精美英文欣赏:海明威诺贝尔文学奖致辞

No writer who knows the great writers who did not receive the prize can accept it other than with humility¹.

没有一个作家，当他知道在他以前不少伟大的作家并没有获得此项奖金的时候，能够心安理得领奖而不感到受之有愧。

There is no need to list these writers.

这里无须一一列举这些作家的名字。

Everyone here may make his own list according to his knowledge and his conscience.

在坐的每个人都可以根据他的学识和良心提出自己的名单来。

It would be impossible for me to ask the Ambassador of my country to read a speech in which a writer said all of the things which are in his heart.

要求我国的大使在这儿宣读一篇演说，把一个作家心中所感受到的一切都说尽是不可能的。

Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate;

一个人作品中的一些东西可能不会马上被人理解，在这点上，他有时是幸运的；

but eventually they are quite clear,and by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses,he will endure or be forgotten.

但是它们终究会十分清晰起来，根据它们以及作家所具有的点石成金本领的大小，他将青史留名或被人遗忘。

Writing at its best is a lonely life.

写作，在最成功的时候，是一种孤寂的生涯。

Organizations for writers palliate the writer's loneliness,but I doubt if they improve his writing.

作家的组织固然可以排遣他们的孤独，但是我怀疑它们未必能够促进作家的创作。

He grows in public stature² as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates³.

一个在稠人广众之中成长起来的作家，自然可以免除孤苦寂寥之虑，但他的作品往往流于平庸。

For he does his work alone, and if he is a good enough writer,he must face eternity⁴, or the lack of it, each day.

而一个在岑寂中孤独工作的作家，假若他确实不同凡响，就必须天天面对永恒的东西，或者面对缺乏永恒的状况。

For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment⁵.

对于一个真正的作家来说，每一本书都应该成为他继续探索那些尚未到达的领域的一个新起点。

He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed.

他应该永远尝试去做那些从来没有人做过或者他人没有做成的事。

Then sometimes, with good luck, he will succeed.

这样他就有幸会获得成功。

How simple the writing of literature would be if it were only necessary to write in another way what has been well written.

如果已经写好的作品，仅仅换一种方法又可以重新写出来，那么文学创作就显得太轻而易举了。

It is because we have had such great writers in the past that a writer is driven far out past where he can go,out to where no one can help him.

我们的前辈大师们留下了伟大的业绩，正因为如此，一个普通作家常常被他们逼人的光辉驱赶到远离他可能到达的地方，陷入孤立无援的境地。

I have spoken too long for a writer.

作为一个作家，我讲得已经太多了。

A writer should write what he has to say and not speak it.

作家应当把自己要说的话写下来，而不是讲出来。

Again I thank you.

再一次谢谢大家了。

1 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

2 stature   

n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材

参考例句：

• He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
• The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

3 deteriorates   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• After a few years' planting, the quality of the potato crop deteriorates. 土豆种了几年之后就会退化。
• Virus activity deteriorates in plasma stored at room temperature. 在室温下储藏的血浆中病毒活动逐渐衰退。

4 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

5 attainment   

n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣

参考例句：

• We congratulated her upon her attainment to so great an age.我们祝贺她高寿。
• The attainment of the success is not easy.成功的取得并不容易。