现代大学英语精读5-Professions-for-Women中英文

ProfessionsforWomenVirginiaWoolf(1882-1941)Whenyoursecretaryinvitedmetocomehere,shetoldmethatyourSocietyisconcernedwiththeemploymentofwomenandshesuggestedthatImighttellyousomethingaboutmyownprofessionalexperiences.ItistruethatIamawoman;itistrueIamemployed;butwhatprofessionalexperienceshaveIhad?Itisdifficulttosay.Myprofessionisliterature;andinthatprofessiontherearefewerexperiencesforwomenthaninanyother,withtheexceptionofthestage--fewer,Imean,thatarepeculiartowomen.Fortheroadwascutmanyyearsago---byFannyBurney,byAphraBehn,byHarrietMartineau,byJaneAusten,byGeorgeEliot—manyfamouswomen,andmanymoreunknownandforgotten,havebeenbeforeme,makingthepathsmooth,andregulatingmysteps.Thus,whenIcametowrite,therewereveryfewmaterialobstaclesinmyway.Writingwasareputableandharmlessoccupation.Thefamilypeacewasnotbrokenbythescratchingofapen.Nodemandwasmadeuponthefamilypurse.FortenandsixpenceonecanbuypaperenoughtowritealltheplaysofShakespeare--ifonehasamindthatway.Pianosandmodels,Paris,Vienna,andBerlin,mastersandmistresses,arenotneededbyawriter.Thecheapnessofwritingpaperis,ofcourse,thereasonwhywomenhavesucceededaswritersbeforetheyhavesucceededintheotherprofessions.Buttotellyoumystory--itisasimpleone.Youhaveonlygottofiguretoyourselvesagirlinabedroomwithapeninherhand.Shehadonlytomovethatpenfromlefttoright--fromteno’clocktoone.Thenitoccurredtohertodowhatissimpleandcheapenoughafterall--toslipafewofthosepagesintoanenvelope,fixapennystampinthecorner,anddroptheenvelopeintotheredboxatthecorner.ItwasthusthatIbecameajournalist;andmyeffortwasrewardedonthefirstdayofthefollowingmonth--averygloriousdayitwasforme--byaletterfromaneditorcontainingacheckforonepoundtenshillingsandsixpence.ButtoshowyouhowlittleIdeservetobecalledaprofessionalwoman,howlittleIknowofthestrugglesanddifficultiesofsuchlives,Ihavetoadmitthatinsteadofspendingthatsumuponbreadandbutter,rent,shoesandstockings,orbutcher’sbills,Iwentoutandboughtacat--abeautifulcat,aPersiancat,whichverysooninvolvedmeinbitterdisputeswithmyneighbors.WhatcouldbeeasierthantowritearticlesandtobuyPersiancatswiththeprofits?Butwaitamoment.Articleshavetobeaboutsomething.Mine,Iseemtoremember,wasaboutanovelbyafamousman.AndwhileIwaswritingthisreview,IdiscoveredthatifIweregoingtoreviewbooksIshouldneedtodobattlewithacertainphantom.Andthephantomwasawoman,andwhenIcametoknowherbetterIcalledheraftertheheroineofafamouspoem,TheAngelintheHouse.ItwasshewhousedtocomebetweenmeanmypaperwhenIwaswritingreviews.ItwasshewhobotheredmeandwastedmytimeandsotormentedmethatatlastIkilledher.Youwhocomeoffayoungerandhappiergenerationmaynothaveheardofher--youmaynotknowwhatImeanbyTheAngelintheHouse.IwilldescribeherasshortlyasIcan.Shewasintenselysympathetic.Shewasimmenselycharming.Shewasutterlyunselfish.Sheexcelledinthedifficultartsoffamilylife.Shesacrificedherselfdaily.Iftherewaschicken,shetooktheleg;iftherewasadraftshesatinit--inshortshewassoconstitutedthatsheneverhadamindorawishofherown,butpreferredtosympathizealwayswiththemindsandwishesofothers.Aboveall--Ineednotsayit--shewaspure.Herpuritywassupposedtobeherchiefbeauty--herblushes,hergreatgrace.Inthosedays--thelastofQueenVictoria--everyhousehaditsAngel.AndwhenIcametowriteIencounteredherwiththeveryfirstwords.Theshadowofherwingsfellonmypage;Iheardtherustlingofherskirtsintheroom.Directly,thatistosay,Itookmypeninmyhandtoreviewthatnovelbyafamousman,sheslippedbehindmeandwhispered:“Mydear,youareayoungwoman.Youarewritingaboutabookthathasbeenwrittenbyaman.Besympathetic;betender;flatter;deceive;usealltheartandwilesofoursex.Neverletanybodyguessthatyouhaveamindofourown.Aboveall,bepure.”Andshemadeasiftoguidemypen.InowrecordtheoneactforwhichItakesomecredittomyself,thoughthecreditrightlybelongstosomeexcellentancestorsofminewholeftmeacertainsumofmoney--shallwesayfivehundredpoundsayear?--sothatitwasnotnecessaryformetodependsolelyoncharmformyliving.Iturneduponherandcaughtherbythethroat.Ididmybesttokillher.Myexcuse,IfIweretobehadupinacourtoflaw,wouldbethatIactedinself-defense.HadInotkilledhershewouldhavekilledme.Shewouldhavepluckedtheheartoutofmywriting.For,asIfound,directlyIputpentopaper,youcannotreviewevenanovelwithouthavingamindofyourown,withoutexpressingwhatyouthinktobethetruthabouthumanrelations,morality,sex.Andallthesequestions,accordingtotheAngeloftheHouse,cannotbedealtwithfreelyandopenlybywomen;theymustcharm,theymustconciliate,theymust—toputitbluntly-—tellliesiftheyaretosucceed.Thus,wheneverIfelttheshadowofherwingortheradianceofherhalouponmypage,Itookuptheinkpotandflungitather.Shediedhard.Herfictitiousnaturewasofgreatassistancetoher.Itisfarhardertokillaphantomthanareality.ShewasalwayscreepingbackwhenIthoughtIhaddispatchedher.ThoughIflattermyselfthatIkilledherintheend,thestrugglewassevere;ittookmuchtimethathadbetterhavebeenspentuponlearningGreekgrammar;orinroamingtheworldinsearchofadventures.Butitwasarealexperience;Itwasanexperiencethatwasboundbefallallwomenwritersatthattime.KillingtheAngelintheHousewaspartoftheoccupationofawomanwriter.Buttocontinuemystory.TheAngelwasdead;whatthenremained?Youmaysay