If You Give Me Three Days of Light: The Best Collection of Helen Keller

Chapter 13 My Life (11)
My adoration for "Init" is not as high as "Iliad", but it is also my real favorite.I tried to understand the epic independently of dictionaries and commentaries, and tried to translate some of my favorite passages.Virgil's writing is indeed wonderful. The gods and human beings in his writing are all wandering between passion, conflict, pity and love, just like the wit and beauty at the Masquerade Ball in the Elizabethan era. The gods and humans in "Iliad" are singing for joy and joy.The characters in Virgil's works are soft and quiet, like the marble statue of Apollo under the moonlight.

How pleasant it is to fly among the books!Although the journey from "Greek Heroes" to "Iliad" is not done overnight, such hard work will bring you endless joy.

I started reading the Bible very early, although I didn't fully understand its content at that time.It seems strange now that I think about it, but for a long time I was completely indifferent to the wonderful harmony of the Bible.I vividly remember begging my cousin to read me a Bible story on a drizzly Sunday morning with nothing else to do.Though she thought I might not understand, she spelled the story of Joseph and his brothers into my hand.For some reason, the story didn't interest me.Strange language and constant repetition make the story sound unreal, but it is something in the distant kingdom of heaven, and it is understandable that it is unreal.

As a result, I fell asleep before talking about Brother Joseph wearing colorful clothes and entering Jacob's tent to lie! I can't explain why those ancient Greek myths fascinate me, but the "Bible" The story didn't interest me at all.During my time as a student in Boston, I met several Greeks, and I was truly moved by their devotion to the history and legends of their country.As I have never met a Hebrew or an Egyptian, I cannot presume to assert that they were mere savages, or that the stories of their peoples may be fabricated, and I certainly cannot Hypotheses to explain why the story is uninteresting.Strangely enough, I've never found Greek mythology boring.

So, how did I later discover the brilliance in the Bible? Over the years, my joy and inspiration in reading the Bible has grown day by day, and I love the Bible more than any other book.It brings me the deepest and most comforting feeling, that is, "what is visible is ephemeral; what is invisible is eternal".

But there are many places in the Bible that are against my nature.Therefore, I forced myself to read this book from cover to cover with guilt.Compared with the unhappiness it imposed on me, I do not think that the historical knowledge I have acquired in books has compensated me.

Mr. Howells and I share the feeling that all that is hideous and barbaric should be purged from the Bible, and of course we are equally opposed to making this great work lifeless and unrecognizable.

In the very candid and unpretentious "Book of Esther" you will find something shocking.And what could be more dramatic than Esther's confrontation with an evil king?She clearly knew that her life was in the hands of the other party, and no one could save her.However, she overcame the cowardice of women, and under the inspiration of lofty patriotism, she bravely walked towards her husband, with only one thought in her heart: "If I die, I will die! If I live, my people will die." pregnancy."

"The Book of Ruth" also belongs to this kind of story, what an oriental flavor it is!But how difficult it is for these simple country (Jewish) people to integrate into the Persian capital!Ruth is so kind and loyal that we can't help but love her as she stands among the rolling wheat fields with the reapers.Her selfless and noble sentiments were like a shining star in the dark night in that dark and brutal era.Lutheran love, a love that transcends conflicting religious tenets and deep-rooted racial prejudices, is hard to find all over the world.

Shakespeare is of course indispensable in my favorite books.I cannot say exactly when I began to read Ram's The Legends of Shakespeare, but I do know that I first read Shakespeare with the comprehension and curiosity of a child. "Macbeth" seems to be the work that impressed me the most.The shocking power of this tragedy is enough to make me remember every part of the storyline forever.

For a long time, the ghosts and witches in the book always came to haunt me in my sleep.I saw, indeed saw, the sword, and Lady Macbeth's delicate hand, and the dreadful blood-stains lay before my eyes, as the mournful queen saw.

After Macbeth, I read King Lear.I shall never forget the horror at which Gloucester was blinded.Anger seized my heart, my fingers stopped moving (reading the text), I sat there for a long time, my heart was beating wildly, at that moment, I realized all that a child can store in his chest hatred.

In retrospect, I must have become acquainted with Sherlock and Satan at the same time, because in my conscious mind these two characters were always linked together.I remember feeling sorry for them for a while, feeling vaguely that they couldn't be good people even if they wanted to, because no one seemed to help them, or give them a fair chance.Even now, I still can't describe them as heinous.I sometimes feel that people like Sherlock, Judas, and even the Devil are all because of a broken axle in the wheel of human "goodness", which will one day be repaired.

