精美英文欣赏:扔海星的人

The starfish thrower

扔海星的人

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.

从前有一位哲人常到海边去写作。

He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

他有个习惯，就是在开始之前要到海边散步。

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

有一天，他正沿着岸边走。当顺着海边向远处看时，他看到个人，那人的动作看起来像是位舞蹈演员在跳舞。

He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

他很高兴，以为今天正好能看到有人跳舞。于是，他加快步伐以免错过。

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.

当靠近之后，他才看清这是一个年轻人，他不是在跳舞，

The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

而是弯下腰来，从海滩上捡着什么，轻轻地扔到海里。

He came closer still and called out good morning!

他走近了大声说：早上好！

May I ask what it is that you are doing?

你在做什么？

The young man paused¹, looked up, and replied, throwing starfish into the ocean.

这个年轻人停了下来，抬起头回答道：把海星扔进海里。

I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean asked the somewhat² startled³ wise man.

我想我问的是，为什么你要把海星扔进海里？

To this, the young man replied, the sun is up and the tide is going out.

太阳升起来了，潮就要退了，

If I don't throw them in, they'll die.

如果不把它们扔进海里，它们将会死去。

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, but, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach

但是年轻人，难道你没有看到这长长的海滩

and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!

上面布满了海星。你起不到什么作用的！

At this, the young man bent⁴ down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.

年轻人 有礼貌地听着，然后弯下腰，又捡起一只海星扔进了海里，

As it met the water, he said, It made a difference for that one.

这时滚涌的波浪走了过来，他说道：对于那一只就起作用了。

1 paused   

v.停顿( pause的过去式和过去分词 )；暂停；（按暂停键）暂停放音；暂停放像

参考例句：

• We paused for the red light at State College Street. 我们在州立大学大街上因遇到红灯而停了一下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The joggers paused to catch their breath. 慢跑者们暂停下来以便喘口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 somewhat   

pron.一些，某物；adv.多少，几分

参考例句：

• The cake we made was somewhat of a failure.我们做的蛋糕不大成功。
• The two office buildings are somewhat alike in appearance.这两座办公楼在外形上有点相似。

3 startled   

adj.受惊吓的v.使惊跳，使大吃一惊( startle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A crowd of 2000 was startled near the end of the concert. 2000名观众在音乐会将近结束时大吃一惊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Startled by the sudden whistle of the train, the horse broke away. 火车突然鸣笛，那匹马受惊脱逃。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。