"The Delights of Books" By John Lubbock, 1834~1913. 

 


The Delights of Books

Books are to mankind what memory is to the individual. They contain the history of our race,

the discoveries we have made, the accumulated knowledge and experience of ages; they picture

for us the marvels and beauties of nature; help us in our difficulties, comfort us in sorrow and in suffering, change hours of weariness into moments of delight, store our minds with ideas, fill them with good and happy thoughts, and lift us out of and above ourselves.When we read we may not only be kings and live in places ,but, what we may transport ourselves to the mountains or the seashore, and visit the most beautiful parts of the earth, without fatigue, inconvenience, expense.

Precious and priceless are the blessings, which the books scatter around our daily paths. We walk, in imagination, with the noblest spirits, through the most sublime and enchanting regions.

    Macaulay had wealth and fame, rank and power, and yet he tells us in his biography that he owed the happiest hours of his life to books. In a charming letter to a little girl, he says: "If any one would make me be the greatest king that ever lived, with palaces and gardens, and fine dinners, and wines and coaches, and beautiful clothes, and hundreds of servants, on condition that I should not read books, I would not be a king. I would rather be a poor man in garret with plenty of books than a king

who did not love reading.

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How should one read a book? By Virginia Woolf,1882~1941,English authoress.

 


    In the first place, I want to emphasize the note of interrogation at the end of my title.Even if I could answer the question for myself, the answer would apply only to me and not to you.The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your reason, to come to your own conclusions. If this as agrees between us. then I feel at liberty to put forward a few ideas and suggestions because you will not allow them to fetter that independence which is the most important quality that a reader can possess.

    After all, what laws can be laid down about books? The battle of Waterloo was certainly fought on a certain day; but is Hamlet a better play than Lear? Nobody can say. Each must decide that question of himself. To admit authorities, however heavily furred and drowned, into our libraries and let them tell us how to read, what value to place upon what we read, is to destroy the spirit of freedom which is the breath of those sanctuaries. Everywhere else we may be bound by laws and conventions--there we have none. But to enjoy freedom, if the platitude is pardonable, we have of course to control ourselves. We must not squander our powers, helplessly and ignorantly, squirting half the house in order to water a single rose-bush.


 

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In order to prepare for the language test system, I enforce myself to keep the tarck on typing some graceful and excellent articles,on the other hand, to help you all widen the conception  and  depth of your thinkings. Enjoy it...

Today's article was written by Willaim Henry Hudson, an English writer and naturalist, 1840~1922.

Literature and Life

    We care for literature primarily on account of its deep and lasting human significance.

A great book grows directly out if life: n reading it, we are brought into large, close,

and fresh relationship with life; and in that fact lies the final explanation of its power.

     Literature is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what they have experienced

of it, what they have thought and felt about those aspects of it which have the most

immediate and enduring interest for all of us. It is thus fundamentally an expression of life through

the medium of language. Such expression is fashioned into the various forms of literary art. But it ii important to understand, to begin with, that literature lives by virtue of the life which is embodies. By

remembering this, we shall be saved from the besetting danger of confounding the study of literature with the study of philology, rhetoric, and even literature technique.

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To one who has been long in city pent
1816/6

 

To one who has been long in city pent
'Tis very sweet to look into the fair
And open face of heaven,---to breathe a prayer
Full in the smile of the blue firmament,
Who is more happy,when, with heart's content,
Fatigued he sinks into some pleasant lair
Of wavy grass, and reads a debonair
And gentle tale of love and languishment?
Returning home at evening, with an ear
Catching the notes of Philimel, --an eye
Watching the sailing cloudlet's bright career,
He mourns the day so soon has glided by:
E'en like the passage of an angel's tear
That falls through  the clear ether silently.

