英语经典短文十篇

Passage One

Dialogue between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine

-----Film Script Price and Prejudice 傲慢与偏见

Abstract

Lady Catherine, aunt of Mr. Darcy, comes to the Bennets’, accusing Elizabeth of her marriage to Darcy. Be faced with such an arrogant, bad-mannered lady, Elizabeth defends herself wisely, neither humble nor pushy. On the other hand, Lady Catherine would never imagine that it is her visit which finally brings about the marriage.

--As a matter of urgency, you can be at no loss to understand why I am here.

--I cannot account for this honour at all.

--I warn you, I am not to be trifled with. A most alarming report has reached me, that you intend to be united with my nephew, Mr. Darcy. I know this to be a falsehood. Though not wishing to injure him by supposing it possible, I instantly set off to make my sentiments known.

--If you believed it impossible, I wonder that you came so far. To hear it contradicted, your coming will be a confirmation if such a report exists.

--If? You pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourself?

--I have never heard of it.

--Can you declare there is no foundation for it?

--I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your Ladyship. You may ask a question which I may choose not to answer.

--Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?

--Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible.

--Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?

--If that is the case, you cannot suppose he would make an offer to me.

--Selfish girl. This union has been planned since their infancy. Do you think it can be prevented by a woman of inferior birth, whose own sister's elopement resulted in a scandalously patched-up marriage, only achieved at the expense of your uncle?

Heaven and Earth! Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?

Tell me once and for all, are you engaged to him?

--I am not.

--Will you promise never to enter into such an engagement?

--I will not and I certainly never shall.

--You have insulted me in every possible way and can now have nothing further to say. I must ask you to leave immediately.

--Goodnight.

--I have never been thus treated in my entire life!

at no loss to do: 一定能够做…

trifle with sb. : 嘲弄某人

be united with: 订婚

sentiment: n.情操, 情感, 情绪, 观点, 多愁善感, 感情

industrious: adj.勤勉的, 刻苦的

elopement: n.潜逃, 私奔

scandalous：adj.诽谤性的

Do you think it can be prevented by a woman of inferior birth, whose own sister's elopement resulted in a scandalously patched-up marriage, only achieved at the expense of your uncle?

你认为像你这样一个出身低等，妹妹私奔，仅仅依靠大方的叔叔出钱支持才得以可耻地补婚的人能够阻止这桩婚事吗？

Dialogue between Elizabeth and Darcy

-----Film Script Price and Prejudice 傲慢与偏见

Abstract

Elizabeth and Darcy would always seem to be a wonderful couple, if those misunderstanding between them hadn’t taken place. Fortunately, they get to learn about each other gradually. The passage below shows us how Mr. Darcy expresses his love to Elizabeth.

--I couldn't sleep.

--Nor l. My aunt...

--Yes, she was here.

--How can I ever make amends for such

behavior?

--After what you've done for Lydia. And, I

suspect, for Jane, it is I who should be making

amends.

--You must know. Surely you must know it was all for you.

--You are too generous to trifle with me.

--You spoke with my aunt last night and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed. But one word from you will silence me for ever. ... If, however, your feelings have changed... I would have to tell you, you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love...I love... I love you.

--I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

--Well, then.

--Your hands are cold.

amend v. 修正,改善,改良

bewitch vt. 蛊惑,使着迷

I Have a Dream

我有一个梦想

Abstract

Martin Luther King’s dream is known by hundreds of thousand people. Over the years, people who followed him have been changing the world. We admire those pioneers and the great progress they have made in human equality and rights. But if we change ‘nation’ into ‘world’, how many dreams of Martin Luther King have been realized? Even in America, a nation proud of its freedom and human rights, the words below have its practical meaning.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live

out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be

self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the

sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners

will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

creed [kri:d] n. 信条，教义

sweltering ['swelt?ri?] adj. 闷热的；热得难受

oppression [?'pre??n] n. 压抑；镇压；压迫手段；沉闷；苦恼

oasis[?u'eisis, '?u?sis]n. 绿洲；舒适的地方；令人宽慰的事物

interposition n. 干涉，介入；插入，放入

nullification n. 无效；废弃；取消；（美）州对联邦法令的拒绝执行或承认

exalted [eɡ'z?:ltid] adj. 高尚的；尊贵的；兴奋的

all flesh 众生；人类

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

我梦想有一天，这个国家将会奋起，实现其立国信条的真谛：“我们认为这些真理不言而喻：人人生而平等。”

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

我梦想有一天，亚拉巴马州会有所改变——尽管该州州长现在仍滔滔不绝地说什么要对联邦法令提出异议和拒绝执行——在那里，黑人儿童能够和白人儿童兄弟姐妹般地携手并行。

Barack Obama’s Victory Speech

奥巴马胜选演说

Abstract

It is Obama' speech that brought him a great number of foreign and native fans. Short sentences, which come about in his speech frequently, show us an amiable and energetic leader. Though his Chinese Policy was w idely disputed, we can still cast back the exciting moment of Obama’s vi ctory, with joy and hope.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can’t solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.

