精美英文欣赏:写给女儿的信(上)

A Letter to my daughters-Barack Obama

写给女儿的信-巴拉克·欧巴马

Dear Malia and Sasha,

亲爱的马莉亚和莎夏：

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs,

我知道这两年你们俩随我一路竞选都有过不少乐子，野餐、游行、逛州博览会，

eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have.

吃了各种或许我和你妈不该让你们吃的垃圾食物。

But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy¹,

然而我也知道，你们俩和你妈的日子，有时候并不惬意。新来的小狗虽然令你们兴奋，

it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart.

却无法弥补我们不在一起的所有时光。

I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided² to take our family on this journey.

我明白这两年我错过的太多了，今天我要再向你们说说为何我决定带领我们一家走上这趟旅程。

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want.

当我还年轻的时候，我认为生活就该绕着我转：我如何在这世上得心应手，成功立业，得到我想要的。

But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity³ and mischief⁴ and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day.

后来，你们俩进入了我的世界，带来的种种好奇、淘气和微笑，总能填满我的心，照亮我的日子。

And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore.

突然之间，我为自己谱写的伟大计划显得不再那么重要了。

I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours.

我很快便发现，我在你们生命中看到的快乐，就是我自己生命中最大的快乐。

And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours.

而我也同时体认到，如果我不能确保你们此生能够拥有追求幸福和自我实现的一切机会，我自己的生命也没多大价值。

In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

总而言之，我的女儿，这就是我竞选总统的原因：我要让你们俩和这个国家的每一个孩子，都能拥有我想要给他们的东西。

I want all our children to go to schools worthy⁵ of their potential--schools that challenge them, inspire them,

我要让所有儿童都在能够发掘他们潜能的学校就读；这些学校要能挑战他们，激励他们，

and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them.

并灌输他们对身处的这个世界的好奇心。

I want them to have the chance to go to college--even if their parents aren't rich.

我要他们有机会上大学，那怕他们的父母并不富有。

And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care,

而且我要他们能找到好的工作：薪酬高还附带健康保险的工作，

jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

让他们有时间陪孩子、并且能带着尊严退休的工作。

1 puppy   

n.小狗，幼犬

参考例句：

• You must school your puppy to obey you.你要训练你的小狗服从你。
• Their lively puppy frisks all over the house.他们的小狗在屋里到处欢快地蹦跳。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 curiosity   

n.好奇心，新奇的事物，珍品

参考例句：

• He gave in to curiosity and opened my letter.他抑制不住好奇心，拆开了我的信。
• The children are dying of curiosity to see what's in the parcel.孩子们出于好奇，迫不及待地想看看包裹中是什么东西。

4 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

5 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。