Dear Chinese Friends,

Tonight, we come to the end of 16 glorious days which we will cherish forever.

Thank you to the people of China, all the wonderful volunteers and BOCOG!

Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world. Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees came to these dazzling venues and awed us with their talent.

New stars were born. Stars from past Games amazed us again. We shared their joys and their tears, and we marveled at their ability. We will long remember the achievements we witnessed here.

As we celebrate the success of these Games, let us together wish the best for the talented athletes who will soon participate in the Paralympic Games. They also inspire us.

To the athletes tonight: You were true role models. You have shown us the unifying power of sport. The Olympic spirit lives in the warm embrace of competitive rivals from nations in conflict. Keep that spirit alive when you return home.

These were truly exceptionnal  Games!

And now, in accordance with tradition, I declare the Games of the XXIX Olympiad closed, and I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in London to celebrate the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

Thank you!

董桥：《三家村·翻译家》

文评家昂格斯·威尔森读书心细如发，对自己喜爱的作品深情款款，反复诵读，熟得不能再熟；一旦下笔品题，自然见微知著，句句新颖。他写的小说也自成气象。可见读书不必贪多贪新，读通三两大家的文章脉络，一生受用不尽！当年偶读夏济安所译《名家散文选读》两卷，惊为翻译秘笈，如醉如痴；从此学而时习之，经年累月，闭目几可背诵十之八九。

下等译匠是“人在屋檐下，不得不低头”，给原文压得扁扁的，只好忍气吞声；高等译手是“月上柳梢头，人约黄昏后”，跟原文平起平坐，谈情说爱，毫无顾忌。译匠中英文太过寒伧，一旦登入文学堂奥，手脚都不听使唤，说话更结结巴巴了；译手中英文富可敌国，进出衣香鬓影之间应对得体，十足外交官风度：“时方晚秋，气象肃穆，略带忧郁，早晨的阴影和黄昏的阴影，几乎连接在一起，不可分别；岁将云暮，终日昏暗，我就在这么一天，到西敏大寺去散步了几个钟头。古寺巍巍，森森然似有鬼气，和阴沉沉的季候正好调和；我跨进大门，觉得自己已经置身远古，相忘于古人的鬼影之中了。”欧文的英文典丽不可方物，没想到夏济安的译文穷追不舍，硬是不肯放过那缕缕幽香！痴情如此，写中文又臭又烂的家伙真都成了“负心的人”矣。

一道带有秋意的黄色阳光，正从回廊环绕的广场上空倾泻下来；照耀着场中央一块稀疏的草坪，同时把上有拱顶的过道一角抹上一层阴郁的光辉。从拱廊之间向上望去，可以瞥见一抹蓝天，或一朵游云，还有那镀着阳光，伸向碧空的寺顶尖塔，也巍然在目。

几天的功夫，由于抢购，货架上的货就空了。

Within days panic buying emptied store shelves.

隋炀帝数征高丽，无功而返，耗尽了国家资源。

Emperor Yangdi’s unsuccessful campaigns against Korea drained the Sui empire of its resources.

我是从西敏学校的内庭走进去的，先走过一条弧顶的矮矮的长廊，墙壁很厚，墙上有圆孔，略有光线透入，廊中幽暗，幽幽然似在地下行走。黑廊尽头，我远远的看见大寺里的回廊，一个老年香火道人，身穿黑袍，正沿着拱廊阴影里踽踽走去，看起来就像从附近的古坟里爬出来的鬼魂。我从当年僧院遗址那条路进入古寺，景象分外凄凉，我心也更适宜于往凄凉方面冥想了。回廊一带依然保留有几分当年的幽静出世之慨。灰色的墙壁为霉气所蒸，显得斑斑驳驳，年代己久，颓坏之象，也很明显。墙上长了一层白苍苍的苔薛，非但上面的碑文不可读，连骷髅像和别的丧用标志都模糊不清。弧顶布满雕刻花纹，可是斧钻的痕迹，也已模糊；拱心石上面雕有玫瑰花，可是当年枝叶茂美之状，已经不可复见。每样东西都可以看出年久衰败之象，可是即使处在颓朽之中，依然不乏赏心悦目之处。

mercenary mentality

money-mad

money maniac