美文阅读

引言：

禀赋迥异，万物各就其位；

倘若我不能将森林背负，你也无法将坚果打破。

The mountain and thesquirrel

——Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Mountain and the Squirrel

Had a quarrel;

And the Mountain called the Squirrel 'LittlePrig.'

Bunreplied,

You are doubtless very big;

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together,

To make up a year

And a sphere.

And

Think it nodisgrace

To occupy my place.

If I'm not so large as you,

You are not so small as I!

And not half so spry.

I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track;

Talents differ;

All is well and wisely put;

If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can youcracka nut.

参考译文

山峰和松鼠

山峰和松鼠

发生了争吵，

山峰叫松鼠“小偷”

松鼠回答：你的确很高大；

但万物和气象，都必须融为一体，形成年岁，界定领域。

因而占据自己的地盘，我并不以此为辱。

就算我没有你那般伟岸，我也不像我这么小巧，敏捷更比我逊色一半；

我并不否认，你开辟了一道相当可爱的鼠径。

禀赋迥异，万物各就其位；

倘若我不能将森林背负，你也无法将坚果打破。

词汇释义

1.squirrel n. 松鼠

例句：
The squirrel hoards up nuts for the winter.
松鼠储藏坚果以防冬天。

2.prig n.[俚]小偷, 扒手

例句：
Charles thinks he's better than the rest of us, the self-righteous prig!
查尔斯认为他比我们大家都强，真是个自以为是的家伙！

3.bun n.松鼠

4.disgrace n.丢脸, 耻辱

例句：
Being poor is no disgrace.
贫穷并非耻辱。

5.crack vi.断裂; 裂开

例句：I cracked two eggs into the frying pan.
我往平底锅里打了两个鸡蛋。