英文原文

Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the others, including Love1.

One day it was announced2 to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean3. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave .

Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island paradise until the last possible moment.4

When the island was almost totally under, love decided it was time to leave.

She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by 5 in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness, can I come with you on your boat?"

Richness answered, "I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing by in a beautiful vessel.6 Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please!" "I can't help you," Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage7 my beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go with you."

Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness was so overjoyed8 that he didn't hear Love calling to him.

Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an elder9. Love felt so blessed10 and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder.11

Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it that helped me?""It was Time,' Knowledge answered. "But why did Time help me when no one else would?"Love asked.

Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is.12

阅读讲解

1. 这里happiness, sadness, knowledge 和 love 用大写是拟人手法。

2. announce：宣布。

3. 小岛将沉没。bottom of the ocean：海底。

4. 她要留下来保护这个天堂般的小岛，直到最后一刻。

5. pass by：经过。

6. vanity：虚荣；vessel：船。

7. damage：损坏，破坏。

8. overjoyed：万分高兴的，大喜的。

9. elder：年长者。

10. blessed：幸运的，幸福的。

11. 当他们到达陆地后，老者继续赶路去了。爱意识到她欠了老者太多的东西。

12. 知识微笑着，充满智慧和真诚地回答说：“因为只有时间才能懂得爱有多么伟大。”