上回举例了一个糟糕的中文。那什么是好的中文呢？其实，可以放广泛一点，什么是好的文字？
当然，每种语言都有其独特或难以翻译之处。据说瑞典语里有个单词Mångata，名词，表示平静水面上月亮如长路一般粼粼的倒影。中文里当然也有无法翻译成英语的词句（比如“撒娇”，哈哈），但是让我们先看看可以被翻译的诗意。
以最近看到的一篇非常好的童书为例。这本《Grandad's Island》（《爷爷的海岛》，当然，英文不分祖父和外祖父，也可能是外公的海岛。）是英国人Benji Davies的杰作，所有图片都来自amazon和他分享的创作历程（ http://blog.picturebookmakers.com/post/123446450231/benji-davies ），包括对自己grandad的怀念。
——原书文字——
Grandad’s Island
by Benji Davies.
At the bottom of Syd's garden, through the gate, and past the tree, was Grandad's house.
There was a key under a flowerpot.
And Syd could let himself in any time that he liked.
One day, Syd called round to see Grandad.
But he wasn't in any of the usual places.
Then, just as he was about to leave, Syd heard Grandad calling.
"Ah, there you are," said Grandad.
"There's something I want you to see."
Syd carefully climbed up the ladder.
He'd never been in Grandad's attic before.
It was full of old boxes and things that Grandad had collected from around the world.
At the far end of the attic, Grandad pulled a sheet down from the wall to reveal a big, metal door.
"After you, Syd," he said.
Syd turned the handle - CLUNK - and give the heavy door a push.
FOGHORN SOUNDS
Syd found himself standing on the deck of a very tall ship.
There was an ocean of rooftops all around.
SEAGULLS SQUAWK
Grandad pulled a handle.
"BOOP!" went the horn.
And the ship lurched forward.
"Steady as she goes," Grandad boomed.
Grandad was very good at steering the ship.
And kept them on a smooth course across the rolling waves.
Mile after mile, all they saw was sea and sky.
Sky and sea.
Until, at last, something appeared on the horizon.
"Land ahoy!" shouted Syd.
They dropped the ships anchor and made their way to the shore.
"Grandad, don't you want your stick?" Syd asked.
"No, I think I'll be all right," said Grandad.
In the thick jungle of the island, it was very hot.
"We must find a good spot for a shelter," said Grandad.
At the top of the island where a cool breeze blew through the trees they found an old shack.
There was a lot to do.
But with a little help they soon had everything shipshape.
They explored the island high and low.
At every turn they saw new wonders.
It was the most perfect place.
Syd wished they could stay forever.
But he knew that it would soon be time for them to leave.
"Syd, there is something I've been meaning to tell you.
"You see, I'm thinking of staying."
"Oh," said Syd. "But won't you be lonely?"
"No, I don't think I will," said Grandad, smiling.
Before he set sail, Syd hugged Grandad one last time.
He would miss him very much.
Everyone came to wave goodbye.
Across the waves, the ship chugged and churned.
The journey seemed much longer without Grandad.
But Syd steered the ship safely home.
The next morning, Syd went back round to Grandad's house.
It was just the same as it had always been except Grandad wasn't there any more. In the attic, it was very quiet.
The big, metal door wasn't there.
It was as if it had never been there at all.
Then, Syd heard something tapping at the window
TAP TAP TAP
he wondered what it might be.
There, on the window ledge was an envelope.
Syd carefully prised it open.
