人教版英语选修第三册 unit 4 Reading and Writing

FAN ZHONGYAN

范仲淹

Perhaps one of the most famous sayings in China is, “To be the first to feel concern for the troubles of the world, and the last to enjoy its pleasures.”

中国有一句家喻户晓的名言：“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。”

Written by Fan Zhongyan, this 11th century proverb provides a goal for all Chinese government officials to aspire to.

这句出自范仲淹的十一世纪名言，成为了中国历代官员所追求的理想准则。

Fan Zhongyan (989–1052) himself was a good example of someone who lived by these words.

范仲淹（989–1052）本人就是践行这句箴言的典范。

He was born in Suzhou in 989 CE.

公元989年，他生于苏州。

When he was just one or two years old, his father died and his mother married another man.

在他一两岁时，父亲离世，母亲改嫁他人。

From a very young age, he was very diligent in his schoolwork.

年少时，他读书十分刻苦。

Later, he left his stepfather’s family and had to stay in a temple, where he was only able to eat porridge each day.

后来，他离开继父家中，寄宿在寺庙里，每日只能喝粥度日。

In the winter, he had to cut frozen porridge into pieces for his meals.

寒冬时节，他只能把冻住的粥切成小块当作食物。

It is said that one day one of his friends noticed that he was not eating well, so he sent over some tasty food.

相传有一天，他的一位友人见他饮食简陋，便送来美味的食物。

Fan refused to touch it, saying that he wanted to be content with what he had.

范仲淹却不肯食用，他说自己应当安于当下所拥有的东西。

In 1015, Fan passed the imperial examination and became a government official.

1015年，范仲淹考中进士，步入仕途。

While he served in Taizhou, he always had the people’s best interest at heart, and so he proposed building a sea wall to protect homes from flooding.

在泰州任职期间，他始终心系百姓，提议修筑海堤，保护民居免受洪水侵袭。

This sea wall was later called “Lord Fan’s Embankment”.

这座海堤后世称之为“范公堤”。

Serving with distinction, he helped build up defenses when the country was threatened by war.

他政绩卓著，国家面临战事威胁时，他协助巩固边防。

Then, once the country was at peace again, he was promoted to a high-level position in the capital, where he was able to advise the emperor on government policy.

战乱平息之后，他被调往京城身居要职，得以向皇帝进谏国策。

As an advisor to the emperor, Fan then tried to institute government reforms, known as the Qingli reforms.

身为皇帝的近臣，范仲淹推行新政，史称庆历新政。

However, many conservative bureaucrats opposed him, and so the reforms were stopped and Fan was forced to leave the capital and go into exile.

然而众多保守派官员极力反对，新政被迫中止，范仲淹也被迫离开京城，遭贬流放。

While in exile in 1045, Fan wrote an essay entitled *Memorial to Yueyang Tower*.

1045年，贬谪期间，范仲淹写下名篇《岳阳楼记》。

In the essay, he wondered if it was possible to find government officials who would be firm in their desire to look after the needs of the common people, and not worry about their own personal welfare.

在文章中，他思索世间是否存在这样的官员：一心体恤百姓疾苦，而不计较个人得失。

Of such a man, Fan said, “When serving in a high office at court, he will be concerned for the people; if living on distant rivers and lakes, he will be concerned for his sovereign.

对于这样的人，范仲淹写道：“居庙堂之高则忧其民；处江湖之远则忧其君。

When serving, he worries; while in retirement, he worries.

是进亦忧，退亦忧。

And when does he enjoy himself?

然则何时而乐耶？

One must say: To be the first to feel concern for the troubles of the world, and the last to enjoy its pleasures.”

其必曰：先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。”

After Fan retired, he bought a farm and used it to provide jobs for local people.

范仲淹辞官之后，购置田地，为当地百姓提供谋生的机会。

The profits from the farm were then used to pay for the education of poor children.

田地所得收益，用来资助贫苦孩童读书。

Though by this time he was a wealthy man, he spent all of his money helping others and lived a very simple life.

尽管此时他家境殷实，他却倾尽钱财助人，自身生活十分简朴。

It is refreshing to think that there was once such a person who did not just speak wise words to live by, but who also put those words into practice during his own life.

令人心生敬佩的是，曾经有这样一个人，不只留下传世箴言，更用一生践行了这些信念。

Fan Zhongyan was just such a man.

范仲淹正是这样的人。

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