時間即生命 

——梁實秋 

   最令人怵目驚心的一件事，是看著鐘表上的秒針一下一下的移動，每移動一下就是表示我們的壽命已經縮短了一部分。再看看墻上掛著的可以一張張撕下的日歷，每天撕下一張就是表示我們壽命又縮短了一天，因為時間即生命，沒有人不愛惜他的生命，但很少人珍視他時間。如果想在有生之年做一點什么事，學一點什么學問，充實自己，幫助別人，使生命成為有意義，不虛此生，那么就不可浪費光陰。這道理人人都懂(1)，可是很少人真能積極不懈的善為利用他的時間。 

   我自己就是浪費了很多時間的一個人(2)。我不打麻將，我不經常的聽戲看電影，幾年中難得一次，我不長時間看電視，通常只看半個小時，我也不串門子閑聊天。有人問我：“那么你大部分時間都做了些什么呢？”我痛自反省，我發現，除了職務上的必須及人情上所不能免的活動外，我的時間大部分都浪費了。我應該集中精力，讀我所未讀過的書，我應該利用所有時間，寫我所要寫的東西。但是我沒能這樣做。我的好多時間都糊里糊涂的混過去了，“少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。” 

   例如我翻譯莎士比亞，本來計劃于課余之暇每年翻譯兩部，二十年即可完成，但是我用了三十年，主要的原因是懶。翻譯之所以完成，主要的是因為活得相當長久，十分驚險(3)。翻譯完成之后，雖然仍有工作計劃，但體力漸衰，有力不從心之感(4)。假使年輕的時候鞭策自己，如今當有較好或較多的表現。然而悔之晚矣。 

   再例如，作為一個中國人，經書不可不讀。我年三十才知道讀書自修的重要(5)。我披閱，我圈點。但是恒心不足，時作時輟。五十以學易，可以無大過矣(6)，我如今年過八十，還沒有接觸過《易經》，說來慚愧。史書也很重要。我出國留學的時候，我父親買了一套同文石印的前四史(7)，塞滿了我的行篋的一半空間，我在外國混了幾年之后又把前四史原封帶回來了。直到四十年后才鼓起勇氣讀了《通鑒》(8)一遍。現在我要讀的書太多，深感時間有限。 

   無論做什么事，健康的身體是基本條件。我在學校讀書的時候，有所謂“強迫運動”，我踢破過幾雙球鞋，打斷過幾只球拍。因此僥幸維持下來最低限度的體力。老來打過幾年太極拳，目前則以散步活動筋骨而已。寄語年輕朋友，千萬要持之以恒的從事運動，這不是嬉戲，不是浪費時間。健康的身體是作人做事的真正的本錢(9)。

注釋： 

梁實秋（1902-1987）是我國著名現代作家、翻譯家、教育家，一生致力于英國文學研究。本文選自他的散文集《雅舍小品》。 

(1)“這道理人人都懂”譯為All that is foolproof，其中foolproof作very simple to understand解，意同“不言而喻”或“簡單明了”。此句也可譯為All that is self-evident。 

(2)“我自己就是浪費了很多時間的一個人”譯為personally, I am also a fritterer，其中fritterer一詞在用法上既可泛指“時間、金錢等等的浪費者”，又可專指“不愛惜時間的人”（a person who wastes time）。 

(3)“翻譯之所以完成，主要的是因為活得相當長久，十分驚險”的意思是“幸虧自己命長，否則可能完成不了莎士比亞的翻譯”。其中“十分驚險”的意思是“險些完成不了”。現全句譯為The whole project would probably have fallen through had it not been for my fairly long life。 

(4)“但體力漸衰，有力不從心之感”譯為because of my approaching senility, somehow I failed to do what I had wished to，其中senility指因年邁而導致身心兩個方面的衰退． 

(5)“才知道讀書自修的重要”中的“讀書”，根據上下文應指“讀經書”，故此句譯為came to realize the importance of self-study in the matter of classics，其中in the matter of作in relation to或in regard to（就……而論）解。 

(6)“五十心學易，可以無大過矣”出自《論語·述而》中的“子曰，加我數年，五十以學易，可以無大過矣。”其意為“讓我再多活幾年，到五十歲時去學習《易經》，就可以沒有多大的過錯了。”現按此意用加字法譯為Confucius says, “I shall be free of great faults if I can live long enough to begin the study of Yi at the age of 50.” 

