登陆注册
11582500000017

第17章 The Glitter of This World尘世的诱惑

早安心语

So do you want to take a leap of faith or become an old man,filled with regret waiting to die alone?

那么,你愿意放手一搏,还是要等到年华老去,心中充满遗憾,孤单地迈向黄泉路?——《盗梦空间》

Once upon a time there was a White Knight looking for adventure.He came to a village where legends told of a terrible ogre in a pit.Bravely the White Knight took up the challenge.He would do battle with the terrible ogre in the pit.The people remembered several courageous men who had climbed down into the pit,but no one could ever remember one of those champions returning.

The White Knight stood looking at the deep dark hole.The opening was so narrow that he stripped himself of armor and all unnecessary clothing.He took only a long dagger,which he tied around his neck with a leather strap.After securing a rope at the opening and testing its strength,he gripped it firmly and began lowering himself,hand under hand,letting the rope slip between his feet.Soon he felt the smooth cool floor of the chamber.It took several minutes for his eyes to adjust to the darkness,but soon he focused on a large mound.Then he realized it was the bones of his predecessors,along with their assorted weapons.A little way off,he spotted another mound,but he wasn't sure what it was.

Suddenly he was surprised by the inhabitant of the pit…surprised because he didn't anticipate the ogre would be only as tall as a rabbit.The ogre raised its arms and screeched with its squeaky voice,trying to appear fierce as possible.The White Knight picked up a sword from the floor and prepared to do battle,but quick as a rat,the ogre ran into a hole near the second mound.

The White Knight followed and the second mound became clearer and again he was surprised.Before his eyes glittered balls of gold as big as grapefruit and diamonds as big as plums.With only a small part of that treasure even a commoner would be a prince for life.

But the Knight had a problem.How would he carry it out of the hole?He had no pockets.Who would believe him if he didn't bring back at least a piece?

He suddenly had an idea.He would take one of the diamonds in his mouth and carry it that way until he climbed out of the hole.He could always come back later for the rest.Hurriedly he chose one of the larger diamonds.It fit comfortably into his mouth and he began the arduous climb out of the pit,hand over hand,gripping the rope with his feet.Higher and higher he climbed until the heavy exertion began to render him breathless.He would have to breathe through his mouth in order to get enough air.As he took a large gulp of air,the diamond slipped and stuck in his throat.The White Knight choked on his treasure,lost consciousness,and fell to his death on the mound of bones below.

The terrible ogre in the pit was not the little troll.The ogre in the pit was greed…greed in the hearts of men who desire easy treasure and the hope of unearned gain.

林芬 译

从前,有一个白衣骑士,他一直在寻求冒险奇遇。他来到一个村庄,村里流传了很多关于可怕的食人魔传说,食人魔就住在一个洞里。白衣骑士勇敢地接受了挑战,他要去和那只住在洞里的可怕的食人魔决斗。村民记得有几位勇士向下爬进洞中,但是没有人记得他们之中有谁凯旋过。

白衣骑士站在那儿看了看那个幽深的黑洞。洞口是如此狭窄,于是他脱下自己的盔甲和所有不必要的衣服,只拿了一把匕首,并用皮带将匕首挂在脖子上。他在洞口处固定好绳子之后,试了试它的承受力,然后紧紧地抓着绳子把自己放下去,双手交替向下,并让绳子在两只脚之间滑动。很快他就触到洞内光滑而冰凉的地面,花了几分钟他的眼睛才适应洞内的黑暗,他很快就注意到一个巨大的堆积物。

他意识到那些是之前几位前辈的骨骸,沿路还有他们遗留下来的各式各样的武器。

他从一条小道走开,然后又看见一个土堆,但是他不确定那是什么。

突然,他对那个住在坑洞里的居住者感到惊讶,他感到意外是因为他没有料到那只食人魔只有兔子般大小。食人魔举起双臂,咯吱咯吱地尖叫起来,试图让自己看起来尽可能凶悍。白衣骑士从地上捡起一把剑,准备作战,但是很快这只食人魔像一只老鼠一样快速地溜进第二个土堆附近的洞里。

白衣骑士跟在它后面,走近第二个土堆时,他又大吃了一惊。西柚般大的金球和李子般大的钻石在眼前发出耀眼的光芒。只需要宝藏中的一小部分就可以让一个平民过上贵族生活。

但是,骑士有一个问题——他要怎样才能将宝贝运出洞呢?他的衣服没有口袋。如果他没有带回去,哪怕是一块,有谁会相信他呢?

