羊皮卷之五（1）

The Scroll¹ Marked

5羊皮卷之五

I will live this day as if it is my last.

假如今天是我生命中的最后一天。

And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains² in my keeping?

我要如何利用这最后、最宝贵的一天呢？

First, I will seal up its container of life

首先，我要把一天的时间珍藏好，

so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand.

不让一分一秒的时间滴漏。

I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats,

我不为昨日的不幸叹息，

yesterday's aches of the heart,

过去的已够不幸，

for why should I throw good after bad?

不要再赔上今日的运道。

Can sand flow upward in the hour glass?

时光会倒流吗？

Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises?

太阳会西升东落吗?

Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them?

我可以纠正昨天的错误吗？

Can I call back yesterdays wounds and make them whole?

我能抚平昨日的创伤吗？

Can I become younger than yesterday?

我能比昨天年轻吗？

Can I take back the evil that was spoken,

一句出口的恶言，

the blows that were struck,

一记挥出的拳头，

the pain that was caused?

一切造成的伤痛，能收回吗？

No. Yesterday is buried forever

不能！过去的永远过去了，

and I will think of it no more.

我不再去想它。

I will live this day as if it is my last.

假如今天是我生命中的最后一天。

And what then shall I do?

我该怎么办？

Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow.

忘记昨天，也不要痴想明天。

Why should I throw now after maybe?

明天是一个未知数，为什么要把今天的精力浪费在未知的事上？

Can tomorrows sand flow through the glass before today's?

想着明天的种种，今天的时光也白白流逝了。

Will the sun rise twice this morning?

企盼今早的太阳再次升起，太阳已经落山。

Can I perform tomorrow's deeds while standing³ in today's path?

走在今天的路上，能做明天的事吗?

Can I place tomorrow's gold in today's purse?

我能把明天的金币放进今天的钱袋里吗？

Can tomorrow's child be born today?

明日瓜熟，今日能蒂落吗？

Can tomorrow's death cast its shadow backward and darken today's joy?

明天的死亡能将今天的欢乐蒙上阴影吗？

Should I concern myself over events which I may never witness?

能一直担心自己从来不曾目睹过的事情吗？

Should I torment⁴ myself with problems that may never come to pass?

我能杞人忧天吗？

No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more.

明天和明天一样被我埋葬。我不再想它。

I will live this day as if it is my last.

今天是我生命中的最后一天．

This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity⁵.

这是我仅有的一天，是现实的永恒。

I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved⁶ from death.

我像被赦免死刑的囚犯，用喜悦的泪水拥抱新生的太阳。

I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day.

我举起双手，感谢这无与伦比的一天。

So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude⁷ as I consider all who greeted yesterday's sunrise

当我想到昨天和我一起迎接日出的朋友，

who are no longer with the living today.

今天已不复存在时，我为自己的幸存，感激上苍。

I am indeed a fortunate man

我是无比幸运的人，

and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved.

今天的时光是额外的奖赏。

Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I have departed?

许多强者都先我而去，为什么我得到这额外的一天？

Is it that they have accomplished⁸ their purpose

是不是因为他们已大功告成，

while mine is yet to be achieved?

而我尚在途中跋涉？

Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be?

如果这样，这是不是成就我的一次机会，让我功德圆满？

Is there a purpose in nature?

造物主的安排是否别具匠心？

Is this my day to excel?

今天是不是我超越他人的机会？

I will live this day as if it is my last.

今天是我生命中的最后一天。

I have but one life

生命只有一次，

and life is naught⁹ but a measurement of time.

而人生也不过是时间的累积。

When I waste one I destroy the other.

我若让今天的时光白白流逝，

If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life.

就等于毁掉入生最后一页。

Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return.

因此，我珍惜今天的一分一秒，因为它们将一去不复返。

It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn¹⁰ on the morrow, for who can trap the wind?

我无法把今天存入银行，明天再来取用。

Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands

时间像风一样不可捕捉。

and fondle with love for its value is beyond price.

每一分一秒，我要用双手捧住，用爱心抚摸，因为它们如此宝贵。

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 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 torment   

n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠

参考例句：

• He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
• Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。

5 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

6 reprieved   

v.缓期执行（死刑）( reprieve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• 70 jobs have been reprieved until next April. 有70个职位暂时保留到明年四月份。
• We were reprieved from the danger for a time. 我们暂免危险。 来自辞典例句

7 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

8 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

9 naught   

n.无，零 [=nought]

参考例句：

• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
• I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。

10 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。