单亲 母亲而不是单亲父亲一起生活。

GreenThing 全靠经验 Williamshelp roomsupplied GlideMemorial when he needed

名人故事英汉对照

『名人轶事【1】向肖伯纳求婚』

1．Marriage Proposal to Bernard Shaw

Once a beautiful and dissolute British actress wrote to propose marriage to Bernard Shaw． She said she did not mindBernard Shaw"s old age and ugliness because he was a genius． And if they could combine the beauty of the woman with the talents of the great man,that would be greatly harmonious． “With your wisdom and my appearance,our children must be perfect．”

Bernard Shaw answered,in a letter,that her imagination wassplendid,“But,what if the children take my appearance and yourwisdom?”

1．向肖伯纳求婚

英国有位美貌风流的女演员,曾写信向肖伯纳求婚.她说,因为他是个天才,她不嫌肖伯纳年迈丑陋.假如能使女郎的美貌和超人的天才结合,那该是多么协调啊.“咱们的后代有你的智慧和我的美貌,那一定是十全十美了.”

肖伯纳给她回了一封信说,她的想象很是美妙,“可是,假如生下的孩子外貌象我,而智慧又象你,那又该怎么办呢?” 名人轶事』（英汉对照）『名人轶事【2】闹饥荒的原因』

2．The Reason of the Famine

In one dinner party,a capitalist eyed bony Bernard Shawup and down regretfully, and said in all seriousness,“Look atyour appearance,it really makes people believe that all the Britishare starving．”

Bernard Shaw,examining the potbellied capitalist,said,“But,I know as soon as I saw you the reason why Britain is suf－fering from famine．”

2．闹饥荒的原因

在一次宴会上,一个资本家用遗憾的目光上下打量着瘦骨嶙峋的肖伯纳,一本正经地说：“看看你的模样,真叫人以为英国人都在挨饿.”

肖伯纳审视着大腹便便的资本家说：“但是,我一见到你,就知道英国正在闹饥荒的原因了.” 『名人轶事【3】开头写得差是好事』

3．Good to Write Poorly at the Beginning

Once Chekhov met a young writer．The moment he sawChekhov,the writer said,in great distress,that when he beganwriting,he could not write well no matter how hard he tried．Hisstyle of writing often went against the expression of his ideas,and he was in deep agony for his clumsiness and his situation．On hearing it,Chekhov,instead of giving slightest comfort,saidsurprisingly,What are you talking about?It is good to writepoorly at the beginning．”

The young writer was astounded after hearing that,and wasat a loss what to do．Chekhov continued,“Of course it"s good．You see,if a new writer could write fluently overnight, then hewas over,and he would have no great future in writing．”

3．开头写得差是好事

有一次,契诃夫遇到一个青年作家,这个作家一看到契诃夫,便苦恼地说,自己开始写作时,无论如何也写不好,文笔和思想的表达常常相悖,他深为自己的笨拙与自己的处境感到痛苦.契诃夫听后,非但没有给予丝毫的安慰,反而吃惊地说：“您都说了些什么呀!开头写得差,这是好事么!”

青年作家听后,大为惊讶,不知该如何是好.契诃夫接着说：“当然是好事了.您得明白,如果初拿笔的作家一下子就写得顺顺当当,那么他就完了,他在写作上是没有什么前途的.” 『名人轶事【4】一场累人的斗争』

4．An Exhausting Struggle

Balzac once said artistic creation was “an exhausting strug-gle”．He believed that only by tenacious work and fearing notafraid of difficulties could you show your talent．It was just likethe soldiers charging the fortress,not relaxing your effort foreven a moment．

Once Balzac wrote for hours on end, he was so tired that hecould not hold out any longer．He ran to a friend"s home andplunged headlong on the sofa．He wanted to sleep,but he told hisfriend he must be woken up within an hour．His friend,seeinghim so tired,did not wake him up on time．After he woke up,Balzac got very angry at his friend．Fortunately his friend had anintimate understanding of him and did not quarrel with him．

Balzac did not smoke cigarettes,nor did he drink any alco－hol． But he got one habit：while he was writing he always drankvery strong coffee that could almost anaesthetize his stomach．Hedidn"t add milk,nor did he add sugar in his coffee．It would notsatisfy him until it was made bitter．People generally did not liketo drink such bitter coffee．That had strange stimulus effect tohim,and could help him drive the sleepiness away,according tohimself．

4．一场累人的斗争

巴尔扎克说过,艺术创造是“一场累人的斗争”.他认为,只有顽强地工作,不怕困难,才能把自己的才华表现出来.这就好象向堡垒冲击的战士,一刻也不能松劲.

有一次,巴尔扎克一连写了好几个小时,累得实在支持不住了,跑到一个朋友家里,一头倒在沙发上.他想睡一觉,但他告诉朋友,一定要在一小时之内叫醒他.他的朋友见他非常疲劳,就没有按时叫醒他.他醒来后,对朋友大发脾气.幸好他的朋友很了解他,没有和他争吵.

巴尔扎克既不抽烟,也不喝酒.但他有个习惯：当他写作的时候,总是呷着几乎可以使胃麻痹的浓咖啡.他的咖啡里既不加牛奶,也不加糖,要熬得发苦才满意.象这样苦的咖啡,一般人都不愿意喝.据他自己说,这样对他有奇异的刺激作用,可以驱走睡魔.