"For Syd,"
——翻译开始——
爷爷的海岛
作者 Benji Davies
在Syd家的花园最里头，穿过那个小门，走过树，就是爷爷的房子。
钥匙在花盆下面，Syd随时想去就能进去。
这天，Syd来看望爷爷。
但找遍了爷爷常呆的地方，客厅啦，花房啦，都没有看到他。
就在他打算离开的时候，Syd听到了爷爷在叫他。
“啊！你来啦。”爷爷说。“我有件东西要给你看。”
Syd小心翼翼的爬上了梯子 ，他从没有来过爷爷的阁楼。
到处都是旧箱子，和爷爷从世界各地带回来的收藏。
阁楼最里面的墙边，爷爷拉开了一块幕布，露出了：一扇大铁门！
“你先请，Syd，”他说。
Syd转动把手——锵！——推开了门。
呜呜呜呜呜呜呜~~~
传来雾角的声音。
Syd发现他站在一艘很高很高的船的甲板上。
往下望去，如浪如潮，都是屋顶。
欧欧欧~~~
传来海鸥的鸣叫。
爷爷拉了一下把手。
“嗡~~~~~~~”号角响了。
船身一动，启航了。
“她走的真稳。”爷爷兴致勃勃。
爷爷是开船的一把好手。
波涛汹涌，他们如履平地。
一程又一程，极目望去，天连海，海连天。
海天一色。
直到这天，爷爷还在甲板的躺椅上，悠闲的喝着果汁看报纸。
终于，地平线上出现了一个什么东西。
“陆~~地~~啦~~~”Syd大叫。
他们落了锚，乘小艇来到了沙滩。
“爷爷，你不拿你的拐杖吗？”Syd问。
“不用了，我觉得用不着了。”爷爷说
在密林深处，天气炎热。
“我们得找个好地方搭个棚子。”爷爷说。
在海岛的顶上，凉风穿林而过，他们发现了一个旧窝棚。
开工了！可有不少活儿干呢。
不过红毛猩猩啦，鹦鹉啦，海龟啦，猴子啦，各种不知名的鸟儿啦，都来帮忙，很快，他们就把小窝收拾的妥妥帖帖。
他们在海岛上四处游荡，玩耍探险。
每个转角都有新的惊喜。
有时候在池塘里游泳，有时在瀑布前爷爷作画，有时晚上抓萤火虫。
这真是完美的地方。
Syd真希望能永远留在这里。
不过他知道，天下没有不散的宴席，离别就在前面。
“Syd，有件事情我一直想告诉你
“嗯，你看，我打算留下来”
“哦。”Syd说，“可是你不会孤单吗？”
“不会的，我想我不会孤单。”爷爷笑着说。
在登船出发之前，Syd最后一次拥抱了爷爷。
他会非常，非常想念他的。
红毛猩猩啦，鹦鹉啦，海龟啦，猴子啦，各种不知名的鸟儿啦，都来挥手告别。
波涛如聚，峰峦如怒，船身嘎吱嘎吱作响，船儿艰难辗转前行。
没了爷爷，旅途遥远而漫长。
但Syd驾驶着船，安全回到了家里。
第二天早上，Syd回去探访爷爷的房子。
一切都和从前一样，只是爷爷不在了。
在阁楼上，一片寂静。
那扇大铁门也消失了。
仿佛从来就没有过。
忽然，Syd听到了敲窗户的声音。
嗒、嗒、嗒
会是谁呢？
一只不知名的鸟儿在阁楼窗户的窗台上，留下了一封信。
Syd小心翼翼的打开了信。
是一幅画，身旁是红毛猩猩啦，鹦鹉啦，海龟啦，猴子啦，各种不知名的鸟儿啦，爷爷穿着沙滩裤，喝着果汁，开怀大笑。
画上写着：“给亲爱的Syd。”
——翻译结束——
是的，这就是好的文字。
死亡是一个冷冰冰而艰难的话题。孩子不了解，面临逐渐展开画卷的世界，却也会面临失去，失去亲爱的人；中年会看到，一面追问自己该如何生活，一面苦恼如何解释给孩子，又让他能够接受；晚年要面对，但愿我那时有足够的勇气。
这本书温柔而有深度的讨论了这个主题。它不仅仅适合孩子，它甚至可以一读再读。
可以说，这样的童书，英文的还有很多，中文原创的，似乎还没见过。甩出好几条街。
青少年读物呢？《哈利波特》大概也甩了中文原创好几条街。
最美中文？当代的文字，只怕很多地方，中文已缺席。
今天到这里吧，下次说说好的文字有哪些素质。
