It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
Excerpt From A Tale of Two Cities
By Charles Dickens
［参考译文］
最好的时代
查尔斯·狄更斯
这是一个最好的时代，也是一个最坏的时代；这是明智的年代，这是愚昧的年代；这是信任的纪元，这是怀疑的纪元；这是光明的季节，这是黑暗的季节；这是希望的春日，这是失望的冬日；我们面前应有尽有，我们面前一无所有；我们都将直上天堂，我们都将直下地狱。
［注释］
-wisdom [ˈwɪzdəm] n. 智慧，明智的行为，学识 the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have
-epoch [ˈiːpɒk, ˈepɒk] n. 新纪元，时代，时期 age, era, period
-incredulity [ˌɪnkrəˈdjuːlətɪ] n. 怀疑 the state or quality of being incredulous; disbelief
-despair [dɪˈspeə(r)] n. 绝望，失望 to lose all hope
［作者简介］
查尔斯·狄更斯（Charles Dickens, 1812-1870），英国大名鼎鼎的作家，是19世纪英国现实主义文学的主要代表人物之一。他笔耕一生，靠勤奋和汗水创作出了《双城记》、《大卫·科波菲尔》等世界文学名著。其作品艺术上以妙趣横生的幽默、细致入微的心理分析以及现实主义描写与浪漫主义气氛的有机结合而著称。他的作品被译成多国语言，他的小说经改编成话剧、电影、音乐剧等。