散文英譯漢佳作賞析
漢譯英散文佳作賞析：馮驥才《西式幽默》
Western Humour
馮驥才
Feng Jicai
學(xué)院請(qǐng)來(lái)一位洋教師，長(zhǎng)得挺怪，紅臉，金發(fā)，連鬢大胡須，有幾根胡子一直逾過(guò)面頰，挨近鼻子，他個(gè)子足有二米，每迸屋門(mén)必須低頭，才能躲過(guò)門(mén)框子的攔擊，叫人誤以為他進(jìn)門(mén)先鞠躬，這不太講究禮貌了嗎？
Our institute employed an English teacher. He looked very strange red-faced, golden-haired, with a thick growth of whiskers that reached all the way to the nose. He was really tall-- no less than six foot five. When he came in through the door, he had to lower his head to avoid banging against the door frame. It looked as though he always bowed to you at the door and that was much too polite.
頂怪的是，他每每與中國(guó)學(xué)生聊天，聊到可笑之處時(shí)，他不笑，臉上也沒(méi)表情，好象他不喜歡玩笑；可是有時(shí)毫不可笑的事，他會(huì)冷不防放聲大笑，笑得翻江倒海，仰面朝天，幾平連人帶椅子要翻過(guò)去，喉結(jié)在脖子上亂跳，滿臉胡子直抖。常使中國(guó)學(xué)生面面相覷，不知這位洋教師的神經(jīng)是不是有點(diǎn)問(wèn)題？
What was more, he never laughed, when he chatted with his Chinese students on amusing stories, nor did his face show any expression as if he knew no sense of humour. However, when it came to topics of the most dull nature, he would burst into uncontrollable laughter, roaring while rocking in his chair, almost falling flat on his back, his Adam's apple dancing up and down in his throat and his whiskers fluttering all over his face. The students would then look at each other, wondering if he was in his right mind.
一天，洋教師出題，考察學(xué)生們用洋文作文的水準(zhǔn)，題目極簡(jiǎn)單，隨便議論議論校園內(nèi)的一事一物，褒貶皆可。中國(guó)學(xué)生很靈，一揮而就，洋教師閱后。評(píng)出了最佳作文一篇，學(xué)生們聽(tīng)后大為不解，這種通篇說(shuō)謊的文章怎么能被評(píng)為“最佳”？
One day he set the students an essay to see how well they could write in English, the topic being A Comment on Life on the Campus-it her complimentary or critical. That was simple. And his students, quick at writing, finished it at one go and turned it in no time. He went through the papers and picked one that he thought the best. When he read it out to the students, they were greatly perplexed. Of all the comments, why did he like this one best, Not a single word of it was true.
原來(lái)這篇作文是寫(xiě)學(xué)校食堂。寫(xiě)作文的學(xué)生來(lái)自郊區(qū)農(nóng)村，人很老實(shí)，膽子又小, 生伯得罪校方，妨礙將來(lái)畢業(yè)時(shí)的分?jǐn)?shù)、評(píng)語(yǔ)、分配工作等等，便不顧真假，胡編亂造，竭力美化，唱贊歌。使得一些學(xué)生看后慣慣然�？墒恰蠼處熋髦獙W(xué)校食堂糟糕透頂?shù)臓顩r，為什么偏要選這篇作文？有人直問(wèn)洋教師。
It was about the campus cafeteria and the author was a peaceable and timid guy from a village near the town. In order not to offend the school authorities -- a decisive factor: concerning his final grading, evaluation and, above; all, where he was to go after graduation -- he had made up a high-sounding story in praise of the cafeteria regardless of reality, thus making his ClaSS- mates very angry. The teacher was as well aware of the cafeteria's terrible conditions, but why should this piece in particular have appealed to him so much, Someone asked.
洋教師說(shuō)：“這文章寫(xiě)得當(dāng)然好，而且絕妙無(wú)比。你們聽(tīng)一一”他拿起作文念起來(lái)，“我們學(xué)校最美的地方，不是教室，不是操場(chǎng)，也不是校門(mén)口那個(gè)帶噴水的小花壇，而是食堂。瞧，玻璃干凈得幾乎叫你看不到它的存在——�！毖蠼處熌畹竭@兒，眼睛調(diào)皮地一亮，眉毛一挑，“聽(tīng)聽(tīng)，多么幽默！”
"This is undoubtedly a good one,'' the teacher insisted. "Unprecedentedly good! Just listen --" He began to read. "'The most beautiful spot on campus is not the Classrooms, nor the sports ground, nor the small lawn with a fountain at the school gate; it is our cafeteria. Look! The windows are so clean , that you scarcely notice any glass on them' --" "He paused, his eyes flashing with a glint of humour and his brows shooting upward. "Listen! Isn't it humorous?"
幽默？怎么會(huì)是幽默大家還沒(méi)弄明白。
Humorous? But what was humorous about it? The students were hard put to it.
洋教師接著念道：“如果你不小心在學(xué)校食堂跌了一跤，你會(huì)驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)你并沒(méi)跌跤，因?yàn)槟闵砩习朦c(diǎn)塵上也沒(méi)留下；如果你長(zhǎng)期在學(xué)校食堂里工作，恐怕你會(huì)把蒼蠅是什么樣子都忘了……”洋教師又停住，舌頭“得”地彈一聲，做一個(gè)怪臉說(shuō)，“聽(tīng)呀，還要多幽默，我簡(jiǎn)直笑得念不下去了�！�
"If you were not careful enough,'" the teacher read on, '"and had a fall on the floor, you would be amazed to find that you had not fallen at all because you did not get a single particle of dust on your clothes. If you had worked in the cafeteria long enough, you would have forgotten what a fly looks like ... " He paused again, his tongue clicking admiration. Working up a very funny expression on his face, he went on, "Listen, please! Could anyone else have made it more humorous?" He laughed so hard that he could scarcely continue.
學(xué)生們忽然明白了什么。
By now the students seemed to be cottoning on.
洋教師一邊笑，一邊繼續(xù)往下念：“食堂天天的飯菜有多么精美、多么豐富、多么解饞！只有在學(xué)校食堂里，你才會(huì)感到吃飯是一種地道的享受……”
The teacher went on his reading punctuated by fits of laughter ."How wonderfully is the food cooked here! What a great variety of dishes you have here and how well your appetite is satisfied! In fact it is only at the cafeteria of the institute that you eating enjoyable...."
散文英譯漢佳作賞析：我父親的音樂(lè)
My Father's Music
我父親的音樂(lè)
by Wayne Kalyn
韋恩凱林
I remember the day Dad first lugged the heavy accordion up our front stoop, taxing his small frame. He gathered my mother and me in the living room and opened the case as if it were a treasure chest. "Here it is," he said. "Once you learn to play, it'll stay with you for life."
