美语新诠1:海外喷饭录

乔志高
图片: 乔志高(1912—2008) 自画像,作于1998年 “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that's all.” Lewis Carroll,Through the Looking-glass 一个文人典型的消逝 黄碧端 3月4日,打开电脑看到来自乔志高(高克毅)先生信箱的信。因为不久前我跟他说这回确定4月会到佛罗里达去看他,我以为他来信讨论路程,打开一看,竟是高先生的公子William的信,说高先生在3月1日晚上,因感染肺炎去世了……William的信末说:“Thank you for your long friendship with him, which Dad greatly appreciated.He had been looking forward to your upcoming visit.”——谢谢你和家父长期的友谊,他非常珍惜,一直期待你的到访。我掩上电脑,心上仿佛被一块大石压着。近几年我一再说要去看他,一直食言。这次确定了,但却再也没有机会了。 九十六岁的高龄,亲人都随侍在榻前安详离去,这是有福的告别。然而,乔志高先生的去世,标志了这个世代又一个文人典范的消逝。近几年,好几位文化界我有幸亲炙的前辈逐一辞世,我…