John Ruskin
两条道路
心灵寄语
青春是美好的，而美好的也总是易逝的。青年人是富于激情的，但有时也难免激进。面对人生重大抉择的时候，不妨放下疏狂的姿态，虚心听取长者的建议，毕竟时间不会给我们重新来过的机会。
It was New Year’s night。An aged man was standing at a window。He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky，where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surface of a
clear calm lake。Then he cast them on the earth，where few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal-the tomb。He had already passed sixty of the stages leading to it，and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse1.Now his health was poor，his mind vacant，his heart sorrowful，and his old age short of comforts。
The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him，and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads-one leading to a peaceful，sunny place，covered with flowers，fruits and resounding with soft，sweet song；the other leading to a deep，dark cave，which was endless，where poison flowed instead of water and where devils and poisonous2snakes hissed and crawled。
He looked towards the sky and cried painfully，“O youth，return！O my father，place me once more at the entrance to life，and I’ll choose the better way！”But both his father and the days of his youth had passed away。
He saw the lights flowing in the darkness。These were the days of his wasted life；he saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared，and this was the symbol of himself。His remorse，which was like a sharp arrow，struck deeply into his heart。Then he remembered his friends in his childhood，who entered on life together with him。But they had made their way to success and were now honored and happy on this New Year’s night。
The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents’early love for him。They had taught him and prayed to God for his good。But he chose the wrong way。With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his father lived。His darkened eyes were full of tears，and with a despairing effort，he burst out a cry：Come back，my early days！Come back！”
And his youth did return，for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year’s Night。He was still young though his faults were real；he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land。
Those who still on the entrance of life，hesitating to choose the bight road，remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble3on dark mountains，you will cry bitterly，but in vain：“O youth，return！Oh give me back my early days！”
约翰·罗斯金
除夕之夜，一位老人伫立窗前。他满眼哀伤，仰望着深蓝色的天空，星星好似朵朵白莲，在清澈平静的湖面上漂浮着。后来，他将目光投向地面，看到几个比他更加绝望的人，他们正走向人生的终点——坟墓。在人生的旅途上，他已经走过了60个驿站，除了过失和悔恨，他一无所获。现在，他身体欠佳，精神空虚，心情抑郁，缺乏晚年应有的舒适和安逸。
青春的岁月如梦幻般浮现在他的面前，他回想起父亲把他放在人生的岔路口上那关键的时刻，他面前有两条路：一条路通向一个和平宁静、阳光灿烂的地方，大地铺满了鲜花，树上结满了水果，回荡着温柔甜美的歌声；另一条路则通向黑暗无尽的深渊，那里流淌着毒液，而不是清水，恶魔肆虐，毒蛇嘶嘶地爬来爬去。
他仰望天空，痛苦地哭喊：“哦，青春，你回来吧！哦，爸爸，请把我重新放到人生的路口上吧，我会做出更好的选择。”然而他的父亲和他的青春年华都已经离他远去。
他看见点点灯光流动在黑暗中。那便是他虚度的时光；他看见一颗星星从空中划过、陨落、消失，那是他生命的象征。悔恨如同一支利箭，深深地刺进他的心。接着，他想起童年时的朋友，他们曾与他一同踏上人生的旅程。但是他们现已获得成功，受到人们的尊敬，此刻正幸福地欢度除夕。
教堂塔顶钟声响起，使他回想起父母早年对他的爱。他们曾给予他谆谆教诲，曾为他的幸福祈祷上帝。可他偏偏误入人生的歧途。羞愧和忧伤使他再也不敢正视他父亲所在的天堂。他双眼黯然无光，饱噙着泪水，在绝望中，他拼力高喊：“回来吧，我那逝去的年华！回来吧！”
青春真的回来了，因为以上所发生的一切只是他在除夕时所做的一场梦。他依旧年轻，但他的过失是真实存在的，但还未堕入深渊，他仍然来得及自由地踏上通向宁静和光明的道路。
还在人生路口徘徊的年轻人啊！不要犹豫，选择光明大道吧！你们千万要记住：当你的青春已逝，双足在黑暗的群山中举步维艰，跌跌撞撞之时，你会痛心疾首，徒劳地呼喊：“哦，回来吧，青春！哦，把我的美好年华还给我！”。
V
词汇空间
ocabulary
1.remorse n。 懊悔；悔恨
2.poisonous adj。（动物和昆虫）分泌毒素的，有毒的
3.stumble v。 绊跌，脚碰到某物而几乎跌倒
文化链接
Culture Background
约翰·罗斯金（John Ruskin）英国作家、批评家。出生于伦敦一个殷实的酒商家庭。从小受严格的家庭教育。每年夏天随父母游览名山大川，参观古代建筑和名画，培养了对自然和艺术的爱好。罗斯金在英国被称为“美的使者”达50年之久。他一生为“美”而战斗。他的文字也非常优美，色彩绚丽，音调铿锵。如《现代画家》和《往昔》，都是散文中的佳作。
妙语拾珠
Those who still on the entrance of life，hesitating to choose the bight road，remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble on dark mountains，you will cry bitterly，but in vain：“O youth，return！Oh give me back my early days！”
还在人生路口徘徊的年轻人啊！不要犹豫，选择光明大道吧！你们千万要记住：当你的青春已逝，双足在黑暗的群山中举步维艰，跌跌撞撞之时，你会痛心疾首，徒劳地呼喊：“哦，回来吧，青春！哦，把我的美好年华还给我！”。