羊皮卷的故事（13）

You, yourself, have said that wealth is good

您自己也说过，

when it brings joy to others.

能带给人快乐的财富便是美好的。

Why then is my ambition to be wealthy not a good one?

那么，我要成为一个有钱人有什么不好？

Poverty may fee a privilege and even a way of life for the monk¹ in the desert,

“只有沙漠里的和尚，才适合过苦日子。

for he has only himself to sustain and none but his god to please,

因为他们只需养活自己，除了神以外，不用讨好别人。

but I consider poverty to be the mark of a lack of ability

可是我不同，对我来说，

or a lack of ambition.

贫穷只意昧着无能无志，

I am not deficient² in either of these qualities!"

而我并非这样不中用的人！

Pathros frowned,

柏萨罗皱起眉头，

"What has caused this sudden outburst of ambition?

什么事情让你突发奇想，踌躇满志？

You speak of providing for a family yet you have no family lest it be I

你说要养家糊口，可是你并没有家人呀?”

who have adopted you since the pestilence³ removed thy mother and father."

除了我这个在你父母病故后收养你的人。

Hafid's sun-darkened skin could not hide the sudden flush in his cheeks.

海菲那被太阳晒得黑黑的面庞，掩盖不住突然泛起的红晕。

"While we encamped in Hebron before journeying here

我们路过希伯伦的时候，

I met the daughter of Calneh.

我遇见了卡奈的女儿。

She... she..."

她……她……”

"Oh, ho, now the truth emergeth.

“喔，喔，现在说实话了，

Love, not noble ideals, has changed my camel boy into a mighty⁴ soldier

不是什么大道理，是爱情让我们看管骆驼的男孩变成伟大的勇士，

ready to battle the world.

要向全世界挑战了。

Calneh is a very wealthy man.

卡奈非常有钱，

His daughter and la camel boy?

他能让自己的女儿和一个喂骆驼的穷小子在一起吗？

Never! But his daughter and- a rich, young, and handsome merchant . . .

决不可能！如果是一个年轻有为、英俊潇洒的商人，

ah, that is another matter.

嗯，那又另当别论了。

Very well, my young soldier,

好吧，小伙子，

I will help you begin your career as a salesman."

我可以助你一臂之力，让你做一名推销员，开创自己的事业。”

The lad fell to his knees and grasped Pathros' robe.

少年跪在地上，感激地抓住主人的长袍。

"Sire, sire!

“老爷，老爷，

How can I say the words to show my thanks?"

我不知该怎样报答您才好？”

Pathros freed himself from Hafid's grip and stepped back.

柏萨罗挣脱了海菲的手，退后一步，

"I would suggest you withhold⁵ thy thanks for the present.

“先别谢我，

Whatever aid I give thee will be as a grain of sand

我能给你的帮助微如尘埃，

compared to the mountains you must move for yourself."

最重要的，还是要靠你自己持之以恒的努力。

1 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

2 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

3 pestilence   

n.瘟疫

参考例句：

• They were crazed by the famine and pestilence of that bitter winter.他们因那年严冬的饥饿与瘟疫而折磨得发狂。
• A pestilence was raging in that area. 瘟疫正在那一地区流行。

4 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

5 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。