双语有声阅读：请给我造就这样一个儿子

Build Me a Son

 

by General Douglas A. MacArthur 

 

Build me a son, Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble¹ and gentle in victory.

 

啊，上帝，请给我造就这样一个儿子，他将坚强足以认识自己的弱点，勇敢得足以面对恐惧，在遇到正当的挫折时能够昂首而不卑躬屈膝，在胜利时能谦逊而不趾高气扬。

 

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone² should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

 

请给我造就这样一个儿子，他不会用愿望代替行动，将牢记你的教诲――认识自己是认识世界的奠基石。

 

Lead him I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion³ for those who fail.

 

我祈求，请不要把他引上平静安逸的道路，而要把他置于困难和挑战的考验和激励之下，让他学会在暴风雨中挺立，让他学会对那些失败者富于怜悯。

 

ll be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

 

请给我造就这样一个儿子，他将心地洁净，目标高尚；他将在征服别人之前先征服自己，他将拥有未来，但永远不忘记过去。

 

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility⁴, so that he may always remember the simplicity⁵ of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness⁶ of true strength.

 

我祈求，除了上述的一切，请赐他足够的幽默感，这样他可以永远庄重，但不至于盛气凌人；赋他以谦卑的品质，这样他可能永远铭记在心：真正的伟人也要真诚率直，真正的贤人也要虚怀若谷，真正的强者也要温文尔雅。

 

Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper "I have not lived in vain". 

 

那么，作为他父亲的我就将敢于对人低语：“我这一生没有白过。”

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

3 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

4 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

5 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

6 meekness   

n.温顺，柔和

参考例句：

• Amy sewed with outward meekness and inward rebellion till dusk. 阿密阳奉阴违地一直缝到黄昏。 来自辞典例句
• 'I am pretty well, I thank you,' answered Mr. Lorry, with meekness; 'how are you?' “很好，谢谢，”罗瑞先生回答，态度温驯，“你好么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记