美國語文第四冊 第17期：好孩子
There was once a jeweler, noted for many virtues.
曾經(jīng)有一位珠寶匠，因其身上許多的優(yōu)秀品質(zhì)而為人們所熟知。
One day, the Jewish elders came to him to buy some diamonds, to put upon that part of the dress of their high priest, which the Bible calls an ephod.
一天，幾位上了年紀的猶太長老到他店里來，想要買一些珠寶，用來裝飾他們最高級別神職人員的服裝，即《圣經(jīng)》中提到的猶太教大祭司所穿的法衣。
They told him what they wanted, and offered him a fair price for the diamonds.
他們告訴他需要什么樣的珠寶，并且報的價格也公平合理。
He replied that he could not let them see the jewels at that moment, and requested them to call again.
他回答說目前他沒法讓他們看珠寶，請他們再打電話和他聯(lián)系。
As they wanted them without delay, and thought that the object of the jeweler was only to increase the price of the diamonds,
由于他們當下就需要那些珠寶，不能耽擱，而且他們認為珠寶匠的目的只是為抬高售價，
the elders offered him twice, then three times, as much as they were worth.
由于他們當下就需要那些珠寶，不能耽擱，而且他們認為珠寶匠的目的只是為抬高售價，
But he still refused, and they went away in very bad humor .
但他還是拒絕了，老先生們只得怏怏離去。
Some hours after, he went to them, and placed before them the diamonds, for which they again offered him the last price they had named;
幾個小時之后，他去找他們，將珠寶擺在他們面前，老先生們?nèi)匀婚_出了最后提到的價碼。
but he said, "I will only accept the first one you offered to me this morning."
但他說：“我只會接受今天早上你們最初開的價。”
"Why, then, did you not close with us at once?" asked they in surprise.
“那你當時為什么不立刻和我們成交呢？”他們無比驚訝地問道。
"When you came," replied he, "my father had the key of the chest, in which the diamonds were kept,
他回答，當你們來時，我父親保管著金庫的鑰匙，珠寶都保存在金庫里。
and as he was asleep, I should have been obliged to wake him to obtain them.
而我父親當時正在睡覺，我本應(yīng)該叫醒他，拿來鑰匙。
At his age, a short hour of sleep does him a great deal of good;
但是到了他這個年紀，短短一小時的睡眠都會對他的身體非常有好處；
and for all the gold in the world, I would not be wanting in respect to my father, or take from him a single comfort.
再說，出于對父親的敬愛，就算給我全世界的黃金，我也不會犧牲任何一點父親休息的時間。
The elders, affected by these feeling words, spread their hands upon the jeweler's head,
珠寶匠一番飽含深情的話語深深打動了老先生們，他們用手拍拍他的頭，
and said, Thou shalt be blessed of Him who has said, 'Honor thy father and thy mother;'
說：“你必感謝那個說過‘尊敬你父親母親’的人，”
and thy children shall one day pay thee the same respect and love thou hast shown to thy father.
你的孩子們也將如你尊敬你父親這樣尊敬你。
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