美国语文第五册 第28期:脱钩的狗鱼(3)

 　　So, overcome with my great and bitter disappointment, 哎呀，一种说不出来的锥心痛苦攫取了我，我倍感失望，

　　I sat down on the nearest hassock, and for a time refused to be comforted, 一屁股颓然瘫坐在身边的草墩上，叔叔好言好语的相劝亦无法使我平静下来。

　　even by my uncle's assurance that there were more fish in the brook¹. 他一再劝说我，河里的鱼，反正多着呢。

　　He refitted my bait, and, putting the pole again in my hands, told me to try my luck once more. 然后一声不吭地帮我重新安好鱼饵，将鱼竿递给我，嘱咐我再来试试手气。

　　"But remember, boy," he said, with his shrewd smile, never brag² of catching³ a fish until he is on dry ground. “孩子，请记住，”叔叔最后对我说，脸上露出狡黠笑意，切忌不可自吹自擂，除非鱼儿上岸入笼。

　　I've seen older folks doing that in more ways than one, and so making fools of themselves. 我这一生，见过多少年轻人花样翻新的吹牛，结果呢？徒给世人留下几多笑话。

　　It's no use to boast of anything until it's done, nor then, either, for it speaks for itself. 凡事八字未见一撇，不可吹嘘张扬。谨慎从事，低调做人，事实胜于雄辩。

　　How often since I have been reminded of the fish that I did not catch. 为人行事不切实际，却又指望成功唾手可得，

　　When I hear people boasting of a work as yet undone⁴, and trying to anticipate the credit which belongs only to actual achievement, 从此，每当我一次次听到周围朋友吐沫四溅地吹嘘自己遥遥无期的奋斗目标，那条漏网的大狗鱼总会不失时机地跳跃在我的面前，

　　I call to mind that scene by the brookside,  河边钓鱼的场景再度浮现。

　　and the wise caution of my uncle in that particular instance takes the form of a proverb of universal application: 当年叔叔那么睿智冷静，循循善诱地开导我不可鲁莽，寡言者智，一条谚语教我悟透人生玄机：

　　NEVER BRAG OF YOUR FISH BEFORE YOU CATCH HIM. 静以修身，静水流深。

1 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

2 brag   

v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的

参考例句：

• He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
• His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 undone   

a.未做完的，未完成的

参考例句：

• He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。