The gay of genius---chapter 19

1.Central Question

Q: Why did Lin Yutang mention the Pu Tsungmeng's personal habits in this chapter?

A: As a matter of fact, in Su Tungpo's eyes, there  is not very much difference in actual happiness between living a luxurious life and a simple one. Once the “official craving” is satisfied, being a high official is not likely to be more fun than being a successful blacksmith. It is a earthly manner about looking upon the life at the capital. This shows that Su Tungpo regards money as dirt, does not like extravagant life, and yearns for a simpe and simple pastoral life, which is the essence of his poetry. He likes nature, integrates with nature, and seeks happiness and spiritual enjoyment in nature, which is everything he lives. This happiness is something else irreplaceable.

2.Sentences

（1）They are sonorous, apt, precise in language.

sonorous    adj.响亮的，感人的

                      adv.圆润低沉地，感人地

                      n. 感人，堂皇

apt        adj. 恰当的，灵巧的，有……倾向的

这句话表明，苏东坡草拟的圣旨和文章非常铿锵有声，妥帖工巧，简练明确。

（2）This puritan was far from being an amiable character, to say the least, and his holier-than-thou manners irritated Su Tingpo greatly.

amiable    adj.和蔼可亲的，温和的

holier-than-thou    adj.自命不凡的，自命清高的

（3）As a matter of fact, there is not very much difference in actual happiness between living a luxurious life and a simple life.

事实上，在奢侈豪华的生活和简单朴质的生活之间，论幸福，并没有多大不同。