Eve's Diary: English-Chinese Parallel Text with Illustrations

Author: Mark Twain (USA)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-11-01
Features: This book was published in 1906 and is the author's late work. Although it is merely a short piece, it still reveals weaknesses beneath its innocence, with satire interwoven in its narrative, forming the portrait of American girls at that time, which the author considered the epitome of all women. However, the smile on their faces clearly showed their age. Fortunately, thanks to the author's skillful craftsmanship, it is hard to discern, yet it remains a lively work. Moreover, with the translator's ability to convey its essence and simplicity, it is almost as if Eve had written her diary in Chinese—it is even more worth reading. If cities disappear, then they will all vanish on the same night. I know—trouble will arise from this. I want to sit there every night, wide-eyed, gazing at them as far as possible. I want to etch these twinkling stars into my memory, so when they gradually fade, I can use my imagination to bring thousands upon thousands of lovely and beautiful stars back to the dark sky, letting them shine once more. In my teary eyes, the number of stars will surely double. After falling: Whenever I recall everything that has happened, I feel that Eden was nothing but a dream—a beautiful dream, so unparalleled, so enchanting, but a dream that has vanished forever, and I will never see it again. I have lost Eden, but I have gained him, and I am content. His love for me is so meticulous, and I love him in return, with all my strength and inherent tenderness. I think this is only natural for a young girl like me. If I were to ask myself why I love him, my answer would be that I don’t know, and I really don’t care. Why would I love him? I believe it is simply because he is a man. Ultimately, he treats me well, so I love him, but even if he didn’t, I would still love him. If he were to hit me or scold me, I would still love him. I know I would. I think it has something to do with gender. He is strong and handsome, and I love and admire him for it, feeling honored to love him. But even if he were neither strong nor handsome, I would still love him. If he were unattractive, I would love him; if he were frail, I would still love him; I would work for him, endure hardships for him, and pray for him until the very end, staying by his side, never leaving an inch. Fourty years later: I pray, I long: that we may leave this world together—this longing will never vanish from the world, occupying a place in the hearts of every woman who has experienced love, until the end of the world, and they will firmly remember my name. However, if one of us were to leave this world first, I pray that I may go first. Because he is strong and I am weak, to him, I am not indispensable, but to me, he is everything—life without him is not worth living, and how could I endure such a life? This prayer will be eternal, and my descendants will continue to bear children, but even then, this prayer will not cease. I am a wife in this world, and the last wife in the world will repeat everything I have done. Eulogy on Eve's Tomb: Adam: Wherever she is, there is Eden.