英译汉translation exercise

Solitude is an excellent laboratory in which to observe the extent to which manners and habits are conditioned by others. My table manners are atrocious—in this respect I've slipped back hundreds of years in fact, I have no manners whatsoever. If I feel like it, I eat with my fingers, or out of a can, or standing up—in other words, whichever is easiest.

孤独是很好的实验室，正好适合观察一个人的举止和习惯在多大程度上受人制约。如今我吃东西的举止十分粗野；这方面一放松就倒退了几百年，实在是一点礼貌也没有。我高兴就用手抓来吃，开个罐头端着吃，沾着吃；反正怎么省事就怎么吃。

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 fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time has been sift out (筛落) the bad products, for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.

译文1：书的特质在于永恒，是人类经努力奋斗而产生的最长久产品。庙宇和雕塑会腐朽，但书籍却能永存。时间在伟大思想面前毫无作用，许多年前闪现在作者心头的思想至今仍栩栩如生。当年的所言所思至今仍在印刷的纸上生动地回响。时间的唯一作用就是去掉糟粕。只要是真正的精华就能在文学上永存。

译文2：书的实质在于世代永存，是迄今人类长期努力得来的最持久产品。庙宇会坍塌，雕像会腐蚀，但书籍却能永存。伟大的思想不会因岁月的流失而消泯，前人的思想历

久长新，其所言所思至今仍跃然纸上、声声入耳。悠悠岁月只会去尽糟粕，真正的好书经得起历史的淘汰和荡涤。