名校励志英语演讲 126:珍惜现在 把握将来(2)

 　　Now I know you Yale guys are smart. So what can I tell you that you don't already think you know?

　　我知道耶鲁学子充满了智慧，所以我能说的有哪些是你们认为自己不知道的呢？

　　I can tell you something of the world as I see it. Three days ago, in my role as Middle East envoy¹, I stood in the heart of Bethlehem. On one side of me, lay the concrete barrier which now separates Israel and Palestine. On the other, the historic birthplace of Jesus and the land of Palestine beyond.

　　我可以给你们讲讲我眼中的世界。三天前，我作为中东特使去了伯利恒市中心。我的一侧矗立着混凝土筑成的隔离墙，隔开了以色列和巴勒斯坦。而另一侧则是历史上著名的耶稣降生地，和远处巴勒斯坦的土地。

　　A few days before that, I was in Jericho. If you look up from the town centre, to the left is the Mount of Temptation, where Jesus stayed 40 days and nights. To the right, you can see Mount Nebo where Moses looked down on the Promised Land. And right in front of you is the Valley of Jordan.

　　那之前的几天，我在杰里科。从那个小镇中心仰望，在左侧你会看到诱惑山，耶稣在那儿整整度过40个日日夜夜。在右侧，则会看见尼泊山，摩西就是在那儿俯视着上帝许给犹太人的迦南地。而在正前方则是约旦河谷。

　　My guide, a Muslim, turned to me and said: "Moses, Jesus, Mohammed - why in God's name did they all have to come here?"

　　我的向导，以为穆斯林，问我，“摩西、耶稣、穆罕默德——为什么都要以上帝的名义来到这里呢？”

　　But in God's name they came and for centuries their followers² have waged war in the name of prophets whose life's work was in pursuit of peace.

　　然而，以上帝的名义，他们确实来了，而且数世纪以来，他们的追随者以先知的名义发动战争，尽管先知用毕生追求和平。

　　Today, though the land that encompasses³ Israel and Palestine is small, the conflict symbolizes⁴ the wider prospects⁵ of the entire vast region of the Middle East and beyond. There, the forces of modernization⁶ and moderation battle with those of reaction and extremism. The shadow of Iran looms⁷ large.

　　如今，虽然以色列和巴勒斯坦的国土面积很小，但他们之间的冲突却象征了更广泛的、整个中东地区的局势。在那里，现代化和中庸派正与反动势力和极端主义对峙。伊朗的阴影正在扩大。

　　最名人档案

　　姓名：托尼·布莱尔（Tony Blair）

　　性别：男

　　职业：英国前首相

　　国籍:英国

　　出生日期：1953年5月6日

　　毕业学校：牛津大学圣约翰学院法律系

　　成功点睛：年轻的面孔，乐观的精神促使了他政治上的成功

　　个人成就：工党历史上在任时间最长的英国首相

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

3 encompasses   

v.围绕( encompass的第三人称单数 )；包围；包含；包括

参考例句：

• The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. 这项工作涉及的职责范围很广。
• Its conservation law encompasses both its magnitude and its direction. 它的守恒定律包括大小和方向两方面。 来自辞典例句

4 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

6 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

7 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》