(单词翻译:单击)
April 14, 1971
1971年4月14日
Dear Children of Troy:
亲爱的特洛伊孩子们:
Your librarian has asked me to write, telling you what a library can mean to you.
你们的图书管理员让我写封信,告诉你们图书馆于你们而言意味着什么 。
A library is many things. It's a place to go, to get in out of the rain.
图书馆是许多东西 。你们可以来这里,遮风避雨 。
It's a place to go if you want to sit and think.
你们可以来这里,静坐冥想 。
But particularly it is a place where books live, and where you can get in touch with other people, and other thoughts, through books.
更可贵的是,这个地方藏书万千,在这里,你可以通过阅读认识其他人,接触到其他的思想 。
If you want to find out about something, the information is in the reference books---the dictionaries, the encyclopedias, the atlases.
如果你想了解某些事物,不妨借助一些参考书中——字典、百科全书、地图册查阅信息 。
If you like to be told a story, the library is the place to go.
如果你喜欢听别人讲故事,图书馆更是不二之选 。
Books hold most of the secrets of the world, most of the thoughts that men and women have had.
图书中蕴藏着世界上大多数秘密,还有男性和女性的大部分思想 。
And when you are reading a book, you and the author are alone together---just the two of you.
当你沉迷于阅读时,全世界只剩下你和作者两人独处 。
A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort.
当你抑郁或心情低落时,图书馆是个疗伤的好去处,因为在那里,恣意徜徉在书海中,你能获得鼓励和慰藉 。
A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered.
当你困惑或犹豫不决时,图书馆是个解惑的好去处,因为在那里,尽情攀登知识的阶梯,你的疑惑可能会迎刃而解 。
Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people---people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.
无论悲伤或者快乐,书籍永远是岁月长河中最忠实的伙伴,因为所谓“书籍”——是那些藏身封面间并设法生存下来的智者 。
译文为可可英语翻译,未经授权请勿转载!