美麗心靈晨讀英語(yǔ)美文11: The Basis of Love 愛(ài)的基礎(chǔ)
The following story took place long ago in Israel. One day when government officials were rebuilding a barn, they found a mouse hole in a corner and used smoke to force the mice inside the hole to come out. A while later they indeed saw mice running out, one after another.
很久以前，在以色列發(fā)生了一段故事:有一天當(dāng)政府人員在翻新谷倉(cāng)時(shí)，發(fā)現(xiàn)墻角有一個(gè)老鼠洞，于是眾人用煙熏的方式，希望遠(yuǎn)里面的老鼠出來(lái)。待了一會(huì)，采然看到老鼠一只只池邊竄出來(lái)。
Then, everyone thought that all the mice had escaped. But just as they about to start to clean up, they saw two mice squeezing out at the exit of the hole. After some endeavor, the mice finally got out. The strange thing was that after they came out of the hole, they did not run away immediately. Instead, one chased after the other near the exit of the hole. It seemed that one was trying to bite the tail of the other.
眾人正忖度老鼠大概已經(jīng)逃光了，可以上前打掃之際，卻見(jiàn)還有兩只老鼠在洞口處推擠，經(jīng)過(guò)一番努力，雙雙才逃出來(lái)。但很奇怪的是，兩只老鼠出了洞口以后，卻不立即逃走，而是在洞口附近互相追趕，像是要咬對(duì)方的尾巴似的。
Everyone was puzzled, so they stepped closer to take a look. They realized that one of the mice was blind and could not see anything, and the other one was trying to allow the blind mouse to bite on his tail so he could pull the blind one with him to escape.
眾人都很納悶，便走上前去細(xì)看，這才發(fā)現(xiàn)原未其中一只老鼠瞎眼看不見(jiàn)，而另一只正設(shè)法使對(duì)方咬著自己的尾巴，然后帶領(lǐng)同伴一起逃走。
After witnessing what happened, everyone was speechless and lost in thought. During meal time, the group of people sat down in a circle and started to chat about what happened to the two mice.
眾人見(jiàn)狀，都默然不語(yǔ)，陷入沉思中。吃飯的時(shí)候，眾人又圍著坐下，并開始討論剛才的兩只老鼠。
One serious Rome official said: "I think the relationship between those two mice was that of emperor and minister." The others thought for a while and said: "That was why!" Thus the Rome official showed his arrogance superciliously.
嚴(yán)肅的羅馬長(zhǎng)官說(shuō):"我認(rèn)為剛才的兩只老鼠是君臣主仆的關(guān)系眾人思考一會(huì)后說(shuō)原來(lái)如此! "于是羅馬長(zhǎng)官擺出一副高傲的模樣。
A smart Israeli said: "I think the relationship between those two mice was husband and wife." Again the others thought for a while, and all felt it made sense; so they expressed assent. There-fore, the Israeli's countenance, showed self-satisfaction.
聰明的以色列人說(shuō):"我認(rèn)為剛才的兩只老鼠是夫婦關(guān)系。"眾人又思考了一會(huì)，覺(jué)得不錯(cuò)，連聲稱是。于是以色列人露出一副飄飄然得意的嘴臉。
A Chinese, who was accustomed to the firm tradition of loyalty to parents, said: "I think the relationship between those two mice was that of mother and son. " Once again the others thought for a while, and felt this was more reasonable. So they expressed assent yet another time. Therefore, the face of the Chinese conveyed professional humility.
強(qiáng)調(diào)孝義的中國(guó)人說(shuō)："我認(rèn)為剛才的兩只老鼠是母子關(guān)系。"眾人又思考了一會(huì)，更覺(jué)合理，又連聲稱是。于是中國(guó)人的臉上立刻堆滿了專業(yè)的謙虛。
At that moment, one pure-minded Samaritan who was squatted on the ground resting his chin in his palms, hewilderedly looked at other people, and asked: "Why did those two mice have to have a certain relationship? "
此時(shí)，單純的撒瑪利亞人蹲在地上托著下巴，呆呆地望著眾人，問(wèn)道:"為什么兩只老鼠一定要有什么關(guān)系呢? "
Suddenly, the atmosphere froze. Stupefied, the group looked back at the Samaritan and remained speechless. The Rome official, the Israeli and the Chinese who had spoken earlier all lowered their heads in shame, and did not dare to respond.
空氣在剎那之間凝固了，眾人呆呆地望著這個(gè)撒瑪利亞人，不發(fā)一語(yǔ)。先前說(shuō)話的羅馬長(zhǎng)官、以色列人和中國(guó)人都面露慚色地低下頭不敢作聲。
In fact, the true love is not established on benefit, friendship and loyalty or blood relationship. Instead, it is based on no relationship.
事實(shí)上，真正的愛(ài)并非建立于利益、情義或血緣的關(guān)系上，而是建立于"沒(méi)有任何關(guān)系"上。
注釋：
escape vi. 逃脫;溜走
例句：The prisoners attempted to escape but failed.
囚犯?jìng)兤髨D逃跑， 但是失敗了。
speechless adj. 說(shuō)不出話的
例句：His remark rendered me speechless.
他的話使我啞口無(wú)言。
arrogance n. 自大;傲慢態(tài)度
例句：I cannot brook his arrogance.
我不能容忍他的傲慢。