記得有一天，身材瘦小的父親背著一架沉重的手風(fēng)琴，費(fèi)力地走到前門(mén)廊。他把媽媽和我叫進(jìn)廳里，打開(kāi)了那只盒子，好象那是一個(gè)百寶箱似的�！熬瓦@個(gè)，”他說(shuō)，“你一旦學(xué)會(huì)，它將伴隨你一生�！�
If my thin smile didn't match his full-fledged grin, it was because I had prayed for a guitar or a piano. For the next two weeks, the accordion was stored in the hall closet. Then one evening Dad announced that I would start lessons the following week. In disbelief I shot my eyes toward Mom for support. The firm set of her jaw told me I was out of luck.
如果說(shuō)我勉強(qiáng)的微笑與他發(fā)自內(nèi)心的笑容不和諧的話，那是因?yàn)槲乙恢毕胍话鸭蛞患茕撉佟ｋS后的兩個(gè)星期，那架手風(fēng)琴一直放在大廳的櫥子里。一天晚上，爸爸宣布下周我開(kāi)始上琴課。疑惑中，我把視線急忙投向媽媽求助。她緊繃的下巴告訴我：我倒運(yùn)了。
Spending $300 for an accordion and $5 per lesson was out of character for my father. He was practical always － something he learned growing up on a Pennsylvania farm. Clothes, heat and sometimes even food were scarce.
花300元買一架手風(fēng)琴，每次上課再花3美元，這可不像父親的作風(fēng)。他一直是很實(shí)際的——這是他在賓夕法尼亞農(nóng)場(chǎng)成長(zhǎng)過(guò)程中學(xué)來(lái)的。那時(shí)候，衣服、暖氣，有時(shí)甚至連食物都短缺。
Dad was a supervisor in a company that serviced jet engines. Weekends, he tinkered in the cellar, turning scraps of plywood into a utility cabinet or fixing a broken toy with spare parts. Quiet and shy, he was never more comfortable than when at his workbench.
爸爸是一家為噴氣式飛機(jī)引擎提供服務(wù)的公司的主管。周末，他在地下室里修修補(bǔ)補(bǔ)，把膠合板的邊角料做成一個(gè)實(shí)用的小柜子，或者用一些零件把壞了的玩具修好。他不喜張揚(yáng)，不愛(ài)說(shuō)話。最讓他感到舒服的，莫過(guò)于在工作臺(tái)旁邊。
Only music carried Dad away from his world of tools and projects. On a Sunday drive, he turned the radio on immediately. At red lights, I'd notice his foot tapping in time. He seemed to hang on every note.
只有音樂(lè)會(huì)讓爸爸遠(yuǎn)離他的工具和計(jì)劃的世界。一個(gè)星期天駕車外出，一上車他就打開(kāi)了收音機(jī)。遇到紅燈時(shí)，我注意到他的腳在打著拍子，似乎能跟得上每一個(gè)節(jié)拍。
Still, I wasn't prepared when, rummaging in a closet, I found a case that looked to me like a tiny guitar's. Opening it, I saw the polished glow of a beautiful violin. "It's your father's," Mom said. "His parents bought it for him. I guess he got too busy on the farm to ever learn to play it." I tried to imagine Dad's rough hands on this delicate instrument － and couldn't.
然而，我還是沒(méi)有思想準(zhǔn)備，那是我在櫥子里翻找東西時(shí)，發(fā)現(xiàn)一只像是裝小吉它的盒子。打開(kāi)一看，是一把锃亮的、漂亮的小提琴。“那是你爸爸的，”媽媽說(shuō)�！八改附o他買的。我想他在農(nóng)場(chǎng)里太忙了，沒(méi)有時(shí)間學(xué)�！蔽以噲D想象爸爸粗糙的雙手放在這精致的樂(lè)器上的情景——無(wú)法想象。
Shortly after, my lessons began with Mr. Zelli. On my first day, with straps straining my shoulders, I felt clumsy in every way. "How did he do?" my father asked when it was over. "Fine for the first lesson," said Mr. Zelli. Dad glowed with hope.
不久，澤利先生開(kāi)始教我拉手風(fēng)琴。第一天，手風(fēng)琴背帶壓著我的肩膀，我感到渾身不自在�！八麑W(xué)得怎么樣？”結(jié)束時(shí)，父親問(wèn)。“第一堂課，這已經(jīng)很不錯(cuò)�！睗衫壬f(shuō)。爸爸眼中閃著希望的光芒。
I was ordered to practice half an hour every day, and every day I tried to get out of it. My future seemed to be outside playing ball, not in the house mastering songs I would soon forget. But my parents hounded me to practice.
爸爸命令我每天練半個(gè)小時(shí)，可每天我都想賴掉。我的將來(lái)似乎應(yīng)在戶外打球，而不是在屋內(nèi)練那些很快就會(huì)忘掉的曲子。然而父母不斷地督促我練習(xí)。
Gradually, to my surprise, I was able to string notes together and coordinate my hands to play simple songs. Often, after supper, my father would request a tune or two. As he sat in his easy chair, I would fumble through "Lady of Spain" and "Beer Barrel Polka."
漸漸地，讓我吃驚的是，我竟然能把幾個(gè)音符連起來(lái)了。手指的協(xié)調(diào)性也好點(diǎn)了，還能拉出幾首簡(jiǎn)單的曲子。晚飯后，父親常常會(huì)要我拉上一、兩首曲子。他躺在安樂(lè)椅里，我則笨拙地拉完“西班牙女郎”和“啤酒桶波爾卡”。
"Very nice, better than last week," he'd say. Then I would follow into a medley of his favorites, "Red River Valley" and "Home on the Range," and he would drift off to sleep, the newspaper folded on his lap. I took it as a compliment that he could relax under the spell of my playing.
他會(huì)說(shuō)，“不錯(cuò)，比上星期好，”然后我會(huì)接著拉他喜歡的曲子“紅河谷”和“山上的家”。聽(tīng)著聽(tīng)著，他慢慢睡著了，報(bào)紙疊在腿上。我把這看作是一種贊揚(yáng)：他能在我美妙的演奏中放松。
One July evening I was giving an almost flawless rendition of "Come Back to Sorrento," and my parents called me to an open window. An elderly neighbor, rarely seen outside her house, was leaning against our car humming dreamily to the tune. When I finished, she smiled broadly and called out, "I remember that song as a child in Italy. Beautiful, just beautiful."
