美国语文第四册 第194期:母亲的礼物--圣经

 　　Remember, love, who gave thee this, 亲爱的，记住，这本书是谁给你的。

　　When other days shall come, 在将来的日子里，

　　When she who had thine earliest kiss, 当给你最早亲吻的人，

　　Sleeps in her narrow home. 早已不在人世，

　　Remember! 't was a mother gave, the gift to one she'd die to save! 不要忘记，这是母亲的礼物，为了保护你不畏牺牲的母亲的礼物。

　　That mother sought a pledge of love, 母亲给孩子的这份礼物，

　　The holiest for her son, 是最神圣的礼物，是爱的约定。

　　And from the gifts of God above, 这礼物是她从神的礼物中选择的，

　　She chose a goodly one; 最美好的礼物。

　　She chose for her beloved boy, 因为她为她的爱子选择的是，

　　The source of light, and life, and joy. 光明、生命和喜悦的源泉。

　　She bade him keep the gift, that, when the parting hour should come, 她说要保存好这份礼物，当分手的时候到来时，

　　They might have hope to meet again, 他们还有希望，

　　In an eternal home. 在永恒的天上的家相聚。

　　She said his faith in this would be, 她说他的信念，

　　Sweet incense¹ to her memory. 就是对她最好的纪念。

　　And should the scoffer², in his pride, 如果有傲慢的嘲笑者，

　　Laugh that fond faith to scorn, 奚落嘲笑这种信念，

　　And bid him cast the pledge aside, 让他把这幼时就坚守的信念，

　　That he from youth had borne, 抛到一边，

　　She bade him pause, and ask his breast, 她让她停留片刻，问问自己的心，

　　If SHE or HE had loved him best. 到底谁更爱他。

　　A parent's blessing³ on her son, 母亲给儿子的祝福，

　　Goes with this holy thing; 永远和这神圣的礼物在一起。

　　The love that would retain the one, 如果爱自己的母亲，

　　Must to the other cling. 也绝不会忘记另一个。

　　Remember! 't is no idle toy: 记住，孩子！这不是无聊的玩具，

　　A mother's gift! remember, boy. 这是母亲的礼物！

1 incense   

v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气

参考例句：

• This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。
• In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。

2 scoffer   

嘲笑者

参考例句：

• A scoffer, a debauched person, and, in brief, a man of Belial. 一个玩世不恭的人，一个生活放荡的家伙，总而言之，是个恶棍。
• A scoffer, debauched person, and, in brief, a man of Belial. 玩世不恭者，是只知一切事物的价钱而不知其价值的人。

3 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。