Last will and testament of Charles Lounsberry

 

查尔斯隆斯伯里的遗嘱

In the pocket of an old ragged coat belonging to an elderly man in Chicago, a will was found, after his death.

在芝加哥一位辞世老人大衣的口袋里，人们发现了一份遗嘱。

It went like this:

遗嘱中写道:

I, Charles Lounsberry, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make and publish this my Last Will and Testament,in order, as justly as may be, to distribute my interests in the world among succeeding men.

我，查尔斯隆斯伯里，在心智清醒的状况下，写下这封遗嘱，以此尽量公正地把我的财产非配给后人。

That part of my interests which is known in law and recognized in the sheep-bound volumes as my property, being inconsiderable and of no account,I make no disposition of this in my Will.

对于法律所承认，写在羊皮卷宗上的我那点财产，在此不做赘述；

My right to live, being but a life estate, is not at my disposal,but, these things excepted, all else in the world I now proceed to devise and bequeath.

而我活着的权力为命运所拥有，也不为我支配。下面我要分配一下我的其他财产。

ITEM: I give to good fathers and mothers, in trust to their children, all good little words of praise and encouragement,and all quaint pet names and endearments; and I charge said parents to use them justly,but generously, as the deeds of their children shall require.

一，我要把给孩子们的赞扬和鼓励的话，所有奇异的昵称和爱语都交由他们出色的爸爸妈妈们；我要求爸爸妈妈们合理地使用它们，但不要吝啬，因为孩子们需要这些。

ITEM: I leave to children inclusively, but only for the term of their childhood, all and every,the flowers of the field, and the blossoms of the woods, with the right to play among them freely according to the custom of children,warning them at the same time against the thistles and the thorns.

二，我要给所有的孩子们，所有处在孩童时代的孩子们鲜花野草，给他们在田野和树林里随性自由玩耍的权利，但也提醒他们留下荆棘利刺。

And I devise to the children the banks of the brooks and the golden sands beneath the waters thereof,and the odors of the willows that dip therein, and the white clouds that float high over the giant trees.

我也留给了孩子们河岸，还有河水下面金光闪闪的沙子，河边柳树散发的清香，以及大树上面的蓝天白云。

And I leave the children the long, long days to be merry in a thousand ways,and the night and the moon and the train of the Milky Way to wonder at, but subject, nevertheless, to the rights hereinafter given to lovers.

我还留给了孩子们在无数个日子里能够快乐的一千种方式，还有能够让他们为之产生遐想的黑夜，月亮以及银河专列，但是，有些是给下文中的恋人的。

ITEM: I devise to boys jointly all the idle fields and commons where ball may be played,all pleasant waters where one may swim, all snow-clad hills where one may coast, and all streams and ponds where one may fish, or where,when grim winter comes, one may skate, to have and to hold the same for the period of their boyhood.

三，我留给男孩子们能打球的场地，能安全游泳的水域，能够滑雪的小山，能钓鱼的小溪和池塘，或者是寒冬来到后可以溜冰的地方，让这些伴随着他们度过少年时代。

And all meadows,with the clover-blossoms and butterflies thereof;the woods with their appurtenances: the squirrels and birds and echoes and strange noises;and all distant places, which may be visited, together with the adventures there to be found.

我还要给他们开满苜蓿花和飞舞着蝴蝶的草地；居住着松鼠，各种鸟类，以及发出种种怪声的树林；还要他们能够涉足和探险的远方。

And I give to said boys, each his own place at the fireside at night, with all pictures that may be seen in the burning wood,to enjoy without hindrance and without any encumbrance of care.

我也给这些孩子们每人一块夜晚坐在火炉旁的地方，让他们观看燃烧的木头中呈现的各种画面，让他们自由自在，不受束缚地享受快乐！

ITEM: To lovers, I devise their imaginary world, with whatever they may need, as the stars of the sky, the red roses by the wall,the bloom of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of music, and anything else they may desire to figure to each other the lastingness and beauty of their love.

四，对于那些恋人们，我留给他们一个想象的世界，那里有他们需要的所有东西，比如天空中的繁星，墙边鲜艳的玫瑰，盛开的山楂花，甜蜜的乐曲，和他们想用来向恋人表达自己忠贞不渝的爱情的任何事物。

ITEM: To young men jointly, I devise and bequeath all boisterous inspiring sports of rivalry,and I give to them the disdain of weakness and undaunted confidence in their own strength.

五，对于年轻人，我留给他们所有激烈，具有启迪性的竞争运动，无惧弱点的品质和对自己力量的坚定信心。

Though they are rude, I leave them the powers to make lasting friendships, and of possessing companions,and to them exclusively I give all merry songs and brave choruses to sing with lusty voices.

尽管他们不那么知礼，我还是要留给他们维持常青友谊，结交伙伴的能力。我要把所有欢快的歌曲和气势磅礴的合唱留给他们，让他们用粗矿的喉咙歌唱。

ITEM: And to those who are no longer children, or youths, or lovers,I leave memory, and bequeath to them the volumes of the poems of Burns and Shakespeare, and of other poets,if there be any, to the end that they may live the old days over again, freely and fully without tithe or diminution.

六，对于那些不再是孩子，年轻人，或是恋人的，我留给他们回忆，还有彭斯，莎士比亚和其他诗人的诗，以便让他们重拾往日的岁月，真切丝毫不减地回味当初的感觉。

ITEM: To the loved ones with snowy crowns, I bequeath the happiness of old age,the love and gratitude of their children until they fall asleep.

七，对于那些满头白发的人，我留给他们晚年时的欢乐，以及孩子们对他们的爱和感恩，让这些一直伴随着他们进入梦乡。