The starfish thrower

 

扔海星的人

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.

从前有一位哲人常到海边去写作。

He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

他有个习惯，就是在开始之前要到海边散步。

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

有一天，他正沿着岸边走。当顺着海边向远处看时，他看到个人，那人的动作看起来像是位舞蹈演员在跳舞。

He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

他很高兴，以为今天正好能看到有人跳舞。于是，他加快步伐以免错过。

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.

当靠近之后，他才看清这是一个年轻人，他不是在跳舞，

The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

而是弯下腰来，从海滩上捡着什么，轻轻地扔到海里。

He came closer still and called out Good morning!

他走近了大声说：早上好！

May I ask what it is that you are doing?

你在做什么？

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, Throwing starfish into the ocean.

这个年轻人停了下来，抬起头回答道：把海星扔进海里。

I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean asked the somewhat startled wise man.

我想我问的是，为什么你要把海星扔进海里？

To this, the young man replied, The sun is up and the tide is going out.

太阳升起来了，潮就要退了，

If I don't throw them in, they'll die.

如果不把它们扔进海里，它们将会死去。

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile？You can't possibly make a difference!

但是年轻人，难道你没有看到这长长的海滩上面布满了海星。你起不到什么作用的！

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.

年轻人 有礼貌地听着，然后弯下腰，又捡起一只海星扔进了海里，

As it met the water, he said, It made a difference for that one.

这时滚涌的波浪走了过来，他说道：对于那一只就起作用了。