Books and Man 书与人◎ Jin Shenghua ◎ 金圣华A friend of mine，having been actively involved in the arena of love for some time，finally became weary of it and，containing himself，quietly retired to his study to spend time with books all day long.

有朋友在情场上轰轰烈烈的驰骋了一阵，终于累了，最后，收拾情心，悄悄退回书斋之中，终日与书本为伍。

He was no longer heard sighing deeply．On the contrary，he now had a peaceful mind and felt everything was bright and clear and the world wide and open.

再不听到他唉声叹气，只觉他心情平和，仿佛一切都豁然开朗，天地广阔了许多。

It is very dangerous to let somebody be master of your sentiments，such as joy，anger，pleasure and sorrow．For example，you are elated simply because the other party looks cheerful，you are jumpy simply because the other party looks put out．Consequently，you are completely at the mercy of the other party as regards your own mood．Is it worth it？

把自己的喜怒哀乐，完全寄托在另外一个人身上，原是一件十分危险的事。

对方喜则自己心花怒放，对方怒则自己心惊胆战，对方的一笑一颦，完全控制着自己的情绪起落，这又何苦呢？

As to books，things are entirely different.

面对书本，则完全没有这种麻烦。

It is much easier to choose a book than a friend．One who is poor at speech and shuns socializing will nevertheless feel like being surrounded by friends while sauntering freely in the midst of books.

择书比择友简单得多。

不擅辞令、厌恶应酬的人，可以自由自在的徜徉于书林之中，游目四顾，俯拾皆友。

Some books are to be read cursorily，and some are to be chewed and digested．None will ever call you fickle-minded，and none will ever demand that you be constant in your affection．You can go from one book to another．And you can read your favourite book over and over again．When you lay aside the book you dislike，none will ever feel hurt or disappointed．While interpersonal relations are most complicated，what about your relations with books？

Devote your time to studies，and you will be able to acquire any knowledge no matter how profound it is.

看书，可以博览，可以细嚼，没有人会怪你喜新厌旧，也没有人要求你从一而终。

你大可以从一本换到另一本，喜爱的书，不妨一读再读；不耐看的书，又可随手抛下，谁也不会因此而伤心失望。

人际关系错综复杂，那书际关系”呢？

只要花点时间去了解，再高深的学问也弄得明白。

While being confined to your small room with a book in your hand，your mind will be roaming throughout the world．You will not only have a heart-to-heart chat with Laozi[1] and Zhuangzi[2]，but also converse with Plato．When you are in a mood，Keats and Shelley will whisper to you soothingly，and Balzac will amuse you with stories from his La Comédie humaine．And a galaxy of talented friends like Li Bai[3]，Du Fu[4]，Oscar Wilde，Shakespearewill come to you at your call.

手持一书，吟哦于四壁之中，神游于四海之外，既可以与老庄谈心，又可以跟柏拉图对话。

心情烦闷时，济慈、雪莱在你耳畔喁喁细语，巴尔扎克为你搬演人间喜剧”，还有李白、杜甫、王尔德、莎士比亚一大堆才华横溢的朋友等着你呼唤前来。

If you are lonely，why not seek the company of books？

找不到朋友时，为什么不翻翻书？

书与人　选自香港中文大学教授金圣华著的杂文集 桥畔闲眺　。

文章简洁精辟，寓庄于谐，权衡情场”与书林”的轻重得失，语重心长，堪称劝学佳篇。

【双语|现代散文:金圣华 书与人查看网站：[db:时间]】