美国语文第五册 第56期:公正不会缺席(4)

 　　The traveler drew near the board, but when he saw the scanty¹ fare, 那位来客走近桌子，看见桌上那丁点食物，

　　he raised his eyes toward heaven with astonishment²: "And is this all your store?" said he; 他仰起头惊讶地问，“所有食物就这些？

　　and a share of this do you offer to one you know not? then never saw I charity before! 难道你还愿意与陌生人分享？这是我未曾见过的慈悲！

　　But, madam, said he, continuing, "do you not wrong your children by giving a part of your last mouthful to a stranger?" 不过，夫人，他说，“给陌生人哪怕一口吃的，难道不委屈你的孩子们吗？”

　　"Ah," said the poor widow—and the tear-drops gushed³ into her eyes as she said it, “哎，”那位寡母叹了口气，泪如泉涌，

　　I have a boy, a darling son, somewhere on the face of the wide world, 我有个儿子，伶俐可爱，他现在一定还活在这世上某个地方。

　　unless Heaven has taken him away, and I only act toward you as I would that others should act toward him. 只有圣父才能将他带走，我为你做这点事，就是指望别人亦能这样善待他。

　　God, who sent manna from heaven, can provide for us as he did for Israel; 我的上帝，谁能从天上为我们孤儿寡母带回他的恩赐，就像他当年赐予以色列人那样？

　　and how should I this night offend him, if my son should be a wanderer, destitute⁴ as you, 假如我的孩子也在流浪，和你一样无助无望，他也该有个地方可以过夜，风寒抵御，

　　and he should have provided for him a home, even poor as this, were I to turn you unrelieved away! 哪怕和我们这间小屋如此简陋，如果我拒绝落难中的你，我怎能指望别人亦能为他做点什么！

　　The widow ended, and the stranger, springing from his seat, clasped her in his arms. 那位寡母刚说完，陌生人“腾”地一声站起，将她揽进怀里，

　　God indeed has provided your son a home, and has given him wealth to reward the goodness of his benefactress: my mother! oh, my mother! 上帝确实为你的儿子准备了住所，并且赐予他财富，以报答母亲的养育之恩，妈妈！噢，我的妈妈！

　　It was her long lost son, returned to her bosom⁵ from the Indies. 原来，这位陌生人正是寡妇失去音讯很久的儿子。他刚从印度群岛返回，

　　He had chosen that disguise that he might the more completely surprise his family; 原本想给全家一个惊喜，才装扮成过路人进屋打听。

　　and never was surprise more perfect, or followed by a sweeter cup of joy. 这真是让全家人意想不到的天大惊喜，随后，狭小木屋顿时变成一片欢乐的海洋。

1 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

2 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

3 gushed   

v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• Oil gushed from the well. 石油从井口喷了出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Clear water gushed into the irrigational channel. 清澈的水涌进了灌溉渠道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

5 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。