七月的一個(gè)傍晚，我正在拉“重回索聯(lián)托”，拉得幾乎完美無(wú)缺。父母突然把我叫到窗前。一位極少出門(mén)、上了年紀(jì)的老鄰居，正靠在我們的車旁，跟著曲子沉醉地哼唱著。當(dāng)我拉完時(shí)，她咧開(kāi)嘴笑了，大聲說(shuō)：“小時(shí)候在意大利我聽(tīng)到過(guò)這首歌曲，我還記得。太棒了，真是棒極了。
”Throughout the summer, Mr. Zelli's lessons grew more difficult. It took me a week and a half to master them now. All the while I could hear my buddies outside playing heated games of stickball. I'd also hear an occasional taunt; "Hey, where's your monkey and cup?"
整個(gè)夏天，澤利先生的課越來(lái)越難。現(xiàn)在要一個(gè)半星期才能掌握。練琴時(shí)，我總是聽(tīng)到伙伴們?cè)谕饷嫱婀髑虻逆音[聲。偶爾還聽(tīng)到奚落：“嗨，你的猴子和獎(jiǎng)杯哪里去了？
”Such humiliation paled, though, beside the impending fall recital. I would have to play a solo on a local movie theater's stage. I wanted to skip the whole thing. Emotions boiled over in the car one Sunday afternoon. "I don't want to play a solo." I said. "You have to," replied my father.
不過(guò)，這種羞辱與即將來(lái)臨的秋季演奏會(huì)相比，算不得什么。我得在當(dāng)?shù)匾患矣皠≡何枧_(tái)上獨(dú)奏一曲。我想逃避這一切。一個(gè)星期天的下午，不滿的情緒終于在車上爆發(fā)了。“我不想獨(dú)奏，”我說(shuō)�！澳惚仨毴�，”父親說(shuō)。
"Why?" I shouted. "Because you didn't get to play your violin when you were a kid? Why should I have to play this stupid instrument when you never had to play yours?"Dad pulled the car over and pointed at me. "Because you can bring people joy. You can touch their hearts. That's a gift I won't let you throw away." He added softly, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had: you'll play beautiful music for your family. And you'll understand why you've worked so hard."
“為什么？”我叫了起來(lái)�！熬鸵�?yàn)槟阈r(shí)候沒(méi)能拉上小提琴？你從來(lái)不用拉琴，我為什么必須拉那笨重的玩意？”爸爸把車開(kāi)到路邊，手指著我�！耙�?yàn)槟隳芙o人們帶來(lái)快樂(lè)。你能撥動(dòng)他們的心弦。我不會(huì)讓你放棄這份才能�！卑职钟中钠綒夂偷卣f(shuō)：“有一天你會(huì)有我從未有過(guò)的機(jī)會(huì)：你能為你的全家彈奏美妙的音樂(lè)。那時(shí)你會(huì)明白，如此努力到底是為什么。”
I was speechless. I had rarely heard Dad speak with such feeling about anything, much less the accordion. From then on, I practiced without my parents’ making me.
我不吱聲了。我很少聽(tīng)到爸爸如此語(yǔ)重心長(zhǎng)地跟我談事情，更不用說(shuō)是為了拉手風(fēng)琴的事。從那以后，我練琴再也不用父母盯著。
The evening of the concert Mom wore glittery earrings and more makeup than I could remember. Dad got out of work early, put on a suit and tie, and slicked down his hair with Vitalis. They were ready an hour early, so we sat in the living room chatting nervously. I got the unspoken message that playing this one song was a dream come true for them.
音樂(lè)會(huì)那天晚上，媽媽戴上了亮閃閃的耳環(huán)，精心打扮一番；爸爸也早早下班回家，穿上西裝，系上領(lǐng)帶，頭上抹了瓦特里斯，油亮亮的。他們提前一個(gè)小時(shí)就準(zhǔn)備好了，我們就坐在廳里，緊張地談?wù)撝�。我感覺(jué)到，上臺(tái)演奏這首曲子是他們要實(shí)現(xiàn)的一個(gè)夢(mèng)想。
At the theater nervousness overtook me as I realized how much I wanted to make my parents proud. Finally, it was my turn. I walked to the lone chair on stage and performed "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" without a mistake. The applause spilled out, with a few hands still clapping after others had stopped. I was lightheaded, glad my ordeal was over.
在劇場(chǎng)里，當(dāng)我意識(shí)到我是多么想讓父母感到驕傲?xí)r，我極為緊張。最后，終于輪到我了。我走向舞臺(tái)中央的那張椅子，演奏了一曲“今晚你孤獨(dú)嗎？”，一個(gè)音符也沒(méi)拉錯(cuò)。頓時(shí)，掌聲四起，難以停息。我 頭有點(diǎn)暈暈的，慶幸我的苦難終于結(jié)束。
After the concert Mom and Dad came backstage. The way they walked － heads high, faces flushed － I knew they were pleased. My mother gave me a big hug. Dad slipped an arm around me and held me close. "You were just great," he said. Then he shook my hand and was slow to let it go.
音樂(lè)會(huì)后，爸媽來(lái)到后臺(tái)。他們走路的樣子，昂著頭，精神煥發(fā)--我知道他們很開(kāi)心。媽媽緊緊地抱住我。爸爸伸出一只手臂，牢牢地?fù)ё∥遥骸澳闾袅�。”說(shuō)完，他使勁地握著我的手，不愿松開(kāi)。
As the years went by, the accordion drifted to the background of my life. Dad asked me to play at family occasions, but the lessons stopped. When I went to college, the accordion stayed behind in the hall closet next to my father's violin.
隨著歲月的流逝，那架手風(fēng)琴漸漸退至我生活的幕后。只有在家庭聚會(huì)上，爸爸還會(huì)讓我拉上一曲。但是風(fēng)琴課不再上了。我上大學(xué)時(shí)，那架手風(fēng)琴放進(jìn)廳里的壁櫥，在爸爸的小提琴旁邊。
A year after my graduation, my parents moved to a house in a nearby town. Dad, at 51, finally owned his own home. On moving day, I didn't have the heart to tell him that he could dispose of the accordion, so I brought it to my own home and put it in the attic.
大學(xué)畢業(yè)后一年，父母搬到附近城鎮(zhèn)的一棟房子。爸爸在他五十一歲那年終于擁有了自己的家。搬家那天，我不忍 心告訴他，說(shuō)他可以處理那架手風(fēng)琴，于是我把它帶回自己家，放在閣樓上。
There it remained, a dusty memory, until one afternoon several years later when my two children discovered it by accident. Scott thought it was a secret treasure; Holly thought a ghost lived inside. They were both right.
