各位“粉丝”，上一期，小编为大家带来了一篇有趣的“思考”文章，读后你的感觉如何？是否惊讶原来一向“高深”的思考，也有这么有趣的一面？本期“地道英文”，小编给大家带来的文章，依然是跟“思考”有关，不过这次却是通过作者与猫的一席“对话”，引导读者进行思考。
　　西莱尔·贝洛克（Hilaire Belloc，1870—1953），英国作家、历史学家，出生于法国，于1902年成为英国公民。他是20世纪初期英格兰地区最多产的作家之一，也是演说家、诗人、讽刺作家、学者和政治激进分子。他的天主教信仰尤为出名，强烈影响其大部分作品，以及与G·K·切斯特顿的合作写作。他也曾担任牛津大学学生俱乐部主席、索尔福德市下议院议员。他是一个争论者，也被大众称为一个仁慈且有同情心的人。贝洛克的作品中最广为流传的是其轻松诗作品，特别是儿童轻松诗，作品包括《散文诗与十四行诗选》（1895年）、《坏孩子的动物书》（1896年）、《现代行者》（1898年）、《伯顿先生》（1904年）、《警世寓言》（1907年）和《英格兰历史》（1925年）等。
　　The other day I went into the bar of a railway station and, taking a glass of beer, I sat down at a little table by myself to meditate upon the necessary but tragic isolation of the human soul. I began my meditation by consoling myself with the truth that something in common runs through all nature, but I went on to consider that this 1)cut no ice, and that the heart needed something more. I might by long research have discovered some third term a little less 2)hackneyed than these two, when fate, or some fostering star, sent me a 3)tawny, silky, long-haired cat.
　　If it be true that nations have the cats they deserve, then the English people deserve well in cats, for there are none so prosperous or so friendly in the world. But even for an English cat this cat was exceptionally friendly and fine—especially friendly. It leapt in one graceful bound into my lap, 4)nestled there, put out an 5)engaging right front paw to touch my arm with a pretty 6)timidity by way of introduction, rolled up at me an eye of bright but innocent affection, and then smiled a secret smile of approval.
　　No man could be timid after such an approach as not to make some manner of response. So I did. I even took the liberty of stroking Amathea(for by that name did I receive this vision), and though I began this gesture in a respectful fashion, after the best models of polite 7)deportment with strangers, I was soon lending it some warmth, for I was touched to find that I had a friend; yes, even here, at the ends of the 8)tubes in 9)SW99. I proceeded (as is right) from caress to speech, and said, “Amathea, most beautiful of cats, why have you 10)deigned to single me out for so much favor? Did you recognize in me a friend to all that breathes, or were you yourself suffering from loneliness (though I take it you are near your own dear home), or is there pity in the hearts of animals as there is in the hearts of some humans? What, then, was your motive? Or am I, indeed, foolish to ask, and not rather to take whatever good comes to me in whatever way from the gods?” 　　T o t h e s e questions Amathea answered with a loud 11)purring noise, expressing with closed eyes of 12)ecstasy her delight in the encounter.
　　“I am more than flattered, Amathea,” said I, by way of answer;“I am consoled. I did not know that there was in the world anything breathing and moving, let alone so tawny-perfect, who would give companionship for its own sake and seek out, through deep feeling, some one companion out of all living kind. If you do not address me in words I know the reason and I commend it; for in words lie the seeds of all 13)dissension, and love at its most profound is silent. At least, I read that in a book, Amathea; yes, only the other day. But I confess that the book told me nothing of those gestures which are better than words, or of that caress which I continue to bestow upon you with all the gratitude of my poor heart.”
　　To this Amathea made a slight gesture of acknowledgement—not 14)disdainful—wagging her head a little, and then settling it down in deep contentment.
　　“Oh, beautiful-haired Amathea, many have praised you before you found me to praise you, and many will praise you, some in your own tongue, when I am no longer held in the bonds of your presence. But none will praise you more sincerely. For there is not a man living who knows better than I that the four charms of a cat lie in its closed eyes, its long and lovely hair, its silence, and even its 15)affected love.”
　　But at the word “affected” Amathea raised her head, looked up at me tenderly, once more put forth her paw to touch my arm, and then settled down again to a purring 16)beatitude.