To all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That’s the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we’ve alre ady achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

calloused ['k?l?st] adj. 变得无情的；变硬的

patriotism ['p?tri?tiz?m] n. 爱国主义；爱国心，爱国精神

to pitch in: 帮忙，投入

beacon ['bi:k?n] n. 灯塔，信号浮标；烽火；指路明灯vt. 照亮，指引vi. 像灯塔般照耀unyielding [?n'ji:ldi?]adj. 不屈的；坚强的；不易弯曲的

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination

谈失败带来意想不到的好处，以及想象力的重要性

Harvard University Commencement Address

J.K. Rowling

Tercentenary Theatre, June 5, 2008

Abstract

This is an impressive speech, not for the author, one of the wealthiest women all over the world, but sincerity and frankness she showed. In the passage below, Rowling stated the importance of imagination, as an ability to contact with and, what’s more, make a change of the world. I’ll never forget the smile of shy on her face, as well as the humorous and wisdom she showed in this superior speech.

Unlike any other creature on

this planet, humans can learn

and understand, without

having experienced. They can

think themselves into other

people's minds, imagine

themselves into other people's

places.

Of course, this is a power, like

my brand of fictional magic,

that is morally neutral. One

might use such an ability to manipulate, or

control, just as much as to understand or

sympathise.

And many prefer not to exercise their

imaginations at all. They choose to remain

comfortably within the bounds of their own

experience, never troubling to wonder how it

would feel to have been born other than they

are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer

inside cages; they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally; they can refuse to know. I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, except that I do not think they have any fewer nightmares than I do. Choosing to live in narrow spaces can lead to a form of mental agoraphobia, and that brings its own terrors. I think the wilfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid. What is more, those who choose not to empathise may enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy.

manipulate [m ?'nipjuleit] vt. 操纵；操作；巧妙地处理；篡改

agoraphobia [,?ɡ?r?'f?ubj?] n. 旷野恐怖；广场恐怖症；陌生环境恐怖症

wilfully ['wilf?li] adv. 任意地

outright ['autrait, aut'rait, 'aut'rait] adj. 完全的，彻底的；直率的；总共的adv. 全部地；立刻地；率直地；一直向前；痛快地

collude [k?'lu:d]vi. 勾结；串通；共谋

apathy ['?p?θi]n. 冷漠，无兴趣，漠不关心；无感情

They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages;

而很多人选择不去使用他们的想象力。他们选择留在自己舒适的世界里，从来不愿花力气去想想如果生在别处会怎样。他们可以拒绝去听别人的尖叫，看一眼囚禁的笼子；

Passage Six

A Tale of Two Cities

双城记

Abstract

A Tale of Two Cities set on the background of the French Revolution, which is filled with contradictions. The revolutionaries were not great men actually, for they were guided by anger of being exploited. Retorsion led to violence upon innocent people, making a period of confusion. As the author said, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it

was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the

winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing

before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going

direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the

present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its

being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of

comparison only.

There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face,

on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.

epoch ['i:p?k, 'ep?k] n. [地质]世；新纪元；新时代；时间上的一点

incredulity [,inkri'dju:l?ti] n. 怀疑；不轻信，不易相信

The Superlative Degree:最高级

jaw [d??:] n. 颌；下巴；狭窄入口；唠叨vt. 教训；对唠叨vi. 教训；唠叨

loaves and fishes 物质利益

n short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

简而言之，那时跟现在非常相象，某些最喧嚣的权威坚持要用形容词的最高级来形容它。说它好，是最高级的；说它不好，也是最高级的。

In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.

对两国支配着国家全部财富的老爷来说，国家大局足以万岁千秋乃是比水晶还清楚的事。

Shakespeare

莎士比亚

Except from The Major Works by Sammuel Johnson

Abstract

Known by all, Shakespeare is the greatest writer in the history of English Literature. Honestly, I’ve read little of his works, neither in English nor in Chinese. However, we all can easy call back the characters he created, such as the mean Shylock and the handsome Hamlet. That’s why the passage below give such a high praise to Shakespeare.

