《四季随笔》节选 - 冬 03

《四季随笔》是吉辛的散文代表作。其中对隐士赖克罗夫特醉心于书籍、自然景色与回忆过去生活的描述，其实是吉辛的自述，作者以此来抒发自己的情感，因而本书是一部富有自传色彩的小品文集。

吉辛穷困的一生，对文学名著的爱好与追求，以及对大自然恬静生活的向往，在书中均有充分的反映。本书分为春、夏、秋、冬四个部分，文笔优美，行文流畅，是英国文学中小品文的珍品之一。

以下是由网友分享的《四季随笔》节选 - 冬 03的内容，让我们一起来感受吉辛的四季吧!

It is a pleasant thing enough to be able to spend a little money without fear when the desire for some indulgence is strong upon one; but how much pleasanter the ability to give money away! Greatly as I relish the comforts of my wonderful new life, no joy it has brought me equals that of coming in aid to another's necessity. The man for ever pinched in circumstances can live only for himself. It is all very well to talk about doing moral good; in practice, there is little scope or hope for anything of that kind in a state of material hardship. To-day I have sent S- a cheque for fifty pounds; it will come as a very boon of heaven, and assuredly blesseth him that gives as much as him that takes. A poor fifty pounds, which the wealthy fool throws away upon some idle or base fantasy, and never thinks of it; yet to S- it will mean life and light. And I, to whom this power of benefaction is such a new thing, sign the cheque with a hand trembling, so glad and proud I am. In the days gone by, I have sometimes given money, but with trembling of another kind; it was as likely as not that I myself, some black foggy morning, might have to go begging for my own dire needs. That is one of the bitter curses of poverty; it leaves no right to be generous. Of my abundance—abundance to me, though starveling pittance in the view of everyday prosperity—I can give with happiest freedom; I feel myself a man, and no crouching slave with his back ever ready for the lash of circumstance. There are those, I know, who thank the gods amiss, and most easily does this happen in the matter of wealth. But oh, how good it is to desire little, and to have a little more than enough!

当内心有一种强烈的放纵自己的愿望时，能够没有任何顾虑地花一点小钱，真是一件让人愉快的事；但是相比之下，有散财的能力又让人愉快得多。我非常享受现在的新生活带给我的舒适，但它带给我的快乐，无法与在某人困窘之时可以施以援手相比。一直受贫困境遇压迫的人只能为自己生活，谈论做善事是不错的，但实际上，在物质生活困苦时，几乎没有能力或希望来做这种事情。今天，我给S先生寄了一张五十英镑的支票；它像上天的恩泽，一定会给施与者和受施者带来同样的福祉。区区五十英镑，富裕的蠢人也许会为某个无聊低俗的愿望而轻易挥霍掉，并且不作二想；但是对S先生来说，这意味生命和光明。而对我，这种施人恩惠的能力是这样新鲜，我签支票时手都有些颤抖，因为我是多么高兴和骄傲。在过去，我有时也给人钱财，但那是另外一种颤抖；想到在某个黑暗的雾蒙蒙的早晨，我自己可能要出门，为生活所需而乞讨。这是贫穷的一大可恶的诅咒，它让人没有慷慨的权利。当我富足的时候——在我看来是富足，而在那些富人眼里是可怜巴巴的收入——我可以最快乐自由地给予；我感觉自己像一个真正的人，而不是一个缩手缩脚的奴隶，时刻准备着受现实的鞭笞。我知道有些人错误地感谢神灵，很多人致富后很容易这样做。噢，不奢望获得很多，而拥有比足够多那么一点，是多好的事情啊！