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幽暗漆黑，从深谷里往上爬更是艰辛。然而，这条路通向无上声名的绿色山峰，在那里，你能看到地平线上更遥远的地方。不经过艰辛的劳作，是不可能看到这些景物的。事实上，若非艰辛的劳作换取的成果，是毫无价值的。如果你想得到鲜花和果实，你必须栽种它们、培育它们；如果你想得到同伴的关爱，你必须关爱他们，为他们受苦；如果你想得到上天的宠爱，你必须让自己有资格享受这种宠爱；如果你想得到不朽的名望，你就不要忽略通往名望的艰难之路。”
尽管这个女人同另一位女人一样美丽，但赫拉克勒斯看到她的面庞纯真而文雅，就像五月里温暖清晨的天空。
“该如何称呼你呢？”他问。
“有些人叫我劳作，”她回答，“还有另一些人叫我美德。”
然后，年轻人又转向第一个女人。“那么，你又叫什么名字？”他问道。
“有些人叫我快乐，”她带着迷人的微笑说，“但我愿意被人称做愉快和幸福。”
赫拉克勒斯说：“美德，我选择你做我的向导！付出劳作和诚实的努力的道路，才是我要走的路。我的内心不再怀有苦楚与不满。”
他把手放到美德的手中，和她一起走上了难以行走的道路，那条路将直通向遥远而又模糊的地平线上的美丽山峰。
赫拉克勒斯的选择（2）
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在赫拉克勒斯的著名选择——选择劳作，不贪图享乐中，他明白了大多数人都不能发现的一种观点。他明白，选择劳作就是选择了美德，也因此选择了幸福。我们知道，当赫拉克勒斯走上美德和劳作的道路时，真正的幸福就会来到他身边。
The Choice of Hercules
Anonymous
In his famous choice of labor over pleasure； Hercules sees a distinction far too many fail to discern。 He sees that to choose labor is to choose virtue； and thereby happiness。 It is important to note； however； that happiness is not his goal； it is rather a result of his dedication to labor。 It’s a crucial point。 Many people pursue pleasure as an end because they believe； as the personification of pleasure says in this story； that ease is the state in which “you shall not want for anything that makes life joyous。” But even if you attain that kind of pleasure； something fundamental is missing—the satisfaction of the soul that es only through human striving。 We know true happiness will e to Hercules as we see him set off down the road of Virtue and Labor。
When Hercules was a fair…faced youth； and life was all before him； he went out one morning to do an errand for his stepfather。 But as he walked his heart was full of bitter thoughts； and he murmured because others no better than himself were living in ease and pleasure； while for him there was naught but a life of labor and pain。
As he thought upon these things； he came to a place where two roads met； and he stopped； not certain which one to take。
The road on his right was hilly and rough。 There was no beauty in it or about it； but he saw that it led straight toward the blue mountains in the far distance。
The road on his left was broad and smooth； with shade trees on either side； where sang an innumerable choir of birds； and it went winding among green meadows； where bloomed countless flowers。 But it ended in fog and mist long before it reached the wonderful blue mountains in the distance。
While the lad stood in doubt as to these roads； he saw two fair women ing toward him； each on a different road。 The one who came by the flowery way reached him first； and Hercules saw that she was as beautiful as a summer day。
Her cheeks were red； her eyes sparkled； she spoke warm； persuasive words。 “O noble youth；” she said； “be no longer bowed down with labor and sore trials； but e and follow me。 I will lead you into pleasant paths； where there are no storms to disturb and no troubles to annoy。 You shall live in ease； with one unending round of music and mirth； and you shall not want for anything that makes life joyous—sparkling wine； or soft couches； or rich robes； or the loving eyes of beautiful maidens。 e with me； and life shall be to you a daydream of gladness。”
By this time the other fair woman had drawn near； and she now spoke to the lad。 “I have nothing to promise you；” said she； “save that which you shall win with your own strength。 The road upon which I would lead you is uneven and hard； and climbs many a hill； and descends into many a valley and quagmire。 The views which you will sometimes get from the hilltops are grand and glorious； but the deep valleys are dark； and the ascent from them is toilsome。
赫拉克勒斯的选择（3）