It may seem strange that I have so many unpleasant memories of my first reading of Shakespeare.Bright, mellow, fantasy-filled plays—my current favorite genre—didn't impress me at first, perhaps because they reflected nothing more than a child's carefree Just a happy life.

However, "There is nothing more unpredictable in the world than children's memory: it is really hard to predict what to keep and what to lose."

Like Shakespeare's plays, although I have read them many times and can recite some passages from memory, I can't say which one I like best.My love for them is often as varied as my mood.It seems to me that short ballads and sonnets convey as much emotion as drama.But on the other hand, my love of Shakespeare also added to my reading difficulties, because it is indeed a very tiring job to understand the interpretation of each line of poetry by critics and commentators.I tried to remember the explanations given by the critics, but the crappy ones pissed me off.Therefore, I made up my mind not to read these comments again. I didn’t know the profoundness of Shakespeare’s plays until I came into contact with the Shakespeare class taught by Professor Kit Ridge. Before that, I didn’t know Shakespeare in the world. drama studies.I am very happy to see layers of veils being lifted, and a new and wonderful realm of thought is revealed to me.

My love of history is second only to poetry.I read all the historical works I could get my hands on—from the monotonous memorabilia, and still more monotonous chronology, to Green's impartial and vivid History of the British Nation; from Freeman's European Histories to Emerton's The Middle Ages.The first book that really made me realize the value of history was Swindon's History of the World, which I received as a birthday present when I was 13.Although I no longer consider this book to be unassailable, I still consider it one of my childhood treasures.

It was through these history books that I learned how ancient humans dispersed all over the world and built huge cities; how a few great rulers put everything under their feet and tied the life and death of millions of people to one How each nation laid the foundation and opened up the way for the development of future generations in terms of culture and art; how human civilization experienced the catastrophe of decay and degeneration, and then came back to life like a phoenix; how did the great sages Advocating freedom, tolerance and education, and overcoming obstacles to save the world.

During college, I was more familiar with French and German literature.Germans like to show their strength, not so particular about beauty, they seek truth over tradition, no matter in daily life or literary creation.It may be said that in everything they do, there is some kind of passionate and individual passion.You don't find it touching when they talk, because if they don't find an outlet for the hot, boiling thoughts in the depths of their souls, their hearts will burst if they do.So they will not easily destroy themselves.

I like the rich connotations of German literature very much. I think the most valuable thing about German literature is its recognition of the great power of women's self-sacrificing love.It can be said that this idea pervades all German literary works, and the most profound interpretation of its mystery is Goethe's "Faust":
all things are short,
Only its images are endless.

The hearts of the world are not ancient,
Accidents filled the earth.

The troubled times are unspeakable,
All actions are unrighteous.

Only the spirit of a woman leads us to the sky!

Among French writers, I like Molière and Lessing best.The works of Balzac and Mérimée are also very fresh and pleasing, like gusts of sea breeze.Alfred Musset's imagination is incredible! I also admire the talent of Victor Hugo, who is a brilliant romantic.

Hugo, Goethe, Schiller, and all great poets of all great nations, they are interpreters of eternal values, and my soul will follow them into the world of truth, goodness and beauty with great devotion.

I describe my favorite books in such detail, and even mention some of my favorite authors, that you might guess that my reading range is very limited and my choice of books is arbitrary, which, in fact, is a very
Wrong impression.

In fact, many authors have their own unique style worthy of my appreciation-such as Carlyle's roughness and his abhorrence of hypocrisy; Wordsworth's advocacy of the unity of man and nature; The elegance and the lilies and roses in his poems have had a profound effect on me; I also like Whittier for his fiery personality and moral conscience.I knew him well, and the fond remembrance of his friendship made me feel more deeply the joy his poetry gave me.I also like Mark Twain, of course who wouldn't like him?I think even the gods like him, because the gods gave him all the wisdom, and then, lest he become a pessimist, so the gods set up a love and love in his mind. Rainbow of Faith.

I also love Scott for his unconventional, sassy, ​​and honest; I love Lovell, whose mind I feel ripples in the sunshine of optimism, a source of joy and kindness, sometimes a little angry, sometimes And sympathy and compassion.

In a word, literature is my "utopia".In this field, I will not be deprived of any rights, nor will there be any barriers to prevent my intimate contact with "book friends".They talked with me without any embarrassment or inconvenience.Compared with the "widespread love and noble kindness" of what I have learned, what I have learned is really very little.

Enjoy your life
I do not trust my readers to conclude from the preceding chapters that reading is my only pleasure.