(7)“前四史”指《史記》、《漢書》、《后漢書》以及《三國志》。 

(8)“《通鑒》”即《資治通鑒》，詳見譯文腳注。 

(9)“健康的身體是作人做事的真正的本錢”譯為Good health is the wherewithal for a successful life and career，其中the wherewithal意同the necessary means（必要的資金、手段等）。又“作人做事”指“生活”與“事業”兩方面，故參照上下文譯為a successful life and career。 

Time Is Life 

——Liang Shiqiu 

    It is most startling to hear a watch or clock clicking away the seconds, each click indicating the shortening of one’s life by a little bit. Likewise, with each page torn off the wall calendar, one’s life is shortened by another day. Time, therefore, is life. Nevertheless, few people treasure their time as much as their life. Time must not be wasted if you want to do your bit in your remaining years or acquire some useful knowledge to improve yourself and help others, so that your life may turn out to be significant and fruitful. All that is foolproof, yet few people really strive to make the best use of their time. 

    Personally, I am also a fritterer. I don’t play mahjong. I seldom go to the theatre or cinema—I go there maybe only once every few years. I seldom spend long hours watching TV—usually I watch TV for no more than 30 minutes at a sitting. Nor do I go visiting and gossiping from door to door. Some people asked me, “Then what do you do with most of your time?” Introspecting with remorse, I found that apart from the time earmarked for my job and unavoidable social activities, most of my time had been wasted. I should have concentrated my energies on reading whatever books I have not yet read. I should have utilized all my time in writing anything I want to write. But I’ve failed to do so. Very much of my times has been frittered away aimlessly. As the saying goes, “One who does not work hard in youth will grieve in vain in old age.” 

    Take the translation of Shakespeare for example. I had initially planned to spend 20 years of my spare time in doing the translation, finishing two plays a year. But I spent 30 years instead, due primarily to my slothfulness. The whole project would probably have fallen through had it not been for my fairly long life. After that I had other plans for work, but, because of my approaching senility, somehow I failed to do what I had wished to. Had I spurred myself on in my youth, I would have done more and better work. Alas, it is too late to repent. 

    Another example. The reading of Chinese classics is a must for all Chinese. But it was not until I was over 30 that I came to realize the importance of self-study in the matter of classics. I did read carefully though, marking words and phrases for special attention with small circles and dots. But my efforts at self-study were off and on. Confucius says, “I shall be free of great faults if I can live long enough to begin the study of Yi at the age of 50.” I feel ashamed to admit that I haven’t even touched Yi though I’m now over 80. Chinese history book are equally important. When I was leaving China to study abroad, father bought a set of the Tong Wen lithographic edition of the First   Four Books of History, and crammed them into my travelling box, taking up half of its space. Several years later, however, after drifting along abroad, I returned home carrying with me the same books all unread. It was not until 40 years later that I plucked up enough courage to read through Dong Jian. So many books still remain to be read, and I much regret not having enough time to do it. 

    Whatever you do, you need a sound body first of all. In my school days, in response to the so-called “compulsory physical exercises”, I went in for many sports at the expense of many pairs of sneakers and rackets, thus luckily building up a minimum of good physique. When I was approaching old age, I did Tai ji quan (shadow boxing) for several years. Now I only do some walking exercises. Dear young friends, my advice to you is: Do physical exercises perseveringly. That has nothing to do with merry-making or time- wasting. Good health is the wherewithal for a successful life and career.