突然他想到一个办法。他把其中一块钻石放进自己的嘴里,含着它直到爬出洞为止,他可以稍后来拿剩下的钻石。他匆忙挑了一块稍大点的钻石,正适合放进嘴里,然后他就开始努力地往上爬,双手交替往上,双腿紧紧夹住绳子。他越爬越高,直到他体力大量消耗,导致无法呼吸。

他打算用嘴来呼吸到充足的空气。当他吸入一大口空气时,钻石滑了下去,卡在喉咙里。白衣骑士被他的珍宝卡得窒息,失去了意识,摔死在下面那堆白骨之中。

住在洞里可怕的食人魔并不是那个小怪物,而是贪婪,是那些渴望轻而易举找到宝藏、希望不劳而获的贪婪之心。

轻英语

交流最常用的口语

I'all yours.我全听你的。

Take my word for it.相信我。

You did it.你做到了。

I'l fix it.我去搞定。

I mean it.我是认真的。

Hold it.打住。

Here ye!说得对!

Take a seat!请坐!

What is your major?你学什么专业?

Your are welcome.你太客气了。

I'l be seeing you.再见。

When You Are Old

William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,

And nodding by the fire,take down this book,

And slowly read,and dream of the soft look

Your eyes had once,and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,

Murmur,a little sadly,how Love fled

And paced upon the mountains overhead

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

当你老了

叶芝 著 袁可嘉 译

当你老了,头白了,睡意昏沉,

炉火旁打盹,请取下这部诗歌,

慢慢读,回想你过去眼神的柔和,

回想它们昔日浓重的阴影;

多少人爱你青春欢畅的时辰,

爱慕你的美丽,假意或真心,

只有一个人爱你那朝圣者的灵魂,

爱你衰老了的脸上痛苦的皱纹;

垂下头来,在红光闪耀的炉子旁,

凄然地轻轻诉说那爱情的消逝,

在头顶的山上它缓缓踱着步子,

在一群星星中间隐藏着脸庞。

同类推荐
  • 那些激励你前行的声音

    那些激励你前行的声音

    人生来有许多事情不平等,但这不代表挣扎和改变没有意义。无论何时,努力都是从狭隘的生活中跳出、从荒芜的环境中离开的一条最行之有效的路径。乔布斯、比尔盖茨、乔丹、奥巴马……他们用人生最好的年华做抵押,去实现那个说出来被人嘲笑的梦想。《那些激励你前行的声音》以中英双语对照的形式,精选智者哲人、商界精英和文体明星等各类名人的经典演讲佳作,这些演讲,或激情澎湃、或慷慨陈词、或说理生动、或娓娓道来,读来令人回肠荡气。阅读这些演说可以让你最直接地贴近成功人士的思想,获取成长与成功的基石,同时也能在阅读中学习英语,以期能够为读者呈现纯正地道的英语并学习。
  • 美国学生科学读本(英汉双语版)(套装上下册)

    美国学生科学读本(英汉双语版)(套装上下册)

    《西方原版教材与经典读物?科学系列:美国学生科学读本(英汉双语版)(套装上下册)》是美国洛杉矶好莱坞中学校长威廉?H?斯奈德博士和他的同事们,一起为当时美国中学生编著的一本自然科学教材。
  • 加拿大学生文学读本(第5册)

    加拿大学生文学读本(第5册)

    《西方家庭学校原版教材与经典读本?加拿大学生文学读本(第5册)》由加拿大教育部门编写的教材,分级编写,全套共五本。全书通过趣味而有教育意义的故事,引发孩子们学习语言的兴趣;并向规范、美丽的文学作品过渡,让孩子们掌握语言的艺术,并感受本国的人文历史,带读者步入优美的英语文学世界。书中所选故事不仅有助于提升学生的读写能力,让国内学生依托教材,全面系统地训练英语,同时,通过书中的道德故事、寓言、诗歌、文学作品等,感受加拿大的历史文化,培养良好的阅读兴趣。
  • 美国语文读本5(美国原版经典语文课本)

    美国语文读本5(美国原版经典语文课本)

    《美国语文读本5(美国原版经典语文课本)》主要介绍了狄更斯、华盛顿?欧文、爱默生等名家的诗歌和散文,每篇文章前还增加了作者简介与相关背景知识,内容丰富而有一定深度。
热门推荐
  • 捣蛋江湖:师傅别跑!

