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The writer once called upon one of the most extensive and persevering of modern travelers, at an early hour of the day,
记得有一次，我大清早去拜访一个兴趣广泛、毅力坚定的现代旅行家，
to attend him upon a walk to a distant village.
同他一起散步，我们一直走到一个遥远的村子.
It was after breakfast, and though he had but few minutes at command, he was sitting with book in hand -- a book of solid history he was perusing day after day.
在那里吃过早饭后，他拿出一本书--一本他找了许久才找到的很厚的历史书，坐下来开始阅读，这本书他基本上每天都要读。
He remarked: "This has been my habit for years in all my wanderings.
他说：“多年来，在旅途中读书已经成了我的习惯。
It is the one habit which gives solidity to my intellectual activities and imparts tone to my life.
这个习惯使我的头脑更加充实，并为我的生活增添了不少乐趣。
It is only in this way that I can overcome and counteract the tendency to the dissipation of my powers and the distraction of my attention,
只有这样，在陌生的环境中，我才会克制自己，不会使自己的注意力分散，
as strange persons and strange scenes present themselves from day to day."
就像每天都有陌生的人和陌生的场景出现。”
To the rule already given -- read with a definite aim -- we could add the rule
对于已经给出的方法--读书时确定一个明确的目标--我们可以为这种方法增加一些法则，
make your aims to be definite by continuously holding them rigidly to a single book at all times, except when relaxation requires you to cease to work, and to live for amusement and play.
不过为了使这个目标最终能够实现，读者还必须坚持朝着这个目标指引的方向去读书，当然，对于以放松、娱乐或仅仅是以玩为目的的读书来说是例外的。
Always have at least one iron in the fire, and kindle the fire at least once every day.
那就是，要确保每天将铁块至少放入火中一次，并且每天至少烧一次火。
It is implied in the preceding that we should read upon definite subjects, and with a certain method and proportion in the choice of our books.
前面所说的就是为了暗示我们在读书时必须确定一个明确的目标，在选择读物时要有一定的方法。
If we have a single object to accomplish in our reading for the present, that object will of necessity direct the choice of what we read,
如果在读书时只有一个目标，那么这个目标就有必要引导我们选择什么样的读物，
and we shall arrange our reading with reference to this single end.
并且按照这个目标来安排我们的读书计划。
This will be a nucleus around which our reading will for the moment naturally gather and arrange itself.
在阅读过程中，我们会很自然地围绕这个目标来进行。
If several subjects seem to us equally important and interesting,
如果有好几个主题对我们来说都很重要，并且我们都很感兴趣，
we should dispose of them in order, and give to each for the time our chief and perhaps our exclusive attention.
那么这时就需要我们合理地分配时间，一个一个地完成。
That this is wise is so obvious as not to require illustration.
这种道理是显而易见的。
"One thing at a time," is an accepted condition for all efficient activity, whether it is employed upon things or thoughts, upon men or books.
“一次做一件事”，这对于任何活动都是最有效的方法，无论是做事还是思考。这对一个人或是对于读书，都是一样的。
If five or ten separate topics have equal claim upon our interest and attention,
假如有五个或者十个不同的主题同时引起我们的注意，并且我们都饶有兴趣，
we shall do to each the amplest justice, if we make each in its turn the central subject of our reading.
那么在阅读时就应该逐一分析，判断出中心主题。
There is little danger of weariness or monotony from the workings of such a rule.
不过这样的方法可能会让人感到疲倦或枯燥乏味。
Most single topics admit or require a considerable variety of books, each different from the other, and each supplementing the other.
大多数单一的主题需要阅读大量的书籍，这些书都不尽相同，却又相互补充。
Hence it is one of the best of practices in prosecuting a course of reading, to read every author who can cast any light upon the subject which we have in hand.
在这种情况下，我们可以采取一种很好的方法，那就是阅读每一位可以帮我们理解这一主题的作者的作品。
For example, if we are reading the history of the Great Rebellion in England, we should read, if we can, not a single author only, as Clarendon,
例如，我们正在阅读《英国叛乱史》，如果可以的话，我们不应该只读一个作者的作品，如克拉伦登的作品，
but a half dozen or a half score, each of whom writes from his own point of view, supplies what another omits, or corrects what he under -- or overstates.
