Companionship of books(3)

　Books possess an essence of immortality.They are by far the most lasting products of human effort.Temples and statues decay,but books survive.Time is of no account with great thoughts,which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds,ages ago.What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page.The only effect of time have been to sift out the bad products;for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.

　temple[ˈtempl]庙宇，寺院

　statue['stætjuː]雕像

　of no account不重要的，无价值的

　书籍具有不朽的本质，是人类努力创造的最为持久的成果。寺庙会倒塌，神像会朽烂，而书却经久长存。对于伟大的思想来说，时间是无关紧要的。多年前初次闪现于作者脑海的伟大思想今日依然清晰如故。时间惟一的作用是淘汰不好的作品，因为只有真正的佳作才能经世长存。