第十六章 2001年，巴尔的摩，纽约（第3/9页）

高翔明白，这多半是陈子惠故意让宝宝打来的，不过他可以三言两语结束跟母亲的对话，却没办法随便应付宝宝，两人在电话里聊了十来分钟，他才哄得宝宝答应去午睡。

放下手机，他再看左思安，她已经远远走开。

他走过去，搂住她的肩膀：“不开心了吗？”

她摇摇头，勉强微笑：“不会的，我在研究地图。我们能不能去一次巴尔的摩，离华盛顿很近，开车过去只一个小时的路程。”

高翔本来打算直接去费城，并没将巴尔的摩列入行程。他看她手里的地图：“那个城市有什么特别吗？”

“去年英文老师让我们读诗，其中有一首诗，名字是拉丁文：Desiderata，意思是被渴望的事物，我很喜欢，是我最先背下来的一首英文诗，据说是1692年镌刻在巴尔的摩的圣保罗教堂的。”

他并不介意按她的意愿更改行程：“好，我们去那里吧。”

高翔开车往巴尔的摩方向驶去，说：“把那首诗读给我听听。”

左思安踌躇了一下，轻轻地念道：

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms

with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even the dull and ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons

than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is

as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and thestars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

（在喧闹而奔忙的世界中平静地往前走

这是多么和平、安宁

你要与周围所有的人友好相处

尽可能不要放弃这种努力和追求

你要轻轻却清晰地说出自己的真实思想

并且耐心倾听别人含糊甚至烦人的想法

因为每个人都有他们自己的故事

你要远远避开那些吵闹、具有侵略性的人

他们会使你的精神苦恼

如果你将自己与他人作比

那么你将变得既自负又痛苦

因为这世上永远有着比你强和比你弱的人们

你该享受你自己的成就和计划

保持对你自己的事业的兴趣

它们不管多么细琐、低下，都是你

在变化多端的时代能真正拥有的财产

在商业事务中你要小心谨慎

这世上到处都有阴谋和欺骗

你也不要让自己对美德视而不见