 

 

「對於一個久居城市的人」
對於一個久居城市的人，
看看天空的明媚的笑容，
對著蔚藍的蒼穹的微笑
低低發生禱告，多麼怡情！
他可以滿意地，懶懶躺在
一片青草波浪裡，讀著
溫情而憂鬱的愛情小說，
有什麼能比這個更愉快？
傍晚回家了，一面用耳朵
聽夜鶯的歌唱，一面觀看
流雲在空中燦爛地飄過
他會哀悼白天這樣短暫
他竟像天使的淚珠，滑落
清朗的氣層，默默地不見。

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I am glad that I saw two classical movies named 「Before Sunrise」&「Before Sunset」last week.These were two of trilogy and the published period between them was nine years.
「Before Sunrise」is a passionate and intelligent romance between a young American (Jesse) and a French student (Celine). A chance encounter on the train incites intrigue, and Jesse provocatively suggests that Celine postpones her return to France and embarks instead on a spontaneous expedition to Vienna. In the course of their 14-hour relationship, the two share in their love for the unrehearsed and their appreciation for the unexpected as they explore in a powerful meeting
of hearts and minds.
「Before Sunset」It's nine years after Jesse and Celine first met; now, they encounter one another on the French leg of Jesse's book tour.
Jesse, a writer from the US, and Celine, a Frenchwoman working for an environment protection organization, acquainted nine years ago on the train from Budapest to Vienna, meet again when Jesse arrives in Paris for a reading of
his new book. As they have only a few hours until his plane leaves, they stroll through Paris, talking about their experiences, views and whether they still love each other, although Jesse is already married with a kid.

The second episode ends in solo-dancing Celine and smiling Jesse in the living room with the sunset.......

After watching two movies, I find I was touched deeply and heartiliy. The tempo is slow but nature, the dialogues are so meaningful and expressive for the spectators to recall the memories of love. The topics of two protaganists are living,funny, intelligent, and simple just like ur lifes. After watching them, I think u may get some reactions
especially those who are in love.

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Work to Live or Live to Work???

Today I read these words in some books on the internet, and compare with my army life, especially in the government now.
I think it is really a Big Question for everyone to think deeper nowadays. In modern times, we should face to many unsolicited things during work,time by time, we were gradually avalanched with bits and pieces,then, become work to live without any passion and goals.Just like machines work day by day. Many merely foget the origin meaning of work though many of them are reluctant and passive.
I wonder myself may be one of them some day, on that time, what will I do ?? I think to travel and safari around the world is a wonderful solution, just like my dear friend--Jamie who enjoys the [Working Holiday] life in Australia now.
From the daily job, she finds the entertainment and joy in her works. She lives to work happily.
I wish I could follow her steps in the future
in some cities in other countries. Eat, drink, and be merry.
「Carpe Diem」and「Slow Life」are the most important concepts for modern people.
 

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I went staff outing last Friday with my colleagues about 30 people in Yun-Lin where was my hometown, fortunately, we got a wonderful weather.

We visited  the Guo-Kan and Tsao-Lin, the origins of Taiwan's coffee. Although I have visited there many years ago, I never went there after 921 big earthquake. It really changed a lot, bedides the ten landscapes, there still two new scenery of 921 mudflows and the Tsao-Lin LAake but the later was to  fade away no longer. So we didn't see that. It was a pity for us. After the tour of Friday, I find that everywhere in Taiwan loved to follow the trend as to rebuild the community. I think the beginning is very good to keep the industry trandition and local culture.But many associations, at last, lost their directon and catered to the business model which missing the core concept. That needs a whole comprehensive plan and the ambition of business continuitya combined that could achieve the stage of success. In Guo-Kan, they still have much to learn and I hope it could be the top ones in Taiwan some day. Go for it.............

 

Today's poem is about friendship by Keat on 1816. I will also write down English slangs

per day to enrich all you guys and  myself.

 

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today.　今日事，今日畢。 

 

 

To my Brothers  1816/11/18

Small, busy flames play through the fresh laid coals,
    And their faint crackings o'er our silence creep
Like whispers of the household gods that keep
    A gentle empire o'er fraternal souls.
And while, for rhymes, I search around the poles,
    Your eyes are fix'd, as in poetic sleep,
    Upon the lore so voluble and deep,
They aye at fall of night our care condoles.
This is your birth-day Tom, and I rejoice
    That thus it passes smooythly, quietly.
Many such eves of gently whisp'ring noise
    May we together pass, and calmly try
What are this world's true joys,---ere the great voice,
    From its fair face, shall bid our spirits fly.