手風(fēng)琴一直放在那里，成了塵封的記憶。直到幾年后的一個(gè)下午，我的兩個(gè)孩子偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)了它。斯科特認(rèn)為這是一件秘密寶藏�；衾騽t認(rèn)為里面住著一個(gè)幽靈。他倆都對(duì)。
When I opened the case, they laughed and said, "Play it, play it." Reluctantly, I strapped on the accordion and played some simple songs. I was surprised my skills hadn't rusted away. Soon the kids were dancing in circles and giggling. Even my wife, Terri, was laughing and clapping to the beat. I was amazed at their unbridled glee.
我打開(kāi)盒子時(shí)，他們笑了，叫道“拉一曲，拉一曲�！蔽也磺樵傅乇成锨賻�，拉了幾只簡(jiǎn)單的曲子。真沒(méi)想到，我拉起來(lái)還是那么嫻熟。很快，孩子們圍成圈跳起來(lái)，咯咯地笑個(gè)不停。甚至連我妻子特麗也笑了，打著拍子。看著他們縱情歡笑，我感到驚異。
My father's words came back to me: "Someday you'll have the chance I never had, Then you'll understand." I finally knew what it meant to work hard and sacrifice for others. Dad had been right all along: the most precious gift is to touch the hearts of those you love. Later I phoned Dad to let him know that, at long last, I understood. Fumbling for the right words, I thanked him for the legacy it took almost 30 years to discover. "You're welcome," he said, his voice choked with emotion.
我的耳邊回響起父親說(shuō)過(guò)的話：“有一天你會(huì)有我從未有過(guò)的機(jī)會(huì)，那時(shí)你會(huì)明白的�！蔽医K于明白，去努力，去為別人作出犧牲意味著什么。爸爸始終是對(duì)的：最珍貴的禮物莫過(guò)于打動(dòng)你所愛(ài)的人的心。后來(lái)，我給爸爸去電話，告訴他我終于懂了。我笨嘴拙舌地找尋合適的詞語(yǔ)，為他給我的寶貴財(cái)富表示感謝，這財(cái)富我花了差不多三十年才發(fā)現(xiàn)�！安挥弥x，”他激動(dòng)得說(shuō)不出話來(lái)。
Dad never learned to coax sweet sounds from his violin. Yet he was wrong to think he would never play for his family. On that wonderful evening, as my wife and children laughed and danced, they heard my accordion. But it was my father's music.
爸爸從未學(xué)過(guò)從他的小提琴上拉出美妙的聲音。但是他以為自己永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)為家人彈奏音樂(lè)，這種想法是錯(cuò)的。那個(gè)美妙的夜晚，我的妻子、孩子歡歌笑舞，他們聽(tīng)到的是我的手風(fēng)琴，但，那卻是我父親的音樂(lè)。
英譯漢散文佳作賞析：什么叫朋友
A Faraway Friend is someone you grew up with or went to school with or lived in the same town as until one of you moved away. Without a Faraway Friend, you would never get any mail addressed in handwriting. A Faraway Friend calls late at night, invites you to her wedding, always says she is coming to visit but rarely shows up. An actual visit from a Faraway Friend is a cause for celebration and binges of all kinds.
遠(yuǎn)方的朋友是這樣的一個(gè)人：和你從小一同長(zhǎng)大的，或者是同學(xué)，或者和你原本住在同一個(gè)鎮(zhèn)上，后來(lái)你們中的一人搬到了別處。沒(méi)有一位遠(yuǎn)方的朋友，你連一封手寫(xiě)的信都收不到。遠(yuǎn)方的朋友會(huì)半夜打來(lái)電話，邀請(qǐng)你去參加她的婚禮，她總是說(shuō)要來(lái)看你，卻很少露面。要是真的來(lái)訪，那才叫“不亦樂(lè)乎”，各種名目的狂歡可就有了理由。
Faraway friends go through phases of intense communication, then maybe out of touch for many months. Either way, the connection is always there. A conversation with your Faraway Friend always helps to put your life in perspective: When you feel you’ve hit a dead end, come to a confusing fork in the road, or gotten lost in some cracker-box subdivision of your life, the advice of the Faraway Friend — who has the big picture, who is so well acquainted with the route that brought you to this place — is indispensable.
兩個(gè)遠(yuǎn)方的朋友會(huì)經(jīng)歷密切交流的階段，接下來(lái)或許幾個(gè)月都不聯(lián)系。但無(wú)論聯(lián)系與否，友誼永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)改變。與遠(yuǎn)方的朋友一席長(zhǎng)談，總是有助于你更好地認(rèn)識(shí)生活；當(dāng)你覺(jué)得自己走入了死胡同時(shí)，當(dāng)你面對(duì)岔路而不知所措時(shí)，來(lái)自遠(yuǎn)方朋友的忠告就越發(fā)不可或缺，她看得清大局，完全了解你是怎么走到這一步的。
Another useful function of the Faraway Friend is to help you remember things from a long time ago, like the name of your seventh-grade history teacher, what was in that really good stir-fry, or exactly what happened that night on the boat with the guys from Florida.
遠(yuǎn)方的朋友還有一個(gè)益處，就是能讓你記起很久以前的'事情，比如七年級(jí)歷史老師的名字，那盤(pán)炒菜里究竟什么東西那么好吃，或者那天晚上在船里和佛羅里達(dá)來(lái)的男孩子們都干了些什么。
Ah, the former friend. A sad thing. At best a wistful memory, at worst a dangerous enemy who is in possession of many of your deepest secrets. But what was it that drove you apart? A misunderstanding, a betrayed confidence, an underpaid loan, an ill-conceived flirtation. A poor choice of spouse can do in a friendship just like that. Going into business together can be a serious mistake. Time, money, distance, cult religions: all noted friendship killers. You quit doing drugs, you’re not such good friends with your dealer anymore.
啊，從前的朋友。讓人憂傷的事情。好了的話是一段傷感的記憶，不好的話你有一個(gè)危險(xiǎn)的敵人，而且對(duì)你許多最隱秘的事情都了如指掌。可究竟是什么把你們分開(kāi)的呢？一個(gè)誤解，一個(gè)被泄露的秘密，一筆沒(méi)有償還的借款，一次有欠考慮的輕俏之舉。擇偶不慎也會(huì)使友誼分崩離析；一起做生意會(huì)成為一個(gè)嚴(yán)重的錯(cuò)誤；時(shí)間、金錢(qián)、距離、宗教狂熱，這都是耳熟能詳?shù)挠颜x殺手。如同一旦你戒了毒，你就不再是你供貨商的好朋友了。
And lest we forget, there are the Friends You Love to Hate. They call at inopportune times. They say stupid things. They butt in, they boss you around, they embarrass you in public. They invite themselves over. They take advantage. You’ve done the best you can, but they need professional help. On top of all this, they love you to death and are convinced they’re your best friends on the planet.
