羊皮卷的故事（15）

Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward;

只要永不放弃，持之以恒，每次挫折，都是你进步的机会。

turn away from them, avoid them,

如果你逃避退缩，

and you throw away your future.

那就等于自毁前途。”

The youth nodded

少年在一旁频频点头，

and made as if to speak but the old man raised his hand and continued, "

想着老人的话，正要开口，却被老人挥手止住了。

Furthermore, you are embarking¹ on the loneliest profession in the world.

“还有，你正走向世界上最孤独的行业。

Even the despised tax collectors return to their homes at sundown

即便是受人轻视的税吏，夕阳西下时，还有家可归。

and the legions of Rome have a barracks to call home.

那些罗马士兵，天黑以后也有营舍为家。

But you will witness many setting suns

但是你以后会眼睁睁地看着太阳落山，

far from all friends and loved ones.

远离亲友，只能穿越万家灯火，匆匆赶路。

Nothing can bring the hurt of loneliness upon a man

世上没有比这些更能让人触景生情，

so swiftly as to pass a strange house in the dark

心碎意沉的了。

and witness, in the lamplight from within,a family breaking evening bread together.

眼看着别人合家欢聚，共享天伦，你别无选择，

"It is in these periods of loneliness that temptations will confront you,"

“倍感寂寞的时候，诱惑就来了。”

Pathros continued.

柏萨罗继续说着，

"How you meet these temptations

如何应对这些诱惑，

will greatly affect your career.

关系到你的事业和前途。

When you are on the road

当你独自赶路，

with only your animal

伴着你的只有一匹骆驼时，

it is a strange and often frightening sensation.

你会感到陌生而可怕。

Often our perspectives and our values are temporarily forgotten

那种时候，我们常常会暂时忘了一切，忘了前途，忘了身份，

and we become like children,

变得像小孩子一样，

longing² for the safety and love of our own.

渴望安全，渴望一份属于自己的爱。

What we find as a substitute has ended the career of many

许多人熬不住，半途而废，另寻寄托。

including thousands who were considered to have great potential in the art of selling.

而事实上，他们都具有潜力，可以成为一流的推销员。

Furthermore, there will be no one to humor you or console you

还有，当你的货推销不出去的时候，

when you have sold no goods;

没有人会谅解你，安慰你。

no one except those who seek to separate you from your money pouch³."

人们只会趁你不注意的时候，拿走你的钱袋。”

"I will be careful and heed⁴ thy words of warning.

“我会记下您的话。”

"Then let us begin.

那就开始吧！

For the present you will receive no more advice."

眼下，我不再给你任何忠告。

You stand before me as a green fig⁵.

现在，你就像一颗青涩的无花果，

Until the fig is ripe it cannot be called a fig

熟透前无人问津。

and until you have been exposed to knowledge and experience

等到有了经验，有了知识，

you cannot be called a salesman."

你才算得上一名推销员。

1 embarking   

乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
• The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争，须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。

2 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

3 pouch   

n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件

参考例句：

• He was going to make a tobacco pouch out of them. 他要用它们缝制一个烟草袋。
• The old man is always carrying a tobacco pouch with him.这老汉总是随身带着烟袋。

4 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

5 fig   

n.无花果(树)

参考例句：

• The doctor finished the fig he had been eating and selected another.这位医生吃完了嘴里的无花果，又挑了一个。
• You can't find a person who doesn't know fig in the United States.你找不到任何一个在美国的人不知道无花果的。