《送东阳马生序》

明·宋濂

原文（节选）

余幼时即嗜学。家贫，无从致书以观，每假借于藏书之家，手自笔录，计日以还。天大寒，砚冰坚，手指不可屈伸，弗之怠。录毕，走送之，不敢稍逾约。以是人多以书假余，余因得遍观群书……

English Translation

Preface to Seeing Ma Shen off to the East

By Song Lian (Ming Dynasty)

When I was young, I was fond of learning. But my family was poor and could not afford books to read. I had to borrow books from families that owned them and copy them by hand, returning them by the appointed date. Even in bitterly cold winters when the inkstone froze solid and my fingers stiffened¹, I never neglected this task. After copying, I would rush to return the books, never daring to break the deadline. Because of this, many people lent me books, and thus I was able to read extensively...

原文

当余之从师也，负箧曳屣，行深山巨谷中。穷冬烈风，大雪深数尺，足肤皲裂而不知。至舍，四支僵劲不能动，媵人持汤沃灌，以衾拥覆，久而乃和……

Translation

When I went to study under my teacher, I carried a trunk on my back and dragged my shoes through the deep mountains and valleys. In the harsh winter with biting winds and snow several feet deep, my skin cracked without my noticing. Upon reaching the lodging², my limbs would be frozen stiff, and it took a long time wrapped in blankets and warmed with hot water before I recovered...