英语翻译
2.Bookspossessanessenceofimmortality.Theyarebyfarthemostlastingproductsofhumaneffort.Templesandstatuesdecay,butbookssurvive.Timeisofnoaccountwithgreatthoughts,whichareasfreshtodayaswhentheyfirstpassedthroughtheirauthor’sminds,agesago.Whatwasthensaidandthoughtstillspeakstousasvividlyaseverfromtheprintedpage.Theonlyeffectoftimehasbeentosiftoutthebadproducts;fornothinginliteraturecanlongsurvivebutwhatisreallygood.
Booksintroduceusintothebestsociety;theybringusintothepresenceofthegreatestmindsthathaveeverlived.Wehearwhattheysaidanddid;weseethemastheywerereallyalive;wesympathizewiththem,enjoywiththem,grievewiththem;theirexperiencebecomesours,andwefeelasifwewereinameasureactorsinthesceneswhichtheydescribe.
Thegreatandgooddonotdieeveninthisworld.Embalmedinbooks,theirspiritswalkabroad.Thebookisalivingvoice.Itisanintellecttowhichonestilllistens.Henceweeverremainundertheinfluenceofthegreatmenofold.Theimperialintellectsoftheworldareasmuchaliveastheywereyearsago.