一位母親寫給世界的信

　　Dear World:

　　親愛的世界：

　　My son starts school today.It's going to be strange and new to him for a while.And I wish you would sort of1) treat him gently.

　　我的兒子今天開始上學。在一段時間內(nèi)，他都會感到既陌生又新鮮。我希望你能對他溫和一點。

　　You see，up to now，he's been king of the roost.He's been boss of the back yard.I have always been around to repair his wounds，and to soothe2) his feelings.

　　你知道，直到現(xiàn)在，他一直是家里的小皇帝;一直是后院的主人。我一直在他身邊，為他料理傷口，給他感情上的慰藉。

　　But now―things are going to be different.

　　可是現(xiàn)在——一切都將發(fā)生變化。

　　This morning，he's going to walk down the front steps，wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow.To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith and love and courage.

　　今天早晨，他將走下屋前的臺階，揮揮手，踏上他偉大的冒險征途，途中也許會有戰(zhàn)爭、悲劇和傷痛。要在他必須生存的世界中生活需要信念、愛心和勇氣。

　　So，World，I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know.Teach him―but gently，if you can.Teach him that for every scoundrel3)，there is a hero;that for every crooked4) politician there is a dedicated leader;that for every enemy there is a friend.Teach him the wonders of books.Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky，bees in the sun，and flowers on the green hill.Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.Teach him to have faith in his own ideas，even if everyone else tells him they are wrong.Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder5)，but never to put a price on his heart and soul.Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob.……and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right.Teach him gently，World，but don't coddle him，because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

　　所以，世界，我希望你握住他稚嫩的手，教他必須知道的一些事情。教他——但如果可能的話，溫柔點兒。教他知道，世界上有一個惡棍，就有一個英雄;有一個奸詐的政客，就有一個富有奉獻精神的領(lǐng)袖;有一個敵人，就有一個朋友。教他感受書本的魅力。給他時間，去安靜地思索自然界中永恒的神秘：空中的小鳥，陽光下的蜜蜂，青山上的花朵。教他知道，失敗比欺騙要光榮得多。教他要堅信自己的思想，哪怕別人都予以否定。教他可把自己的體力和腦力以最高價出售，但絕對不要出賣自己的心靈和靈魂。教他對暴徒的嚎叫置若罔聞……并且在認為自己是對的時候站出來戰(zhàn)斗。以溫柔的方式教導(dǎo)他，世界，但不要溺愛 他，因為只有烈火才能煉出真鋼。

　　This is a big order,World,but see what you can do.He's such a nice little fellow.

　　這是個很高的要求，世界，但請你盡力而為。他是一個多么可愛的小伙子。

　　1. sort of adv. 有幾分地

　　2. soothe vt. 使(某人，其神經(jīng)，其情緒)平靜， 安慰， 使(痛苦，疼痛)緩和或減輕

　　3. scoundrel n. 無賴， 惡棍

　　4. crooked adj. 彎曲的， 拐騙的， 不老實的

　　5. highest bidder 最高價競買人

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