我们可以阅读另外六七位或者十多位作家的作品，他们每个人都会从自己的角度来写这些历史，补充别人遗漏的东西，或纠正自己低估或夸大的东西。
But, besides the formal histories of the period, there are the various novels, the scenes and characters of which are placed in those times, such as Scott's Woodstock;
当然，除了一段时期比较正式的历史外，还有各类小说，就是以那个时代的场景和人物为背景的小说，如斯科特的《伍德斯托克》，
there are also diaries, such as those by Evelyn, Pepys, and Burton; and there are memoirs, such as those of Col. Hutchinson;
还有日记，例如伊夫林、佩皮斯和伯顿写的日记，还有哈钦森写的回忆录，
while the last two have been imitated in scores of fictions.
而后两者被许多小说所模仿。
There are poems, such as those of Andrew Marvell, Milton, and Dryden.
另外还有诗，如安德鲁·马维尔、弥尔顿和德莱顿写的。
There are also shoals of political tracts and pamphlets, of handbills and caricatures.
当然还有很多政治传单、小册子、手递报和讽刺漫画等。
We name these various descriptions of works and classes of reading,
我们之所以将以上提到的这些不同的材料称为读物，
not because we suppose all of them are accessible to those readers who live at a distance from large public libraries,
并非因为它们是那些远离公共图书馆的读者很容易能得到的读物，
or because we would advise everyone who may have access to such libraries, to read all these books and classes of books as a matter of course,
也不是因为我们建议那些可以拿到这些读物的人把这些东西都拿来读，
but because we would illustrate how great is the variety of books and reading matter that are grouped around a single topic, and are embraced within a single period.
而是因为我们要借此说明众多的读物与阅读材料是如何围绕一个主题、在一个时期进行分类的。
Every person must judge for himself how long a time he can bestow upon any single subject, or how many and various are the books in respect to it which it is wise to read;
每个人都必须对他在一个单一的主题上花多长时间做出判断，或者应该去读多少与这个主题相关的书，才是最明智的阅读。
but of this everyone may be assured, that it is far easier, far more agreeable, and far more economical of time and energy,
但有一点大家可以确保：越容易越好，越合适越好，越节省时间与精力越好，
to concentrate the attention upon a single subject at a time than to extend it to half a score,
在一定的时间内应该对某一个主题全心全意地进行研究，而不应该同时研究六个主题。
and that six books read in succession or together upon a single topic, are far more interesting and profitable than twice as many which treat of topics remotely related.
阅读一些与主题相关的、数量不多的书本要比阅读大量的、与主题无关的书有趣，并且更有效。
A lady well known to the writer, of the least possible scholarly pretensions or literary notoriety,
一位没有什么学术抱负，在文学界也没有名声的妇女，
spent fifteen months of leisure, snatched by fragments from onerous family cares and brilliant social engagements,
她每天被烦琐的家务缠身，还要去参加各种各样的社交活动，但在她花费了十五个月的闲暇时间，
in reading the history of Greece as written by a great variety of authors and as illustrated by many accessories of literature and art.
阅读了好几位作家写的有一定学术说明的希腊历史之后，她知道了好多作家。
Nor should it be argued that such rules as these, or the habits which they enjoin, are suitable for scholars only, or for people who have much leisure for reading.
以上提到的这些规则，或它们所要求的习惯，不仅仅只是针对学者，或有很多闲暇阅读的人。
It should rather be urged that those who can read the fewest books and who have at command the scantiest time, should aim to read with the greatest concentration and method;
相反，我们应该敦促那些能读的书最少、能支配的时间最少的人，以最集中和最有方法的阅读为目标。
should occupy all of their divided energy with single centers of interest,
应该把他们分散的精力都用在单一的兴趣中心上，
and husband the few hours which they can command, in reading whatever converges to a definite, because to a single, impression.
在阅读任何书籍时，他们都要充分利用自己所能支配的几个小时，集中在一个明确的阅读对象上，因为只有一个对象。
