秋日之湖英汉散文

　I remember quite clearly now when the story happened

　The autumn leaves were floating in meausre down to the ground, recovering the lake,

　where we used to swim like children, under the sun was there to shine

　That time we used to be happy Well, I thought we were

　But the truth was that you had been longing to leave me, not daring to tell me

　On that precious night, watching the lake, vaguely conscious, you said: Our story is ending

　The rain was killing the last days of summer,

　you had been killing my last breath of love since a long time ago

　I still don't think I'm gonna make it through another love story

　You took it all away from me

　And there I stand, I knew I was going to be the one left behind

　But still I'am watching the lake, vaguely conscious,

　and I know my life is ending

　 译文

　我仍清晰地记得故事发生的时候，

　红叶翻飞，飘落一地。

　我们曾孩子般戏水畅游过的小湖盖满落叶，

　在太阳下闪着光。

　那时我们幸福过。

　哦，我是这样认为的。

　可事实上你早就想离开我，只是不敢告诉我。

　在那美丽的夜晚，眼望湖水，

　恍惚中听见你说：我们的故事已到尽头。

　雨水扼杀着所剩无几的`夏日，

　而你很久以来也在扼杀我奄奄一息的爱。

　我仍不认为自己会再去经历另一段爱情故事。

　你把一切都带走了。

　我只有悄然伫立，早已明白自己将会是那个被遗弃的人。

　而我依然凝望着湖水，

　恍惚中，生命正离我而去。

A Faraway Friend is someone you grew up with or went to school with or lived in the same town as until one of you moved away Without a Faraway Friend, you would never get any mail addressed in handwriting A Faraway Friend calls late at night, invites you to her wedding, always says she is coming to visit but rarely shows up An actual visit from a Faraway Friend is a cause for celebration and binges of all kinds

远方的朋友是这样的一个人：和你从小一同长大的，或者是同学，或者和你原本住在同一个镇上，后来你们中的一人搬到了别处。没有一位远方的朋友，你连一封手写的信都收不到。远方的朋友会半夜打来电话，邀请你去参加她的婚礼，她总是说要来看你，却很少露面。要是真的来访，那才叫“不亦乐乎”，各种名目的狂欢可就有了理由。

Faraway friends go through phases of intense communication, then maybe out of touch for many months Either way, the connection is always there A conversation with your Faraway Friend always helps to put your life in perspective: When you feel you’ve hit a dead end, come to a confusing fork in the road, or gotten lost in some cracker-box subdivision of your life, the advice of the Faraway Friend — who has the big picture, who is so well acquainted with the route that brought you to this place — is indispensable

两个远方的朋友会经历密切交流的阶段，接下来或许几个月都不联系。但无论联系与否，友谊永远不会改变。与远方的朋友一席长谈，总是有助于你更好地认识生活;当你觉得自己走入了死胡同时，当你面对岔路而不知所措时，来自远方朋友的忠告就越发不可或缺，她看得清大局，完全了解你是怎么走到这一步的。

Another useful function of the Faraway Friend is to help you remember things from a long time ago, like the name of your seventh-grade history teacher, what was in that really good stir-fry, or exactly what happened that night on the boat with the guys from Florida

远方的朋友还有一个益处，就是能让你记起很久以前的事情，比如七年级历史老师的名字，那盘炒菜里究竟什么东西那么好吃，或者那天晚上在船里和佛罗里达来的男孩子们都干了些什么。

Ah, the former friend A sad thing At best a wistful memory, at worst a dangerous enemy who is in possession of many of your deepest secrets But what was it that drove you apart A misunderstanding, a betrayed confidence, an underpaid loan, an ill-conceived flirtation A poor choice of spouse can do in a friendship just like that Going into business together can be a serious mistake Time, money, distance, cult religions: all noted friendship killers You quit doing drugs, you’re not such good friends with your dealer anymore

啊，从前的朋友。让人忧伤的事情。好了的话是一段伤感的记忆，不好的话你有一个危险的敌人，而且对你许多最隐秘的事情都了如指掌。可究竟是什么把你们分开的呢一个误解，一个被泄露的秘密，一笔没有偿还的借款，一次有欠考虑的轻俏之举。择偶不慎也会使友谊分崩离析;一起做生意会成为一个严重的错误;时间、金钱、距离、宗教狂热，这都是耳熟能详的友谊杀手。如同一旦你戒了毒，你就不再是你供货商的好朋友了。