    捣蛋江湖:师傅别跑!

    穿越古代,她就遇到了一个好看到人神共愤出门必须带面具的师傅,一个邪气外露的魔教教主,以及腹黑无比的小王爷!虽说一切不外乎就是见招拆招,但她真的扛不住啊!还有!师傅,你是我的!别想逃!
  • 最风流,醉唐诗Ⅱ

    最风流,醉唐诗Ⅱ

    神仙只不过在人间短暂逗留,便留下千古绝唱。或清婉,或豪气,或叹息,每一位诗人都有属于他的符号。 诗是诗人在经历了世间百态,人生起伏,留下的诉说。
  • 高冷校草独家爱:我的大小姐

    高冷校草独家爱:我的大小姐

    什么,我倒追的高中男神,竟然成为了影视三地巨星!什么,当年的小学弟,竟然变成了当红辣子鸡!什么,当年满心算计的家伙,竟然成为了霸道总裁!然而,这三个家伙,竟然都来追我了!某女:干什么?男神(傲娇):等你小学弟(暖男):我想你了。霸道总裁(强势):怎么,我找我的女人,还不行?
  • 海洋里面画个圈

    海洋里面画个圈

    杨海洋是一个平凡的普通人,他的人生和我们一样有交织、有困惑、有忧伤、有欢乐,但他坚强地活着,骄傲的活着.....,留下了身后的串串脚印,每个脚印里都是他生活里的点点滴滴!
  • 美人倾国

    美人倾国

    他依靠在床沿不急不慢的说“我爱过两个男人,他们很优秀,只是在他们心中我什么都不是,只是个用来交换的物品罢了。”央临从来不知可以有人把过去说得这么风轻云谈的人,一时间竟忘了作何反应。
  • 万载储帝

    万载储帝

    吾乃帝命,育上古蛮龙,闯无尽绝地,俘虏芳心一片吾乃帝命,抗蛮荒古鼎,斗诸天神佛,谱写狂傲一曲什么!一世储帝,万世帝储!开什么玩笑,吾乃天子,万载帝蕴万载储帝?吾不服,吾欲谋划万世凌九天,踏九幽,登临万族之巅启封门,逆阴阳
  • The Love Affairs Of A Bibliomaniac

    The Love Affairs Of A Bibliomaniac

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神秘空城生死考验:天机

    神秘空城生死考验:天机

    一个十九人旅游团在泰国旅游时,误入一座群山环绕的城市。种种迹象表明,这是一个华人社会,一座城市应有的银行、邮局、商店、警局、医院一应俱全,然而,整座城市却空无一人!城市为何空无一人?主人公的命运将如何开始?旅行团为何会误入歧途?他们会发现什么遭遇什么?下一个牺牲者又将是谁?无数巨大的悬疑交织在一起,不到最后一刻无法解开。
  • 我曾爱你深入骨髓

    我曾爱你深入骨髓

    男友出轨富家千金,我被逼婚嫁给高冷男神!婚礼当天,老公带着初恋去医院保胎,留下苏轻语一个人面对满堂宾客的嘲讽,沦为整个南城的笑柄。“作为商业联姻的牺牲品,你就要做好守活寡的准备!”新婚夜,老公陪着初恋卿卿我我,而她一个人独守空房。婚后,她处处隐忍,只想要保全这段荒唐的婚姻,可换来的却是变本加厉的折磨。丈夫的热嘲热讽,婆婆的一再找茬,初恋的处处挑衅,将她推上了风口浪尖。当她欣喜的告诉他自己怀孕的好消息,得到的却是他厌恶的眼神:“苏轻语,你不配有我的孩子!”
  • 男性营养菜

    男性营养菜

    本书根据男性的生理特点和生活中易出现的健康问题编定了这本男性营养菜谱。所列的例子不仅考虑到了男性所需的营养,食物的保健作用,还考虑了男性的饮食特点和口味偏好。让男性朋友们,不仅吃出营养健康,而且吃得开心。