经典美文英语短篇欣赏更好的明天A Better TomorrowPeople often wonder why historians go to so much trouble to preserve millions of books,documents and records.Why do we have libraries? What good are these documents and history books? Why do werecord and save the actions of men, the negotiations of government officials and the eventsduring wars?We do it because, sometimes, the voice of experience can cause us to stop, look and listen.Sometimes, past records, when understood in the right way, can help us decide what to do andwhat notto do. If we are ever to create lasting peace, we must seek its originsin humanexperience and in the records of human history.From the stories of courage and devotion of men and women, we create the inspirations ofyouth. History records the suffering, the self-denial, the devotion, and the heroic deeds ofpeople inthe past. These records can help us when we are confused and when we really needpeace.The main purpose of history is to create a better world. History gives a warning to those whopromote war,and inspiration to those who seek peace.In short, history helps us learn. Yesterday’s records can kee p us from repeating yesterday’smistakes. And from the pieces of mosaic assembled by historians come the great muralswhichrepresent the progress ofmankind.更好的明天人们常常心存疑虑,为什么历史学家要费尽周折地保存数以万计的书籍、文献和记录。
我们为什么要有图书馆呢?这些文献和史书有何用处呢? 我们为什么要记载并保存人类的行为、政府官员的谈判和战争中的事件呢?我们这么做的原因在于有时候经验之音能促使我们停步、观察和倾听。
也因为有时候过去的记载经过正确地诠释,能帮助我们决定何事可为、何事不可为。
如果我们想要创造永久的和平,我们就必须从人类的经验以及人类历史的记载中去探索其渊源。
从体现男性和女性勇敢和奉献精神的故事之中,我们获得了青春的启示。
历史记载着人类的一切苦难、克己、忠诚和英勇的事迹。
这些记载在我们困惑和渴望和平时能对我们有所帮助。
历史的主要目的是创造一个更加美好的世界。
历史对那些力主战争的人给以警告,给予那些寻求和平的人以启示。
简而言之,历史帮助我们学习。
昨日的记载可以使我们避免重蹈覆辙。
这些历史学家们创作的像马赛克一样色彩缤纷的历史片断汇聚成了代表人类进步的伟大壁画。
抬头是希望 The Rise Is HopeIf you put a buzzard in a pen six to eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzardalways begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten to twelve feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but remain a prisoner for life in a small jailwith no top.如果把一只秃鹫放在一个6～8平方英尺的无顶围栏里，这只大鸟尽管会飞，也绝对会成为这栏中之囚。
原因是秃鹫从地面起飞前总要先助跑10～12英尺的距离。
这是它的习惯，如果没有了足够的助跑空间，它甚至不会尝试去飞，只会终身困囿于一个无顶的小囚笼中。
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, which is a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can dois to shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.晚上飞来飞去的普通的蝙蝠，本是一种在空中极其敏捷的动物，但却无法在平地上起飞。
如果被放在地板或平坦的地面上，它就只会无助地挪动，毫无疑问这样很痛苦。
除非它到了稍高的位置，有了落差，才可以立刻闪电般地起飞。
A bumblebee if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way outthrough the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.一只大黄蜂如果掉进了一个敞口平底玻璃杯里，除非有人把它拿出来，否则它就会一直呆在里边直到死去。
它永远不知道可以从杯口逃出，只坚持试图从杯底的四壁寻找出路。
它会在根本不存在出口的地方寻找出路，直到彻底毁了自己。
In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is rightthere above them.其实在很多方面，很多人也像秃鹫、蝙蝠和大黄蜂一样，使尽浑身解数试图解决问题、克服挫折，却没有意识到解决之道就在正上方。
PS:很多人也像秃鹫、蝙蝠和大黄蜂一样，使尽浑身解数试图解决问题、克服挫折，却没有意识到解决之道就在正上方——抬头是希望，别舍近求远哦。
夜晚Night has fallen over the country. Through the trees rises the red moon, and the stars arescarcely seen. In the vast shadow of night the coolness andthe dews descend. I sit at theopen windowto enjoy them; andhear only the voice of the summer wind. Like black hulks, theshadows of the great trees ride at anchor onthe billowy sea of grass.I cannot see the red and blue flowers, but I know that they are there. Far away in the meadowgleams the silver Charles. The tramp of horses' hoofs sounds from the wooden bridge. Then allisstill save the continuous wind of the summer night. Sometimes I know not if it be the windor the sound of the neighboring sea.The village clock strikes; and I feel that I am not alone.How different it is in the city! It is late, and the crowd is gone. Youstep out upon the balcony,and liein the very bosom of the cool, dewy night asif you folded her garments aboutyou.Beneath lies the publicwalk with trees, like a fathomless, black gulf, into whose silent darknessthe spirit plunges, and floats away with some beloved spirit clasped in its embrace.The lamps are still burning up and down the long street. People go by with grotesque shadows,now foreshortened, and now lengthening away into thedarkness and vanishing, while a newonesprings up behind the walker, and seems to pass him revolving like the sail of a windmill.The iron gates of the park shut with a jangling clang. There are footsteps and loud voices; atumult; adrunken brawl; an alarm of fire; then silence again. And now at length the city isasleep, and we can see the night.The belated moon looks over the rooftops and finds no one to welcome her. The moonlight isbroken. It lieshere and there in the squares, and the opening of the streets angular like blocksofwhite marble.夜幕已经笼罩着乡间。