佚名/Anonymous

It is the close of a busy and vexatious day—say half past five or six o’clock of a winter afternoon. I have had a cocktail or two, and am stretched out on a divan in front of a fire, smoking. At the edge of the divan, close enough for me to reach her with my hands, sits a woman not too young, but still good-looking and well-dressed—above all, a woman with a soft, low-pitched, agreeable voice. As I snooze she talks—of anything, everything, all the things that women talk of: books, music, dress, men, other women. No politics. No business. No theology. No metaphysics. Nothing challenging and vexatious—but remember, she is intelligent; what she says is clearly expressed, and often picturesquely. I observe the fine sheen of her hair, the pretty cut of her frock, the glint of her white teeth, the arch of her eyebrow, the graceful curve of her arm. I listen to the exquisite murmur of her voice. Gradually I fall asleep—but only for an instant. At once, observing it, she raises her voice ever so little, and I am awake. Then to sleep again—slowly and charmingly down that slippery hill of dreams. And then awake again, and then asleep again, and so on.

I ask you seriously: could anything be more unutterably beautiful? The sensation of falling asleep is to me the most delightful in the world. I relish it so much that I even look forward to death itself with a sneaking wonder and desire. Well, here is sleep poetized and made doubly sweet. Here is sleep set to the finest music in the world. I match this situation against any that you call think of. It is only enchanting; it is also, in a very true sense, ennobling. In the end, when the lady grows prettily miffed and throws me out, I return to my sorrows somehow purged and glorified. I am a better man in my own sight. I have gazed upon the fields of asphodel. I have been genuinely, completely and unregrettably happy.

那是在繁忙、劳神的一天要结束的时候，大约是冬日下午的五点半或六点钟光景。我喝了一两杯鸡尾酒，抽着烟躺在壁炉前的长沙发上。在沙发的边缘，坐着一位不是很年轻的女人，离我很近，近得都能碰到我的手。她依然漂亮大方，穿着得体，最主要的是，她有娓娓动人的声音。我昏昏欲睡时，她在谈论着——所有女人喜爱谈论的一切事情：书籍、音乐、衣服、男人、别的女人。不过，没有政治、商业、神学、玄学，都是些没有挑战和玄机的东西。但请记住，她聪慧，她表达清晰，而且观点很独特。我观察了她：一头秀发健康亮泽，一袭长裙做工考究，洁白的牙齿，弯弯的眉毛，纤细的手臂。我倾听她高雅而轻柔的声音。渐渐地，我睡着了，但只是一会儿，她稍稍提高了声音，我就会立即醒来，继续观察。然后，慢慢地、甜蜜地进入梦境。然后再次醒来，再次睡去；反反复复。

我认真地问你：还有比这种更难以言表的事情吗？对我来说，睡着的感觉是世上最令人愉悦的事情。对于入睡的迷恋，甚至让我在空想和渴望中企盼死亡。啊，睡意就像诗一样，给我加倍的甜蜜。在人世间最美妙的旋律中，睡意来了。这种境界可以同你的任何想象相媲美。它只是迷人的；在每一个真实的感觉中，也是高贵的。最后，当那位女士变得嗔怒，扔下我时，我回到纯净而荣耀的悲伤。在我自己看来，我更优秀了。我凝视过开满水仙的田野，我曾享受过欢愉。我拥有过真实、彻底、没有遗憾的快乐。

心灵小语

一段甜蜜的小憩，一段温柔的耳语，只要善于发现，生命中处处充满浪漫的欢愉。

vexatious adj.令人烦恼的；使人伤脑筋的；叫人发急的

例 Moving house is a vexatious business.

搬家是件麻烦的事情。

theology n.神学；宗教学；神学团体

例 The bent of his mind was at all times much to metaphysical theology.

他一向对玄奥的神学理论很感兴趣。

intelligent adj.聪明的；理解力强的；有才智的

例 My teacher is as kind as intelligent.

我的老师不但善良，而且聪慧。

seriously adv.认真地；严肃地；严重地

例 Don’t take it seriously—he’s only teasing.

别把它当真，他只不过是在开玩笑。

对我来说，睡着的感觉是世上最令人愉悦的事情。

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在人世间最美妙的旋律中，睡意来了。

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我拥有过真实、彻底、没有遗憾的快乐。

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At the edge of the divan.

at the edge of：在……的边缘

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……but still good-looking and well-dressed— above all……

above all：首先；首要；尤其是；最重要的是

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