And lest we forget, there are the Friends You Love to Hate They call at inopportune times They say stupid things They butt in, they boss you around, they embarrass you in public They invite themselves over They take advantage You’ve done the best you can, but they need professional help On top of all this, they love you to death and are convinced they’re your best friends on the planet

而且我们别忘了：还有些朋友，你喜欢恨他们。他们在不适当的时候打电话，他们蠢话连篇，他们胡乱插手你的事情，他们把你指使得团团乱转，他们总是占尽了你的便宜。你已经尽了最大的努力，可他们需要的其实是专业人员的帮助。这一切之外，他们还爱你爱得要死要活，深信他们是你在这个世界上最好的朋友。

So why do you continue to be involved with these people Why do you tolerate them On the contrary, the real question is what would you do without them Without Friends You Love to Hate, there would be nothing to talk about with your other friends Their problems and their irritating stunts provide a reliable source of conversation for everyone they know

那么你又为什么继续和他们打交道呢为什么要容忍他们呢反过来说，真正的问题是：没有他们你行吗没有这些你宁可去憎恨的朋友，你和你别的朋友也就无话可说了。他们的缺陷和他们恼人的噱头，为他们认识的每一个人都提供了源源不断的谈资。

What’s more, Friends You Love to Hate make you feel good about yourself, since you are obviously in so much better shape than they are No matter what these people do, you will never get rid of them As much as they need you, you need them, too

此外，他们还能使你对自己感觉良好，因为你的状况显然比他们好得太多。不管他们做出什么事情来，你绝对不愿摆脱他们。你对他们的需要，和他们对你的需要可谓不相上下呢。

At the other end of the spectrum are Hero Friends These people are better than the rest of us, that’s all there is to it Their career is something you wanted to be when you grew up — painter, forest ranger, tireless doer of good

与此相反的另一个极端则是那些令人艳羡的朋友。他们比我们这些人都更出色，有这一点就够了。他们的事业就是你长大后的追求——画家、护林人，不知疲倦的行善者。

They have beautiful homes filled with special handmade things presented to them by villagers in the remote areas they have visited in their extensive travels Yet they are modest They never gossip They are always helping others, especially those who have suffered a death in the family or an illness You would think people like this would just make you sick, but somehow they don’t

他们拥有漂亮的房子，里面满是手工做的奇特玩意儿，都是他们周游世界时到过的边远地区的村民总送给他们的。可他们依旧待人谦和。他们从不饶舌。他们总是去帮助别人，特别是那些遭受丧失亲人之痛或疾病折磨的人。你会认为这种人只能让你厌倦，可他们偏偏不是那样。

A new friend is a tonic unlike any other Say you meet her at a party In your bowling league At a Japanese conversation class, perhaps Wherever, whenever, there’s that spark of recognition The first time you talk, you can’t believe how much you have in common Suddenly, your life story is interesting again, your insights fresh, your opinion valued Your various shortcomings are as yet completely invisible

新的朋友是一剂无可比拟的良药。也许你是在一次聚会上结识她的，也许是在保龄球俱乐部里，也许是日语会话课上。无论何处，无论何时，只因为擦出了那钟惺惺相惜的火花。你简直无法相信你们有这么多共同点，而且只是第一次交谈。突然间，你的经历又变得有趣了，你的见识不同凡响，你的意见也倍受重视。你各式各样的缺点一时间也完全消失不见了。

　A very special teacher in a high school had a husband who died suddenly of a heart attack About a week after his death, she shared some of her thoughts with a classroom of students As the late afternoon sunlight shined through the classroom windows, and when the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on her desk and sat down there

　With a gentle look on her face, she paused and said,"Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought which I feel is very important Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselvesand none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end It can be taken away at any moment Perhaps this is a sign that we must make the most out of every single day"

　Her eyes beginning to water, she went on,"So I would like you all to make me a promisefrom now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice It doesn't have to be something you see---it could be a scent---perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground Please, look for these things, and remember them

　"For, although it may sound silly to some people, these things are the 'stuff' of life The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy The things we often take for granted We must make it important to notice them, for at any timeit can all be taken away"

　The class was completely quiet We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook

　Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today Go barefoot Or walk on the beach at sunset Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do

　 译文

　一个很特别的高中老师，其丈夫死于突发性心脏病。在他死后大约一周，她便把她的一些所思所想讲给全班学生。下午的阳光透过教室的窗户照射进来，快要放学了，她把一些东西放在讲桌上，坐了下来。

　她脸上带着温柔的表情，稍稍停顿了一下，便开始讲话：“在放学前，我想跟你们分享一种我认为很重要的想法。我们每个人都生活在地球上，学习、分享、爱护别人、欣赏和付出自我，却没有一个人知道这种美好的体验什么时候就会结束了。它随时都可能被带走。也许这预示着我们必须最大限度地利用每一个日子。”

　她的眼睛开始湿润了，她接着说：“因此我想让你们每个人答应我：从今以后，在你上学或者放学的路上，要发现一些美丽的事物。它不一定是你看到的某个东西----它可能是一种香味----也许是新鲜烤面包的味道从某一座房里飘出来，也许是微风轻拂树叶的声音，或者是晨光照射在轻轻飘落的秋叶上的方式。请你们寻找这些东西并且记住它们吧。”

　“因为，尽管听起来有些傻气，这些东西却就是生活的内容，是我们活在世上要欣赏的一些小东西。这些东西我们经常认为是理所当然的。我们必须注意它们，这很重要，因为说不定在什么时候，它就被带走了。”

　整个教室里非常安静。我们都收拾起课本，整理好，一个个默默地走出教室。那天下午，在放学回家的路上我注意到很多事物，比我以前整个学期发现的事物还要多。不时地，我会想到那位老师，回忆起她给我们留下的深刻印象，我便会尽力去欣赏有时我们都忽略的东西。

　今天中午吃饭的时候专注一下你所看到的特别事物。光着脚丫散散步。或在日落时分在沙滩上漫步。今晚在回家的路上，要驻足仔细品味一下冰淇淋蛋卷。因为随着我们年龄的增长，并不是做过的`事情值得我们后悔，而是那些没有去做的事情。

　1appreciate 赏识，鉴赏，感激

　2give of 奉献，贡献

　3fantastic 美好的，幻想的，奇异的

　4 waft吹送，飘荡

　5rustle 发出沙沙声

　6file out 鱼贯而出

　7barefoot 赤脚的

　8stop off 中途停留

　9cone 圆锥体，锥形物

　Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things

　享受生命中的小事情，因为有一天你回首往事，也许会发现它们其实是很重要的事情。

　If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive

　如果看见蓝天会使你快乐，如果从地里拱出的小草会给你以感动，如果你能明白自然中简单的事物所传达的信息，那么你就该欢欣喜悦，因为你的灵魂还活着。

　Learn to appreciate: A song that takes you away, for there are those who cannot hear The beauty of a sunset, for there are those who cannot see The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless Time spent with good friends for there are those who are lonely The little things are what life is all about

　学会欣赏一首使你着迷的歌，因为还有人听不到；学会欣赏日落的美景，因为还有人看不到；学会享受家庭的温暖与安全，因为还有人无家可归；学会享受与朋友共度的时光，因为还有人感到孤独。这些点点滴滴的小事其实就是生活的全部。

《Today I begin a new life》

　　Today I shed my old skin which hath, too long, suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediority

　　Today I am born anew and my birthplace is a vineyard where there is fruit for all

　　Today I will pluck grapes of wisdom from the tallest and fullest vines in the vineyard,for these were planted by the wisest of my profession who have come before me,generation upon generation

　　Today I will savor the taste of grapes from these vines and verily I will swallow the seed of success buried in each and new life will sprout within me

　　The career I have chosen is laden with opportunity yet it is fraught with heartbreak and despair and the bodies of those who have failed, were they piled one atop another, would cast a shadow down upon all the pyramids of the earth

　　Yet I will not fail, as the others, for in my hands I now hold the charts which will guide through perilous waters to shores which only yesterday seemed but a dream

　　Failure no longer will be my payment for struggle Just as nature made no provision for my body to tolerate pain neither has it made any provision for my life to suffer failure Failure, like pain, is alien to my life In the past I accepted it as I accepted pain Now I reject it and I am prepared for wisdom and principles which will guide me out of the shadows into the sunlight of wealth, position, and happiness far beyond my most extravagant dreams until even the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides will seem no more than my just reward

