美國語文第五冊 第327期：人生如畫（06）
But temptation succeeds temptation, and one compliance prepares us for another;
畢竟，誘惑成功誘惑了誘惑，屈從后面仍是屈從，
we, in time, lose the happiness of innocence, and solace our disquiet with sensual gratifications.
最終，我們完全失去清純無辜的快樂，以感官刺激撫慰自己焦慮的身心。
By degrees we let fall the remembrance of our original intention, and quit the only adequate object of rational desire.
漸漸地，我們拋卻自己最初目標(biāo)的承諾，放棄唯一充足信念的理性欲求。
We entangle ourselves in business, immerge ourselves in luxury,
我們在金錢中百般糾結(jié)，沉湎于奢侈享受，
and rove through the labyrinths of inconstancy till the darkness of old age begins to invade us, and disease and anxiety obstruct our way.
徘徊在反復(fù)無常的迷宮，直到風(fēng)燭殘年，黑暗開始吞噬我們；直到憂心忡忡，我們疾病纏身，步履蹣跚。
We then look back upon our lives with horror, with sorrow, and with repentance;
在恐懼悲哀、悔恨夾雜希望欲求的百感交集中，我們回想自己一生，
and wish, but too often vainly wish, that we had not forsaken the paths of virtue.
那些太過頻繁、徒勞枉然的欲望，迫使我們不得不一次次背離美德的康莊正途。
Happy are they, my son, who shall learn, from thy example, not to despair,
我的孩子，那些將從你的教訓(xùn)中獲得啟示的人，將會多么幸福。他們不會絕望，
but shall remember that though the day is past, and their strength is wasted, there yet remains one effort to be made;
且銘記在心。雖然今天已經(jīng)過去，辛苦已經(jīng)付出，然而依然有待繼續(xù)前行。
that reformation is never hopeless, nor sincere endeavors ever unassisted; that the wanderer may at length return after all his errors;
改變絕非等同失望，真誠拼搏并不意味孤獨(dú)無助；漂泊者最終將反思自己所有的謬誤，
and that he who implores strength and courage from above, shall find danger and difficulty give way before him.
祈求從過去失誤中獲得力量與勇氣，那么，他會發(fā)現(xiàn)危險(xiǎn)或苦難會在他的面前退卻。
Go now, my son, to thy repose: commit thyself to the care of Omnipotence;
現(xiàn)在動(dòng)身吧，我的孩子，奔赴你精神的長眠之鄉(xiāng)，將自己交與上帝眷顧，
and when the morning calls again to toil, begin anew thy journey and thy life.
當(dāng)晨鐘再次呼喚接受苦難，不妨開始你全新生活的嶄新旅程吧！