Nevertheless； the road leads to the blue mountains of endless fame； which you see far away on the horizon。 They cannot be reached without labor； in fact； there is nothing worth having that must not be won by toil。 If you would have fruits and flowers； you must plant them and care for them； if you would gain the love of your fellow men； you must love them and suffer for them； if you would enjoy the favor of heaven； you must make yourself worthy of that favor； if you would have eternal fame； you must not scorn the hard road that leads to it。”
Then Hercules saw that this lady； although she was as beautiful as the other； had a countenance pure and gentle； like the sky on a balmy morning in May。
“What is your name？” he asked。
“Some call me Labor；” she answered； “but others know me as Virtue。”
Then he turned to the first lady。 “And what is your name？” he asked。
“Some call me Pleasure；” she said； with bewitching smile； “but I choose to be known as the Joyous and Happy One。”
“Virtue；” said Hercules； “I will take thee as my guide！ The road of labor and honest effort shall be mine； and my heart shall no longer cherish bitterness or discontent。”
And he put his hand into that of Virtue； and entered with her upon the straight and forbidding road which leads to the fair blue mountains on the pale and distant horizon。
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关于扫帚柄的沉思
＇英国＇乔纳森·斯威夫特
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乔纳森·斯威夫特（1667—1745）；英国政论家、散文家和小说家，被认为是英语世界最杰出的讽刺作家之一。斯威夫特生于爱尔兰都柏林，父母均是定居爱尔兰的英格兰人。他一生积极参与政治活动，写下一系列笔锋辛辣、脍炙人口的政论文章，代表作有政论文《一个温和的建议》和讽刺语言小说《格列佛游记》。后者在全世界广为传诵，并被搬上银幕。
这把孤零零的扫帚柄，你别看它现在无精打采地躲在阴暗的角落里，以前我在树林里见过风华正茂的它，那会儿它还是活力充沛，苍翠欲滴，树枝繁密。而如今，有些故意找事的人，他们在它没有汁液的树干上缚上了一把枯枝，企图凭借自己的一技之长来胜过大自然，这也不过是徒劳。它现在最多不过是颠倒乾坤的一棵树，树枝在地，树根朝天，完全改变了先前的上下位置。每一个干苦活粗活的低微女佣都可以使用扫帚柄。扫帚柄拥有反复无常的命运，它不得不去扮演一个角色：把别的东西打扫得一尘不染，结果把自己搞得污秽不堪。最终，在为女佣们多次服务之后，自己破损得只剩下一根残干。它们的结局，要么是被扫地出门，要么是成为引火柴。我看到这一过程，禁不住一声长叹，自言自语道：“毫无疑问，人生也就是这么一根扫帚柄！”大自然让他精力充沛、朝气蓬勃地来到人世间，一出生就长着一头秀发，如同富有理性、枝叶茂盛的一株植物，可是没过多久，他那密密麻麻的树枝便被贪杯酗酒这柄利斧砍掉，唯一剩下的就是一根枯萎的树干。他赶紧去借助人的智慧，用假发代替，并且还为戴了一头扑满香粉的假发颇为得意，而不在乎是不是生来俱有。可是，假如现在我们这把扫帚柄也打扮成这样：满身灰尘，还为身上捆绑了别人的枝条得意扬扬。这样，即便那灰尘来自于最尊贵的妇人的闺房，我们也会嘲笑、鄙视它的空虚。对于我们自己的优点和别人的缺点，我们就是有失偏颇的法官。
你或许会说，一把扫帚柄不过只是一棵颠倒的树而已。那么，恳切地问一句，人是什么？人不同样是首足倒置的一个生灵吗？他的兽性一直胜过理性，头跑到了原本属于脚后跟的地方，匍匐于地！更重要的是，虽然毛病多多，他却依然认为自己是普天之下的改革者、兴利除弊者、为民伸冤者。在世界的角落里搜寻人间污垢，让大家知道一大堆不为人知的腐败，原本一尘不染的地方让他们变得乌烟瘴气。他装着要把“垃圾”清除干净，自己却同流合污。在自己生命的最后时光里，他最终成了女人的奴隶，而且通常是最不值得的女人。结果同他的扫帚兄弟一样，耗费得只剩下一根残干，不是被扫地出门，就是引火烧身，让别人取暖。
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一把扫帚柄的命运是如此的无奈，不管它曾经是多么的辉煌，最终都会作为引火的柴，这又是何等的悲凉呢？其实人生也就是这么一把扫帚柄！
A Meditation upon a Broomstick
Jonathan Swift
This single stick； which you now behold ingloriously lying in that neglected corner； I once knew in a flourishing1 state in a forest； it was full of sap； full of leaves； and full of boughs； but now； in vain does the busy art of man pretend to vie2 with nature； by tying that withered bundle of twigs to its sapless trunk； ‘tis now； at best； but the reverse of what it was； a tree turned upside down； the branches on the earth； and the root in the air； ‘tis now handled by every dirty wenchs； condemned to do her drudgery； and； by a capricious kind of fate； destined to make other things clean； and be nasty itself： at length； worn to the stumps in the service of the maids； it is either thrown out of door； or condemned to the last use of kindling a fire。 When I beheld this I sighed； and said within myself； surely man is a Broomstick！Nature sent him into the world strong and lusty； in a thriving condition； wearing his own hair on his head； the proper branches of this reasoning vegetable； until the axe of intemperance has lopped off his green boughs； and left him a withered trunk； he then flies to art； and puts on a periwig ； valuing himself upon an unnatural bundle of hairs （all covered with powder） that never grew on his head； but now； should this our broomstick pretend to enter the scene； proud of those birchen spoils it never bore； and all covere