而且我們別忘了：還有些朋友，你喜歡恨他們。他們?cè)诓贿m當(dāng)?shù)臅r(shí)候打電話，他們蠢話連篇，他們胡亂插手你的事情，他們把你指使得團(tuán)團(tuán)亂轉(zhuǎn)，他們總是占盡了你的便宜。你已經(jīng)盡了最大的努力，可他們需要的其實(shí)是專業(yè)人員的幫助。這一切之外，他們還愛(ài)你愛(ài)得要死要活，深信他們是你在這個(gè)世界上最好的朋友。
So why do you continue to be involved with these people? Why do you tolerate them? On the contrary, the real question is what would you do without them. Without Friends You Love to Hate, there would be nothing to talk about with your other friends. Their problems and their irritating stunts provide a reliable source of conversation for everyone they know.
那么你又為什么繼續(xù)和他們打交道呢？為什么要容忍他們呢？反過(guò)來(lái)說(shuō)，真正的問(wèn)題是：沒(méi)有他們你行嗎？沒(méi)有這些你寧可去憎恨的朋友，你和你別的朋友也就無(wú)話可說(shuō)了。他們的缺陷和他們惱人的噱頭，為他們認(rèn)識(shí)的每一個(gè)人都提供了源源不斷的談資。
What’s more, Friends You Love to Hate make you feel good about yourself, since you are obviously in so much better shape than they are. No matter what these people do, you will never get rid of them. As much as they need you, you need them, too.
此外，他們還能使你對(duì)自己感覺(jué)良好，因?yàn)槟愕臓顩r顯然比他們好得太多。不管他們做出什么事情來(lái)，你絕對(duì)不愿擺脫他們。你對(duì)他們的需要，和他們對(duì)你的需要可謂不相上下呢。
At the other end of the spectrum are Hero Friends. These people are better than the rest of us, that’s all there is to it. Their career is something you wanted to be when you grew up — painter, forest ranger, tireless doer of good.
與此相反的另一個(gè)極端則是那些令人艷羨的朋友。他們比我們這些人都更出色，有這一點(diǎn)就夠了。他們的事業(yè)就是你長(zhǎng)大后的追求——畫(huà)家、護(hù)林人，不知疲倦的行善者。
They have beautiful homes filled with special handmade things presented to them by villagers in the remote areas they have visited in their extensive travels. Yet they are modest. They never gossip. They are always helping others, especially those who have suffered a death in the family or an illness. You would think people like this would just make you sick, but somehow they don’t.
他們擁有漂亮的房子，里面滿是手工做的奇特玩意兒，都是他們周游世界時(shí)到過(guò)的邊遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)的村民總送給他們的�？伤麄円琅f待人謙和。他們從不饒舌。他們總是去幫助別人，特別是那些遭受喪失親人之痛或疾病折磨的人。你會(huì)認(rèn)為這種人只能讓你厭倦，可他們偏偏不是那樣。
A new friend is a tonic unlike any other. Say you meet her at a party. In your bowling league. At a Japanese conversation class, perhaps. Wherever, whenever, there’s that spark of recognition. The first time you talk, you can’t believe how much you have in common. Suddenly, your life story is interesting again, your insights fresh, your opinion valued. Your various shortcomings are as yet completely invisible.
新的朋友是一劑無(wú)可比擬的良藥。也許你是在一次聚會(huì)上結(jié)識(shí)她的，也許是在保齡球俱樂(lè)部里，也許是日語(yǔ)會(huì)話課上。無(wú)論何處，無(wú)論何時(shí)，只因?yàn)椴脸隽四晴娦市氏嘞У幕鸹�。你�?jiǎn)直無(wú)法相信你們有這么多共同點(diǎn)，而且只是第一次交談。突然間，你的經(jīng)歷又變得有趣了，你的見(jiàn)識(shí)不同凡響，你的意見(jiàn)也倍受重視。你各式各樣的缺點(diǎn)一時(shí)間也完全消失不見(jiàn)了。
散文英譯漢佳作賞析：培根《論養(yǎng)生》
Of Regiment of Health
論養(yǎng)生
There is a wisdom in this, beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation, what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health.
養(yǎng)生有道，非醫(yī)學(xué)底規(guī)律所能盡。一個(gè)人自己的觀察，他對(duì)于何者有益何者有害于自己的知識(shí)，乃是最好的保健藥品。
But it is a safer conclusion to say; this agreeth not well with me, therefore I will not continue it; than this; I fmd no offence of this, therefore I may use it. For strength of nature in youth passeth over many excesses, which are owing a man till his age. Discern of the coming on of years, and think not, to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.
但是在下斷語(yǔ)的時(shí)候，如果說(shuō)：“這個(gè)與我底身體不合，因此我要戒它”，比說(shuō)：“這個(gè)好象于我沒(méi)有什么害處，因此我要用它”較為安全得多。因?yàn)樯賶褧r(shí)代底天賦的強(qiáng)力可以忍受許多縱欲的行為，而這些行為是等于記在賬上，到了老年的時(shí)候，是要還的。留心你底年歲底增加，不要永遠(yuǎn)想做同一的事情，因?yàn)槟隁q是不受蔑視的。
Beware of sudden change in any great point of diet, and if necessity enforce it, fit the rest to it. For it is a secret, both in nature, and state; that it is safer to change many things, than one. Examine thy customs, of diet, sleep, exercise, apparel, and the like; and try in anything thou shall judge hurtful, to discontinue it by little and little; but so, as if thou doest fmd any inconvenience by the change, thou come back to it again: for it is hard to distinguish, that which is generally held good, and wholesome, from that, which is good particularly, and fit for thine own body.
在飲食底重要部分上不可驟然變更，如果不得已而變更的話，則別的部分也須要變更，以便配合得宜。因?yàn)樵谧匀坏氖麦w和國(guó)家的事務(wù)上都有一種秘訣，就是變一事不如變多事的安全。把你平日飲食、睡眠、運(yùn)動(dòng)、衣服、等等的習(xí)慣自省一下，并且把其中你認(rèn)為有害的習(xí)慣試行逐漸戒絕，但是其辦法應(yīng)當(dāng)這樣，如果你由這種變更而感覺(jué)不適的時(shí)候，就應(yīng)當(dāng)回到原來(lái)的習(xí)慣去；因?yàn)榘岩话阏J(rèn)為有益衛(wèi)生的習(xí)慣和于個(gè)人有益，于你自己底身體適合的習(xí)慣分別起來(lái)是不容易的。
To be free minded, and cheerfully disposed, at hours of meat, and of sleep, and of exercise, is one of the best precepts of long lasting. As for the passions and studies of the mind; avoid envy; anxious fears; anger fretting inwards; subtle and knotty inquisitions; joys, and exhilarations in excess; sadness not communicated.
