|
William K. Vanderbilt, when he last visited Constantinople, one day invited Coquelin the elder, so celebrated for his powers as a mimic, who happened to be in the city at the time, to give a private recital on board his yacht, lying in the Bosphorus. Coquelin spoke three of his monologues. A few days afterwards Coquelin received the following memorandum from the millionaire: 在美国巨富威廉·范德比尔特上次游览君士坦丁堡期间,以演喜剧而闻名的演员科克兰恰好也来到了这里.一天,威廉·范德比尔特去拜访科克兰,当时科克兰正在博斯普鲁斯海峡的游艇上进行私人朗诵,他一共诵读了三段独白.几天后,这位百万富翁寄给科克兰一张便笺,内容如下： 'You have brought tears to our eyes and laughter to our hearts. Since all philosophers are agreed that laughing is preferable to weeping, your account with me stands thus: 你的表演使我们热泪盈眶,也使我们开心大笑.既然哲学家说笑比哭好,所以我应付给你的款项如下所示： 'For tears, six times: $600 6次落泪：600美元. For laughter, twelve times: $2,400 $3,000 12次欢笑：2400美元.共计3000美元. Kindly acknowledge receipt of enclosed check.' 随信附赠,收到敬请复函告之. 'I find nonsense singularly refreshing,' said Talleyrand. There is good philosophy in the saying, 'Laugh and grow fat.' If everybody knew the power of laughter as a health tonic and life prolonger, the tinge of sadness which now clouds our face would largely disappear, and many physicians would find their occupation gone. 塔列朗认为：'这种做法虽然听起来有些荒诞,但别具一番心意.'这段话很好地解释了'心宽体胖'的哲学道理.如果每个人都知道把欢笑的力量当成健康、长寿的催化剂,那么,我们脸上的哀愁就会烟消云散,许多医生也将失业. The power of laughter was given us to serve a wise purpose in our economy. It is Nature's device for exercising the internal organs and giving us pleasure at the same time. 欢笑的力量能积极地作用于我们的身体,它是大自然的鬼斧神工,在加强内脏器官活动的同时,也给我们带来了快乐. Laughter begins in the lungs and diaphragm, setting the liver, stomach, and other internal organs into a quick, jelly-like vibration, which gives a pleasant sensation and exercise, almost aqual to that of horseback riding. 笑是从肺和横膈膜开始的,使肝、胃等其他内脏器官同时快速地振动,让人获得快乐的感觉和体验,其锻炼效果与骑马的效果相差无几. During digestion, the movements of the stomach are similar to churning. Every time you take a full breath, or when you cachinnate well, the diaphragm descends and gives the stomach an extra squeeze and shakes it. 在消化时,胃部的活动类似于搅拌,每一次深呼吸或大笑,横膈膜都会下降,使胃部受到额外的挤压和振动. Grief, anxiety, and fear are great enemies of human life. A depressed, sour, melancholy soul, a life which has ceased to believe in its own sacredness, its own power, its own mission, a life which sinks into querulous egotism or vegetating aimlessness, has become crippled and useless. We should fight against every influence which tends to depress the mind, as we would against a temptation to crime. It is undoubtedly true that, as a rule, the mind has power to lengthen the period of youthful and mature strength and beauty, preserving and renewing physical life by a stalwart mental health. 人类生命的天敌莫过于悲痛、焦虑和恐惧.一个沮丧、尖酸刻薄和忧郁的人,不会相信自己的信仰、能力和使命,终日自怨自怜,生活毫无目标,那么这样的生命便是残缺、没有价值的.所以,我们既要摆脱所有导致情绪低落的影响,又要抵制犯罪的诱惑.毋庸置疑,强健的心理才能延长青春,保持健康和美丽,使生活稳定而充满活力. I read the other day of a man in a neighboring city who was given up to die; his relatives were sent for, and they watched at his bedside. But an old acquaintance, who called to see him, assured him smilingly that he was all right and would soon be well. He talked in such a strain that the sick man was forced to laugh; and the effort so roused his system that he rallied, and he was soon well again. 前几天我看到一则消息,说邻城的一个人生命危在旦夕,于是便叫所有亲戚到他的病榻前见最后一面.可是,来看望的人中,有一个老熟人笑着对他保证,说他根本没什么,不久就会没事的.这个老熟人坚定的语气使得病人开心地笑了,最终唤醒了他的身体机能,使他再次拥有了活力,不久后便康复了. Was it not Shakespeare who said that 'a light heart lives long?' 这个例子恰好印证了莎士比亚的那句名言'豁达者长寿'. Physiology tells the story. The great sympathetic nerves are closely allied; and when one set carries bad news to the head, the nerves reaching the stomach are affected, indigestion comes on, and one's countenance becomes doleful. Laugh when you can; it is a cheap medicine. 根据生理学原理,交感神经都是相互紧密联结的,当一条传递坏消息的神经到达大脑时,抵达胃部的神经也会受到牵连,导致消化不良,他的面容就会憔悴不已.敞开胸怀,大声欢笑吧,它才是世界上最便宜的药物. Merriment is a philosophy not well understood. The eminent surgeon Chavasse says that we ought to begin with the babies and train children to habits of mirth: 快乐是一门深奥的哲学.名医查瓦希说,我们应该从婴儿着手,从小就开始培养孩子们欢笑的习惯： 'Encourage your child to be merry and laugh aloud; a good hearty laugh expands the chest and makes the blood bound merrily along. Commend me to a good laugh-not to a little snickering laugh, but to one that will sound fight through the house. It will not only do your child good, but will be a benefit to all who hear, and be an important means of driving the blues away from a dwelling. Merriment is very catching, and spreads in a remarkable manner, few being able to resist its contagion. A hearty laugh is delightful harmony; indeed, it is the best of all music.' '鼓励你的孩子享受快乐,放声欢笑.发自内心的大笑能扩张胸腔,让血液欢快地跳跃.我所提倡的是会心的欢笑-不是私下里窃笑,而是那种放声的大笑.那样的话,不但有益于你的孩子,听到笑声的人也会受益匪浅,这是赶走忧郁的一剂良方.欢乐极具感染力,它可以快速传播到周围,很少有人能阻挡它的魅力.会心的笑声是一种令人愉悦的和谐,确实,它是最完美的音乐.' 'Children without hilarity,' says an eminent author, 'will never amount to much. Trees without blossoms will never bear fruit.' 一位著名作家曾经说过：'闷闷不乐的孩子,将来也不会有很大的成就,如同不开花的树永远结不出硕果一样.' |
|
|
