2011新父亲节寄语:父爱如山
今天是中国的父亲节,也叫男人节。抗日战争胜利后,上海市各界名流仕绅,联名请上海市政府转呈中央政府,定“爸爸”谐音的八月八日为全国性的父亲节。作为纪念,在这里发一篇美国第三任总统托马斯·杰斐逊在妻子去世后,写给11岁的女儿马撒的家书。这封既要求严格又充满父爱的信,敦促她不要荒废开云kaiyun(中国)业。下面从翻译出版的《美国总统家书精选50封》(英汉对照)中把这封家书摘录出来,与父亲们和孩子们共勉。
我亲爱的帕齐(杰斐逊对马撒的爱称):
经过4天的长途跋涉,我已平安达到(杰斐逊到马里兰州首府安纳波利斯参加国会会议),身体和我离开费城时一样健康。我离开你,无法将我的爱转化为对你的直接关怀,但我相信,你会比我在你身边时取得更大的进步,这会让我得到极大的安慰。如果你能通过我为你安排的家教获得知识,这会让你更值得我爱,这种爱即使不能增加,至少也不会衰减。要尊重那个善良的夫人,她把你带到家中,照看你做作业。由于你涉世不深,当她发现你有错误苗头时,会及时提出警告,告诉你什么是正确的,怎样做更明智。你要把这位夫人当作你的亲生母亲看待。苍天好像有意对你磨难,让你失去了母亲。现在,这位夫人是值得依赖的人。不管何时何地,倘若你的行为不端引起她的不悦或反感,那将是对你的极大不幸,怎么道歉也不会再得到她的恩典。关于你开云kaiyun(中国)习的时间分配,我给你列出以下课程表:
上午8点至上午10点:开云kaiyun(中国)习音乐;
上午10点至下午1点:舞蹈与绘画,隔天轮换;
下午1点至下午2点:舞蹈的那天绘画,绘画的那天写信;
下午3点至下午4点:阅读法文;
下午4点至下午5点:自己练习音乐;
下午5点至就寝:阅读英文,写作并修改。
把这个计划转交霍普金森夫人(杰斐逊为女儿马撒请的家教),如果她同意这个计划,就照此执行。只要特里斯特夫人(杰斐逊为女儿马撒请的家教)留在费城,就要设法与她建立友情,她是你珍贵的朋友,她的真知灼见和善良之心让她得到所有知道她的人的尊敬,我对她更是敬佩有加。我希望每班邮车都能带来你的信,告诉我你在读什么书,练什么曲子,并附上你每堂绘画课上的好作品。你还要每周给埃普斯姨妈,或斯基普威思姨妈,或卡尔姨妈,或那个转交信的小妇人写信,并把你写给她们的信抄送一份给我。注意不要拼错单词,在落笔写每个词前,一定要思量一下这个词是怎么拼的,如果你拿不准,就要查查字典。拼写正确是一个女人的大荣耀。如果我能见你品德优良,多才多艺,那会使我感到无比宽慰,世界上再也没有比你辜负我们的希望更令我痛心的事了。如果你还爱我的话,就要设法在各种场合保持优良的品德,对众生慈悲,掌握我要求你掌握的知识,这样,才能确保你得到我对你的温暖的爱。
托·杰斐逊
1783年11月28日于安那波利斯
My Dear Patsy
After four days journey I arrived here without any accident and in as good health as when I left Philadelphia. The conviction that you would be more improved in the situation I have placed you than if still with me, has solaced me on my parting with you, which my love for you has rendered a difficult thing. The acquirements which I hope you will make under the tutors I have provide for you will render you more worthy of my love, and if they cannot increase it they will prevent it’s diminution. Consider the good lady who has taken you under her roof, who has undertaken to see that you perform all your exercises, and to admonish you in all those wanderings from what is right or what is clever to which your inexperience would expose you, consider her I say as your mother, as the only person to whom, since the loss with which heaven has been pleased to afflict you, you can now look up; and that her displeasure or disapprobation on any occasion will be an immense misfortune which should you be so unhappy as to incur by any unguarded act, think no concession too much to regain her good will. With respect to the distribution of your time the following is what I should approve.
from 8. to 10 o’clock practice music.
from 10 to 1. dance one day and draw another
from 1. to 2. draw on the day you dance, and write a letter the next day.
from 3. to 4. read French
from 4. to 5. exercise yourself in music.
from 5. to bedtime read English, write & c.
Communicate this plan to Mrs. Hopkinson and if she approves of it pursue it. As long as Mrs. Trist remains in Philadelphia cultivate her affections. She has been a valuable friend to you and her good sense and good heart make her valued by all who know her and by nobody on earth more than by me. I expect you will write to me by every post. Inform me what books you read, what tunes you learn, and inclose me your best copy of every lesson in drawing. Write also one letter every week either to your aunt Eppes, your aunt Skipwith, your aunt Carr, or the little lady from whom I now inclose a letter, and always put the letter you so write under cover to me. Take care that you never spell a word wrong. Always before you write a word consider how it is spelt, and if you do not remember it, turn to a dictionary. It produces great praise to a lady to spell well. I have placed my happiness on seeing you good and accomplished, and no distress which this world can now bring on me could equal that of your disappointing my hopes. If you love me then, strive to be good under every situation and to all living creatures, and to acquire those accomplishments which I have put in your power, and which will go far towards ensuring you the warmest love of your affectionate father.
Th. Jefferson
P.S. Keep my letters and read them at times that you may always have present in your mind those things which will endear you to me.
