Book参考译文

A book is essentially not a talked thing, but a written thing; and written, not with the view of mere communication, but of permanence. The book of talk is printed only because its author cannot speak to thousands of people at once; if he could, he would---the volume is mere multiplication of his voice.

究其本质，一本书不是随便谈谈的东西，而是认真写出来的东西，且不仅为通信或交流而写，而是为了传久之远。一本随便谈谈的书之所以印出来，是由于作者不能同时对成千上万人讲话，倘若可能，他倒愿意。那册书无非让他的声音倍增而已。

You cannot talk to your friend in India; if you could, you would; you write instead: that is mere conveyance of voice.

你无法同远在印度的朋友谈话，倘若可能，你倒愿意。你代之以写，这也不过是声音的传播。

But a book is written, not to multiply the voice merely, not to carry it merely, but to preserve it. The author has something to say which he perceives to be true and useful, or helpfully beautifully.

然而著书不仅是为了使声音倍增，也不仅是为了传播声音，而是为了保存。作者察觉到有一些真实和有益的东西要讲，有一些美好且对读者有帮助的东西要讲。

So far as he knows, no one has yet said it; so far as he knows, no one else can say it. He is bound to say it, clearly and melodiously if he may; clearly, at all events.

而据他所知，这些还没有人讲过，也没有别人能讲。他责无旁贷，非说不可，倘有可能，则力求清楚明白，词章优美，至少务必清楚明白。

In the sum of his life he finds this to be the thing, or group of things, manifest to him;--- this the piece of true knowledge, or sight, which his share of sunshine and earth has permitted him to seize.

他发现在他一生中，这就是他明了的一件事或一些事——这就是他通过人生经历得以把握的那一点真知灼见。[1]

（[1] 参考译文2：回顾人生，他发现这就是他领悟的一件事或一些事——这就是他人生旅途中得以凝炼的一点点真知灼见。 骆萍 译）

He would fain set it down for ever; engrave it on rock, if he could; saying: “This is the best of me; for the rest, I ate, and drank, and slept, loved and hated, like another; My life was as the vapour, and is not; [2]

他欣然将他永远记下来，如有可能，不妨铭刻在石头上，并且说， “这是我毕生精华；至于其他，或饮或食，或眠或醒，或爱或恨，概与他人无异；我过去的生命如同云烟；现在已不是了。

（[2] 参考译文2：如果可以，将其镌刻于岩石之上，并附言道：”这是我毕生所得；除此之外，饮食睡眠，情仇爱恨，与他人相差无几。我过去的生活恍如云烟，如今已云开雾散；… 骆萍、奉霞 译）

but this I saw and knew: this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory.” [3]

但这点是我曾经看见和知道的；倘若我有什么值得你记住的，这就是。”

（[3] 参考译文2：但我所知所见，尽载于此；此生倘有可供他人记取之处，亦不过如此。奉霞 译）

That is his “writing”; it is, in his small human way, and with whatever degree of true inspiration is in him, his inscription, or scripture. That is a “Book”. (From Sesame and Lilies)

这就是他的“著作”；虽他决非神明，力量微薄，也不论他有几分真正灵感，这就是他的传世之作，或经典之作。这便就是“书”。（王楫译自《芝麻与百合花》，连淑能修订）

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