书城外语那些年,那些诗(每天读一点英文)
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第10章 Success

Emily Dickinson

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne’er succeed.

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host

Who took the flag today

Can tell the definition

So clear,of victory,

As he,defeated,dying,

On—whose forbidden ear

The distant strains of triumph

Break,agonized and clear.

成 功

艾米莉·狄金森

从未成功的人认为,

成功的滋味甜美无比。

必须要有强烈的需求,

方能领会花蜜的美味。

那最显赫的人身着紫衣,

执掌今日的大旗,

似乎没有人能像他们那样,

明了胜利的真谛。

当他战败后垂死,

失聪的耳边突然响起

遥远的凯歌旋律

竟如此痛苦而清晰。

背景知识

艾米莉·狄金森(Emily Dickinson),现在被公认为是美国最优秀的诗人之一,可在她有生之年所发表的诗作却寥寥无几。她在马萨诸塞州的阿默斯特过着与世隔绝的生活。她生在家里,死在家里,尽管艾米莉·狄金森缺少社会阅历,但她却有丰富的内心世界,其诗歌的主题主要集中在爱情、死亡和自然这些永恒的主题上。

单词注解

purple [5pE:pl] 紫的, 帝王的

victory [5viktEri] 胜利;战胜

triumph [5traiEmf] 成功,业绩

名句诵读

Success is counted sweetest By those who ne’er succeed.

Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag today Can tell the definition So clear,of victory,

As he,defeated,dying,On—whose forbidden ear The distant strains of triumph Break,agonized and clear.