今天是中国的父亲节,也叫男人节。抗日战争胜利后,上海市各界名流仕绅,联名请上海市政府转呈中央政府,定“爸爸”谐音的八月八日为全国性的父亲节。作为纪念,在这里发一篇美国第三任总统托马斯·杰斐逊在妻子去世后,写给11岁的女儿马撒的家书。这封既要求严格又充满父爱的信,敦促她不要荒废开云kaiyun(中国)业。下面从翻译出版的《美国总统家书精选50封》(英汉对照)中把这封家书摘录出来,与父亲们和孩子们共勉。
我亲爱的帕齐(杰斐逊对马撒的爱称):
经过4天的长途跋涉,我已平安达到(杰斐逊到马里兰州首府安纳波利斯参加国会会议),身体和我离开费城时一样健康。我离开你,无法将我的爱转化为对你的直接关怀,但我相信,你会比我在你身边时取得更大的进步,这会让我得到极大的安慰。如果你能通过我为你安排的家教获得知识,这会让你更值得我爱,这种爱即使不能增加,至少也不会衰减。要尊重那个善良的夫人,她把你带到家中,照看你做作业。由于你涉世不深,当她发现你有错误苗头时,会及时提出警告,告诉你什么是正确的,怎样做更明智。你要把这位夫人当作你的亲生母亲看待。苍天好像有意对你磨难,让你失去了母亲。现在,这位夫人是值得依赖的人。不管何时何地,倘若你的行为不端引起她的不悦或反感,那将是对你的极大不幸,怎么道歉也不会再得到她的恩典。关于你开云kaiyun(中国)习的时间分配,我给你列出以下课程表:
上午8点至上午10点:开云kaiyun(中国)习音乐;
上午10点至下午1点:舞蹈与绘画,隔天轮换;
下午1点至下午2点:舞蹈的那天绘画,绘画的那天写信;
下午3点至下午4点:阅读法文;
下午4点至下午5点:自己练习音乐;
下午5点至就寝:阅读英文,写作并修改。
把这个计划转交霍普金森夫人(杰斐逊为女儿马撒请的家教),如果她同意这个计划,就照此执行。只要特里斯特夫人(杰斐逊为女儿马撒请的家教)留在费城,就要设法与她建立友情,她是你珍贵的朋友,她的真知灼见和善良之心让她得到所有知道她的人的尊敬,我对她更是敬佩有加。我希望每班邮车都能带来你的信,告诉我你在读什么书,练什么曲子,并附上你每堂绘画课上的好作品。你还要每周给埃普斯姨妈,或斯基普威思姨妈,或卡尔姨妈,或那个转交信的小妇人写信,并把你写给她们的信抄送一份给我。注意不要拼错单词,在落笔写每个词前,一定要思量一下这个词是怎么拼的,如果你拿不准,就要查查字典。拼写正确是一个女人的大荣耀。如果我能见你品德优良,多才多艺,那会使我感到无比宽慰,世界上再也没有比你辜负我们的希望更令我痛心的事了。如果你还爱我的话,就要设法在各种场合保持优良的品德,对众生慈悲,掌握我要求你掌握的知识,这样,才能确保你得到我对你的温暖的爱。
托·杰斐逊
1783年11月28日于安那波利斯
My Dear Patsy
After four days journey I arrived here without any accident and in as good health as when I left Philadelphia. The conviction that you would be more improved in the situation I have placed you than if still with me, has solaced me on my parting with you, which my love for you has rendered a difficult thing. The acquirements which I hope you will make under the tutors I have provide for you will render you more worthy of my love, and if they cannot increase it they will prevent it’s diminution. Consider the good lady who has taken you under her roof, who has undertaken to see that you perform all your exercises, and to admonish you in all those wanderings from what is right or what is clever to which your inexperience would expose you, consider her I say as your mother, as the only person to whom, since the loss with which heaven has been pleased to afflict you, you can now look up; and that her displeasure or disapprobation on any occasion will be an immense misfortune which should you be so unhappy as to incur by any unguarded act, think no concession too much to regain her good will. With respect to the distribution of your time the following is what I should approve.
from 8. to 10 o’clock practice music.
from 10 to 1. dance one day and draw another
from 1. to 2. draw on the day you dance, and write a letter the next day.
from 3. to 4. read French
from 4. to 5. exercise yourself in music.
from 5. to bedtime read English, write & c.
Communicate this plan to Mrs. Hopkinson and if she approves of it pursue it. As long as Mrs. Trist remains in Philadelphia cultivate her affections. She has been a valuable friend to you and her good sense and good heart make her valued by all who know her and by nobody on earth more than by me. I expect you will write to me by every post. Inform me what books you read, what tunes you learn, and inclose me your best copy of every lesson in drawing. Write also one letter every week either to your aunt Eppes, your aunt Skipwith, your aunt Carr, or the little lady from whom I now inclose a letter, and always put the letter you so write under cover to me. Take care that you never spell a word wrong. Always before you write a word consider how it is spelt, and if you do not remember it, turn to a dictionary. It produces great praise to a lady to spell well. I have placed my happiness on seeing you good and accomplished, and no distress which this world can now bring on me could equal that of your disappointing my hopes. If you love me then, strive to be good under every situation and to all living creatures, and to acquire those accomplishments which I have put in your power, and which will go far towards ensuring you the warmest love of your affectionate father.
Th. Jefferson
P.S. Keep my letters and read them at times that you may always have present in your mind those things which will endear you to me.