　　Time teaches all things to him who lives forever but I have not the luxury of eternity Yet within my allotted time I must practice the art of patience for nature acts never in haste To create the olive, king of all trees, a hundred years is required An onion plant is old in nine weeks I have lived as an onion plant It has not pleased me Now I wouldst become the greatest of olive trees and, in truth, the greatest of salesman

　　And how will this be accomplished For I have neither the knowledge nor the experience to achieve the greatness and already I have stumbled in ignorance and fallen into pools of self-pity The answer is simple I will commence my journey unencumbered with either the weight of unnecessary knowledge or the handicap of meaningless experience Nature already has supplied me with knowledge and instinct far greater than any beast in the forest and the value of experience is overrated, usually by old men who nod wisely and speak stupidly

　　In truth, experience teaches thoroughly yet her course of instruction devours men's years so the value of her lessons diminishes with the time necessary to acquire her special wisdom The end finds it wasted on dead men Furthermore, experience is comparable to fashion; an action that proved successful today will be unworkable and impractical tomorrow

　　Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls What they will teach me is more to prevent failure than to gain success, for what is success other than a state of mind Which two, among a thouand wise men, will define success in the same words; yet failure is always described but one way Failure is man's inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be

　　In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have successed lies in the difference of their habits Good habits are the key to all success Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure Thus, the first law I will obey, which precedeth all others is --I will form good habits and become their slave

　　As a child I was slave to my impulses; now I am slave to my habits, as are all grown men I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumulated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to imprison my future My actions are ruled by appetite, passion, prejudice, greed, love, fear, environment, habit, and the worst of these tyrants is habit Therefore, if I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed

　　I will form good habits and become their slave

　　And how will I accomplish this difficult feat Through these scrolls, it will be done, for each scroll contains a principle which will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which will bring me closer to success For it is another of nature's laws that only a habit can subdue another habit So, in order for these written words to perform their chosen task, I must discipline myself with the first of my new habits which is as follows:

　　I will read each scroll for thirty days in this prescribed manner, before I proceed to the next scroll

　　First, I will read the words in silence when I arise Then, I will read the words in silence after I have partaken of my midday meal Last, I will read the words again just before I retire at day's end, and most important, on this occasion I will read the words aloud

　　On the next day I will repeat this procedure, and I will continue in like manner for thirty days Then, I will turn to the next scroll and repeat this procedure for another thirty days I will continue in this manner until I have lived with each scroll for thirty days and my reading has become habit

　　And what will be accomplished with this habit Herein lies the hidden secret of all man's accomplishments As I repeat the words daily they will soon become a part of my active mind, but more important, they will also seep into my other mind, that mysterious source which never sleeps, which creates my dreams, and often makes me act in ways I do not comprehend

　　As the words of these scrolls are consumed by my mysterious mind I will begin to awake, each morning, with a vitality I have never known before My vigor will increase, my enthusiasm will rise, my desire to meet the world will overcome every fear I once knew at sunrise, and I will be happier than I ever believed it possible to be in this world of strife and sorrow

　　Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react, and soon these actions and reactions will become easy to perform, for any act with practice becomes easy

　　Thus a new and good habit is born, for when an act becomes easy through constant repetiton it becomes a pleasure to perform and if it is a pleasure to perform it is man's nature to perform it often When I perform it often it becomes a habit and I become its slave and since it is a good habit this is my will

　　Today I begin a new life

　　And I make a solemn oath to myself that nothing will retard my new life's growth I will lose not a day from these readings for that day cannot be retrieved nor can I substitute another for it I must not , I will not, break this habit of daily reading from these scrolls and, in truth, the few moments spent each day on this new habit are but a small price to pay for the happiness and success that will be mine

　　As I read and re-read the words in the scrolls to follow, never will I allow the brevity of each scroll nor the simplicity of its words to cause me to treat the scroll's message lightly Thousands of grapes are pressed to fill one jar with wine, and the grapeskin and pulp are tossed to the birds So it is with these grapes of wisdom from the ages Much has been filtered and tossed to the windOnly the pure truth lies distilled in the words to come I will drink as instructed and spill not a drop And the seed of success I will swallow

