Chapter 1 以 “Literary Patriotic Duke-文忠公” 为题，概述了苏东坡的一生：
生于宋仁宗景祐三年（1036），于徽宗建中靖国元年（1101）逝世。其一生历经数位北宋皇帝，故而研究苏东坡，亦是研究宋朝衰败的历程。
The study of Su Tungpo's life is, therefore, at the same time a study of national degeneration through party strife, ending in the sapping of national strength and the triumphant misrule of the petty politicians.
本章概述了苏东坡的入世，遭贬黜，与王安石的政见相异相争，元裕党人碑（Yuanyu Partisan’s Tablet）的建立与遭雷击，孝宗乾道六年追封谥号文忠公，又赐太师官阶。
林语堂总评苏东坡在历史上的特殊地位，源于其对自我原则的坚定不移，以及其诗文书画艺术的卓绝。
Su Tungpo's peculiar position in China's history was, therefore, based on his courageous stand for his principles and opinions, as well as upon the charm of his poems and prose.
至此，我们对于苏东坡，还一直都停留在林语堂先生笔下的高度总括。期待明天的阅读，从头开始了解东坡先生。
Words and Expressions：字词表达
From the natural flow of thoughts and language arises its wayward, abundant charm.
wayward，形容词，表示 “任性的，难以捉摸的，变幻无常的”，behaving badly, in a way that is difficult to control.
例句：I have already told you about the wayward nature of the Athenians.
仿句：She has a wayward teenage brother.
He took up the brush again and dashed off the second half of the quatrain.
dash off，短语动词，原文中表示 “匆忙完成”，to write or draw something very quickly；此外还有 “迅速离去” 的意思，to leave somewhere very quickly.
例句：He was furious when he saw the article, and dashed off a letter to the editor immediately.
例句：I'm really sorry, but I'm gonna have to dash off to catch my train.
quatrain，可数名词，表示 “四行诗、绝句”，a poem or verse that has four lines.
例句：The thought in the first quatrain is complex.
He dabbled in alchemy and was interested almost to his last days in his search for the elixir of immortality.
dabble in，表示 “涉足，涉猎，浅尝”， to take part in an activity in a way that is not serious.
例句：She works as an accountant but dabbles in poetry.
仿句：He dabbled in painting when he was in college.
alchemy，表示 “点金术”，也用来指代 “改变事物的魔力”，a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.
例句：She practiced her alchemy in the kitchen, turning a pile of vegetables into a delicious salad.
elixir，可数名词，表示 “灵丹妙药”，如：the elixir of life - 长生不老药
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