名著精讀:《小婦人》第一章:朝聖 第11節
"I liked the place where the bundles fell off and tumbled downstairs," said Meg.
“我喜歡包袱掉下來滾落樓梯這個情節，”梅格說。
"I don't remember much about it, except that I was afraid of the cellar and the dark entry, and always liked the cake and milk we had up at the top. If I wasn't too old for such things, I'd rather like to play it over again," said Amy, who began to talk of renouncing childish things at the mature age of twelve.
“我最喜歡的是我們走出來，上到平坦的屋頂，屋頂滿是鮮花、喬木和美麗的東西，我們站在那裏，在陽光照耀下，放聲歡歌，”貝思微微笑着說，好像又重新回到了那美好的時刻。“我不大記得了，只記得我挺害怕那個地窖和黑漆漆的入口，還有就是挺喜歡吃屋頂上的蛋糕和牛奶。如果不是年齡太大，我倒挺想再演一回。”年僅十二但已顯得成熟的艾美開始談論告別童真了。
"We never are too old for this, my dear, because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another. Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City. Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home."
“演這齣戲永遠沒有年齡之分，親愛的，事實上我們一直都在扮演，只是方式不同而已。我們重擔在肩，道路就在眼前，追求善美、追求幸福的願望引導我們跨越無數艱難險阻，最後踏入聖寧之地--真正的'天國'。來吧，往天國進發的小旅客們，再來一次吧。不是做戲，而是真心真意地去做，看看爸爸回來時你們走了多遠的路。”
"Really, Mother? Where are our bundles?" asked Amy, who was a very literal young lady.
“真的嗎，媽媽？我們的重擔在哪裏？”缺乏想像力的年輕女士艾美問道。
"Each of you told what your burden was just now, except Beth. I rather think she hasn't got any," said her mother.
“剛纔你們各人都把自己的擔子說了出來，只有貝思除外。恐怕她沒有哩，”母親答道。
"Yes, I have. Mine is dishes and dusters, and envying girls with nice pianos, and being afraid of people."
“有呵，我也有。鍋、碗、瓶、盆，掃帚抹布，嫉妒有漂亮鋼琴的女孩，害怕生人，這些都是我的擔子。”
Beth's bundle was such a funny one that everybody wanted to laugh, but nobody did, for it would have hurt her feelings very much.
貝思的包袱如此有趣，大家直想笑，不過都沒有笑出來，因爲這樣會大大傷害她的自尊心。
"Let us do it," said Meg thoughtfully. "It is only another name for trying to be good, and the story may help us, for though we do want to be good, it's hard work and we forget, and don't do our best."
“幹這些有什麼不好呢？”梅格沉思着說，”這其實就是追求善美，只是說法不同而已，而這個故事可以啓發我們，因爲儘管我們都有追求善美之心，但因爲做起來困難，我們便又忘掉了，不去盡力而爲。”
le v. 摔倒, 混亂, 翻滾
I threw off my clothes and tumbled into bed.
我脫掉衣服倒在牀上便睡了。
re adj. 成熟的, 到期的, 充分發育的, 考慮周到的
His character has greatly matured in the years.
這些年他的性格已大大成熟。
ral adj. 照字面的；原義的；逐字的；缺乏想像力的
Don't be so literal-minded you know what I meant!
別那麼死心眼嘛－－你知道我是什麼意思。
ghtfully adv. 考慮周到的，思索的
She regarded him thoughtfully.
她若有所思地看着他。