在吃飯、睡覺(jué)、運(yùn)動(dòng)的時(shí)候，心中坦然，精神愉快，乃是長(zhǎng)壽底最好秘訣之一。至于心中的情感及思想，則應(yīng)避嫉妒，焦慮，壓在心里的怒氣，奧秘難解的研究，過(guò)度的歡樂(lè)，暗藏的悲哀。
Entertain hopes; mirth rather than joy; variety of delights, rather than surfeit of them; wonder, and admiration, and therefore novelties; studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of nature. If you fly physic in health altogether, it will be too strange for your body, when you shall need it If you make it too familiar, it will work no extraordinary effect, when sickness cometh. I commend rather some diet, for certain seasons, than frequent use of physic, except it be grown into a custom.
應(yīng)當(dāng)長(zhǎng)存著的是希望，愉快，而非狂歡；變換不同的樂(lè)事，而非過(guò)饜的樂(lè)事；好奇與仰慕，以保有新鮮的情趣；以光輝燦爛的事物充滿人心的學(xué)問(wèn)，如歷史、寓言、自然研究皆是也。如果你在健康的時(shí)候完全摒棄醫(yī)藥，則到了你需要它的時(shí)候?qū)⒏杏X(jué)醫(yī)藥對(duì)于你底身體過(guò)于生疏不慣。如果你平日過(guò)于慣用醫(yī)藥，則疾病來(lái)時(shí)，醫(yī)藥將不生奇效。竊以為與其常服藥餌，不如按季節(jié)變更食物，除非服藥已經(jīng)成了一種習(xí)慣。
For those diets alter the body more, and trouble it less. Despise no new accident in your body, but ask opinion of it In sickness, respect health principally; and in health, action.
因?yàn)槟切┎煌氖澄锸强梢宰兏w氣而不擾亂它的。對(duì)于身體上任何新的癥候都不可小視，須要向人求教。
For those that put their bodies to endure in health, may in most sickness, which are not very sharp, be cured only with diet, and tendering.
在病中，主要的是注意健康；在健康的時(shí)候，主要的是注意活動(dòng)。因?yàn)槟瞧饺帐棺约旱咨眢w習(xí)于勞動(dòng)的人在大多數(shù)不很厲害的疾病中只要節(jié)飲食，多調(diào)養(yǎng)，就可以好了。
Celsus could never have spoken it as a physician, had he not been a wise man withal, when he giveth it, for one of the great precepts of health and lasting, that a man do vary, and interchange contraries; but with an inclination to the more benign extreme: use fasting, and full eating, but rather full eating; watching and sleep, but rather sleep;sitting, and exercise, but rather exercise; and the like.
塞爾撒斯教人養(yǎng)生長(zhǎng)壽之道，最要的一端就是一個(gè)人應(yīng)當(dāng)把各種相反的習(xí)慣都變換著練習(xí)練習(xí)，但是在輕重之間卻應(yīng)當(dāng)稍重那有益于人的一端；禁食與飽食都應(yīng)當(dāng)練習(xí)，但是寧可稍重飽食；警醒與睡眠都應(yīng)當(dāng)練習(xí)，但是寧可偏尚睡眼；安坐與運(yùn)動(dòng)都應(yīng)當(dāng)練習(xí)，但是寧可著重運(yùn)動(dòng)；諸如此類。
So shall nature be cherished, and yet taught masteries. Physicians are some of them so pleasing, and conformable to the humour of the patient, as they press not the true cure of the disease; and some other are so regular, in proceeding according to art, for the disease, as they respect not sufficiently the condition of the patient Take one of a middle temper, or if it may not be found in one man, combine two of either sort: and forget not to call, as well the best acquainted with your body, as the best reputed of for his faculty.
塞爾撒斯要不是一位醫(yī)生而兼哲人的話，專以醫(yī)生底身分他是永不會(huì)說(shuō)出這種話來(lái)的。如他所說(shuō)的辦法，將使天生的體質(zhì)既可以得滋養(yǎng)又可以增力量也。醫(yī)生之中有些是對(duì)于病人底脾氣很縱容遷就的，以致不能迅收治療之效；又有些人則是照治病底學(xué)理行事，十分謹(jǐn)嚴(yán)，以致對(duì)于病者底實(shí)情不充分注重。選擇醫(yī)生的時(shí)候頂好請(qǐng)一位性情適中的；或者，如果一個(gè)人沒(méi)有這樣的性情的時(shí)候，則在兩種人里各取其一而調(diào)和之。又在請(qǐng)醫(yī)生的時(shí)候，固然要請(qǐng)那出名的好醫(yī)生，也不可忘了請(qǐng)那個(gè)最熟悉你底體格的醫(yī)生也。
散文漢譯英佳作賞析：老舍《小麻雀》
小麻雀
A Little Sparrow
老舍
Lao She
雨后，院里來(lái)了個(gè)麻雀，剛長(zhǎng)全了羽毛。它在院里跳，有時(shí)飛一下，不過(guò)是由地上飛到花盆沿上，或由花盆上飛下來(lái)。看它這么飛了兩三次，我看出來(lái)：它并不會(huì)飛得再高一些。，它的左翅的幾根長(zhǎng)翎擰在一處，有一根特別的長(zhǎng)，似乎要脫落下來(lái)。
As soon as the rain stopped, a little sparrow, almost full-fledged, flew into the courtyard. It hopped, fluttered, darting up to the edge of flower pots and back to the ground again. Watching it move up and down a couple of times, I realized drat it could not fly any higher as the plumes on its left wing had got twisted with one sticking out as if about to come off.
我試著往前湊，它跳一跳，可是又停住，看著我，小黑豆眼帶出點(diǎn)要親近我又不完全信任的神氣。我想到了：這是個(gè)熟鳥(niǎo)，也許是自幼便養(yǎng)在籠中的。所以它不十分怕人�？墒撬淖蟪嵋苍S是被養(yǎng)著它的或別個(gè)孩子給扯壞，所以它愛(ài)人，又不完全信任。
When I made an attempt to move closer, it jumped off a hit and stopped again, staring back at me with its small, black and bean-like eyes that had a mixed look of wanting to be friends with me and not being certain that I was trustworthy. It occurred to me that this must be a tame bird, having been caged since it was hatched perhaps. No wonder it was not much scared of my presence. Its left wing might have been impaired by some kid and that was why there was distrust in its look though it showed some intimacy with man.
