美國語文第二冊 第57期：弗蘭克和時(shí)漏
LESSON 62
第六十二課
line
線
figure
數(shù)字
second
第二
perfectly
完美地
grain
一粒
verse
詩文
advice
建議
impatient
急性子的
study
學(xué)習(xí)
busily
忙碌地
followed
跟隨
understand
理解
FRANK AND THE HOURGLASS
弗蘭克和時(shí)漏
Frank was a very talkative little boy.
弗蘭克是一個(gè)非常善談的小男孩。
He never saw a new thing without asking a great many questions about it.
每當(dāng)看到一件新東西，他都會無一例外地提出一大堆關(guān)于它的問題。
His mother was very patient and kind.
他的媽媽非常善良，也是個(gè)很有耐心的人。
When it was proper to answer his questions, she would do so.
每當(dāng)弗蘭克問的問題適合回答，她就會予以回答。
Sometimes she would say,
有時(shí)她會說：
"You are not old enough to understand that, my son.
“你還小，這些問題對于你來說還理解不了，我的兒子。
When you are ten years old, you may ask me about it,
當(dāng)你滿十歲的時(shí)候，你再問我，
and I will tell you."
我會告訴你的。”
When his mother said this,
每當(dāng)媽媽這樣說的時(shí)候，
he never teased any more.
弗蘭克從沒取笑過媽媽。
He knew she always liked to answer him when he asked proper questions.
他知道只要他問的問題合適，媽媽總是很愿意回答他的問題。
The first time Frank saw an hourglass,
弗蘭克第一次看見沙漏的時(shí)候，
he was very much amused;
他覺得非常有趣，
but he did not know what it was.
卻不知道這是干什么用的。
His mother said,
媽媽說：
"An hourglass is made in the shape of the figure 8.
“沙漏是按照數(shù)字8的形狀做成的。
The sand is put in at one end,
沙子被放在一頭，
and runs through a small hole in the middle.
然后穿過中間的一個(gè)細(xì)洞流到玻璃杯里。
As much sand is put into the glass as will run through in an hour."
沙子的總量剛好夠它們流上一個(gè)小時(shí)。”
Frank watched the little stream of sand.
弗蘭克注視著流下來的細(xì)沙。
He was impatient, because it would not run faster.
他很著急，因?yàn)樯匙硬荒芰鞯迷倏煨?/p>
"Let me shake it, mother," said he;
“媽媽，讓我搖搖它吧。”他說，
"it is lazy, and will never get through."
“它們太懶了，根本不會流空的。”
"Oh yes, it will, my son," said his mother,
“噢，是的，我的孩子。”媽媽說，
"The sand moves by little and little,
“沙子一點(diǎn)兒一點(diǎn)兒地流，
but it moves all the time.
但它們卻一直在流動(dòng)喔。”
"When you look at the hands of the clock,
“當(dāng)你拿它們和鐘表上的指針比較時(shí)，
you think they go very slowly,
你覺得它們走得非常慢。
and so they do;
它們走得的確很慢，
but they never stop.
但它們從沒停下腳步。”
"While you are at play the sand is running, grain by grain,
“當(dāng)你玩得時(shí)候，沙子仍在一粒一粒地流下，
The hands of the clock are moving, second by second.
鐘表上的指針也在一秒一秒地走。”
"At night, the sand in the hourglass has run through twelve times.
夜里，沙漏里的沙子會來回流十二次，
The hour hand of the clock has moved all around its great face.
鐘表上的時(shí)針也會再鐘表盤上轉(zhuǎn)整整一圈。”
"This because they keep work every minute.
“這是因?yàn)樗鼈兠糠昼姸荚诠ぷ鳌?/p>
They do not stop to think how much they have to do,
它們從不停下來思考它們已經(jīng)做了多少工作，
and how long it will take them to do it."
以及還需要多長時(shí)間來完成。”
Now, Frank's mother wanted him to learn a little hymn;
現(xiàn)在，弗蘭克的媽媽想要他學(xué)一學(xué)圣歌，
but he said "Mother, I can never learn it."
他卻說：“媽媽，我永遠(yuǎn)都學(xué)不會這個(gè)。”
His mother said, "Study all the time.
他的媽媽說：“一直都得學(xué)。
Never stop to ask how long it will take to learn it.
永遠(yuǎn)不要停下來問這個(gè)要學(xué)多長時(shí)間。
You will be able to say it very soon."
你很快就能學(xué)會的。”
Frank followed his mother's advice.
弗蘭克聽從了媽媽的勸告，
He studied line after line, very busily;
他勤奮地學(xué)了一行又一行。
and in one hour and a half he knew the hymn perfectly.
一個(gè)半小時(shí)之后，他完整地學(xué)會了圣歌。
