我的生活海伦凯勒摘抄 海伦·凯勒自传《我的生活》第67期

海伦·凯勒自传《我的生活》第67期  

I have also seen him in "The Rivals." Once while I was calling on him in Boston he acted the most striking parts of "The Rivals" for me. The reception-room where we sat served for a stage. He and his son seated themselves at the big table
and Bob Acres wrote his challenge. I followed all his movements with my hands
and caught the drollery of his blunders and gestures in a way that would have been impossible had it all been spelled to me. Then they rose to fight the duel
and I followed the swift thrusts and parries of the swords and the waverings of poor Bob as his courage oozed out at his finger ends. Then the great actor gave his coat a hitch and his mouth a itch
and in an instance I was in the village of Falling Water and felt Schneider's shaggy head against my knee. Mr. Jefferson recited the best dialogues of "Rip Van Winkle
" in which the tear came close upon the smile. He asked me to indicate as far as I could the gestures and action that should go with the lines. Of course
I have no sense whatever of dramatic action
and could make only random guesses; but with masterful art he suited the action to the word. The sigh of Rip as he murmurs
"Is a man so soon fotten when he is gone?" the dismay with which he searches for dog and gun after his long sleep
and his ical irresolution over signing the contract with Derrick—all these seem to be right out of life itself; that is
the ideal life
where things happen as we think they should.
I remember well the first time I went to the theatre. It was elve years ago. Elsie Leslie
the little actress
was in Boston
and Miss Sullivan took me to see her in "The Prince and the Pauper." I shall never fet the ripple of alternating joy and woe that ran through that beautiful little play
or the wonderful child who acted it. After the play I was permitted to go behind the scenes and meet her in her royal costume. It would have been hard to find a lovelier or more lovable child than Elsie
as she stood with a cloud of golden hair floating over her shoulders
smiling brightly
showing no signs of shyness or fatigue
though she had been playing to an immense audience. I was only just learning to speak
and had previously repeated her name until I could say it perfectly. Imagine my delight when she understood the few words I spoke to her and without hesitation stretched her hand to greet me.
Is it not true
then
that my life with all its limitations touches at many points the life of the World Beautiful? Everything has its wonders
even darkness and silence
and I learn
whatever state I may be in
therein to be content.
因此，难道不可以这样说——我的生命正是带着它所有的侷限性，从许多角度来感受世间万物之美的吗？每一种事物都有它的神奇之处，即使像黑暗和寂静这样的事也不例外。而且，我已经领悟到了生活的真谛，所以无论身处何境，我都会欣然面对。
Sometimes
it is true
a sense of isolation enfolds me like a cold mist as I sit alone and wait at life's shut gate. Beyond there is light
and music
and sweet panionship; but I may not enter. Fate
silent
pitiless
bars the way. Fain would I question his imperious decree
for my heart is still undisciplined and passionate; but my tongue will not utter the bitter
futile words that rise to my lips
and they fall back into my heart like unshed tears. Silence sits immense upon my soul. Then es hope with a smile and whispers
"There is joy in self-fetfulness." So I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun
the music in others' ears my symphony
the smile on others' lips my happiness.