英语名篇诵读 谈读书（在线收听）

On Reading

谈读书

Arnold Bennett(阿诺德·本涅特)

In your reading you must have in view some definite aim — some aim other than the wish to derive pleasure. I conceive that to give pleasure is the highest end of any work of art, because the pleasure procured from any art is tonic , and transforms the life into which it enters. But the maximum of pleasure can only be obtained by regular effort, and regular effort implies the organization of that effort. Open-air walking is a glorious exercise; it is the walking itself which is glorious. Nevertheless, when setting out for walking exercise, the same man generally has a subsidiary aim in view. He says to himself either that he will reach a given point, or that he will progress at a given speed for a given distance, or that he will remain on his feet for a given time. He organizes his effort, partly in order that he may combine some other advantage with the advantage of walking, but principally in order to be sure that the effort shall be an adequate effort. The same with reading. Your paramount aim in poring over literature is to enjoy, but you will not fully achieve that aim unless you also have a subsidiary aim which necessitates the measurement of your energy. Your subsidiary aim may be aesthetic, moral, political, religious, scientific, erudite ; you may devote yourself to a man, a topic, an epoch , a nation, a branch of literature, an idea — you have the widest latitude in the choice of an objective; but a definite objective you must have.

读书时，你心中必须有某种明确的目的——除希望获得乐趣外，还应有别的目的。我认为带来乐趣是任何艺术作品的最高境界，因为从任何艺术中获得的乐趣令人振奋，得以进入的艺术天地也使人焕发出新的面貌。但至高的乐趣只有通过持之以恒的努力才能得到，而持之以恒的努力意味着组织好所做的努力。户外散步是一项极好的锻炼，散步本身就很好。然而，当某人外出散步锻炼时，这个人通常有一个附带的目的。他要么对自己说要到达一个预定的地点，要么在一定距离内按一定速度行走，要么连续走一定的时间。他安排好自己想做的事，部分是为了能够把别的益处同散步的益处结合起来，但主要是为了保证所做的事值得。读书也一样。你倾心阅读文学作品的至高目的是获得乐趣，但是除非你有一个使你觉得花费精力值得的附带目的，否则你就不能完全达到那个目的。你的附带目的可以是在审美、道德、政治、宗教、科学、博学方面；你也可以专门研读一人、一专题、一个时代、一个国家、一个文学分支、一种思想等——你有最充分的余地来选择目的，但你必须有一个明确的目的。