美国语文第四册 第185期:最好的资本(1)

 　　One would have said that modest John Brooke, in his busy, quiet, humble¹ life, had had little time to make friends; 有人可能会说诚实的约翰.布鲁克，忙碌、安静、卑微的一生中很少有时间交朋友；

　　but now they seemed to start up everywhere,—old and young, rich and poor, high and low; 可是现在他的朋友似乎无处不在，——老人和孩子，富人和穷人，高个儿和矮个儿；

　　for all unconsciously his influence had made itself widely felt, his virtues² were remembered, and his hidden charities rose up to bless him. 所有人不知不觉都感受到了他的影响，人们记起了他的美德，他默默的善行也带给他祝福。

　　The group about his coffin³ was a far more eloquent⁴ eulogy⁵ than any that man could utter. 棺木旁的人群比颂词更流畅。

　　There were the rich men whom he had served faithfully for years; 有他忠实服务过的富人；

　　the poor old women whom he cherished with his little store, in memory of his mother; 有他用自己的小店照顾过的贫困老妇人，他这么做是为了怀念他的母亲；

　　the wife to whom he had given such happiness that death could not mar⁶ it utterly⁷; 有他的妻子，他带给她的幸福死亡也带不走；

　　the brothers and sisters in whose hearts he had made a place forever; 有他的兄弟姐妹，他们在心里永远怀念他；

　　the little son and daughter who already felt the loss of his strong arm and tender voice; 有他的儿女，他们感到失去了强有力的臂膀和亲切的声音；

　　the young children, sobbing⁸ for their kindest playmate, and the tall lads, watching with softened⁹ faces a scene which they never could forget. 小孩子们因为失去了一个玩伴而啜泣，大一点的孩子们神色温和地看着这永远难忘的情景。

　　That evening, as the Plumfield boys sat on the steps,as usual, in the mild September moonlight, they naturally fell to talking of the event of the day. 当晚，梅园的男孩子们像往常一样坐在台阶上，九月的月光照射下来，他们自然谈起这天发生的事情。

　　Emil began by breaking out in his impetuous way,  急切的埃米尔抢先说话：

　　Uncle Fritz is the wisest, and Uncle Laurie the jolliest, but Uncle John was the best; and I'd rather be like him than any man I ever saw. 弗里茨舅舅最有智慧，劳里舅舅最快活，可是约翰舅舅最好；我宁愿做像他一样的人。

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

3 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

4 eloquent   

adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。

5 eulogy   

n.颂词；颂扬

参考例句：

• He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. 他不需要我或者任何一个人来称颂。
• Mr.Garth gave a long eulogy about their achievements in the research.加思先生对他们的研究成果大大地颂扬了一番。

6 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

7 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

8 sobbing   

<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的

参考例句：

• I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
• Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。

9 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。