The Moon And Sixpence 2.2

But I seekrefuge in no such excuses. I forget who it was that recommended men for theirsoul's good to do each day two things they disliked: it was a wise man, and itis a precept that I have followed scrupulously; for every day I have got up andI have gone to bed. But there is in my nature a strain of asceticism, and Ihave subjected my flesh each week to a more severe mortification. I have neverfailed to read the Literary Supplement of The Times. It is a salutarydiscipline to consider the vast number of books that are written, the fairhopes with which their authors see them published, and the fate which awaitsthem. What chance is there that any book will make its way among thatmultitude? And the successful books are but the successes of a season. Heavenknows what pains the author has been at, what bitter experiences he has enduredand what heartache suffered, to give some chance reader a few hours' relaxationor to while away the tedium of a journey. And if I may judge from the reviews,many of these books are well and carefully written; much thought has gone totheir composition; to some even has been given the anxious labour of alifetime. The moral I draw is that the writer should seek his reward in thepleasure of his work and in release from the burden of his thought; and,indifferent to aught else, care nothing for praise or censure, failure orsuccess.

但是我并不想以这些事为自己辩解。我不记得是谁曾经建议过，为了使灵魂宁静，一个人每天要做两件他不喜欢的事。说这句话的人是个聪明人，我也一直在一丝不苟地按照这条格言行事：因为我每天早上都起床，每天也都上床睡觉。但是我这个人生来还有苦行主义的性格，我还一直叫我的肉体每个星期经受一次更大的磨难。《Times》的文学增刊我一期也没有漏掉。想到有那么多书被辛勤地写出来，作者看著书籍出版，抱着那么殷切的希望，等待着这些书又是什么样的命运，这真是一种有益身心的修养。一本书要能从这汪洋大海中挣扎出来希望是多么渺茫啊！即使获得成功，那成功又是多么瞬息即逝的事啊！天晓得，作者为他一本书花费了多少心血，经受多少磨折，尝尽了多少辛酸，只为了给偶然读到这本书的人几小时的休憩，帮助他驱除一下旅途中的疲劳。如果我能根据书评下断语的话，很多书是作者呕心沥血的结晶，作者为它绞尽了脑汁，有的甚至是孜孜终生的成果。我从这件事取得的教训是，作者应该从写作的乐趣中，从郁积在他心头的思想的发泄中取得写书的酬报；对于其他一切都不应该介意，作品成功或失败，受到称誉或是诋毁，他都应该淡然处之。