　　“You are secure,” said I sadly; “17)mortality is not before you. There is in your 18)complacency no 19)foreknowledge of death nor even of separation. And for that reason, Cat, I welcome you the more. For if there has been given to your kind this 20)repose in common living, why, then, we men also may find it by following your example and not considering too much what may be to come and not remembering too much what has been and will never return. Also, I thank you, for this, Amathea, my sweet 21)Euplokamos,” (for I was becoming a little familiar through an acquaintance of a full five minutes and from the absence of all 22)recalcitrance), “that you have reminded me of my youth, and in a sort of shadowy way, a momentary way, have restored it to me. For there is an age, a blessed youthful age(O my Cat) even with the miserable race of men, when all things are 23)consonant with the life of the body, when sleep is regular and long and deep, when 24)enmities are either unknown or a subject for rejoicing and when the whole of being is 25)lapped in hope as you are now lapped on my lap, Amathea. Yes, we also, we of the doomed race, know peace. But whereas you possess it from blind 26)kittenhood to that last dark day so mercifully short with you, we grasp it only for a very little while. But I would not sadden you by the mortal 27)plaint. That would be treason indeed, and a 28)vile return for your goodness. What! When you have chosen me out of seven London millions upon whom to 29)confer the tender solace of heart, when you have proclaimed yourself so suddenly to be my dear, shall I introduce you to the sufferings of those of whom you know nothing 30)save that they feed you, house you and pass you by? At least you do not take us for gods, as do the dogs, and the more am I humbly 31)beholden to you for this little service of recognition—and something more.” 　　


　　Amathea slowly raised herself upon her four feet, arched her back, yawned, looked up at me with a smile sweeter than ever and then went round and round, preparing for herself a new couch upon my coat, where on she settled and began once more to purr in settled ecstasy.
　　Already had I made sure that a rooted and anchored affection had come to me from out the emptiness and 32)nothingness of the world and was to feed my soul 33)henceforward; already had I changed the mood of long years and felt a conversion towards the life of things, an appreciation, a 34)cousinship with the created light—and all that through one new link of loving kindness—when whatever it is that dashes the cup of bliss from the lips of mortal man up and dashed it 35)good and hard. It was the Ancient Enemy who put the fatal sentence into my heart, for we are the playthings of the greater powers, and surely some of them are evil.
　　“You will never leave me. Amathea,” I said, “I will respect your sleep and we will sit here together through all uncounted time, I holding you in my arms and you dreaming of the fields of Paradise. Nor shall anything part us. Amathea; you are my cat and I am your human. Now and onwards into the fullness of peace.”
