Before October, 1893, I had studied various subjects by myself in a more or less desultory manner. I read the histories of Greece, Rome and the United States. I had a French grammar in raised print, and as I already knew some French, I often amused myself by composing in my head short exercises, using the new words as I came across them, and ignoring rules and other technicalities as much as possible. I even tried, without aid, to master the French pronunciation, as I found all the letters and sounds described in the book. Of course this was tasking slender powers for great ends; but it gave me something to do on a rainy day, and I acquired a sufficient knowledge of French to read with pleasure La Fontaine’s’Fables,” “Le Medecin Malgre Lui” and passages from “Athalie.”
到1893年10月之前，我已经断断续续地自学了很多科目。我阅读了希腊、罗马和美国的历史。我有一本盲文版法语语法书，而且已经学习了几句法语。为了自娱自乐，我经常默默地在脑海里做一些小练习。我用随意想到的新单词造句，而且不太理会语法规则和其他的技巧性问题。在无人帮助的情况下，我甚至尝试掌握法语发音，因为我在这本书里发现了所有字母和音节的发音讲解。当然，对于宏大的目标而言，这种努力远远不够，不过，它却使我在淫雨霏霏的日子里有事可干。我学到了足够的法语知识，使我能愉快地阅读拉封丹[15]的《寓言》、莫里哀[16]的《屈打成医》，以及拉辛 [17]《阿达莉》中的段落。【注：[15]1621—1695，法国古典文学的代表作家之一，著名的寓言诗人。[16]1622—1673，法国喜剧作家、演员，法国17世纪古典主义文学最重要的作家，古典主义喜剧的创建者。代表作有《唐璜》、《悭吝人》、《屈打成医》等。[17]1639—1699，法国剧作家、诗人。代表作有《讼棍》等。】
I also gave considerable time to the improvement of my speech. I read aloud to Miss Sullivan and recited passages from my favourite poets, which I had committed to memory; she corrected my pronunciation and helped me to phrase and inflect. It was not, however, until October, 1893, after I had recovered from the fatigue and excitement of my visit to the World’s Fair, that I began to have lessons in special subjects at fixed hours.
我还用相当多时间来提高说话能力。我大声地为沙利文小姐朗读课文，背诵我喜爱的诗歌章节；她则纠正我的发音，帮我断句，教我转调。然而，直到1893年10月，在我从参观世界博览会的疲劳和兴奋中恢复平静之后，我才开始在固定时间内学习一些特殊课程。
At first I was rather unwilling to study Latin grammar. It seemed absurd to waste time analyzing, every word I came across — noun, genitive, singular, feminine — when its meaning was quite plain. I thought I might just as well describe my pet in order to know it — order, vertebrate; division, quadruped; class, mammalia; genus, felinus; species, cat; individual, Tabby. But as I got deeper into the subject, I became more interested, and the beauty of the language delighted me. I often amused myself by reading Latin passages, picking up words I understood and trying to make sense. I have never ceased to enjoy this pastime.
起初，我不怎么愿意学习拉丁语语法。对遇到的每一个单词都要分析，什么名词啦，所有格啦，单数啦，阴性啦，真是浪费时间，荒唐得很，尤其是当词义一目了然的时候。我想，不妨通过描述我的宠物来了解它吧。目：脊椎动物；门：四足动物；纲：哺乳动物；属：猫；种：虎斑猫。不过，随着学习的深入，我变得越来越有兴趣，拉丁语之美给我带来快乐。我常常读拉丁语文章自娱自乐。我会把认识的词挑出来，设法体味其中含义。我从来没有终止过这种消遣。
Miss Sullivan and I were at that time in Hulton, Pennsylvania, visiting the family of Mr. William Wade. Mr. Irons, a neighbour of theirs, was a good Latin scholar; it was arranged that I should study under him. I remember him as a man of rare, sweet nature and of wide experience. He taught me Latin grammar principally; but he often helped me in arithmetic, which I found as troublesome as it was uninteresting. Mr. Irons also read with me Tennyson’s “In Memoriam.” I had read many books before, but never from a critical point of view. I learned for the first time to know an author, to recognize his style as I recognize the clasp of a friend’s hand.
我和沙利文小姐当时在宾夕法尼亚州的霍尔顿，客居在威廉·韦德先生家。他的邻居艾恩斯先生是一位优秀的拉丁语学者，经过安排，我跟他学习拉丁语。在我的记忆中，艾恩斯先生是一个和蔼可亲、博学多闻的人。他主要教我拉丁语语法，不过也经常帮我解决算术难题——对我而言，那些数字运算既令人烦恼又枯燥乏味。艾恩斯先生还陪我一起读丁尼生[18]的《悼念》。我以前读过很多书，但从未曾从批评的角度去读。这是我首次学会分辨一位作家，根据文风辨认作家，如同根据握手辨认朋友一样。【注：[18]1809—1892，英国著名诗人。代表作有《悼念》等。】
There is nothing more beautiful, I think, than the evanescent fleeting images and sentiments presented by a language one is just becoming familiar with — ideas that flit across the mental sky, shaped and tinted by capricious fancy. Miss Sullivan sat beside me at my lessons, spelling into my hand whatever Mr. Irons said, and looking up new words for me. I was just beginning to read Caesar’s “Gallic War” when I went to my home in Alabama.
我想，最美妙的莫过于因一种刚刚学会的语言而产生的倏忽即逝的影像和情感——掠过脑海、经多变幻想塑形并着色的思想。上课时，沙利文小姐坐在我的身边。她会把艾恩斯先生说的话在我手上拼写出来，并且帮我查生词。在启程返回亚拉巴马老家时，我已开始读恺撒[19]的《高卢战记》。【注：[19]前100—前44，罗马共和国末期杰出的军事统帅、政治家。】
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