羊皮卷的故事（26）

I had finally found he who was ordained¹ to next receive the chest.

我终于等到了可以继承那只香杉木箱的人。

Strangely, as soon as I knew I had found the right one,

说也奇怪，从我找到合适人选的时候开始，

my life's energy began to slowly drain away.

我的精力便开始衰竭。

Now I am near the end but my long search is over and I can depart from this world in peace."

现在我的大限已到，可以安心地走了。”

The old man's voice grew faint

老人的声音越来越弱，

but he clenched² his bony fists and leaned closer to Hafid.

他握紧双拳，倾身向前对海菲说：

"Listen closely, my son,

“孩子，你仔细听着，

for I will have no strength to re?peat these words."

因为我没有力气再重复这些话了。”

Hafid's eyes were moist as he moved nearer to his master.

海菲含着泪，坐到主人身旁。

Their hands touched and the great salesman inhaled³ with effort.

他们握着手。这位推销大师深深地吸了口气，继续说道：

"I now pass on this chest and its valuable contents to thee

“我现在把这只箱子还有里面价值连城的东西都交给你，

but first there are certain conditions to which you must agree.

但是你必须先答应我几件事情。

In the chest is a purse with one hundred gold talents.

这里有一个钱袋，装着一百枚金币。

This will enable you to live and purchase a small supply of rugs

你可以用它们维持生计，

with which you can enter the business world.

再买一些地毯开始做生意。

I could bestow⁴ on you great wealth

我本可以给你更多钱财，

but this would do you a terrible disservice.

但是这对你只有百害而无一益，

Far better is it that you become the world's wealthiest and greatest salesman on your own.

你要靠自己的奋斗，成为世上最伟大的推销员才有意义。

You see, I have not forgotten your goal.

你现在知道我一直没忘记你的梦想了吧！

"Depart from this city immediately and go to Damascus.

“现在，你马上离开这里，到大马士革去，

There you will find unlimited⁵ opportunities to apply what the scrolls⁷ will teach.

那儿有的是机会，羊皮卷里的东西派得上用场。

After you have secured lodging⁸ you will open only the scroll⁶ marked One.

等你落下脚，就可以打开第一张羊皮卷了，其它几卷暂时不要看。

You are to read this over and over until you understand fully⁹

你要反复诵读，

the secret method which it relates

熟记里面的内容，

and which you will use in learning the principles of selling success contained on all the other scrolls.

体会其中的含义。

As you learn from each scroll

以后再依次打开其它几卷，

you can begin to sell the rugs you have purchased,

就可以开始卖手中的毯子了

and if you combine what you learn with the experience you acquire,

运用里面的原则和方法，

and continue to study each scroll as instructed,

按照羊皮卷的指导

your sales will grow in number each day.

你卖出的地毯一定会一天比一天多的。”

My first condition then is that you must swear under oath

“我首先要你答应的条件是：你必须发誓，

that you will follow the instructions contained in the scroll marked One.

依照第一卷的指示去做。

Do you agree?"

你答应吗？”

"Yes, sire."

“答应，老爷。”

"Good, good ...

“好，好，

and when you apply the principles of the scrolls

只要照着羊皮卷上面教的去做，

you will become far wealthier than you have ever dreamed.

将来你会比自己梦想的还要富有。

My second condition

我的第二个条件是，

is that you must constantly dispose of half your earnings¹⁰

你必须把赚下的钱财

to those less fortunate than you.

分给那些比你不幸的人，

1 ordained   

v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定

参考例句：

• He was ordained in 1984. 他在一九八四年被任命为牧师。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was ordained priest. 他被任命为牧师。 来自辞典例句

2 clenched   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
• She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上，以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 inhaled   

v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 她合上双眼，深深吸了一口气。
• Janet inhaled sharply when she saw him. 珍妮特看到他时猛地吸了口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bestow   

v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费

参考例句：

• He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
• What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？

5 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

6 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。

7 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

8 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。