通过美文的赏析,陶冶学生的思想情操,开阔视野,提高对优美散文的鉴赏能力,提高人文素养;同时培养学生的认知水平、情感态度、文化意识,激发学习英语的兴趣,为他们的跨文化交际能力和终身学习英语的能力打下良好的基础。小编整理了优美英语美文，欢迎阅读!

优美英语美文：A Greek to Remember

一位值得纪念的希腊人

Diogenes was a famous Greek philosopher of the fourth century B.C.，who established the philosophy of cynicism.He often walked about in the daytime holding a lighted lantern，peering around as if he were looking for something.When auestioned about his odd behavior，he would reply，"I am searching for an honest man."

Diogenes held that the good man was self-sufficient and did not require material comforts or wealth.He believed that wealth and possessions constrained humanity's natural state of freedom.In keeping with his philosophy，he was perefectly satisfied with making his home in a large tub discarded from the temple of Cybele，the goddess of nature.

This earthen tub，called a pithos，and formerly been used for holding wine or oil for the sacrifices at the temple.

One day，Alexander the Great ，conqueror of half the civilized world，saw Diogenes sitting in this tub in the sunshine. So the king，surrounded by his countries，approached Diogenes and said，"I am Alexander the Great."The philosopherreplied rather contemptuously，"I am Diogenes，the Cynic."Alexander then asked him if he could help him in any way."

Yes，"shot back Diogenes，"don't stand between me and the sun."A surprised Alexander then replied quickly，"If I were not Alexander，I would be Diogenes."

提奥奇尼斯是公元前四世纪一位著名的希腊哲学家，就是他创立了犬儒派哲学。他经常在白天点着灯笼四处走动、张望，像是在找什么东西似的。哪人们问起他这古怪行为时，他会回答说：“我正在寻找正人君子。”

提奥奇尼斯认为好人是自给自足的，不需要物质享受和财富。他认为财富、财产束缚了人们天生的自由状态。与他的哲学相一致，他拿一个从别人从自然之母的庙里丢弃的大坛作为自己的家，还对此万分满意。这个陶制的大坛叫做圣坛，过去在庙里是用来盛装祭祀用的酒和油的。

一天，征服了半个文明世界的亚历山大大帝看见提奥奇尼斯坐在大坛里晒太阳。于是这位君主在大臣们的簇拥下走过去，对提奥奇尼斯说：“我是亚历山大大帝。”哲学家相当傲慢地回答说：“我是提奥奇尼斯————犬儒学者。”然后亚历山大问他是否需要任何帮助。“

是的“，提奥奇尼斯驳回道，”别站在我和太阳之间。“大吃一惊的亚历大继而迅速回答道：”假如我不是亚历山大，我就会是提奥奇斯。

优美英语美文：The Cobbler and the banker

La Fontaine/拉。封丹

皮匠和银行家

A cobbler passed his time in singing from morning till night;it was wonderful to see，wonderful to hear him;he was more contented in shoes，than was any of the seven sages.His neighbor，on the contrary，who was rolling in wealth，sung but little and slept less.He was a banker;when by chance he fell into a doze at day-break，the cobbler awoke him with his song.The banker complained sadly that Providence had not made sleep a saleable commodity，like edibles or drinkables.Having at length sent for the songster，he said to him，"How much a year do you earn，Master Gregory?"

"How much a year，sir?"said the merry cobbler laughing，"I have reckon in that way，living as I do from one day to another;somehow I manage to reach the end of the year;each day brings its meal."

"Well then!How much a day do you earn，my friend?"

"Sometimes more，sometimes less;but the worst of it is，-and，without that our earnings would be very tolerable，-a number of days occur in the year on which we are forbidden to work;and the curate，moreover，is constantly adding some new saint to the list."

The banker，laughing at his simplicity，said，"In the future I shall place you above want.Take this hundred crowns，preserve them carefully，and make use of them in time of need."

The cobbler fancied he beheld all the wealth which the earth had produced in the past century for the use of mankind.Returning home，he buried his money and his happiness at the same time，No more singin;he lost his voice，the moment he acquired that which is the source of so much grief.Sleep quitted his dwelling;and cares，suspicions，and false alarms took its place，All day，his eye wandered in the direction of his treasure;and at night，if some stray cat made a noise，the cat was robbing him.At length the poor man ran to the house of his rich neighbor;"Give my back." said he，"sleep and my voice，and take your hundred crowns."

