But to retum to our subject．I have left the repository of our English kings for the contemplation of another day；when I shall find my mind disposed for SO serious an amusement．I know that entertainments of this nature are apt to raise dark and dismal thoughts in timorous minds and gloomy imaginations；but for my own part，though I am always serious，I dO not know what it iS to be melancholy；and can therefore take a view of nature in her deep and solemn scenes，with the same pleasure as in her most gay and delightful ones．By this means I can improve myself with those objects which others consider with terror．When I look upon the tombs of the great，every emotion of envy dies in me；when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful，every inordinate desire goes out；when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone，my heart melts with compassion；when I see the tomb of the parents themselves．I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow，when I see kings lying by those who deposed them，when I consider rival wits placed side by side，or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes，I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions，factions，and debates of mankind．When I read the several dates of the tombs，of some that died yesterday，and some six hundred years ago，I consider that great day when we shall all of US be contemporaries，and make our appearance together．gloominess n．陰暗；憂鬱thoughtfulness n．深思；體貼，親切；熟慮memorial n．紀念物，請願書
adi．紀念的；記憶的priest n．牧師，僧侶，神父epitaph n．墓誌銘；碑文periwig n．假發contemporary n．同時代的人
adj．同時代的，同時的西敏寺內的遐想（節選）
【英]約瑟夫·艾迪生
心情沉重的時候，我常喜歡獨自漫步於西敏寺內。那裏特有的肅穆氣氛和莊嚴的建築以及長眠於此的人們的豐功偉績、身份地位，無不讓我充滿感傷之情，又或說讓我陷入了無盡的遐想之中。昨天，一個下午，我都在教堂、回廊和墓地裏，反複地觀賞著那幾個墓區裏的墓碑以及上麵的碑文，聊以自娛。多數墓碑上隻刻著死者的姓名和生卒年月：這樣人們對其一生的了解也不過是他們同常人一樣有生有死。這些生死記錄無論是雕刻在黃銅牌上還是雕刻在大理石上，我都將其視做是對故去之人的一種嘲諷：除了生與死，他們沒有留下任何供人瞻仰的東西。這不禁使我想起了戰爭史詩中所描寫的幾個英雄人物，他們聲名赫赫，不為別的，隻是因為戰死沙場；他們為人歌頌，不為別的，也隻是因為已不在人間。《聖經》所描寫的“如箭般飛過”，是他們一生的真實寫照：轉瞬即逝。