羊皮卷的故事（7）

Erasmus leaned forward and stared over Hafid's shoulder at the trunk's contents.

海菲小心地把包在箱子上的皮革掀开，伊拉玛向前倾着身子，

He looked at Hafid and shook his head in bewilderment

目光越过海菲的肩头，落在箱内的东西上。

There was nothing inside the trunk but scrolls² ...leather scrolls.

箱子里除了几张羊皮卷以外，什么也没有。

Hafid reached inside and gently removed one of the rolls.

海菲深手轻轻地拿出了一卷，

Momentarily he clasped it to his breast and closed his eyes.

闭上双眼，把它紧紧地抱在胸前。

A quiet calmness settled over his face,

他的脸变得平静安详，

brushing away the lines of age.

几乎抚平了岁月留下的皱痕。

Then he rose to his feet and pointed³ toward the chest

他站起来，指着箱子，说道：

"Were this room filled to its beams with diamonds,

“就算这屋子里堆满钻石，

its value could not surpass what your eyes behold⁴ in this simple wooden box.

它的价值也无法超过你眼前的这只箱子，

All the success, happiness, love,

我的成功、快乐、爱心、

peace of mind, and wealth that I have enjoyed

以及安宁、财富全都是来自

is directly traceable to what is contained in these few scrolls.

这几张羊皮卷

My debt to them and to the wise one who entrusted⁵ them to my care can never be repaid."

我永远无法报答它们的主人。

Frightened by the tone in Hafid's voice.

伊拉玛听了海菲说话的语气，

Erasmus stepped back and asked,

惊骇得后退了几步，问道：

"Is this the secret to which you have referred?

“这是不是您说的秘密？

Is this chest connected in some way with the promise you have yet to keep?"

这只箱子和您说的心愿有关吗？”

"The answer is yes* to both of your questions."

“一点不错。”

Erasmus passed his hand across his perspiring⁶ forehead and looked at Hafid with disbelief

伊拉玛擦了擦额头上的汗珠，不敢相信地看着主人。

"What is written on these scrolls

“这几张羊皮卷里究竟写这些什么，

that places their value beyond that of diamonds?"

会比钻石还珍贵？”

"All but one of these scrolls contain a principle,

“这些羊皮卷，出了一卷以外，全都记载着一种原则，

a law, or a fundamental truth written in a unique style

一种规律，或者说一种真理。它们都是用独一无二的风格写成的，

to help the deader understand its meaning.

以便阅读的人了解其中的含义。

To become a master in the art of sales

一个人要想掌握推销的艺术，

one must learn and practice the secret of each scroll¹

成为这方面的大师，那就一定得看完所有的内容。

When one masters these principles

如果懂得运用这里面的原则，

one has the power to accumulate all the wealth he desires."

那他就可以随心所欲，拥有他想要的财富。”

1 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

2 scrolls   

n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕

参考例句：

• Either turn it off or only pick up selected stuff like wands, rings and scrolls. 把他关掉然后只捡你需要的物品，像是魔杖(wand)，戒指(rings)和滚动条(scrolls)。 来自互联网
• Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. 死海旁边的山洞里发现了古代的卷轴。 来自辞典例句

3 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

5 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 perspiring   

v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活，身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了，结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险