Chapter One Literary Patriotic Duke-文忠公

I. Summary & Reflection

本章节内容主要论述苏东坡的生平，并列举了一些在他一生当中影响极大的事件。在阅读过程中，能够强烈的感受到林语堂先生对苏东坡的“才”与“情”赞不绝口。

文章中主要提到苏东坡在中国历史上的两个独特地位：政治上的坚持己见；在艺术方面的独特造诣。

Su Tungpo's peculiar position in China's history was, therefore, based on his courageous stand for his principles and opinions, as well as upon the charm of his poems and prose.

His character and principles constitute the “bones”of his fame ,while the charm of style and language forms the “fresh and skin” that embody the beauty of his spirit.

所以，在我们面前，作者给我们呈现的是一个活生生的、有血有肉、有自己独特的灵魂的苏东坡。

在此段里作者更是称苏东坡是集 great poet, prose writer, painter, calligraphist, conversationalist and travel于一身。读完不禁感叹：全才啊！

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II. Words & Expressions

......and after a futile struggle with petty minds but great politicians, he went into his second exile outside civilized China in the island of Hainan...

petty

1.adj. (informal) small and of little importance (trival)（问题、细节等）不重要的、琐碎的

eg. The machine didn't work. After checking clearly, it was found that is was just petty problems.

2.adj. contemptibly narrow in outlook 小气的 心胸狭窄的  petty minds心地狭窄

eg. How can she be so petty? I don't want to talk with her!

3.adj. a petty official is not important - used especially when they use their power as if they were important 〔官员〕不重要的，芝麻绿豆大的〔尤用于摆架子的官员〕

eg. Some petty bureaucrat wanted all the documents in triplicate.

He dabbled in alchemy and was interested almost to his last days in his search for the elixir of immortality.

dabble

v. to move your hands, feet etc about in water 【英】 使〔手﹑脚等〕浸在水中移动；用〔手﹑脚等〕玩水[嬉水]  dabble sth in sth

eg. The children were dabbling their feet in the sea.

v  to do something or be involved in something in a way that is not very serious 涉猎〔而不深入钻研〕，浅尝(+in / at / with)

eg. They are these people who dabble in painting as a way of relaxing.

与之非常类似的一个词

dab

v. to touch something lightly several times, usually with something such as a cloth 〔数次〕轻触，轻拍

eg. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. 她用手帕轻轻地擦了擦眼睛。

We wish that your spirit could rise from the underground springs, so that the world might pay homage to your fame, and we pray that your talented soul will accept our Imperial favor.

pay homage to  v.向…表示敬意

eg. Palace has released two marvellous films that pay homage to our literary heritage.