想到這個(gè)，我忽然的很難過(guò)。一個(gè)飛禽失去翅膀是多么可憐。這個(gè)小鳥(niǎo)離了人恐怕不會(huì)活，可是人又那么狠心，傷了它的翎羽。它被人毀壞了，而還想依靠人，多么可憐!
Suddenly I was seized with sadness. How miserable it was for a bird to lose its wings! Without someone taking care of it this small thing could not survive. But man had injured its wing. How cruel he was! Injured as it was, it still wanted to rely on man. How pitiable!
它的眼帶出進(jìn)退為難的神情，雖然只是那么個(gè)小而不美的小鳥(niǎo)，它的舉動(dòng)與表情可露出極大的委屈與為難。它是要保全它那點(diǎn)生命，而不曉得如何是好。對(duì)它自己與人都沒(méi)有信心，而又愿找到些倚靠。它跳一跳，停一停，看著我，又不敢過(guò)來(lái)。
The look in its eyes showed that She little creature was of two minds. It was small and by no means pretty, yet its gestures and expressions revealed that it had been wronged and landed in a difficult situation. It was anxious to keep its delicate life out of danger, but it did not know what to do. It had little confidence in itself and less trust in man, but it needed someone to rely on. It hopped and stopped, looking at me but too shy to come over.
我想拿幾個(gè)飯粒誘它前來(lái)，又不敢離開(kāi)，我怕小貓來(lái)?yè)渌�。可是小貓并沒(méi)在院里，我很快地跑進(jìn)廚房，抓來(lái)了幾個(gè)飯粒。及至我回來(lái)，小鳥(niǎo)已不見(jiàn)了。我向外院跑去，小貓?jiān)谟氨谇暗幕ㄅ枧远字亍Ｎ颐θヲ?qū)逐它，它只一撲，把小鳥(niǎo)擒住!被人養(yǎng)慣的小麻雀，連掙扎都不會(huì)，尾與爪在貓嘴旁搭拉著，和死去差不多。
I thought of fetching some cooked rice to attract it, but I dared not leave it alone test it should be attacked by the kitten. As the kitten was not around at the moment, I hurried to the kitchen and cause back with a few grains only to find the bind missing. I ran to the outer yard and saw the kitten crouching by a flower pot in front of the screen wall. I hastened to drive her away but, with a quick jump, she caught hold of the bird. The tame sparrow, with its tail and claws dangling from the kitten’s mouth, did not even know how to struggle. It looked more dead than alive.
瞧著小鳥(niǎo)，貓一頭跑進(jìn)廚房，又一頭跑到西屋。我不敢緊追，怕它更咬緊了可又不能不追。雖然看不見(jiàn)小鳥(niǎo)的頭部，我還沒(méi)忘了那個(gè)眼神。那個(gè)預(yù)知生命危險(xiǎn)的眼神。
With my eyes fixed on the bird, I watched the kitten run first to the kitchen and then to the ram at the west end. I was afraid to press hard after her, but I had to follow her in case she should tighten her jaws. Though the bird's head was not visible to toe, the look of anticipated danger in its eyes was vivid in my wind.
那個(gè)眼神與我的好心中間隔著一只小白貓。來(lái)回跑了幾次，我不追了。追上也沒(méi)用了，我想，小鳥(niǎo)至少已半死了。貓又進(jìn)了廚房，我愣了一會(huì)兒，趕緊的又追了去；那兩個(gè)黑豆眼仿佛在我心內(nèi)睜著呢。
Between its look and my sympathy stood that small white cat. Having run a few rounds after her I quit, thinking it was pointless to chase her like that because, by the time I caught her, the bird would have been half dead. When the cat slipped back to the kitchen again, I hesitated for a second and then hurried over there too. It seemed, in my mind's eye, the little bird were pleading for help with its two black bean-like eyes.
進(jìn)了廚房，貓?jiān)谝粭l鐵筒—冬天升火通煙用的，春天拆下來(lái)便放在廚房的墻角—旁蹲著呢。小鳥(niǎo)已不見(jiàn)了。鐵筒的下端未完全扣在地上，開(kāi)著一個(gè)不小的縫兒，小貓用腳往里探。我的希望回來(lái)了，小鳥(niǎo)沒(méi)死。
In the kitchen I noticed the cat was crouching by a tin pipe which was installed as smoke duct in winter and dismantled in spring, at the corner, but the bird was not with her. The pipe leaned against the corner and, between its lower end and the floor; there was an opening through which the cat was probing with her paws. My hope revived: the bird was not dead.
小貓本來(lái)才四個(gè)來(lái)月大，還沒(méi)捉住過(guò)老鼠，或者還不會(huì)殺生.只是叼著小鳥(niǎo)玩一玩。正在這么想，小鳥(niǎo)忽然出來(lái)了，貓倒像嚇了一跳，往后躲了躲。小鳥(niǎo)的樣子，我一眼便看清了，登時(shí)使我要閉上了眼。
As the kitten was less than four months old, it had not teamed how to catch mice, or how to kill for that matter. It was merely holding the bird in its mouth and having fun with it. While I was thinking along these lines the little bird suddenly emerged and the kitten, taken aback, bolted backward. Tile way the little bird looked was so registered to me at the first glance that I felt like shutting my eyes immediately.
小鳥(niǎo)幾乎是蹲著，胸離地很近，像人害肚痛蹲在地上那樣。它身上并沒(méi)血。身子可似乎是拳在一塊，非常的短。頭低著，小嘴指著地。那兩個(gè)黑眼珠!非常的黑，非常的大，不看什么，就那么頂黑頂大的愣著。
It was virtually crouching, with its chest close to the floor, like a man suffering from a stomachache. There was no stain of blood on its body, but it seemed to be shrinking up into itself. Its head dropped low, its small beak pointing to the floor. Its two black eyes, unseeing, were very black and large, looking last.
它只有那么一點(diǎn)活氣，都在眼里，像是等著貓?jiān)贀渌�，它沒(méi)力量反抗或逃避；又像是等肴貓赦免了它，或是來(lái)個(gè)救星。生與死都在這倆眼里，而并不是清醒的。它是胡涂了，昏迷了：不然為什么由鐵筒中出來(lái)呢可是，雖然昏迷，到底有那么一點(diǎn)說(shuō)不清的，生命根源的，希望。
The little life left in it was all in the eyes. It seemed to be expecting the cat to charge again, with no strength to resist or run; or wishing that the cat would be kind enough to pardon it or that some savior would come along to its rescue. Life and death coexisted in its eyes. I thought the bin must be confused or stunned, or else why should it have come out from the pipe? Stunned as it was, it still cherished some hope which, though hard to define, was the source of life.
