(单词翻译:单击)
英文原文
As it is, April is for getting irritated all over again at this pointless, time-consuming hobby. I do not understand people who claim to "love" gardening. A garden is an extension of oneself—or selves—and so it has to be an arena where striving does not cease, but continues by other means. As an example: you simply have to face the moment when you must admit that the lettuce was planted too deep or was not watered enough, cease hoping it will show itself tomorrow, and dig up the row again. But you will feel better for not standing on your dignity. And that's what gardening is all about—character building. Which is why Adam was a gardener. (And all know where it got him, too.)
But is it conceivable that the father of us all should have been a weaver, shoemaker, or anything but a gardener? Of course not. Only the gardener is capable of endlessly reviving so much hope that this year, regardless of drought, flood, typhoon, or his own stupidity, this year he is going to do it right! Leave it to God to have picked the proper occupation for his only creature capable of such self-delusion.
I suppose it should be added, for honesty's sake, that the above was written on one of the coldest days in December.
参考译文
四月意味着再一次在这种无意义又耗时的爱好上惹自己生气，我不理解那些声称“喜欢”园艺的人。菜园是一个人自我的延伸，是以别的方式奋斗不止的竞技场。比如，你必须得面对这个时刻：必须承认莴苣被种得太深，或是没有浇够水，不要希望明天它自己就会长出来的，要再挖出来才行。你会为没有鄙视体力劳动而感觉良好。这就是园艺的全部意义---性格培养。这就是为什么亚当就是一名园丁。
但是，可以想象的是，我们的祖先都曾是织工、鞋匠或其他什么的，但是，会是园丁吗？当然不会，只有园丁可以不断地唤回这么多希望，无论干旱、台风或是自己的愚蠢，今年他会做得好！把这种上帝给它唯一的创造物挑选的自欺欺人的工作留给上帝自己吧！
为诚实起见，我想应该补充的一点是，上面的文字是在12月最冷的一天写的。
