美国语文5：带着历史去旅行

作者简介

埃德温·埃尔德曼（Edwin Alderman, 1861-1931），美国著名教育家、教育改革家。他曾担任弗吉尼亚大学校长长达25年之久，并在美国教育改革期间，为中小学生精编了这一套美国语文教材。 ？ ？ 因毕生致力于教育改革，是美国“进步时代”（Progressive Era）的标志性人物，埃德温·埃尔德曼去世的时候，美国总统胡佛发来悼词，表示遗憾。普策利奖得主杜马斯·马龙（Dumas Malone）曾为埃德温·埃尔德曼撰写传记。

内容简介

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon understood his business. Here was a man that in each moment and emergency knew what to do next. It is an immense comfort and refreshment to the spirits, not only of kings, but of citizens. Few men have any next; they live from hand to mouth, without plan, and are ever at the end of their line, and, after each action, wait for an impulse from abroad. Napoleon had been the first man of the world, if his ends had been purely public. As he is, he inspires confidence and vigor by the extraordinary unity of his action. He is firm,sure, self-denying, self-postponing, sacrificing everything to his aim,——money, troops, generals, and his own safety also; not misled, like common adventurers, by the splendor of his own means.“Incidents ought not to govern policy,” he said,“but policy incidents.”“To be hurried away by every event, is to have no political system at all.” His victories were only so many doors, and he never for a moment lost sight of his way onward in the dazzle and uproar of the present circumstance. He knew what to do, and he flew to his mark. He would shorten a straight line to come at his object. Horrible anecdotes may, no doubt, be collected from his history, of the price at which he bought his successes, but he must not, therefore, be set down as cruel, but only as one who knew no impediment to his will: not blood-thirsty, not cruel; but woe to what thing or person stood in his way! “Sire, General Clarke cannot combine with General Junot for the dreadful fire of the Austrian battery.”“Let him carry the battery.”“Sire, every regiment that approaches the heavy artillery is sacrificed. Sire, what orders?”“Forward!Forward!” In the plenitude of his resources every obstacle seemed to vanish. “There shall be no Alps,”he said; and he built his perfect roads, climbing by graded galleries their steepest precipices, until Italy was as open to Paris as any town in France. Having decided what was to be done, he did that with might and main. He put out all his strength. He risked everything and spared nothing,——neither ammunition, nor money, nor troops, nor generals, nor himself. If fighting be the best mode of adjusting national differences, certainly Bonaparte was right in making it thorough. He fought sixty battles. He had never enough. Each victory was a new weapon.“My power would fall, were I not to support it by new achievements. Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.” His vigor was guarded and tempered by the coldest prudence and punctuality. A thunderbolt in the attack, he was found invulnerable in his intrenchments. His every attack was never the inspiration of courage,but the result of calculation. His idea of the best defence consisted in being always the attacking party. “My ambition,” he said, “was great, but was of a cold nature.” Everything depended upon the nicety of his combinations;the stars were not more punctual than his arithmetic. His personal attention descended to the smallest particulars. “At Montebello, I ordered Kellerman to attack with eight hundred horses; and with these he separated the six thousand Hungarian grenadiers before the very eyes of the Austrian cavalry. This cavalry was half a league off, and required a quarter of an hour to arrive on the field of action. I have observed that it is always these quarters of an hour that decide the fate of a battle.” Before he fought a battle Bonaparte thought little about what he should do in case of success, but a great deal about what he should do in case of a reverse of fortune. The same prudence and good sense marked all his behavior. His instructions to his secretary at the palace are worth remembering: “During the night, enter my chamber as seldom as possible. Do not awake me when you have any good news to communicate; with that there is no haste; but when you bring bad news, rouse me instantly, for then there is not a moment to be lost.” His achievement of business was immense, and enlarges the known powers of man. There have been many working kings, from