Shakespeare is above all writers, at least above all

modern writers, the poet of nature; the poet that

holds up to his readers a faithful mirror of manners

and of life. His characters are not modified by the

customs of particular places, unpractised by the rest

of the world; by the peculiarities of studies or

professions, which can operate but upon small

numbers; or by the accidents of transient fashions or temporary opinions: they are the genuine progeny of common humanity, such as the world will always supply, and observation will always find. His persons act and speak by the influence of those general passions and principles by which all minds are agitated, and the whole system of life is continued in motion. In the writings of other poets a character is too often an individual; in those of Shakespeare it is commonly a species.

modified ['m?difaid] v. 修改；缓和（modify的过去分词）adj. 改进的，修改的；改良的peculiarities n. 独特性；怪癖；奇特的东西（peculiarity的复数）

progeny ['pr?d?ini] n. 子孙；后裔；

they are the genuine progeny of common humanity, such as the world will always supply, and observation will always find. His persons act and speak by the influence of those general passions and principles by which all minds are agitated, and the whole system of life is continued in motion.他们据有人们一贯具备的、普遍的人性特点。就像世界能永不竭地供应，眼睛能永不停地发现。他笔下人物的一言一行都受那些能够触动所有人的大众化的情感和能使整个生命体系得以延续的普遍原则所影响。

I have as much soul as you

我像你一样，拥有灵魂

Excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Abstract

Jane Eyre, who described herself as a poor, obscure, plain,

and little young lady, fell in love with Mr. Rochester. While

at the wedding, she was shocked that Mrs. Rochester was

still alive. In the passage below, Jane Eyre was determined

to leave in spite of Mr. Rochester’s strong persuade.

"I tell you I must go!" I retorted, roused to something like

passion. "Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you?

Do you think I am an automaton?--a machine without

feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched

from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am souless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you,--and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both has passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!"

retort [ri't?:t]n. 反驳，顶嘴；曲颈瓶vt. 反驳，反击vi. 反驳，回嘴

rouse to 唤起(某人)使之；激励(某人)使做

automaton [?:'t?m?t?n] n. 自动机；机器人；自动机器

morsel ['m?:sel] n. 一口；（食物）少量

mortal ['m?:t?l] adj. 凡人的；致死的；终有一死的；不共戴天的n. 人类，凡人

And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup?

能够容忍别人把一口面包从我嘴里抢走，把一滴生命之水从我杯子里泼掉？

I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both has passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!

我不是根据习俗、常规，甚至也不是血肉之躯同你说话，而是我的灵魂同你的灵魂在对话，就仿佛我们两人穿过坟墓，站在上帝脚下，彼此平等，本来就如此！”

Frankness

谈坦诚

By Robert E. Lee

Abstract

Robert E. Lee was an outstanding general as well as important

person in Civil War. In the following passage, General Lee didn’t

talk about military affairs, but concentrate on the problem we face

in everyday life, how to deal with people around him. He taught

us to be frank and keep friends who deserve.

You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do, on every occasion. If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it, if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot. You would wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.

Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one. The man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates. You will find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not.

If you have any fault to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain. There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to do one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. We should say and do nothing to the injury of any one. It is not only a matter of principle, but also the path of peace and honor.

frankness['fr??knis]n. 率直；坦白

equivocation [i,kwiv?'kei??n] n. 含糊话；模棱两可的话

There is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to do one thing before a man's face and another behind his back.人前一套，背后又是一套，没有什么比这更加危机四伏。

It is not only a matter of principle, but also the path of peace and honor.

这不仅是一种做人的原则，而且也是通向平和的人际关系、获得他人尊敬之道。

Letter to a Young Friend

给年轻人的一封信

Benjamin Franklin

Abstract

Benjamin Franklin is said to be the greatest representative of Capitalism He is a scientist, inventor, politician, etc. In this letter, he wrote about the necessity of marriage. What’s more, he emphasized that man and woman could learn from each other in a marriage. It is delighting that the author regarded woman as a co-worker of man to survive in the world, not the appendix.

My dear friend

I know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural inclination

you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you.

Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of man,

and therefore the state in which you will find solid Happiness. Your

Reason against entering into it at present appears to be not well

founded. The Circumstantial Advantages you have in view by

Postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that makes the complete human Being, Separate she wants his force of Body and Strength of Reason; he her Softness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the World. A single man has not nearly the value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissors.

If you get a prudent, health wife, your Industry in your Profession, with her good Economy, will be a Fortune sufficient.

Your Affectionate Friend

diminish [di'mini?]vt. 使减少；使变小vi. 减少，缩小；变小

inclination [,inkli'nei??n] n. 倾向，爱好；斜坡

circumstantial [,s?:k?m'st?n??l] adj. 依照情况的；详细的，详尽的

discernment [di's?:nm?nt, -'z?:n-] n. 识别；洞察力；敏锐；眼力

prudent ['pru:d?nt] adj. 谨慎的；精明的；节俭的

A single man has not nearly the value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissors.

单身和离婚生活的男男女女不可能具有婚姻生活中的价值，是一种不完善的动物。他简直好比半把剪刀--孤掌难鸣。