美國語文第四冊 第01期：堅持不懈（01）
"Will you give my kite a lift?" said my little nephew to his sister, after trying in vain to make it fly by dragging it along the ground.
“能不能給我的風(fēng)箏助個力？”我的小侄子對他妹妹說。之前他在地上拖著風(fēng)箏，試著讓它飛起來，但是失敗了。
Lucy very kindly took it up and threw it into the air, but, her brother neglecting to run off at the same moment, the kite fell down again.
他的妹妹露西熱心地舉起風(fēng)箏，將它拋向空中，可是哥哥沒有在同時起跑，于是風(fēng)箏又摔了下來。
"Ah! now, how awkward you are!" said the little fellow.
“哎呀！你怎么這么笨手笨腳的！”小家伙說。
"It was your fault entirely," answered his sister.
“這全都是你的錯。”他妹妹反駁道。
"Try again, children," said I.
我說：“孩子們，再試一次。”
Lucy once more took up the kite.
露西再一次把風(fēng)箏拿了起來。
But now John was in too great a hurry; he ran off so suddenly that he twitched the kite out of her hand, and it fell flat as before.
但這回約翰太心急了，他起跑得過于突然，把露西拿著的風(fēng)箏扯得脫了手，結(jié)果像之前一樣以失敗告終。
"Well, who is to blame now?" asked Lucy. "Try again," said I.
“現(xiàn)在是誰的錯了？”露西問道。“再試試。”我說。
They did, and with more care;
他們又試了一次，這次更加小心了。
but a side wind coming suddenly, as Lucy let go the kite, it was blown against some shrubs,
但忽然從側(cè)面來了一陣大風(fēng)，當(dāng)露西松手放飛風(fēng)箏的時候，
and the tail became entangled in a moment, leaving the poor kite hanging with its head downward.
它被吹到了一片灌木叢中，尾部一時間纏繞在了一起，可憐的風(fēng)箏就頭向下掛在了樹叢中。
"There, there!" exclaimed John, "that comes of your throwing it all to one side."
“看吧，看吧！”約翰叫道，“這就是你把它拋向一邊的結(jié)果。”
"As if I could make the wind blow straight," said Lucy.
“好像我能讓風(fēng)直著吹似的。”露西說。
In the meantime, I went to the kite's assistance; and having disengaged the long tail, I rolled it up, saying,
與此同時，我過去幫忙撿風(fēng)箏。解開了風(fēng)箏的長尾巴，我一邊把它收起來一邊說：
Come, children, there are too many trees here; let us find a more open space, and then try again.
來吧，孩子們，這里樹叢太多，我們?nèi)フ覀€更開闊的地方，然后再試一次吧。
We presently found a nice grassplot, at one side of which I took my stand;
不一會兒，我們找到了一片非常不錯的草地，我在草地一邊站定。
and all things being prepared, I tossed the kite up just as little John ran off.
一切都準(zhǔn)備就緒，我將風(fēng)箏高高地向上拋起，約翰開始起跑。
It rose with all the dignity of a balloon, and promised a lofty flight;
風(fēng)箏像氣球一樣穩(wěn)穩(wěn)地飛了起來，似乎有希望可以飛得很高。
but John, delighted to find it pulling so hard at the string, stopped short to look upward and admire.
但是當(dāng)約翰發(fā)現(xiàn)它在用力地扯動風(fēng)箏線時，他大喜過望，頓時停下腳步抬頭欣賞起來。
The string slackened, the kite wavered, and, the wind not being very favorable, down came the kite to the grass.
線一松，風(fēng)箏開始搖擺，加上風(fēng)勢不太理想，它一下子掉在了草地上。
"O John, you should not have stopped," said I. "However, try again."
“噢，約翰，剛才你不應(yīng)該停下，”我說道，“不管怎么說，再來一次吧。”
