When I was having a chit-chat with my colleague, she asked me all of a sudden, “How did your husband propose to you at that time? Was it romantic?” I was numbed by her words for a while, and then burst into laughter, “My husband is a bit rigid, so do you think his proposal would be romantic?” Though I said in that way, I felt very sweet in heart when thinking of my husband’s proposing to me. To be honest, his proposal was actually by no means romantic without flowers, diamond ring and any other surprise. It was even could not be called “marriage proposal”.

　　当时,他送了我一本关于爱尔兰的书,现在想起来,大概是他预谋已久的吧。在我翻阅完那本书的周末,他来找我,问我书看完没。见我点了点头,他傻傻地乐了,然后对我说道:“如果你愿意,让我们像爱尔兰人一样去结婚吧!”

　　At that time, he gave me a book about Ireland, which, now I am thinking was a long-established plan. At the weekend when I finished the book, he came to me and asked me whether I had finished the book. Seeing me nod my head, he felt very pleased and said to me in a low but happy voice, “If you like, we can get married in an Irish way!”

　　那时,我的心里恰好被爱尔兰人那浪漫而且神圣的婚姻法所折服。书中说,爱尔兰是信奉天主教的国家,禁止离婚。所以,两人结婚时必须选择婚姻关系的期限——1年至100年。这种婚姻法的高明之处在于,婚姻的期限恰好与结婚的费用成反比。如果你选择了1年期限,将支付高达2000英镑的费用并获得如辞典般厚厚的权利义务说明;如果你选择了100年,那么恭喜你,你只需要支付工本费0.5英镑,和短短的却让所有女人感动的一段话:“我不知道我的左手对右手、右腿对左腿、左眼对右眼、右脑对左脑究竟应该享有怎样的权利,究竟应该承担怎样的义务。其实它们本就是一个整体,因彼此的存在而存在,因彼此的快乐而快乐。最后,让这张粉红色的小纸带去我对你们百年婚姻的美好祝愿!祝你们幸福!”

　　At that time, my heart was totally convinced by the romantic and sacred law of marriage in Ireland. The book told me that Ireland believes in Catholicism and prohibited divorce. Therefore, when a couple get married, they are supposed to choose the time of their marriage which ranges from 1 year to 100 years. The most impressive of this law of marriage lies in the inverse relationship between the time of marriage and the fees to be charged. If you choose 1 year for your marriage, you shall pay as much as 2, 000 sterling pounds plus receiving a dictionary-thick reference of rights and responsibilities. But if you choose 100 years, then you are very lucky and only need to pay 0.5 pound for the fees and receive a short but heart-touching note in all women’s eyes: “I have no idea the clear rights and responsibilities for my left hand to my right hand, my right leg to my left leg, my left eye to my right eye and my right sphere of brain to the left. Actually, they are an integrated whole and live by each other and cheer for each other. Finally, I would like this pink note to convey my best wishes to your one-hundred-year marriage! May you live happily all your lives!”

　　记得当时。我顺着他的话说道:“那么好吧,请这位先生选择一下你的婚姻期限吧!”他再一次傻傻地乐了,说:“那还用想吗。当然是100年,多省钱啊!”

　　I still remember at that time that I said to my husband, “Ok, so sir, please choose the time you expect our marriage to last!” He said happily, “I even do not bother to think about it and would definitely choose 100 years because it is highly money-saving!”

　　后来,我嫁给了这个想和我拥有百年婚姻的男人。虽然,我们没有像爱尔兰人一样有法律的约束,我们却一直因为这句话,彼此在心里约束着自己。像爱尔兰人一样去结婚,把婚姻当成一辈子的事,好好地努力地经营,执子之手、与子偕老。

　　Later, I married him, a man who would like to stay with me for 100 years. Although we are not bound by the law of marriage in Ireland, we have cherished our vow to discipline ourselves all the time. We have married like Irish people and look on our marriage as a life-long commitment and spare no effort to nourish it hand in hand as we are gradually aging together.

　　我希望世间男女,都能像爱尔兰人一样去结婚,好好地谨慎地相爱,并选择百年的期限来用心地守护身边的那个人。

　　I also sincerely hope that every pair of lovers in the world can get married like Irish people and love and protect each other whole-heartedly by committing themselves to a 100-year marriage.