现代大学英语精读原文课文对比版

ThinkingasaHobbybyWilliamGoldingWhileIwasstillaboy,Icametotheconclusionthattherewerethreegradesofthinking;andandsinceIwaslatertoclaimthinkingasmyhobby,Icametoanevenstrangerconclusion-namely,thatImyselfcouldnotthinkatall.Imusthavebeenanunsatisfactorychildforgrownupstodealwith.Irememberhowincomprehensibletheyappearedtomeatfirst,butnot,ofcourse,howIappearedtothem.Itwastheheadmasterofmygrammarschoolwhofirstbroughtthesubjectofthinkingbeforeme-thoughneitherintheway,norwiththeresultheintended.Hehadsomestatuettesinhisstudy.Theystoodonahighcupboardbehindhisdesk.Onewasaladywearingnothingbutabathtowel.Sheseemedfrozeninaneternalpaniclestthebathtowelslipdownanyfarther,andsinceshehadnoarms,shewasinanunfortunatepositiontopullthetowelupagain.Nexttoher,crouchedthestatuetteofaleopard,readytospringdownatthetopdrawerofafilingcabinetlabeledA-AH.Myinnocenceinterpretedthisasthevictim'slast,despairingcry.Beyondtheleopardwasanaked,musculargentleman,whosat,lookingdown,withhischinonhisfistandhiselbowonhisknee.Heseemedutterlymiserable.Sometimelater,Ilearnedaboutthesestatuettes.Theheadmasterhadplacedthemwheretheywouldfacedelinquentchildren,becausetheysymbolizedtohimtowholeoflife.ThenakedladywastheVenusofMilo.ShewasLove.Shewasnotworriedaboutthetowel.Shewasjustbusybeingbeautiful.TheleopardwasNature,andhewasbeingnatural.Thenaked,musculargentlemanwasnotmiserable.HewasRodin'sThinker,animageofpurethought.Itiseasytobuysmallplastermodelsofwhatyouthinklifeislike.IhadbetterexplainthatIwasafrequentvisitortotheheadmaster'sstudy,becauseofthelatestthingIhaddoneorleftundone.Aswenowsay,Iwasnotintegrated.Iwas,ifanything,disintegrated;andIwaspuzzled.Grownupsnevermadesense.WheneverIfoundmyselfinapenalpositionbeforetheheadmaster'sdesk,withthestatuettesglimmeringwhitelyabovehim,Iwouldsinkmyhead,claspmyhandsbehindmyback,andwritheoneshoeovertheother.Commentby微软用户:Theheadmasterwouldlookopaquelyatmeandsay,throughflashingspectacles."Whatarewegoingtodowithyou"Well,whatweretheygoingtodowithmeIwouldwrithemyshoesomemoreandstaredownatthewornrug."Lookup,boy!Can'tyoulookup"ThenIwouldlookatthecupboard,wherethenakedladywasfrozeninherpanicandthemusculargentlemancontemplatedthehindquartersoftheleopardinendlessgloom.Ihadnothingtosaytotheheadmaster.Hisspectaclescaughtthelightsothatyoucouldseenothinghumanbehindthem.Therewasnopossibilityofcommunication."Don'tyoueverthinkatall"No,Ididn'tthink,wasn'tthinking,couldn'tthink-Iwassimplywaitinginanguishfortheinterviewtostop."Thenyou'dbetterlearn-hadn'tyou"Ononeoccasiontheheadmasterleapedtohisfeet,reachedupandputplonkedRodin'smasterpieceonthedeskbeforeme."That'swhatamanlookslikewhenhe'sreallythinking."Isurveyedthegentlemanwithoutinterestorcomprehension."Gobacktoyourclass."Clearlytherewassomethingmissinginme.Naturehadendowedtherestofthehumanracewithasixthsenseandleftmeout.ButlikeThismustbeso,Imused,onmywaybacktotheclass,sincewhetherIhadbrokenawindow,orfailedtorememberBoyle'sLaw,orbeenlateforschool,myteachersproducedmeone,adultanswer:"Whycan'tyouthink"AsIsawthecase,IhadbrokenthewindowbecauseIhadtriedtohitJackArneywithacricketballandmissedhim;IcouldnotrememberBoyle'sLawbecauseIhadneverbotheredtolearnit;andIwaslateforschoolbecauseIpreferredlookingoverthebridgeintotheriver.Infact,Iwaswicked.Weremyteachers,perhaps,sogoodthattheycouldnotunderstandthedepthsofmydepravityWeretheyclear,untormentedpeoplewhocoulddirecttheireveryactionbythismysteriousbusinessofthinkingThewholethingwasincomprehensible.Inmyearlieryears,IfoundeventhestatuetteoftheThinkerconfusing.Ididnotbelieveanyofmyteacherswerenaked,ever.Likesomeoneborndeaf,butbitterlydeterminedtofindoutaboutsound,Iwatchedmyteacherstofindoutaboutthought.TherewasMr.Houghton.Hewasalwaystellingmetothink.Withamodestsatisfaction,hewouldtellthathehadthoughtabithimself.ThenwhydidhespendsomuchtimedrinkingOrwastheremoresenseindrinkingthanthereappearedtobeButifnot,andifdrinkingwereinfactruinoustohealth-andMr.Houghtonwasruined,therewasnodoubtaboutthat-whywashealwaystalkingaboutthecleanlifeandthevirtuesoffreshairHewouldspreadhisarmswidewiththeactionofamanwhohabituallyspenthistimestridingalongmountainridges."Openairdoesmegood,boys-Iknowit!"Sometimes,exaltedbyhisownoratory,hewouldleapfromhisdeskandhustleusoutsideintoahideouswind."Now,boys!Deepbreaths!Feelitrightdowninsideyou-hugedraughtsofGod'sgoodair!"Hewouldstandbeforeus,rejoicinginhisperfecthealth,anopen-airman.Hewouldputhishandsonhiswaistandtakeatremendousbreath.Youcouldhearthewindtrappedinthecavernofhischestandstrugglingwithalltheunnaturalimpediments.Hisbodywouldreelwithshockandhisruinedfacegowhiteattheunaccustomedvisitation.Hewouldstaggerbacktohisdeskandcollapsethere,uselessfortherestofthemorning.Mr.Houghtonwasgiventohigh-mindedmonologuesaboutthegoodlife,sexlessandfullofduty.Yetinthemiddleofoneofthesemonologues,ifagirlpassedthewindow,tappingalongonherneatlittlefeet,hewouldinterrupthisdiscourse,hisneckwouldturnofitselfandhewouldwatchheroutofsight.Inthisinstance,heseemedtomerulednotbythoughtbutbyaninvisibleandirresistiblespringinhisnack.nape.Hisneckwasanobjectofgreatinteresttome.Normallyitbulgedabitoverhiscollar.ButMr.HoughtonhadfoughtintheFirstWorldWaralongsidebothAmericansandFrench,andhadcome-bywhoknowswhatillogic-toasettleddetestationofbothcountries.Ifeithercountryhappenedtobeprominentincurrentaffairs,noargumentcouldmakeMr.Houghtonthinkwellofit.Hewouldbangthedesk,hisneckwouldbulgestillfurtherandgored."Youcansaywhatyoulike,"hewouldcry,"butI'vethoughtaboutthis-andIknowwhatIthink!"Mr.Houghtonthoughtwithhisneck.ThisTherewasMiss.Parsons.Sheassuredusthatherdearestwishwasourwelfare,butIkneweventhen,withthemysteriousclairvoyanceofchildhood,thatwhatshewantedmostwasthehusbandshenevergot.TherewasMr.Hands-andsoon.Ihavedealtatlengthwithmyteachersbecausethiswasmyintroductiontothenatureofwhatiscommonlycalledthought.ThroughthemIdiscoveredthatthoughtisoftenfullofunconsciousprejudice,ignorance,andhypocrisy.Itwilllectureondisinterestedpuritywhileitsneckisbeingremorselesslytwistedtowardaskirt.Technically,itisaboutasproficientasmostbusinessmen'sgolf,ashonestasmostpolitician'sintentions,or-tocomenearmyownpreoccupation-ascoherentasmostbooksthatgetwritten.ItiswhatIcametocallgrade-threethinking,thoughmoreproperly,itisfeeling,ratherthanthought.True,oftenthereisakindofinnocenceinprejudices,butinthosedaysIviewedgrade-threethinkingwithanintolerantcontemptandanincautiousmockery.IdelightedtoconfrontapiousladywhohatedtheGermanswiththepropositionthatweshouldloveourenemies.Shetaughtmeagreattruthindealingwithgrade-threethinkers;becauseofher,Inolongerdismisslightlyamentalprocesswhichfornine-tenthsofthepopulationisthenearesttheywillevergettothought.Theyhaveimmensesolidarity.Wehadbetterrespectthem,forweareoutnumberedandsurrounded.Acrowdofgrade-threethinkers,allshoutingthesamething,allwarmingtheirhandsatthefireoftheirownprejudices,willnotthankyouforpointingoutthecontradictionsintheirbeliefs.Manisagregariousanimal,andenjoysagreementascowswillgrazeallthesamewayonthesideofahill.Grade-twothinkingisthedetectionofcontradictions.IreachedgradetwowhenItrappedthepoor,piouslady.Grade-twothinkersdonotstampedeeasily,thoughoftentheyfallintotheotherfaultandlagbehind.Grade-twothinkingisawithdrawal,witheyesandearsopen.Itbecamemyhobbyandbroughtsatisfactionandlonelinessineitherhand.Forgrade-twothinkingdestroyswithouthavingthepowertocreate.ItsetmewatchingthecrowdscheeringHisMajestytheKingandaskingmyselfwhatallthefusswasabout,withoutgivingmeanythingpositivetoputintheplaceofthatheadypatriotism.Buttherewerecompensations.Tohearpeoplejustifytheirhabitofhuntingfoxesandtearingthemtopiecesbyclaimingthatthefoxeslikeit.ToherourPrimeMinistertalkaboutthegreatbenefitweconferredonIndiabyjailingpeoplelikePanditNehruandGandhi.TohearAmericanpoliticianstalkaboutpeaceinonesentenceandrefusetojointheLeagueofNationsinthenext.Yes,thereweremomentsofdelight.ButIwasgrowingtowardadolescenceandhadtoadmitthatMr.Houghtonwasnottheonlyonewithanirresistiblespringinhisneck.I,too,feltthecompulsivehandofnatureandbegantofindthatpointingoutcontradictioncouldbecostlyaswellasfun.TherewasRuth,forexample,aseriousandattractivegirl.Iwasanatheistatthetime.AndsheGrade-twothinkingisamenacetoreligionandknocksdownsectslikeskittles.Iputmyselfinapositiontobeconvertedbyherwithanhypocrisyworthyofgradethree.ShewasaMethodist-oratleast,herparentswere,andRuthhadtofollowsuit.But,alas,insteadofrelyingontheHolySpirittoconvertme,Ruthwasfoolishenoughtoopenherprettymouthinargument.SheclaimedthattheBible(KingJamesVersion)wasliterallyinspired.IcounteredbysayingthattheCatholicsbelievedintheliteralinspirationofSaintJerome'sVulgate,andthetwobooksweredifferent.Argumentflagged.AtlastsheremarkedthattherewereanawfullotofMethodistsandtheycouldn'tbewrong,couldthey-notallthosemillionsThatwastooeasy,saidIrestively(fortheneareryouweretoRuth,thenicershewastobenearto)sincethereweremoreRomanCatholicsthanMethodistsanyway;andtheycouldn'tbewrong,couldthey-notallthosehundredsofmillionsAnawfulflickerofdoubtappearedinhereyes.Islidmyarmroundherwaistandmurmuredbreathlesslythatifwewerecountingheads,theBuddhistsweretheboysformymoney.Shefled.ButRuthhasreallywantedtodomegood,becauseIwassonice.ThecombinationofmyarmandthosecountlessBuddhistswastoomuchforher.Thatnightherfathervisitedmyfatherandleft,red-cheekedandindignant.Iwasgiventhethirddegreetofindoutwhathadhappened.Itwasluckywewerebothofusonlyfourteen.IlostRuthandgainedanundeservedreputationasapotentiallibertine.Sograde-twothinkingcouldbedangerous.Itwasinthisknowledge,attheageoffifteen,thatIremembermakingacommentfromtheheightsofgradetwo,onthelimitationsofgradethree.OneeveningIfoundmyselfaloneintheschoolhall,preparingitforaparty.Thedooroftheheadmaster'sstudywasopen.Iwentin.TheheadmasterhadceasedtothumpRodin'sThinkerdownonthedeskasanexampletotheyoung.Perhapshehadnotfoundanymorecandidates,butthestatuetteswerestillthere,glimmeringandgatheringdustontopofthecupboard.Istoodonachairandrearrangedthem.IstoodVenusinherbathtowelonthefilingcabinet,sothatnowthetopdrawercaughtitsbreathinagaspofsexyexcitement."A-ah!"TheportentousThinkerIplacedontheedgeofthecupboardsothathelookeddownatthebathtowelandwaitedforittoslip.Grade-twothinking,thoughitfilledlifewithfunandexcitement,didnotmakeforcontent.Tofindoutthedeficienciesofourelderssatisfiesbolsterstheyoungegobutdoesnotmakeforpersonalsecurity.Ifoundthatgradetwowasnotonlythepowertopointoutcontradictions.Ittooktheswimmersomedistancefromtheshoreandlefthimthere,outofhisdepth.AIdecidedthatPontiusPilatewasatypicalgrade-twothinkerwillsay,."Whatistruth""hesaid,averycommongradetwothought,butonethatisusedalwaysastheendofanargumentinsteadofthebeginning.Thereisstillahighergradeofthoughtwhichsays,"Whatistruth"andsetsouttofindit.Butthesegrade-onethinkerswerefewandfarbetween.Theydidnotvisitmygrammarschoolinthefleshthoughtheywerethereinbooks.IaspiredtothempartlybecauseIwasambitiousandpartlybecauseInowsawmyhobbyasanunsatisfactorythingifitwentnofurther.Ifyousetouttoclimbamountain,howeverhighyouclimb,youhavefailedifyoucannotreachthetop.IthereforedecidedthatIwouldIdidmeetanundeniablygradeonethinkerinmyfirstyearatOxford.IwaslookingoverasmallbridgeinMagdalenDeerPark,andatinymustachedandhattedfigurecameandstoodbymyside.HewasaGermanwhohadjustfledfromtheNazistoOxfordasatemporaryrefuge.HisnamewasEinstein.ButProfessorEinsteinknewnoEnglishatthattimeandIknewonlytwowordsofGerman.Ibeamedathim,tryingwordlesslytoconveybymybearingalltheaffectionandrespectthattheEnglishfeltforhim.Itispossible-andIhavetomaketheadmission-thatIfelthereweretwograde-onethinkersstandingsidebyside;yetIdoubtifmyfaceconveyedmorethanaformlessawe.IwouldhavegivenmyGreekandLatinandFrenchandagoodsliceofmyEnglishforenoughGermantocommunicate.Butweweredivided;hewasasinscrutableasmyheadmaster.Forperhapsfiveminuteswestoodtogetheronthebridge,undeniablegrade-onethinkerandbreathlessaspirant.Withtruegreatness,ProfessorEinsteinrealizedthatanycontactwasbetterthannone.Hepointedtoatroutwaveringinmidstream.Hespoke:"Fisch."Mybrainreeled.HereIwas,minglingwiththegreat,andyethelplessastheveriestgrade-threethinker.DesperatelyIsoughtforsomesignbywhichImightconveythatI,too,reveredpurereason.Inoddedvehemently.InabrilliantflashIuseduphalfofmyGermanvocabulary."Fisch.Ja.Ja."Forperhapsanotherfiveminuteswestoodsidebyside.ThenProfessorEinstein,hiswholefigurestillconveyinggoodwillandamiability,driftedawayoutofsight.I,too,wouldbeagrade-onethinker.Iwasirrelevantatthebestoftimes.Politicalandreligioussystems,socialcustoms,loyaltiesandtraditions,theyallcametumblingdownlikesomanyrottenapplesoffatree.Thiswasafinehobbyandasensiblesubstituteforcricket,sinceyoucouldplayitalltheyearround.Icameupintheendwithwhatmustalwaysremainthejustificationforgrade-onethinking,itssign,seal,andcharter.Idevisedacoherentsystemforliving.Itwasamoralsystem,whichwaswhollylogical.Ofcourse,asIreadilyadmitted,conversionoftheworldtomywayofthinkingmightbedifficult,sincemysystemdidawaywithanumberoftrifles,suchasbigbusiness,centralizedgovernment,armies,marriage...ItwasRuthalloveragain.Ihadsomeverygoodfriendswhostoodbyme,andstilldo.Butmyacquaintancesvanished,takingthegirlswiththem.Youngpeoplewomenseemedoddlycontentedwiththeworldasitwas.Theyvaluedthemeaninglessceremonywitharing.Youngmen,whilewillingtoconcedethechainingsordidnessofmarriage,werehesitantaboutabandoningtheorganizationswhichtheyhopedwouldgivethemacareer.AyoungnavyofficermanonthefirstrungoftheRoyalNavy,whileperfectlyagreeabletodoingawaywithbigbusinessandmarriage,gotasred-neckedasMr.HoughtonwhenIproposedaworldwithoutanybattleshipsinit.HadthegamegonetoofarWasitagameanylongerInthoseprewardays,Istoodtoloseagreatdeal,forthesakeofahobby.NowyouareexpectingmetodescribehowIsawthefollyofmywaysandcamebacktothewarmnest,whereprejudicesaresooftencalledloyalties,wherepointlessactionsareturnedhallowedintocustomsbyrepetition,wherewearecontenttosaywethinkwhenallwedoisfeel.Butyouwouldbewrong.Idroppedmyhobbyandturnedprofessional.IfIweretogobacktotheheadmaster'sstudyandfindthedustystatuettesstillthere,Iwouldarrangethemdifferently.IwoulddustVenusandputheraside,forIhavecometoloveherandknowherforthefairthingsheis.ButIwouldputtheThinker,sunkinhisdesperatethought,wheretherewereshadowsbeforehim-andathisback,Iwouldputtheleopard,crouchedandreadytospring.