美國語文第五冊 第92期：香水月季（05）
Then why do you see the geranium or rose so carefully nursed in the old cracked teapot in the poorest room,
那么，為什么那些窮家陋戶的破漏茶壺或瓦罐里，居然還種著天竺葵或月季，
or the morning-glory planted in a box and twined about the window?
或者木箱里還養(yǎng)著牽?；?，沿窗戶向上纏繞攀爬？
Do not these show that the human heart yearns for the beautiful in all ranks of life?
這些難道不是說明，不管人的職業(yè)高貴或低下，人們內(nèi)心難道不是同樣渴望美？追求美？
You remember, Kate, how our washerwoman sat up a whole night, after a hard day's work, to make her first baby a pretty dress to be baptized in.
凱特，你還記得，有一次，我們家洗衣女工干了一天活回到家，為了第二天的洗禮儀式，通宵達(dá)旦地為孩子縫制新裙子嗎？
Yes, and I remember how I laughed at you for making such a tasteful little cap for it.
是的，記得，那時我還嘲笑你，費心勞神地做那么雅致的嬰兒帽。
True, Kate, but I think the look of perfect delight with which the poor woman regarded her baby in its new dress and cap was something quite worth creating;
不錯，凱特，漂亮的外貌當(dāng)然使人愉悅，那可憐女人覺得，只要她的孩子能穿上新衣、戴上新帽，她付出一些辛苦當(dāng)然值得，
I do believe she could not have felt more grateful if 1 had sent her a barrel of flour.
更相信，如果那時我再送上一把鮮花，在她看來，不管怎樣感激涕零，都難以表達(dá)她的心情。
Well, I never thought before of giving anything to the poor but what they really needed,
是的，我以前從未想到周濟(jì)窮人，除非他們確實需要，
and I have always been willing to do that when I could without going far out of my way.
雖然，我一直想做力所能及的善事，卻不愿偏離自己直覺太遠(yuǎn)。
Ah! cousin, if our heavenly Father gave to us after this mode,
哎呀！表妹，倘若天堂的圣父亦依據(jù)這種方式饋贈我們，
we should have only coarse, shapeless piles of provisions lying about the world, instead of all this beautiful variety of trees, and fruits, and flowers.
那么在這個世界上，或許，我們只有那些粗鄙不堪或亂七八糟的東西，而不會類似現(xiàn)在，那些花草、樹木以及果實等等的美麗組合。
Well, well, cousin, I suppose you are right, but have mercy on my poor head;
得了，得了，表姐，我覺得你說得都對，發(fā)發(fā)慈悲，饒過我這不開竅的可憐腦瓜，
it is too small to hold so many new ideas all at once, so go on your own way;
怎能轉(zhuǎn)眼裝下那么多新鮮念頭，你還是忙你的去吧。
and the little lady began practicing a waltzing step before the glass with great satisfaction.
接著，對著鏡子，小姑娘悠然自得地練習(xí)華爾茲舞步起來。