　　Today my old skin has become as dust I will walk tall among men and they will know me not , for today I am a new man, with a new life

　　《今天，我天始新的生活》

　　今天，我爬出满是失败创伤的老茧。

　　今天，我重新来到这个世上，我出生在葡萄园中，国内的葡萄任人享用。

　　今天，我要从最高最密的藤上摘下智慧的果实，这葡萄藤是好几代前的智者种下的。

　　今天，我要品尝葡萄的美味，还要吞下每一位成功的种子，让新生命在我心里萌牙。

　　我选择的道路充满机遇，也有辛酸与绝望．失败的同伴数不胜数，叠在一起，比金字塔还高。

　　然而，我不会像他们一样失败，因为我手中持有航海图，可以领我越过汹涌的大海，抵达梦中的彼岸．

　　失败不再是我奋斗的代价．它和痛苦都将从我的生命中消失。失败和我，就像水火一样，互不相容。我不再像过去一样接受它们。我要在智慧的指引下，走出失败的阴影，步入富足、健康、快乐的乐园，这些都超出了我以往的梦想． 我要是能长生不老，就可以学到一切，但我不能永生，所以，在有限的人生里，我必须学会忍耐的艺术，因为大自然的行为一向是从容不迫的．造物主创造树中之王橄摊树需要一百年的时间，而洋葱经过短短的九个星期就会枯老．我不留恋从前那种洋葱式的生活，我要成为万树之王——橄榄树，成为现实生活中最伟大的推销员．

　　怎么可能？我既没有渊博的知识，又没有丰富的经验，况且，我曾一度跌入愚昧与自怜的深渊．答案很简单。我不会让所谓的知识或者经验妨碍我的行程．造物生已经赐予我足够的知识和本能，这份天赋是其它生物望尘莫及的。经验的价值往往被高估了，人老的时候开口讲的多是糊涂话．说实在的，经验确实能教给我们很多东西，只是这需要花费太长的时间．等到人们获得智慧的时候，其价值已随着时间的消逝而减少了．结果往往是这样，经验丰富了，人也余生无多．经验和时尚有关，适合某一时代的行为,并不寻味着在今天仍然行得通。

　　只有原则是持久的，而我现在正拥有了这些原则．这些可以指引我走向成功的原则全写在这几张羊皮卷里．它教我如何避免失败，而不只是获得成功，因为成功更是一种精神状态．人们对于成功的定义，见仁见智，而失败却往往只有一种解释:失败就是一个人没能达到他的人生目标，不论这些目标是什么。

　　事实上，成功与失败的最大分野，来自不同的习惯。好习惯是开启成员的钥匙，坏习惯则是一扇向失败敞开的门。因此，我首先要做的便是养成良好的习惯，全心全意去实行。

　　小时候．我常会感情用事，长大成人了，我要用良好的习惯代替一时的冲动。我的自由意志屈服于多年养成的恶习，它们威胁着我的前途。我的行为受到品味、情感、偏见、欲望、爱、恐惧、环境和习惯的影响，其中最厉害的就是习惯。因此．如果我必须受习惯支配的话，那就让我受好习惯的支配。那些坏习惯必须戒除，我要在新的田地里播种好的种子。 我要养成良好的习惯，全心全意去实行。

　　这不是轻而易举的事情，要怎样才能做到呢，靠这些羊皮卷就能做到。因为每～卷里都写着一个原则，可以摒除—项坏习惯，换取一个好习惯，使人进步，走向成功。这也是自然法则之一，只有一种习惯才能抑制另一种习惯。所以，为了走好我选择的道路，我必须养成的第一个习惯

　　每张羊皮卷用三十天的时间阅读，然后再进人下一卷。 清晨即起，默默诵读；午饭之后，再次默读；夜晚睡前，高声朗读。

　　第二天的情形完全一样。这样重复三十天后，就可以打开下一卷了。每一卷都依照同样的方法读上三十天，久而久之，它们就成为一种习惯了。

　　这些习惯有什么好处呢？这里隐含着人类成功的秘诀。当我每天重复这些话的时候，它何成了我精神活动的一部分，更重要的是，它们渗入我的心灵。拥是个神秘的世界，永不静止，创造梦境，在不知不觉中影响我的行为。

