美国语文第六册 第20期:生活中通常貌似真实的计划(2)

 　　"Tell me," said Caleb, "thou to whose voice nations have listened, and whose wisdom is known to the extremities¹ of Asia, tell me, how I may resemble Omar the prudent²? “告诉我，”卡勒卜说，“在这个国家你想听谁的声音，在亚洲谁的智慧闻名遐迩，告诉我，我如何才能效仿奥马尔的明智？

　　The arts by which thou hast gained power and preserved it, are to thee no longer necessary or useful; 您赢得影响力并能保持下来的秘籍，对您来说不再是必要和有用的了。

　　impart to me the secret of thy conduct, and teach me the plan upon which thy wisdom has built thy fortune." 将您的处事秘诀传授给我吧，把您用智慧赢得巨额财富的一番规划教给我吧。”

　　"Young man," said Omar, "it is of little use to form plans of life. “年轻人，”奥马尔说，“生活规划无甚用处。

　　When I took my first survey of the world, in my twentieth year, 二十几岁时，我最初审视这个世界时，

　　having considered the various conditions of mankind, in the hour of solitude³ I said thus to myself, leaning against a cedar⁴ which spread its branches over my head: 用孤独的目光看待人类变化多端的处境，倚着一株枝叶繁茂的柏树我自语道：

　　'Seventy years are allowed to man; I have yet fifty remaining.' ‘人生七十即是高寿，我还有五十年的时间。’

　　Ten years I will allot⁵ to the attainment⁶ of knowledge, and ten I will pass in foreign countries; 于是，我抽出十年时间用来掌握知识，另外用十年时间游历各国。

　　I shall be learned, and therefore I shall be honored; every city will shout at my arrival, and every student will solicit⁷ my friendship. 通过这段经历，我明白了一个道理，我将酬之以荣。沿途每个城市在我莅临时都夹道欢呼，每位学生都请求与我结交。

　　Twenty years thus passed will store my mind with images which I shall be busy through the rest of my life in combining and comparing. 二十年的光阴在我心里留驻这样的印象，就是我将在余生忙于联合和比较。

1 extremities   

n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地

参考例句：

• She was most noticeable, I thought, in respect of her extremities. 我觉得她那副穷极可怜的样子实在太惹人注目。 来自辞典例句
• Winters may be quite cool at the northwestern extremities. 西北边区的冬天也可能会相当凉。 来自辞典例句

2 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

3 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

4 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

5 allot   

v.分配；拨给；n.部分；小块菜地

参考例句：

• The government is ready to allot houses in that area.政府准备在那个地区分配住房。
• Who will she allot the easy jobs to?她把轻活儿分给谁呢？

6 attainment   

n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣

参考例句：

• We congratulated her upon her attainment to so great an age.我们祝贺她高寿。
• The attainment of the success is not easy.成功的取得并不容易。

7 solicit   

vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意)

参考例句：

• Beggars are not allowed to solicit in public places.乞丐不得在公共场所乞讨。
• We should often solicit opinions from the masses.我们应该经常征求群众意见。