中英文本

A certain sense of importance invests the host, who fans the stove and watches the vapor coming out from the kettle.
主人很郑重地煽着炉火，注视着水壶中的热气。
Methodically he arranges a small pot and four tiny cups, usually smaller than small coffee cups, in a tray.
他用一个茶盘，很整齐地装着一个小泥茶壶和四个比咖啡杯小一些的茶杯。
He sees that they are in order, moves the pewter-foil pot of tea leaves near the tray and keeps it in readiness, chatting along with his guests, but not so much that he forgets his duties.
再将贮茶叶的锡罐安放在茶盘的旁边，随口和来客谈着天，但并不忘了手中所应做的事。
He turns round to look at the stove, and from the time the kettle begins to sing, he never leaves it, but continues to fan the fire harder than before. Perhaps he stops to take the lid off and look at the tiny bubbles,
他时时顾看炉火，等到水壶中渐发沸声后，他就立在炉前不再离开，更加用力的煽火，还不时要揭开壶盖望一望。
technically called "fish eyes" or "crab froth, " appearing on the bottom of the kettle, and puts the lid on a-gain. This is the " first boil."
那时壶底已有小泡，名为"鱼眼"或"蟹沫"，这就是"初滚"。

He listens carefully as the gentle singing increases in volume to that of a "gurgle, " with small bubbles coming up the sides of the kettle, technically called the "second boil."
他重新盖上壶盖，再煽上几扇，壶中的沸声渐大，水面也渐起泡，这名为"二滚"。
It is then that he watches most carefully the vapor emitted from the kettle spout, and just shortly before the "third boil" is reached, when the water is brought up to a full boil, "like billowing waves, "he takes the kettle from the fire and scalds the pot inside and out with the boiling water, immediately adds the proper quantity of leaves and makes the infusion.
这时已有热汽从壶口喷出来，主人也就格外注意。到将届"三滚"，壶水已经沸透之时，他就提起水壶，将小泥壶里外一浇，赶紧将茶叶加入泥壶，泡出茶来。
Tea of this kind, like the famous "Iron Goddess of Mercy, " drunk in Fukien, is made very thick.
这种茶如福建人所饮的"铁观音"，大都泡得很浓。

作者介绍

林语堂

中国现代著名作家、学者、翻译家、语言学家。1895年生于福建漳州平和县坂仔镇一个基督教牧师家庭。原名和乐，后改玉堂，又改语堂。早年留学美国、德国，获哈佛大学文学硕士，莱比锡大学语言学博士。回国后在清华大学、北京大学、厦门大学任教。曾任联合国教科文组织美术与文学主任、国际笔会副会长等职。林语堂于1940年和1950年先后两度获得诺贝尔文学奖提名。曾创办《论语》《人世间》《宇宙风》等刊物，作品包括小说《京华烟云》《啼笑皆非》。散文和杂文文集《人生的盛宴》《生活的艺术》以及译著《东坡诗文选》《浮生六记》等。1966年定居台湾。1976年在香港逝世，享年80岁。

词语解释

1.secure a.安全的；牢固的

Theon grabs headlines but can't secure market share.
席恩虽然吸引了媒体的关注，但却无法获得市场份额。

Lark's position is even more secure.
Lark的地位比其它开发商更加稳固。

2.stretch v.伸展；张开

Seek out tough "stretch" assignments.
尝试有难度的“延伸性”任务。

Would stretch deep into the future.
将会深远地延伸到将来。

3.routine n.常规；例行程序

For certain routine exchanges, the answer is a resounding yes.
对于某些日常的信息交换来说，答案绝对是肯定的。

Currently, the u.s. and other well-heeled military powers use their high-end fighter jets to fly these routine missions.
目前，美国及其他家底殷实的军事大国都是用自己的高端战机来完成这些日常任务。

4.quantity n.数量；定量

But old habits emphasising quantity over quality die hard.
但重视数量甚于质量的旧习惯并不容易改变。

But as the quantity increased, the benefit decreased.
但是随着喝咖啡量的增加，益处反而会减少。