约翰·罗斯金（John Ruskin，1819--1900年）英国作家、批评家。出生于伦敦一个殷实的酒商家庭。他的有关艺术问题的重要作品有《现代画家》（第1卷，1843年）、《建筑的七盏灯》（1849年）、《威尼斯之石》（1851—1853年）、《现代画家》（第2、3卷，1860年）以及一些论文和演讲稿。他的代表作有《时至今日》（1862年）、《芝麻与百合》（1865年）、《野橄榄花冠》（1866年）、《劳动者的力量》（1871年）和《经济学释义》（1872年）等。
It was New Year’S Night．An aged man was standing at a window．He raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky，where the starswere floating like white lilies on the surface of a clear calm lake．Then hecast them on the earth，where few more hopeless people than himself nowmoved towards their certain goal一the tomb．He had already passed sixtyof the stages leading to it，and he had brought from his journey nothingbut errors and remorse．Now his healm was poor，his mind vacant，hisheart sorrowful，and his old age short of comforts．
The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him，and he re—called the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance ofthe two roads—one leading to a peaceful，sunny place，covered with flow—ers，fruits and resounding with soft，sweet songs；the other leading to acave，which was endless，wherle p。is。n n。wed insteadf water and where devils and poisonous snakes hissed and crawled．
He looked towards the sky and cried painfully，“0 youth，return！O my father，place me once more at the entrance to life，and I’11 choose the better way！”But both his father and the days ofhis youth had passed a—way．
He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness．These were the days of his wasted life；he saw a star fall from the sky and disappeared，and this was the symbol of himself．His remorse．which was like a sharp ar-row，struck deeply into his heart．Then he remembered his friends in his childhood，who entered on life together with him．But they had made their way to success and were now honoured and happy on this New Year’S night．
The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents’early love for him．They had taught him and prayed to God for his good．But he chose the wrong way．With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his father lived．His darkened eyes were full of tears，and with a despairing effort，he burst out a cry：“Come back，my early days！Come back！”
And his youth did return，for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year’S Night．He was still young though his faults were real；he had not yet entered the deep，dark cave and he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land．
Those who still linger on the entrance of life，hesitating to choose the bright road，remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble on the dark mountains，you will cry bitterly，but in vain：“Oh youth，re-turn！Oh give me back my early days！”
mournful adj．悲恸的，令人惋惜的，悲哀的
tomb n．墓；坟地；墓碑；葬身之地
sorrowful adj．悲伤的，伤心的；令人伤心的
poisonous adj．有毒的；恶毒的，有恶意的；有害的；讨厌的，不愉快的
despair n．绝望；令人失望的入；失望
v．绝望
entrance n．入口，门口；进入的权利；进入，就任，登场；入学许可
v．令出神，使狂喜，使陶醉
两条路
[英]约翰·罗斯金
元旦晚上，一位老人站在窗前。抬起他满是哀怨的双眼，遥望深蓝的天空。天上，星星如恬静湖面上盛开的朵朵白莲般流光溢彩。随后，他的目光投向地面。地面上，也只有几个和他一样孤独绝望的人在缓缓走向人生的终点——坟墓。在通往人生终点的道路上他已经过了六十个驿站，除了过失和悔恨，在这段漫长的旅程中他一无所获。而现在，他有的只是身体欠佳，精神空虚，心情沉重，他的残生里再也没有什么安逸可言。
美好的青春时光梦幻般再现在他眼前。他记起早年那一闪而过的庄严时刻，他被父亲放在人生的岔路口上，两条路出现在他面前：一条通向和平宁静、阳光灿烂的胜地，那里鲜花遍野，果实满园，柔和甜美的歌声久久回荡；另一条则通向永无止境的黑暗深渊，那里的河流淌着的不是清水，而是毒液，恶魔在那里横行，毒蛇遍地嘶嘶作响。
老人对天哭喊：“哦！我的青春，回来吧！哦，父亲，请重新把我放在人生路口上吧！我将要选择的一定会是那一条光明大道。”但是，他的父亲和他的宝贵青春早随时间一块逝去。
他看到在黑暗的天幕上流星一道道划过，那就是他虚度的青春岁月。他看见一颗星从天空陨落，消失得无影无踪，那是他自己。悔恨，如一支利箭，深深地刺进他的灵魂。然后，他又想起儿时的伙伴，他们一起踏上人生旅途。他们通过努力都拥有了成功，现在颇受人们的尊敬。此时此刻，他们应是在尽情享受这良宵佳节的天伦之乐。
钟在高高的教堂尖塔里被敲响了。钟声唤起他对当年父母给予的爱的回忆。是他们给他谆谆教诲，是他们向上苍祈祷和祝福他能有美好前程。而他偏偏挑选了那样一条错误的人生之路。羞愧和悲伤使他再也不敢正视父亲所在的天堂。他那双黯然失色的双眼里泪水绽放。绝望中，他不由失声地高喊：“回来吧，我的青春！回来吧！”
青春竟然再次降临他的身上。原来刚才所发生的一切只不过是他在新年夜的噩梦一场。尽管他真的犯有过失，但毕竟还年轻，更何况他还没有达到坠入那个可怕的黑洞的地步。他依然有自由去选择那条通向宁静和光明的道路。
在人生路口徘徊，对是否选择光明大道还举棋不定的年轻人啊，听我一句吧，当你青春已逝，双足在黑漆漆的群山中磕磕碰碰时，再痛心疾首呼唤逝去的青春，让它回来，那可迟了，只能是白费心机。
名人名言Wisely and slow；they stumble that：rill3：fast．
——Shakespeare凡事要三思而后行，跑得太快的人会滑倒。
——莎士比亚