 

給我的兄弟們

小小的火苗從新添的煤裡
歡跳著，他微弱的爆裂聲音
爬過一片寂靜，像冥冥的家神
在對這些友愛的靈魂低語
當我，為了旋律，向星空覓探
你的眼睛卻帶著詩意的迷醉
注視這本大書，他如此深邃，
常在向晚慰解我們的憂煩
今天是你的生日，托姆，我
很高興他過的和煦而靜謐
但願我們能一起度過很多
這樣充滿低語的黃昏，安詳地
品嚐到這世界的真正的歡樂
直到上帝的聲音把我們喚去。

 

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Today let me introduce the England famous poet 「John Keat, 1795-1821」for all you guys, he is one of excellent poets during Romanticism.I've read it before I prepare for the trandfer exam and his poem gets high an artistic conception with atticism. I hope my dear friends could feel the beauty of his masterpiece. From now on, I will write one poem per day and hope u all love it. The first poem is about [Fame]. The reason i chose it is about the politics battle between DPP and KMT.
The hot topic is about HONESTY and FAME. I couldn't forget the words that my technology teacher told us''Honesty is the best policy.'' Every politician is very hackneyed and is eager to strive for fame and wealth. In Keat' poem, he describe Fame as a wayward girl. She is so charming but hateful. Many people persuit for it with anyway, anything. Just like boys run after girls. That states very clear and vivid. So I introduce it for today, It is a sonnet. Pls enjoy it........

 

On Fame       1819/4/30      

                               

Fame , like a wayward girl, will still coy                    

    To those who woo her with too slavish knees 

But makes surrender to some thoughtlesss boy      

    And dotes the more upon a heart at ease；     

She is a Gipsy will not speak to those             

    Who have not learnt to be content without her   

A Jilt, whose ear was never whisper’d close        

    Who thinks they scandal her who talk about her   

A very Gipsy is she, Nilus-born,               

    Sister –in –law to jealous Potiphar;

Ye love-sick Bards! repay her scorn for scorn;

    Ye Artists lovelorn! madmen that ye are!

Make your best bow to her and bid adieu,

    Then, if she likes it, she will follow you.

 

詠聲名

 

聲名像個野女孩，但仍然

對朝她奴顏婢膝的人畏縮，

輕浮的小伙子討她喜歡

淡漠的心才叫她難分難捨

她是個吉普賽，不喜歡搭理

那些沒有她就活的不愜意的人

而且朝三暮四：別跟她低語

誰談到她；必然使她心懷怨恨

阿！ 她這吉普賽，生在奈拉斯

簡直是嫉妒的波提乏的妻子

單戀的詩人！你該報她以蔑視

藝術家阿！何必為他癲狂、迷醉！

請對她翩然一躬，說聲再會，

如果她高興，自會把你追隨！

 

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After 2 months fool around, from Chen-Kun Lin to Zong Yin,  finally located in Wu-Fong , Taichung, I almost travel around half Taiwan as rookie in the army. To enroll is really a fiddle-faddle job, I think. But I wonder each boy has to experience it  in his long life because u can just know how precious the freedom is and the feeling of displine and unreasonable orders. Through the inefficient administraiton, I came to Wu-Fong in Tai-Chung county. First day I wonder I was set up to be arranged here. The old and desrepaired dormitory really scared me and my other two mates. It is so far away from the exception before. It's more worse than it. I live in a small double room with a wood window, two heavy desks, two closets,bunk-bed  and humid-mildewy air. I felt disappointed and depressed with the new enviornment. But I shoule take it as a trial in the life, I told that to myself. That were all parts of my life , I need learn how to suffer it , enjoy it and love it. Now, I gonna adjust my plan for the  sudden change. There's still  a long way waiting for me to coplete. That's just a beginning......................Suffer it , enjoy it and love it...........from now on..... Go....

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That is my first Blog diary, and I decide to write it beccause I want to keep  some memory about my last student life even good or not. Today, I did the whole-day exercise in school with Badminton & Soccer, I didn't get much fun from sports for a long time ever in graduate school. That is my last full-time student life; I should cherish it well with my dear classmates. As for the degree, I also pay more attention to it otherwise .....................I can't image it anymore... Let it be.............

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