這個(gè)希望使它注視著地上，等著，等著生或死。它怕得非常的忠誠(chéng)氣完全把自己交給了一線的希望，一點(diǎn)也不動(dòng)。像把生命要從兩眼中流出，它不叫也不動(dòng)。
With that hope it gazed at the floor, expecting either to survive or die. I was so really scared that it became completely motionless, leaving itself all to the precarious hope. It kept quiet and still as if waiting for its life to flow out of its eyes.
小貓沒(méi)再撲它，只試著用小腳碰它。它隨著擊碰傾側(cè)，頭不動(dòng)，眼不動(dòng)，還呆呆地注視著地上。但求它能活著，它就決不反抗。
The kitten made no more attempts to attack it. She only tried to touch it with her little paws. As the kitten touched it, it tilted from side to side, its head undisturbed and its eyes looking blank at the floor. It would not fight back so long as there was a chance of survival.
可是并非全無(wú)勇氣，它是在貓的面前不動(dòng)！我輕輕地過(guò)去，把貓抓住。將貓放在門(mén)外，小鳥(niǎo)還沒(méi)動(dòng)。我雙手把它捧起來(lái)。它確是沒(méi)受了多大的傷.雖然胸上落了點(diǎn)毛。它看了我一眼!
But the bird had not lost all of its courage; it acted this way only with the cat. I went aver light-footed, picked up the cat and put her outside the door, the sparrow remaining where it was. When I took it up in my hands and looked, it was riot seriously injured, though some fluff had come off its chest. It was looking at me.
我沒(méi)主意：把它放了吧，它準(zhǔn)是死；養(yǎng)著它吧，家中沒(méi)有籠子。我捧著它，好像世上一切生命都在我的掌中似的，我不知怎樣好。小鳥(niǎo)不動(dòng)，拳著身，兩眼還那么黑，等著!愣了好久，我把它捧到臥室里，放在桌子上，看著它，它又愣了半夭，忽然頭向左右歪了歪用它的黑眼睜了一下；又不動(dòng)了，可是身子長(zhǎng)出來(lái)一些，還低頭看著，似乎明白了點(diǎn)什么。
I had no idea what to do. If I let it go, it was sure to die; if I kept it with me, I did rot have a cage for it. I held it in my hands as if holding all the lives in the world, not knowing what to do. 'Me sparrow huddled up, motionless, its eyes as black as ever, still expectant. It remained that way for a long while. I took it to my bedroom, put it on the desk and watched it for a few moments. Suddenly it tilted its head Wit and then right, winking its black eyes once or twice, and became still again. By now its body seemed to have stretched a hit, but it still kept its head low as if it had understand something.
散文漢譯英佳作賞析：許地山《落花生》
落花生
The Peanut
許地山
Xu Dishan
我們屋后有半畝隙地。母親說(shuō)：“讓它荒蕪著怪可惜，既然稱們那么愛(ài)吃花生，就辟來(lái)做花生園罷�！蔽覀儙祖⒌芎蛶讉�(gè)小丫頭都很喜歡——買種的買種，動(dòng)土的動(dòng)土，灌園的灌園；過(guò)不了幾個(gè)月，居然收獲了!
At the back of our house there was half a mu of vacant land. "It's a pity to let it go to waste like that," Mother said. "Since you all enjoy eating peanuts, let us open it up and make it a peanut garden.” At that my brother, sister and I were all delighted and so were the young housemaids. Some went to buy seeds, some dug the ground and others watered it and, in a couple of months, we had a harvest!
媽媽說(shuō)：“今晚我們可以做一個(gè)收獲節(jié)，也請(qǐng)你們爹爹來(lái)嘗嘗我們底新花生，如何?”我們都答應(yīng)了。母親把花生做成好幾樣食品，還吩咐這節(jié)期要在園里底茅亭舉行。
"Let us have a party tonight to celebrate," Mother suggested, "and ask Dad to come for a taste of our fresh peanuts. What do you say?" We all agreed, of course. Mother cooked the peanuts in different styles and told us to go to the thatched pavilion in the garden for the celebration.
那晚上的天色不大好，可是爹爹也到來(lái)，實(shí)在很難得!爹爹說(shuō)：“你們愛(ài)吃花生么?”
The weather was not very good that night but, to our great delight, Dad came all the same. "Do you like peanuts?" Dad asked.
我們都爭(zhēng)著答應(yīng)：“愛(ài)!”
"Yes!" we all answered eagerly.
“誰(shuí)能把花生底好處說(shuō)出來(lái)?”
"But who ran tell me what the peanut is good for?"
姊姊說(shuō)：“花生的氣味很美�！�
"It is very delicious to eat," my sister took the lead.
哥哥說(shuō)：“花生可以制油�！�
"It is good for making cooking oil,” my brother followed.
我說(shuō)：“無(wú)論何等人都可以用賤價(jià)買它來(lái)吃；都喜歡吃它。這就是它的好處�！�
"It is inexpensive." I said. "Almost everyone can afford it and everyone enjoys eating it. I think this is what it is good for."
爹爹說(shuō)：“花生的用處固然很多；但有一樣是很可貴的。這小小的豆不像那好看的蘋(píng)果、桃子、石榴，把它們的果實(shí)懸在枝上，鮮紅嫩綠的顏色，令人一望而發(fā)生羨慕的心。它只把果子埋在地底，等到成熟，才容人把它挖出來(lái)。你們偶然看見(jiàn)一棵花生瑟縮地長(zhǎng)在地上，不能立刻辨出它有沒(méi)有果實(shí)，非得等到你接觸它才能知道。”
"Peanut is good for many things," Dad said, "but there is one thing that is particularly good about it. Unlike apples, peaches or pomegranates that display their fruits up in the air, attracting you with their beautiful colours, peanut buries its fruit in the earth. It does not show itself until you dig it out when it is ripe and, unless you dip 4 out, you can't tell whether it bears fruit or not just by its frail sterns above ground."
我們都說(shuō)：“是的。”母親也點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭。爹爹接下去說(shuō)：“所以你們要像花生，因?yàn)樗怯杏玫模皇莻ゴ蟆⒑每吹臇|西�！�
"That's true," we all said and Mother nodded tier assent. "So you should try to be like the peanut,' Dad scent on, "because it is useful, though not great or attractive.”
我說(shuō)：“那么，人要做有用的人，不要做偉大、體面的人了�！钡f(shuō)：“這是我對(duì)于你們的希望。”
"Do you mean,” I asked, "we should team to be useful but not seek to be great or attractive?" "Yes," Dad said. "'Ibis is what I wish you to be."
我們談到夜闌才散，所有花生食品雖然沒(méi)有了，然而父親底話現(xiàn)在還印在我心版上。
We stayed up late that night, eating all the peanuts Mother had cooked for us. But Father's words remained vivid in my memory till this day.
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