Ulysses to William of Orange, but none who accomplished a tithe of this man’s performance. Those who had to deal with him found that he was not to be imposed upon, but could cipher as well as another man. When the expenses of the empress, of his household, of his palaces, had accumulated great debts, Napoleon examined the bills of the creditors himself, defeated overcharges and errors,and reduced the claims by considerable sums. His grand weapon, namely, the millions whom he directed,he owed to the representative character which clothed him. He interests us as he stands for France and for Europe; and he exists as captain and king only as far as the Revolution or the interests of the industrious masses found an organ and a leader in him. In the social interests he knew the meaning and value of labor, and threw himself naturally on that side. The principal works that have survived him are his magnificent roads. He filled his troops with his spirit, and a sort of freedom and companionship grew up between him and them, which the forms of his court never permitted between the officers and himself.They performed under his eye that which no others could do. The best document of his relation to his troops is the order of the day on the morning of the battle of Austerlitz, in which Napoleon promises his troops that he will keep his person out of reach of fire. This declaration, which is the reverse of that ordinarily made by generals on the eve of battle, sufficiently explains the devotion of the army to their leader. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) 拿破仑·波拿巴 拿破仑知道该如何行动，他就是这样一个男人，时时刻刻都很清楚下一步该如何行动，即使遇到紧急情况，也能从容应对。拿破仑的这种性格不仅能给一般市民，而且也能给国王带来极大的慰藉和鼓舞。很少有人能像他那样规划未来，大多数人脑子里想到什么，就去做什么，毫无计划性可言，把事情拖到最后一刻才做，而且十分被动，每完成一步就要等到别人催促，才去做下一步。 如果拿破仑的目的是为了人民大众，他原可以成为世界上第一流的人物，可他并不是这样的人。像他这样，行为始终如一，就能够振奋人心，激发人民的力量。在实现目标的过程中，拿破仑既坚定又自信，但他也会不断自省，不惜牺牲小我，牺牲一切，无论是金钱，还是士兵和将领，甚至是自己的生命。但是，不同于一般的投机家，他拥有自己独到的见解。“事态的发展不能决定政策，”他说，“而是政策决定事态的发展。 ”“要是让政策随每个特定事件而改变，那政治体系就不复存在了。” 在走向成功的过程中，拿破仑不曾有过一丝松懈，面对当前兵荒马乱的局面，他始终对未来保持清醒的头脑，做好计划，缩短与目标的距离，再飞速地实现目标。当然，在拿破仑的一生中，不乏骇人听闻之事。那些是他成功的代价，但是并不能就此认为他是嗜杀成性的人、残酷的人，他只是眼里容不下一粒沙子。阻碍他前进的人或事，他都会毫不留情地予以扫除。 “陛下，奥地利炮兵火力凶猛，克拉克将军无法和朱诺将军会合。 ”“让他干掉这些炮兵。 ”“陛下，接近敌军炮口的兵团全都牺牲了，请指示。 ”“前进！前进！” 拿破仑足智多谋，眼里没有克服不了的困难。他说：“阿尔卑斯山也要给我让路。”于是，在悬崖峭壁上，他修建了许多完美的公路，最后从法国去意大利就像去任何别的法国城市一样轻而易举。一旦决定要做什么事，拿破仑就会不遗余力，全力以赴，为此赌上一切，不管是他的武器、他的金钱，还是他的士兵、将领，甚至是自己的安危。如果说，战争是解决国家间分歧最好的方式，那么拿破仑当然要在战术上精益求精。 在拿破仑的一生当中，他总共打过六十场仗，然而他还觉得远远不够。每一次的成功都让他的武力更加强大。“如果我不能取得新的胜利，我的势力就会衰退。征战造就了我，也支撑着我。”拿破仑行事高度严谨，十分守时，而他的力量正来源于此。在一次炮火攻击中，拿破仑藏身于壕沟里，安然无恙。他的每次进攻并不是一时的冲动，而是深思熟虑的结果。他认为，进攻就是最好的防守。“我有远大志向，”他说，“但冷酷无情。” 所有的一切都在拿破仑的精密筹划下进行，他的神机妙算胜过天体运算，他不放过任何一个小细节。“在蒙特贝洛的时候，我命令凯勒曼率领八百骑兵进攻，他用这些人马在奥地利骑兵队的眼皮底下冲散了六千匈牙利步兵。这个骑兵队离作战区域半里格远，并且要一刻钟的时间才能抵达。经过观察，我发现这些一刻钟正是决定战争成败的关键。” 在上战场之前，拿破仑很少思考战胜后的事情，而是把大部分的精力用于思考战败后该做些什么。无论在什么时候，他都谨慎行事，保持敏锐的洞察力。宫中的大臣必须牢记拿破仑的指示：“在夜里，尽量别进我的房间。有好消息要通报时，不要吵醒我，因为没必要弄得这么仓促；但有坏消息时，要立刻叫醒我，因为这时必须争分夺秒。”拿破仑处理事务的能力很强，已经超出了人们已知的限度。历史上有很多勤奋的国王，从尤利西斯到威廉三世，他们都不是拿破仑的对手。 接触过拿破仑的人都说，他决不会被欺骗，总能识破别人的诡计。当他的皇后，在家用和宫殿上的开销负债严重时，他就会亲自检查债务账单，废除索价过高的账单及错误的账单，减少了大笔债务款项。 拿破仑之所以能拥有强大的武力——他所统领的百万大军，是他身上独特的品质使然。拿破仑既代表法国，又代表欧洲，这一点很吸引我们。只要法国大革命或者是工人的利益决定了他既是领袖，又是国家的一部分，他就是唯一的领袖和君王。 在社会利益方面，拿破仑深知劳动人民的意义和价值，于是他自然而然地偏向这个阶层。拿破仑身后留下的重要工程，莫过于那些宽阔的道路。拿破仑用他的精神鼓舞士兵们，于是在他和士兵之间形成了一种自由的气氛和伙伴关系，这种上下级关系无人能比。拿破仑与士兵的关系用一个例子就能很好地诠释：在出征奥斯特利茨战场的清晨，拿破仑向士兵们保证，他本人不会加入战斗，这样的誓言和一般的将军在出征前夜所说的大有不同，而这样的与众不同也充分说明了士兵们对拿破仑有多么忠诚。 （拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生） A Letter to the President of Congress Washington at Trenton Headquarters, Morristown December 27, 1776. To the President of Congress: SIR: I have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success of an enterprise which I had formed against a detachment of the enemy lying in Trenton, and which was executed yesterday morning. The evening of the twenty-fifth I ordered the troops intended for this service to parade back of McKonkey’s ferry, that they might begin to pass as soon as it grew dark, imagining that we should be able to throw them all over, with the necessary artillery, by twelve o’clock and that we might easily arrive at Trenton by five in the morning, the distance being about nine miles. But the quantity of ice made that night impeded the passage of the boats so much that it was three o’clock before the artillery could all be got over