一个皮匠从早到晚在唱歌中度过。无论见到他本人或听见他的歌声都使人觉得很愉快。他对于制鞋工作比当上了希腊七对还要满足。

与此相反，他的邻居是个银行家，拥有万贯家财，却很少唱歌，晚上也睡得不好。他偶尔在黎明时分迷迷糊糊刚入睡，皮匠的歌声便 于工作把他吵醒了。银行家郁郁寡欢地抱怨上帝没有睡眠也制成一种像食品或饮料那样可以买卖的商品。后来，银行家就叫人把这位歌手请来，问道：“格列戈里师傅，你一年赚多少钱?”

“先生，你问我一年赚多少钱吗?”快乐的皮匠笑道：“我从来不算这笔帐，我是一天一天地过日子，总而言之坚持到年底，每天挣足三餐。“

“啊，朋友，那么你一天赚多少钱呢?”

“有时多一点，有时少一点;不过最糟糕的是一年中总有些日子不准我们做买卖，牧师又常常在圣徒名单上添新名字，否则我们的收入也还算不错的。“

银行家被皮匠的直率逗笑了，他说：“我要你从今以后不愁没钱用。这一百枚钱你拿去，小心放好，需要时拿来用吧。”

皮匠觉自己好像看到了过去几百年来大地为人类所需而制造出来的全部财富。他回到家中，埋藏好硬币，同时也埋葬了他的快乐。他 不再唱歌了;从他得到这种痛苦的根源那一刻起，他的嗓子就哑了。睡眠与他分手;取而代之的却是担心、怀疑、虚惊。白天，他的目光尽朝埋藏硬币的方向望;夜间，如果有只迷途的猫弄出一点声响，他就以为是有人来抢他的钱。最后，这个可怜的皮匠跑到他那富有的邻居家里说：“把你的一百枚钱拿回去，还我的睡眠和歌声来。”

优美英语美文：Love is a two-way street

A father sat at his desk poring over his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and announced,

“Dad, because this is your birthday and you’re 55 years old, I’m going to give you 55 kisses, one for each year!” When the boy started making good on his word, the father exclaimed, “Oh, Andrew, don’t do it now; I’m too busy!”

The youngster immediately fell silent as tears welled up in his big blue eyes. Apologically the father said, “You can finish later.”

The boy said nothing but quietly walked away, disappointment written over his face. That evening the father said, “Come and finish the kisses now, Andrew!” But the boy didn’t respond.

Unfortunately, a few days later after this incident, the boy had an accident and was drowned. His heartbroken father wrote...

“If only I could tell him how much I regret my thoughtless words, and could be assured that he knows how much my heart is aching.”

…Love is a two-way street. Any loving act must be warmly accepted or it will be taken as rejection and can leave a scar. If we are too busy to give and receive love, we are too busy! Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and precious to us. Because... there may be no chance at all as in the case of the little boy...

父亲坐在办公桌旁，正盯着那些堆积了一个月来的账单，这时，他的小儿子冲了过来，大声宣布：

“爸爸，因为今天是你五十五岁的生日， 我想给你五十五个吻，一年一个!”当男孩正要兑现诺言时，他爸爸大声说道：“哦，安德鲁，现在不行，我太忙了!”

小男孩马上不吭声了，蓝色的大眼睛里涌满了泪水。父亲深表歉意地说：“过会有空再亲吧。”

男孩什么也没说，只是静静地走开了，失望的表情溢于言表。那天晚上，父亲说：“来吧安德鲁，现在可以亲了!”但是，孩子却没有做出回应。

不幸的是，这件事刚过去几天之后，小男孩就不幸溺水身亡。伤心欲绝的爸爸写道：

“如果我早告诉他，对于那些无心的话我是多么后悔，他一定会明白我的心有多么痛。”

爱，是一条双行道。对于爱的表示一定要热心地接受，否则对方会以为你拒绝了，从而留下一道伤痕。如果我们忙得连给予和接受爱的时间都没有，那未免也忙得太过分了!对于那些在我们身边，对我们弥足珍贵的人，用爱去回应他们爱的渴望，这最重要不过了!因为……如果发生像小男孩这样的情况，即使后悔也没有机会了。