It is a salutary discipline to consider1 the vast number of books that are written2, the fair hopes with which their authors see them published3, and the fate which awaits them4.

长难句解析

1主句：主系表结构，使用“It is sth. to do”句型，意思是“做某事是...”；

2并列宾语之一：“that are written”修饰“books”；

3并列宾语之二：“which”指代“the fair hopes”，正序为“their authors...with the fair hopes”；

4并列宾语之三：“which awaits them”修饰“the fate”，“them”指代前文的“books”。

重点词汇词组

salutary 有益的，有用的；有益健康的

The accident was a salutary reminder of the dangers of climbing.

这次事故提醒人们注意登山的种种危险，倒也不无益处。

【近义词】beneficial, helpful, conducive

关注微信公众号【可可双语精读】，获取详细讲解内容。