e which, protected by truth, can never know 19)reproach, it is that to which our lives have been devoted. myself, you have been a 20)pillar of support throughout life. take care of me when dead and be assured that i shall leave with you my last 21)affections." (feb 17, 1826)
a week later madison replied--
"you cannot look back to the long period of our private friendship and political harmony with more 22)affecting 23)recollections than i do. if they are a source of pleasure to you, what aren't they not to be to me? we cannot 24)be deprived of the happy 25)consciousness of the pure devotion to the public good with which we 26)discharge the trust committed to us and i 27)indulge a confidence that 28)sufficient evidence will find its way to another generation to ensure, after we are gone, whatever of justice may be 29)withheld 30)whilst we are here."
杰斐逊参加起草的《独立宣言》宣告了美国的成立，麦迪逊提出三权分立的原则，被美国人称为“宪法之父”。这两届美国总统之间还有一份深厚的友情，不但影响了美国历史的进程，更令彼此终生受益。
伟大的友谊
--托马斯·杰斐逊和詹姆斯·麦迪逊
托马斯·杰斐逊和詹姆斯·麦迪逊相识于1776年。为什么偏偏是这一年呢？当时他们开始共同努力推动美国革命，后来又一同为政府拟订新草案。在这些合作中孕育出的友谊是亲密无间、信诚以托、坚不可摧的。这份友谊维持了五十年。当中包含有欢乐，有协作，他们更志同道合地朝共同的目标迈进，历经多年从不间断地令彼此受益。在离开人世前四个半月时，杰斐逊重病在身，债台高筑，并为家庭的贫困感到忧心如焚，于是他提笔给这位知交好友写了封信。从他的信以及麦迪逊的回复中，我们可以看到：这两个朋友是一生之交；并且有时候，他们之间的友情意义之大更超越了友情本身，这份友谊给大众带来的深远影响是前所未有的。
“你我之间的友谊迄今已经走过了半个世纪，我们在政治原则与追求上取得的协调在过去的漫漫岁月中为我带来了源源不断的快乐。我感到一大安慰的是，我相信你还在兢兢业业地致力于造福子孙后代的事业--这份事业我们曾为他们争取过，我们也努力要把他们透明自治的优良体制流传下去。希望这世界上有一种治理制度，在执行的时候专门有坚定不移的一只眼睛来审视它，监护大众利益和为之奋斗者的幸福，建立在真理基础上的制度将永远与责难无缘，我们一生所致力的也正在这里。我自己，还有你，毕生都为此鼎力支持。请你照顾我的身后之事，也请相信，我的友情永远和你同在。”（1826年2月17日）
一个星期后，麦迪逊写了回信--
“在过去的漫长岁月中，你我的友谊与一致的政治观，总令我在回想时心中无比感动。它们为你带来欢乐，对我又何尝不是如此？我们肩负人民的信任，为大众福利鞠躬尽瘁，从中获得的幸福感是难以泯灭的。我坚信，无论当前对我们的评判怎样，我们的一切贡献，身后的下一代人必将给予公断。”
注释:
1) further v. 促进
2) scheme n. 计划，方案
3) incomparable a.无与伦比的
4) intimacy n. 亲密
5) collaboration n. 协作
6) indurations n. 坚固，硬化
7) utility n. 效用，利用
8) ailing a. 生病的，景况不佳的
9) impoverished a. 穷困的
10) consequence n. 结果
11) subsist v. 存在
12) principle n. 原则，法则
13) solace n. 安慰
14) engage in 从事于，参加
15) vindicate v. 维护，表白
16) posterity n. 子孙，后裔
17) conduct v. 管理，引导
18) steadfast a. 坚定的
19) reproach n. 责难
20) pillar n. 重要的支持者
21) affection n. 友爱
22) affecting a. 感动的
23) recollection n. 回忆
24) be deprive of 被剥夺
25) consciousness n. 意识，知觉
26) discharge v. 履行，放出
27) indulge v. 沉溺，放纵
28) sufficient a. 充分的
29) withhold v. 抑制，阻止
30) whilst conj. 同时
★★《2003年05月号-第40期-disc02-05》★★
life could be worse
让生活换一种风景
for the taxes that i pay, because it means that i am employed.
纳税--是因为我有一份工作。
for the 1)mess to clean after a party, because it means that i have been 2)surrounded by friends.
派对后要收拾打扫--因为我身边有好多朋友啊。
for the clothes that fit a little too 3)snug, because it means i have enough to eat.
原本合身的衣服现在有点紧了--那是我足食无忧嘛。
for a 4)lawn that needs 5)mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means i have a home.
草坪该剪了，窗户要抹了，水沟还没修--那是因为我有一个家。
for the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching tv, because that means he is at home and not on the streets.
小孩子不刷碗，却在看电视--因为他有家可依，不用流落街头。
for the parking spot i find at the far end of the 6)parking lot, because it means i am capable of walking and that i have transportation.
停车场只剩远远的角落有空位--因为我走得了路，我还拥有交通工具。
for the 7)punk rock band that is noisy, because it means that i can hear.
朋克乐队吵翻了天--那意味着我听力不错。
for the pile of 8)laundry and 9)ironing, because it means i have clothes to wear.
成堆衣服要洗要烫--我的衣服可多了。
for weariness and 10)aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means i have been capable of working hard.
一天下来腰酸背疼--因为我有能力勤奋工作。
for my alarm that goes of in the early morning hours, because it means that i am alive. and finally...
闹钟清早就响--那意味着我还活着。还有就是……
for too much e-mail, because it means i have friends who are thinking of me.
电子邮件爆满啦--因为有这么多朋友在惦记着我呢。
注释：
1) mess n. 混乱，脏乱
2) surround v. 包围
3) snug a. 紧贴
4) lawn n. 草坪
5) mowing n. 割草
6) parking lot 停车场
7) punk n. 朋克
8) laundry n. 要洗的衣服
9) ironing n. 熨平衣服
10) aching a. 疼的
★★《2003年05月号-第40期-disc02-06》★★
norwegian wood
written by haruki murakami
i was thrity-seven then, 1)strapped in my seat as the huge 747 2)plunged through 3)dense cloud cover on approach to the hamburg airport. cold november rains 4)drenched the earth and lent everything the 5)gloomy air of a flemish landscape: the 6)ground crew in rain gear, a flag 7)atop a 8)squat airport building, a 9)bmw billboard. so--germany again.
once the plane was on the ground soft music began to flow from the ceiling speakers: a sweet 10)orchestral cover version of the beatles' "norwegian wood". the melody never failed to send a 11)shudder through me, but this time it hit me harder than ever.
i bent forward in my seat, face in hands to keep my skull from splitting open. before long one