and near four before the troops took up their line of march. This made me despair of surprising the town, as I well knew that we could not reach it before the day was fairly broke, but as I was certain there was no making a retreat without being discovered, and harassed on repassing the river, I determined to push on at all events. I formed my detachment into two divisions, one to march by the lower or river road, the other by the upper or Pennington road. As the divisions had nearly the same distance to march,I ordered each of them immediately, upon forcing the outguards, to push directly into the town, that they might charge the enemy before they had time to form. The upper division arrived at the enemy’s advanced post exactly at eight o’clock, and in three minutes after I found from the fire on the lower road that that division had also got up.The out guards made but small opposition; though, for their numbers, they behaved very well, keeping up a constant retreating fire from behind houses. We presently saw their mainbody formed, but from their motions, they seemed undetermined how to act. Being hard pressed by our troops, who had already got possession of their artillery, they attempted to file off by a road on their right leading to Princeton. But, perceiving their intention, I threw a body of troops in their way, which immediately checked them. Finding from our disposition that they were surrounded, and that they must inevitably be cut to pieces if they made any further resistance, they agreed to lay down their arms. The number that submitted in this manner was twenty-three officers and eight hundred and eighty-six men. Colonel Rahl, the commanding officer, and seven others were found woundedin the town. I do not know exactly how many they had killed; but I fancy not above twenty or thirty, as they never e any regular stand. Our loss is very trifling indeed,—— only two officers, and one or two privates wounded. I find that the detachment consisted of the three Hessian regiments of Lanspach, Kniphausen, and Rahl, amounting to about fifteen hundred men, and a troop of British light horse; but immediately upon the beginning of the attack, all those who were not killed or taken pushed directly down toward Bordentown. These would have likewise fallen into our hands could my plan have been completely carried into execution. General Ewing was to have crossed before day at Trenton ferry and taken possession of the bridge leading out of the town; but the quantity of ice was so great that though he did everything in his power to effect it, he could not get over. This difficulty also hindered General Cadwalader from crossing with the Pennsylvania militia from Bristol. He got part of his foot soldiers over; but finding it impossible to embark his artillery, he was obliged to desist. I am fully confident that could the troops under General Ewing and Cadwalader have passed the river, I should have been able, with their assistance, to drive the enemy from all their posts below Trenton. But the numbers I had with me being inferior to them below me, and a strong battalion of light infantry being at Princeton above me, I thought it most prudent to return the same evening with the prisoners and the artillery we had taken. We found no stores of any consequence in the town. In justice to the officers and men, I must add that their behavior upon this occasion reflects the highest honor upon them. The difficulty of passing the river in a very severe night, and their march through a violent storm of snow and hail did not in the least abate their ardor; but when they came to the charge, each seemed to vie with the other in pressing forward; and were I to give a preference to any particular corps, I should do great injustice to the others. Colonel Baylor, my first aide-camp, will have the honor of delivering this to you; and from him you may be made acquainted with many other particulars. His spirited behavior upon every occasion requires me to recommend him to your particular notice. I have the honor to be, etc. ★常春藤版美国语文，经典著作 美国著名教育学家主编，符合儿童身心发展规律，让每个年龄阶段的孩子都会感兴趣。 ★适合青少年的名作？，优美易读 汇聚诸多重量级文学大家笔下专为青少年阅读创作的作品，并依据孩子心理成长特点分阶段编排，优美、易读。 ★学习性阅读的经典，生动有趣？ ？ ？ 夯实基础：深入浅出，重点夯实孩子的英文基础知识。 题型丰富：设计了多样化的练习题，确保孩子掌握更全面的知识。 拓展知识：趣味拓展阅读，全面培养孩子的语文素养。 ★中英对照，精选上百篇名家名篇 ★内附美国名校名录，精美原版插图