精美英文欣赏:竹的启示

The Bamboo Trees

竹的启示

One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank.

孩提时最美好的回忆就是河边的堤岸上闲坐。

There I would enjoy the peace and quiet,

在那里我可以享受闲适和宁静，

watch the water rush downstream,

看河水奔流而下，

and listen to the chirps¹ of birds，

听鸟儿啁啾，

and the rustling² of leaves in the trees.

而鸣树叶沙沙作响。

I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully³ to their upright or original position after the wind had died down.

我看到竹子在风的压力下弯曲风过后再优雅地或复原或笔挺。

When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce back or return to its original position,

每当我想到竹子这种弹回去或者说恢复原状的本领时，

the word resilience comes to mind.

韧性一词便会在脑海中浮现。

When used in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person's emotions.

当这个词用于描述人时，指的是从惊吓，沮丧及其他任何触及某人情感极限的状态下从容的恢复过来的能力。

Have you ever felt like you are about to snap?

你是否曾觉得自己快要垮掉？

Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point?

你是否曾感觉自己即将崩溃？

Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.

令人欣慰的是你已经挺过来了。是生活得以继续让你能够在此谈论过往的经历。

During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health.

在那样的经历中你或许体会到了某些威胁健康的复杂情绪。

You felt emotionally drained, mentally exhausted⁴ and you most likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms.

你会感到情绪上萎靡不振，心力交瘁并且很可能还要受到各种讨厌的身体症状的折磨。

Life is a mixture of good times and bad times,

人生是一个五味瓶，

happy moments and unhappy moments.

既有顺境也有逆境既有快乐也有悲伤。

The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point,

下一次当你遭遇逆境感受悲伤几乎要被它们推到崩溃的边缘时，

bend but don't break.

你应曲而不折。

Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.

尽你所能不被现状击败。

A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal⁵.

心怀希望将会帮你渡过难关。

With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation,

心怀希望迎接一个更美好的明天或者更好的状况时，

things may not be as bad as they seem to be.

事情或许就没有看上去的那么糟糕。

The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.

如果结局值得拥有你将会更容易战胜那些不愉快的考验。

If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point,

假如你正面对困难处在崩溃的边缘，

show resilience.

请表现出你的韧性来

Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don't break.

就像竹子一样，弯曲但不折断。

1 chirps   

鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的第三人称单数 )； 啾； 啾啾

参考例句：

• The linnet chirps her vernal song. 红雀吱喳鸣叫着她春天的歌。
• She heard nothing but the chirps and whirrs of insects. 除了虫的鸣叫声外，她什么也没听见。

2 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

3 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

4 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

5 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。