I give humble and hearty thanks for the safe return of this book which has endured the perils1） of my friend's bookcase， and the bookcases of my friend's friends， now returns to me in reasonably good condition.

I give humble and hearty thanks that my friend did not see fit to give this book to his infant as a plaything， nor use it as an ashtray for his burning cigar， nor as a teething ring2） for his mastiff3）.

When I lent this book I deemed it as lost； I was resigned to4） the bitterness of the long parting： I never thought to look upon its pages again.

But now that my book has come back to me， I rejoice5） and am exceedingly glad！ Bring hither6） the fatted7） morocco8） and let us rebind the volume and set it on the shelf of honour： for this my book was lent， and is returned again.

Presently， therefore， I may return some of the books that I myself have borrowed.

感謝老天！這本書終于安然歸來。它在我朋友的書柜里歷經(jīng)劫難，又在他朋友的書柜里飽受折磨，回到我這里時樣子竟還說得過去。

感謝老天！朋友沒拿它當小孩的玩具，沒用它接雪茄的煙灰，也沒把它丟給大狗嚼著玩。

借出此書時，我料定它有去無回。我默默忍受長久的別離之苦，從未奢望與它重逢。

但如今愛書歸來，我欣喜若狂！取出光亮的摩洛哥皮，待我將它重新裝訂，高高置于榮耀之架上——我書曾借出，如今歸故里。

不過如今看來，我借來的不少書也該物歸原主了。

1.peril [?per?l] n. 危險，險事

2.teething ring： （供出牙嬰兒咬嚼的）出牙嚼環(huán)

3.mastiff [?m?st?f] n. 【動】獒，大馴犬

4.be resigned to： 聽任，順從

5.rejoice [r??d???s] vi. 感到高興，充滿喜悅

6.hither [?h?e?（r）] adv. 到這兒；向這兒

7.fat [f?t] vt. 給（皮革）涂油

8.morocco [m??r?k??] n. 摩洛哥革