英语美文：秋天是收获的季节

     Autumn－the Harvest Season

　　The autumn, with its ripening¹ fruits, and waving harvest, is now with us. We see on every hand the results of the farmer’s toil² and forecast in the springtime. Then it was that he broke up the soil, sowed the seed, pruned³ his trees, and guarded the tender plants. Now we see the ripening crops. The trees are bending with golden fruit, and abundance rewards farmer’s toil.

　　But suppose in spring the farmer had left the soil unturned, the seed unsown, the trees untrimmed, and everything neglected, what would now be the result? We should see nothing but barren fields, overrun with weeds and biers; and the farmer would feel that a winter of want and distress⁴ is before him.

　　And let us remember that the autumn of life will come on apace; and that what we now sow, we shall then reap. If we would reap an abundant harvest, and gather precious fruit, and secure an autumn of plenty prosperity, we must now, in the springtime of life, be diligent⁵ and careful in the cultivation⁶ of our hearts. We must form only those habits which will produce good fruits. Our acts must be noble, our thoughts and our words must be pure, and our feelings must be kind. As we now sow, we shall then reap. If we “sow to the wind, we shall reap the whirlwind”.

　　伴着成熟的果实和翻腾的谷浪，秋天来到了我们身旁。从每一位农民的手上，我们看到了辛勤劳作的成果和春天期望的实现。在春天，是他们耕耘土地，拨下种籽，修剪果树，照看嫩苗。现在我们看到了成熟的庄稼。金黄的果实压弯了果树枝头，丰厚地回报农民的劳作。

　　但是，假定农民们在春天土地不耕，种籽不播，果实不修剪，什么都不干，那么现在会是什么结果呢？我们只会看到贫瘠的土地，野草疯长，荆棘丛生。这个时候农民们就会感觉到，一个匮乏而忧伤的冬季就在他们面前。

　　让我们记住，人生的秋天很快就会来临；我们现在播种什么，到那时就会收获什么。如果我们要获取丰硕的收成，摘取珍贵的果实，确保充裕旺盛的秋天，现在，在这个人生的春天，我们就必须勤勤恳恳、小心翼翼地培育我们的心灵。我们必须养成只会产生好的结果的习惯。我们的行为必须高尚，我们的思想和言语必须纯洁，我们的情操必须善良。我们现在播种，到时候定有收获。如果我们“风中播种，将来必然收获旋风”（“现在做坏事，将来必收恶果”）。

1 ripening   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成

参考例句：

• The corn is blossoming [ripening]. 玉米正在开花[成熟]。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• When the summer crop is ripening, the autumn crop has to be sowed. 夏季作物成熟时，就得播种秋季作物。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

3 pruned   

v.修剪（树木等）( prune的过去式和过去分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分

参考例句：

• Next year's budget will have to be drastically pruned. 下一年度的预算将大幅度削减。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

5 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

6 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。