讀一篇經典的英語美文，沉浸在語言的魅力中，在文字中張開想象的翅膀吧。以下是小編整理的英語經典美文及翻譯，歡迎閱讀。
英語經典美文及翻譯1
It was the last day of final examinations in a large Eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam—then on to commencement and jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get. With all this assurance of four years of college, they felt ready and able to conquer the world.
The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap. The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted. Requesting only that they did not talk to each other during the test.
Jubilantly they filed into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essaytype questions.
Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. No one spoke as, papers in hand, the professor faced the class.
He surveyed the worried faces before him, then asked: “how many completed all five questions?”
Not a hand was raised.
“How many answered four?”
Still no hands.
“Three? Two?”
The students shifted restlessly in their seats.
“One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.”
But the class remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I expected,” he said.
“I just want to impress upon you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know. These questions you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added: “You will all pass this course, but remember—even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun.”
The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.
那是在一所東部大學期末考試的最後一天。一座教學樓的階梯上，有一羣工程系大四學生擠在一起討論幾分鐘後將要開始的考試。他們臉上充滿自信。這是他們最後一次考試了，接着就等畢業典禮，然後參加工作。
這些學生中有的正在談論剛剛找到的工作，也有的談論將來會找什麼樣的工作。他們對四年的所學信心十足，感覺自己已經可以去一闖天下了。
他們知道即將開始的考試將會是小菜一碟，因爲此前這門課的教授說本次考試爲開卷考試，只要願意，什麼書本筆記都可以帶進考場。要求只有一點：考試期間不許交頭接耳。
學生們興高采烈，陸續進入教室，教授把試卷發給他們。他們發現試卷上只有五道問答題，於是笑容更加燦爛了。
三個小時過去了，教授開始收卷子。學生們先前的`自信早已蕩然無存。他們流露出擔心的表情。教授拿着試卷看着學生們，沒人說話。
他掃視了一下大家苦惱的表情，然後問道：“有多少人答完了五道題?”
沒有一個人舉手。
“有多少人答完了四道題?”
還是沒有人舉手。
“三道題?兩道題?”
這時學生們在自己的座位上坐立不安了。
“那麼，有誰答上來一道題?一定有人做完了一道題。”
但是學生們依然沉默。教授放下手中的卷子，說道：“這正是我所預計的。”
“我只是想讓你們銘記於心，即使你們已經完成了四年工程學的學習，這個學科仍然有很多你們不知道的東西。這些你們回答不出的問題在日常實踐中卻是司空見慣的。”接着他笑了笑，補充道：“你們都能通過這門課，但是要記住：即便你們現在已經是大學畢業生了，你們在這一行的學習纔剛剛開始。”
歲月的流逝已使我已記不清這位教授的名字，但是他所教授的這一課卻依然歷歷在目。
英語經典美文及翻譯2
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull in the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering—waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!” We cry. “When I'm 18.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118：24：“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isnt the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
我們的潛意識裏藏着一派田園詩般的風光!我們彷彿身處一次橫貫大陸的漫漫旅程之中!乘着火車，我們領略着窗外流動的景色：附近公路上奔馳的汽車、十字路口處招手的孩童、遠山上吃草的牛羣、源源不斷地從電廠排放出的煙塵、一片片的玉米和小麥、平原與山谷、羣山與綿延的丘陵、天空映襯下城市的輪廓，以及鄉間的莊園宅第!
然而我們心裏想得最多的卻是最終的目的地!在某一天的某一時刻，我們將會抵達進站!迎接我們的將是樂隊和飄舞的彩旗!一旦到了那兒，多少美夢將成爲現實，我們的生活也將變得完整，如同一塊理好的拼圖!可是我們現在卻在過道里不耐煩地踱來踱去，咒罵火車的拖拖拉拉!我們期待着，期待着，期待着火車進站的那一刻!
“當我們到站的時候，一切就都好了!”我們呼喊着。“當我18歲的時候!”“當我有了一輛新450SL奔馳的時候!”“當我供最小的孩子唸完大學的時候!”“當我償清貸款的時候!”“當我官升高任的時候!”“當我退休的時候，就可以從此過上幸福的生活啦!”
可是我們終究會認識到人生的旅途中並沒有車站，也沒有“一到永逸”的地方!生活的真正樂趣在於旅行的過程，而車站不過是個夢，它始終遙遙領先於我們!
“享受現在”是句很好的箴言，尤其是當它與《聖經·詩篇》中第118章24節的一段話相映襯的時候, 更是如此：“今日乃主所創造；生活在今日我們將歡欣、高興!”真正令人發瘋的不是今日的負擔，而是對昨日的悔恨及對明日的恐懼!悔恨與恐懼是一對孿生竊賊，將今天從你我身邊偷走!
那麼就不要在過道里徘徊吧，別老惦記着你離車站還有多遠!何不換一種活法，將更多的高山攀爬，多吃點兒冰激凌甜甜嘴巴，經常光着腳板兒溜達溜達，在更多的河流裏暢遊，多看看夕陽西下，多點歡笑，少點淚水吧!生命只是一段旅程!車站會很快到達。
