美國語文第五冊 第90期：香水月季（03）
"Just the same as I do," replied Florence, calmly.
“這正是我想做的，”弗羅倫絲平心靜氣地說，
Have you not noticed that the little girl never comes without looking wistfully at the opening buds?
你難道沒注意到，那小姑娘哪次來不是急切地想看花？
And don't you remember, the other morning she asked me so prettily if I would let her mother come and see it, she was so fond of flowers?
你難道不記得，那天早晨，她那么可憐見地請求我，可否讓她媽媽過來看看香水月季？她母親也那么喜歡花！
But, Florence, only think of this rare flower standing on a table with ham, eggs, cheese, and flour,
哎呀，弗羅倫絲，先想想，這么名貴的月季和那些火腿呀，雞蛋，奶酪，還有面粉，
and stifled in that close little room, where Mrs. Stephens and her daughter manage to wash, iron, and cook.
統(tǒng)統(tǒng)擠在那間狹窄破屋的小桌上，斯蒂芬夫人和女兒兜轉(zhuǎn)著忙著洗涮、熨燙，還要做飯。
Well, Kate, and if I were obliged to live in one coarse room, and wash, and iron, and cook, as you say;
好了，凱特，如果我也沒辦法，只好住在簡陋的破屋，就像你說的，
if I had to spend every moment of my time in toil, with no prospect from my window but a brick wall and a dirty lane,
忙著洗涮、熨燙、做飯，如果沒有片刻空閑，窗外滿眼只有頹敗坍塌的磚墻，骯臟不堪的街巷，
such a flower as this would be untold enjoyment to me.
對我來說，這花難道不是無法言說的快樂？
Pshaw, Florence; all sentiment! Poor people have no time to be sentimental.
哼，弗羅倫絲，你太多愁善感了！窮人怎么有時間獲取情感快樂。
Besides, I don't believe it will grow with them; it is a greenhouse flower, and used to delicate living.
我才不相信吶，那香水月季能在她們家里養(yǎng)下去？那名貴的花是種在溫室里的，月季對環(huán)境可是太挑剔了。
Oh, as to that, a flower never inquires whether its owner is rich or poor;
哦，這一點，花朵從不會質(zhì)問它的主人貧窮還是富有；
and poor Mrs. Stephens, whatever else she has not, has sunshine of as good quality as this that streams through our window.
史蒂芬夫人很窮，她缺少什么無關(guān)緊要，只要擁有和這里同樣可以穿透窗子的美好陽光，那就夠了。
The beautiful things that God makes are his gifts to all alike.
上帝創(chuàng)造出來的美好事物，在于它給予所有人相同的饋贈。
You will see that my fair rose will be as well and cheerful in Mrs. Stephens's room as in ours.
你會看見，我那漂亮的香水月季在斯蒂芬夫人家里肯定會長得不錯，與在我們家沒什么兩樣。