　　当这些羊皮卷上的文字，被我奇妙的心灵完全吸收之后，我每天都会充满活力地醒来。我从来没有这样精力充沛过。我更有活力，更有热情，要向世界挑战的欲望克服了一切恐惧与不安。在这个充满争斗和悲伤的世界里，我竟然比以前更快活。 最后，我会发现自己有了应付一切情况的办法。不久，这些办法就能运用自如．因为，任何方法，只要多练习，就会变得简单易行。

　　经过多次重复，一种看似复杂的行为就变得轻而易举，实行起来，就会有无限的乐趣，有了乐趣，出于人之天性，我就更乐意常去实行。于是，一种好的习惯便诞生了．习惯成为自然。既是一种好的习惯，也就是我的意原。

　　今天，我天始新的生活．

　　我郑重地发誓，绝不让任何事情妨碍我新生命的成长。在阅读这些羊卷的时候，我绝不浪费一天的时间，因为时光一去不返，失去的日子是无法弥补的。我也绝不打破每天阅读的习惯。事实上，每天在这些新习惯上花费少许时间，相对于可能获得的愉乐与成功而言，只是微不足道的代价。 当我阅读羊皮卷中的字句时，绝不能出为文字的精炼而忽视内容的深沉。一瓶葡萄美酒需要千百颗果子酿制而成，果皮和渣子抛给小鸟。葡萄的智慧代代相传，有些被过滤，有些被淘汰，随风飘逝。只有纯正的真理才是永恒的。它们就精炼在我要阅读的文字中。我要依照指示，绝不浪费，饮下成功的种子。

　　今天，我的老茧化为尘埃。我在人群中昂首阔步，不会有人认出我来，因为我不再是过去的自己、我已拥有新的生命。

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted

从前，有位年轻人即将大学生毕业。数月来，他一直渴望得到某汽车商产品陈列室中的一辆跑车。他知道，他那富有的父亲肯定买得起这辆车，于是，他便跟父亲说他很想得到那辆漂亮的跑车。

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible" He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible

在毕业典礼即将来临的日子里，年轻人等待着父亲买下跑车的消息。终于，在毕业典礼那天上午，父亲将他叫到自己的书房，并告诉他，有他这么出色的儿子自己感到非常自豪而且非常爱他这个儿子。接着，父亲递给儿子一个包装精美的礼品盒。年轻人感到好奇，但带着些许失望地打开礼品盒，却发现里面是一本精美的精装本《圣经》，上面以金子凸印着年轻人的名字。看罢，年轻人怒气冲冲地向父亲大喊道：“你有那么多钱，却只给我一本《圣经》？”说完，便丢下《圣经》，愤怒地冲出房子。

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realizing his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him He had not seen him since that graduation day Before he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son He needed to come home immediately and take care of things

多年以后，年轻人已事业有成。他拥有一所漂亮的房子，一个温馨的家庭。但当得知父亲年事已高，他想，或许应该去看看他。自从毕业那天起他就一直不见父亲。就在起程时，他收到一封电报——父亲已逝世，并已立下遗嘱将其所有财产转给儿子。他要立即回父亲家处理后事。

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages As he was reading, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words "PAID IN FULL"

在父亲的房子里，他突然内心感到一阵悲伤与懊悔。他开始仔细搜寻父亲的重要文件，突然发现了那本《圣经》——还跟几年前一样崭新。他噙着泪水打开《圣经》并一页一页地阅读着。忽然，从书的背面掉出一把钥匙。钥匙上挂着一个标签，上面写着一个汽车经销商的名字——正是他曾渴望的那辆跑车的经销商。标签上还有他的毕业日期及“款已付清”的字样。

How many times do we miss blessings because they are not packaged as we expected Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for

我们多少次地与祝福擦肩而过，仅仅因为他们没有按我们想象中的样子包装好？不要在渴望得到没有的东西时损坏你已经拥有的东西，但要记住一点：你现在所拥有的恰恰正是你曾经一心渴望得到的。

Sometimes we don't realize the good fortune we have or we could have because we expect "the packaging" to be different What may appear as bad fortune may in fact be the door that is just waiting to be opened

有时，我们并没有意识到我们已经拥有或本该拥有的好运，仅仅因为它的外表与我们想象中的有所不同。其实，表面上看起来像是坏运气的东西或许正是等待开启的幸运之门。