　　Then it was that Amathea lifted herself once more, and with delicate, 36)discreet, unweighted movement of perfect limbs leapt lightly to the floor as lovely as a wave. She walked slowly away from me without so much as looking back over her shoulder; she had another purpose in her mind; and as she so gracefully and so 37)majestically neared the door which she was seeking, a short, unpleasant man standing at the bar said “38)Puss, Puss, Puss!”and stooped to scratch her gently behind the ear. With what a wealth of singular affection, pure and profound, did she not gaze up at him, and then rub herself against his leg in token and external expression of a 39)sacramental friendship that should never die.
　　


　　前些日子，我走进火车站的一家酒吧，买了一杯啤酒，独自在一张小桌旁坐下，思索众人心中那份必然却也可悲的孤独感。开始时，我聊以自慰，以为万物总有某种相同之处，不过继而一想，这不能解决问题，人心还需要更多的东西。正当我可能通过长期研究来发现一个不像灵魂、人心二词那么陈腐的第三个术语时，命运或是某颗孕育之星突然给我送来了一只毛光滑如丝的茶色长毛猫。
　　各国的人都有自己乐于称道的猫，如果此话不假，那么英国人实在是爱猫有道，因为世上哪里的猫都没英国的来得如此的生机勃勃又友善可爱。但即便就英国猫而言，眼前这只猫亦算格外友善美好——尤其是友善。它优雅地轻轻一跃，跳到我的双腿之上，舒舒服服地安顿下来，而后伸出可爱迷人的右前爪，略带羞怯地碰了碰我的胳膊，算是做了介绍。它打量着我，眼光里充满明快又天真的友爱，然后暗暗一笑，表示认可。
　　经过这次亲密接触，再胆小的人也不会不作任何回应。于是我作出了回应。我甚至冒昧地轻抚了一下阿玛西亚（正因这名字我才有此番幻想），虽然我以尊重的方式开始做此表示，但在这个对待陌生者的最佳礼貌行为之后，我很快就增加了几分亲热，发现自己因得到一位朋友而感动不已；是的，即便在这里，西南99区地铁终点站。我继而（得当地）由抚摸转为聊天，说：“阿玛西亚，最美丽的猫，你何降尊纡贵，偏偏挑中了我呢？是你看出我是一切有生命之物的朋友，还是你自己也饱受孤独的煎熬（尽管我相信你离心爱的家只有咫尺之遥），还是因为动物也如某些人一样拥有怜悯之心？那么，你的动机是什么呢？我不愿就这样顺着天神意愿接受其以任何方式赐予我的福祉，我这么问也是很笨的吧？” 　　


　　对这些问题，阿玛西亚以响亮的呜呜声作了回答，双眼欣喜地紧闭，以示自己对这次邂逅感到高兴。
　　“我无比荣幸，阿玛西亚，”我回答道，“我得到了安慰。我原先不知道世上有生命的活物，当然更不用说有如此完美的茶色猫，会自愿奉上友谊，通过至深的情感在各种有生命之物中寻求一个同伴。如果你不用言语与我交谈，我知道个中原因并且表示嘉许；因为一切分歧的根源就在于言语，而最意味深长的爱总是无言的。至少可以这么说，这是我从一本书上读到的，阿玛西亚。是啊，就在前些日子。但是我承认，这本书并未提及这胜过言词的举动，而我给予你的、发自我脆弱心灵的感激之情也并非出自此书。”
　　阿玛西亚对此略表认同——并无轻蔑之意——微微地摇摇头，然后称心如意地安顿下来。
　　“噢，毛发柔美的阿玛西亚，在你发现我赞美你之前已有许多人赞美过你了，当我不再陪伴你时，仍有许多人会赞美你，其中不乏你的同类。但是不会有人比我更真诚地赞美你。因为，世上没有一个活着的人比我更了解，猫的四大魅力就在于它那紧闭的双眼、漂亮可爱的长毛、无言的沉默，甚至还在于它那假意的友爱。”
　　听到“假意”这个词时，阿玛西亚抬起头，温和地仰望着我，再一次伸出前爪碰碰我的胳膊，随后又安顿下来，幸福地呜呜叫着。
　　“你真是无忧无虑，”我哀伤地说，“死亡离你还很远。你不知生离死别，只懂志得意满。唯其如此，猫啊，我才愈发喜欢你。因为，如果你们猫类得以在尘世悠然自得，那么，我们人类也许能效法你们，不过多考虑将来，也不过多沉溺于回忆那一去不复返的一切，以求得安宁。除此之外，我还要感谢你，阿玛西亚，我可爱的尤普洛卡谟，”（与你相识已有整整五分钟，未见你有任何不顺从之意，我也变得亲热些了）。“你使我想起了我的青年时代，朦胧之中，瞬息之间，你把我的青年时代归还给了我。因为，就连不幸的人类也有过一个时代，一个幸福的青年时代（哦，我的猫啊！）。那时，万物皆与肉体生活协调一致，睡眠有规律，悠长而酣甜；仇恨或是无从知晓或是成了寻乐的谈资；生命被希望怀抱着，就像我把你抱在膝上一样，阿玛西亚。是的，我们，我们这受诅咒的人类也懂得安宁平和。不过，你们从懵懂的幼年到那个幸好极其短暂的末日，都保持着安宁的状态，而我们把握住安宁的时间却极其短暂。但我不愿以生命必有终结的哀叹使你悲伤。那样做实在是不忠，是以恶报善。什么！既然你从伦敦七百万大众中挑选了我是为了给我体贴的安慰，既然你如此突然地表示要成为我的爱宠，那么我能不能把那些人的苦难对你讲一讲？你只知道他们给你吃住却从不过问你，此外你对他们一无所知，至少你不把我们视作偶像，狗才把我们视为上帝，我越发感激你的这般赏识，以及其他的种种。”
　　阿玛西亚慢慢地站起来，弓弓背，打个哈欠，带着比方才更美妙的微笑望着我，接着来回走动，准备把我的上衣当作自己的新床榻，在上面安顿下来，又开始惬意地呜呜叫着。
　　我早就确信，在这空虚无聊的人世里，我已得到根深蒂固的温情，并在日后以此聊以慰藉；我已改变了长年的心绪，对万物的生命有了新的看法，多了一份鉴赏，一种与创造者的亲密关系——还有随着这新建立的爱意纽带而来的一切——直到不知什么东西将凡人嘴边的幸福之杯撞翻，并将之撞得粉碎。那时恶魔撒旦把致命的判决植入我的内心，因为我们只是更强大力量的人手中的玩物，而那当中少不了邪恶之徒。
　　“永远不要离开我，阿玛西亚，”我说，“我会尊重你的酣睡，我们一起永无尽期地坐在这里，我抱着你，你梦着天堂般的乐土。不会有什么把我们分开，阿玛西亚；你是我的猫，我是你的人。我们永不分离，沉浸在无限的安宁之中，此刻直到永恒。”
　　就在此时，阿玛西亚又站了起来，四脚小心翼翼地轻跳到地上，动作灵敏、优雅、轻盈，美如波浪。它慢慢离我而去，甚至都不回头看看我；它心里另有打算；当它风度优雅、大摇大摆地走着，快到门前时，站在吧台旁的一个令人讨厌的矮个子说：“小猫咪，小猫咪，小猫咪！”接着弯下腰轻轻挠它的后颈。一往情深，爱得纯粹的它，头也不抬，看都不看一眼，只是在那人腿上蹭了一下，在形式上、外在上表达了一份永不消磨的神圣友情。