名著精讀:《小婦人》第四章:負擔 第12節

"Once upon a time, there were four girls, who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents who loved them dearly, and yet they were not contented." (Here the listeners stole sly looks at one another, and began to sew diligently.)

“從前，有四個姑娘，她們衣食不愁，安逸舒適，有好心的朋友和深深愛着她們的父母，然而她們並不滿足。”這時聽衆們狡黠地互相交換個眼色，又繼續飛針走線。

"These girls were anxious to be good and made many excellent resolutions, but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, 'If only we had this,' or 'If we could only do that,' quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many things they actually could do. So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, 'When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful.'" (Here Jo looked up quickly, as if about to speak, but changed her mind, seeing that the story was not done yet.)

“這些姑娘們都想做個好孩子，並作了許多宏圖大計，但總是不能持久。她們老說：'如果我們有這些東西就好了。'或'如果我們能夠這樣多好。'完全忘記了自己已身處福中。於是她們問一位老婦人有什麼魔法可以使她們幸福。老婦人說：'當你們感到不滿足時，想想自己所擁有的東西，併爲此而心存感激。'"（這時喬馬上擡起頭來，似乎有話要說，但想到故事尚未結束，便把話嚥了回去。）

"Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn't keep shame and sorrow out of rich people's houses, another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn't enjoy her comforts, a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to go begging for it and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behavior. So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman's advice."

“姑娘們是聰明人，決定採納這個建議，不久便驚奇地發現她們是多麼富有。一個姑娘發現，金錢並不能使有錢人家免受羞辱和痛苦；另一個發現雖然自己沒有錢，但卻擁有青春活力和健康的身體，遠比愁眉苦臉、年老體弱、不會享受生活樂趣的人幸福；第三個發現下廚做飯雖然不是件快事，但被迫去討飯的滋味更難接受；第四個發現良好的品行比紅玉戒指更加珍貴。於是她們不再牢騷滿腹，而是盡情享受已經擁有的一切，併力圖報答天恩，唯恐失去而不是更多地享受它們。我相信她們沒有後悔接受了老婦人的建議。”

ented adj. 滿足的，心安的 動詞content的過去式和過去分詞形式

Happy is he who is contented with what he has.
知足者常樂。

[slai] adj. 狡猾的，詭密的，偷偷摸摸的

She's a sly puss.
她是個刁滑的姑娘。

gently adv. 勤奮地

He studies more diligently than his friend.
他比他的朋友更勤奮地學習。

lution n. 決心，決定，堅決，決議，解決，分辨率

He made a resolution to read something profitable for one hour every day.
他下決心每天要讀一小時有益讀物。

ontented adj. 不滿意的 動詞discontent的過去式和過去分詞

He was discontented with his salary.
他對自己的薪水感到不滿。

ible adj. 可察覺的，意識到的，實用的 n. 可感知物

That sounds very sensible to me.
我覺得這很合理。

greeable adj. 不愉快的，厭惡的，不爲人喜的

Some fruits are disagreeable to the taste.
有幾種果子味道不好。

elian n. 紅玉髓，瑪瑙

ess vt. 持有，支配

The police asked me if I possessed a gun.
警察問我是否有槍。

rve vi. 應該得到 vt. 應受，值得

You deserve it.
這是你應得的。

【難句解析】be anxious to...“急於做某事”；例句：She was anxious to get home.她急於想回到家裏。

【句子翻譯】這些姑娘們都想做個好孩子，並作了許多宏圖大計，但總是不能持久。

g sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were.

【難句解析】being sensible girls這句的邏輯主語是they，這裏是動名詞結構作狀語；

【句子翻譯】姑娘們是聰明人，決定採納這個建議，不久便驚奇地發現她們是多麼富有。