In fact, my pleasures and interests are wide and varied.I have mentioned more than once before that I really love the country and the outdoors.I learned to row and swim when I was a little girl.During my summer vacation in Ransome, Massachusetts, I lived on a boat almost all the time.When I have friends over, I don't get any better than taking them out for a boat ride.Of course, I don't have a good grasp of the direction of the boat.Normally, when I'm rowing, there's someone sitting in the stern at the helm for me.Sometimes, though, I go rowing without a man at the helm.It was fun to get my bearings by smelling the weeds and water lilies and the shrubs on the shore.I use oars that are strapped with leather so that the oars are secured to the oar racks.When the oars are in a steady state, I can sense the sailing state through the resistance of the water.In the same way I can tell when the boat is in a rapid.I like to wrestle with the wind and the waves, to submit the sturdy boat to my will and to my strength, to make it skim lightly across the shimmering lake, while the waves keep rolling it up and down, and the sight of it, Really refreshing!
I also like canoeing.I think, when you know that I especially like boating on a moonlit night, you will smile at each other.Frankly, I can't see the moon climbing the branches of the pine trees as it creeps across the sky, paving a path of light for passers-by.But when I lay down on the mat and put my hands in the water
At that time, I seemed to see the moonlight shining like daylight passing by, and I touched her clothes.Occasionally, a bold little fish slips through my fingers, and a water lily kisses my fingers shyly.Most often, as soon as we paddled out of the creek, I was immediately aware of the open space around me.A luminous warmth seemed to surround me, and whether it came from the sun-heated trees or from the water, I could not trace it.I get this weird feeling even in the heart of the city.On stormy days and long dark nights, this feeling often hits me inadvertently.It was like warm lips were kissing my face.

My favorite pastime is sailing. In the summer of 1901, I visited the Nova Scotia Peninsula, which was the hometown of Evangeline—a place as beautiful as the poems written by Longfellow. After staying for a few days, Teacher Sullivan and I went to Halifax, where he spent most of the summer.They had a great time, it was like entering heaven.What a grand and glorious voyage we sailed through Bedford Sound, McNabbs Island, Fort York, and to the North West Garrison!At night, we would spend hours in the shadow of the huge battleship, which was indeed a pleasant and wonderful feeling.Oh, what a wonderful time it was, what fun! I shall never forget these delightful scenes.

One day, we experienced a thrilling event.At that time, a regatta was being held at the Northwest Army garrison, and the participating ships came from different warships.We boarded a sailboat with the crowd to watch the race.Hundreds of small boats passed us back and forth, and the sea was calm.After the game, everyone turned around and scattered to go home. Suddenly, a black cloud floated from a distance. The clouds became more and more thick, and finally covered the entire sky.In an instant, the wind was strong and the waves were violent, and huge waves were set off on the sea.

Our little boat braved the gales, with sails out and haws taut, and seemed to sit right on top of the waves.Soon, it dashed left and right in the waves, jumped up a huge wave crest, and was swallowed up by angry roars in an instant.With the mainsail lowered, the boat sailed against the wind in the waves.We struggled to resist the invasion of the wind and waves, but our bodies were staggered from side to side.Our hearts are pounding and our arms are shaking, but this is a sign of nervousness, not fear.Because we are adventurous, we imagine ourselves as Vikings and trust our captain to save the day.He is an expert in dealing with wind and waves. With his firm palm and a pair of experienced eyes, he has sailed through storms many times.In the end we won, and after the wind and waves passed, the big ships and gunboats in the harbor raised their flags to salute us, and the sailors also cheered for the feat of this small sailboat in the storm.

Finally, cold, hungry and exhausted, we returned to the pier.

I had a wonderful time last summer in one of the most charming and secluded villages in New England.It can be said that Ransome, Massachusetts is a place that covers almost all my joys and sorrows.Mr. Chamberlin's home was Mr. Chamberlin's home at Red's Farm by King Philip's Pool, and it has been my home for many years.Every time I think of the kindness of many dear friends here, and the happy time we have spent together, my heart is full of gratitude.

The children in their family have become close partners with me and have provided me with great help.We played games together, walked in the woods together, and played in the water.I told them stories of elves and land-gods, of heroes and cunning black bears, and it was a pleasant memory indeed for me to talk and feel the joy of these little children.Mr. Chamberlin also led me to explore the secrets of those trees and wild flowers. Later, I was able to hear the flow of sap in the oak tree and see the brilliance of the sun on the leaves by inspiration.The sight is like these verses:

Roots, even if sealed in the dark soil,

Will still share the joy of the canopy,
(End of this chapter)