Unit 8 Money新編大學(xué)英語(yǔ)第二版第二冊(cè)課文翻譯

1、Unit8MoneyTime Spent Agonizing over Money1 Within hours of a recent major stock market drop, I telephoned my Ford dealer and ordered the station wagon that I test-drove the day before. As my friends not so subtly pointed out, the Dow Jones Industrial Average didnt have much to do with my financial s

2、ituation and shouldnt affect my purchase. Besides, my old car had caused me headaches for months. 2 Still, I spent the evening asking myself: Could I afford a new car? Should I be saving instead of spending? Would we need to cut back on vacations? 3 On the list of items people worry about, money is

3、almost always at the top. 4 A study in the Wall Street Journal found that 70 percent of the public lives from paycheck to paycheck. Mortgage debt has increased 300 percent since 1975, and consumer bankruptcies are at an all-time high. Most marriages that fail list financial problems as a contributin

4、g factor. 5 When the Dow fell 554 points last October, millions of people lost billions of dollars, on paper anyway. There was expert anxiety on Wall Street and old-fashioned worry on Main Street. Our reaction confirmed what we already knew: We are a people consumed by financial stress.*A “Raw Mater

5、ial” 6 As the Bible tells us, worrying about moneyor anything else for that matterwont do us any good. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Jesus asked. “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow? They do not labor or spin.” 7 In my heart, I aspi

6、re to be like those lilies. But in my head, I feel a need to hoard. 8 It is an unusual person who can live free from financial stress, or who can spend money on others as easily as he spends it on himself. 9 Thomas Edison was one of that rare breed. Had the great inventor stored his money, he would

7、have died a wealthy man. His first successful invention netted him $40,000, a huge sum in 1869. During his lifetime, he patented 1,093 inventions, yet he departed the world penniless. 10 Years later, his son Charles recalled his fathers approach to money: “He considered it a raw material, like metal

8、, to be used rather than amassed, and so he kept plowing his funds back into new objects. Several times he was all but bankrupt. But he refused to let dollar signs govern his actions.” 11 John Wesley was the same. The founder of Methodism had the highest earned income in 18th century England, but he

9、 gave it all away. His philosophy about money was simple: “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”*Root of Evil? 12 Money may not be the root of all evil, but if it keeps us up at night, it has become way too important in our lives. 13 That was the lesson of Leo Tolstoys tale “Elias”,

10、 which told of a rich farm couple who lost all their money and were forced to take jobs as servants. 14 A guest one day asked the wife if she was miserable being poor, especially in light of the great wealth she had once enjoyed. The womans answerthat she was happier than ever beforesurprised the vi

11、sitor. 15 “When we were rich, my husband and I had so many cares that we had no time to talk to one another, or to think of our souls, or to pray to God,” the wife explained. “We lay awake at night worrying, lest the ewes should lie on their lambs, and we got up again and again to see that all was w

12、ell. Now, when my husband and I wake in the morning, we always greet each other in love and harmony. We live peacefully, having nothing to worry about.” 16 For most of us, financial security is an elusive goal. No matter how much we have, its not enough. Kahlil Gibran put it this way: “The fear of n

13、eed, when the pantry is full, is the thirst that can not be satisfied.” 17 When the stock market falls, we can panic, hoard, and worry if we have enough. Or we can take a deep breath and remember: Money is merely a raw material to be plowed back into something else.把時(shí)間花在為錢(qián)苦惱上1 最近一次股市大跌后的幾個(gè)小時(shí)內(nèi)，我就打電話給

14、我的福特汽車商，訂購(gòu)了我前一天試開(kāi)過(guò)的旅行車。正如我的朋友明確指出的那樣，道瓊斯工業(yè)平均指數(shù)與我的財(cái)政狀況并無(wú)多大關(guān)系，不應(yīng)該影響我買(mǎi)車。而且，我那舊車已經(jīng)使我頭疼了好幾個(gè)月了。2 但我還是整個(gè)晚上再問(wèn)自己：我能買(mǎi)得起新車嗎？我是不是應(yīng)該存錢(qián)而不是花錢(qián)？我們是不是有必要減少度假的時(shí)間？3 在人們一系列的煩惱中，錢(qián)總是名列前茅。4 一項(xiàng)華爾街日?qǐng)?bào)的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)百分之七十的公共其工資收入僅夠開(kāi)銷，毫無(wú)剩余。自1975年以來(lái)按揭借債增加了百分之三百，而且消費(fèi)者破產(chǎn)達(dá)到有史以來(lái)最高。經(jīng)濟(jì)問(wèn)題被列為導(dǎo)致大多數(shù)婚姻失敗的一個(gè)因素。5 當(dāng)去年十月道瓊斯工業(yè)平均下跌554點(diǎn)的時(shí)候，數(shù)百萬(wàn)損失了幾億美元，至少在理論

15、上是這樣。華爾街的金融專家們?cè)趹n慮，小城鎮(zhèn)里的思想守舊也在憂慮。我們的反應(yīng)也證實(shí)了我們已有的看法：我們是深受經(jīng)濟(jì)壓力折磨的人。錢(qián)只是“原材料”6 正像圣經(jīng)告誡我們的那樣，擔(dān)心錢(qián)或諸如此類的事不會(huì)給我們帶來(lái)任何好處。耶穌曾經(jīng)問(wèn)道：“你們有誰(shuí)能夠考憂慮使自己的生命演唱哪怕一小時(shí)？”“你們?yōu)槭裁匆獮橐路滥兀靠匆?jiàn)天夜里的百合花是怎么生長(zhǎng)的嘛？他們重不耕田紡紗“7 盡管我的內(nèi)心渴望像百合花那樣生活。單位的頭腦路卻敢要需要出場(chǎng)囤積。8 能夠不受經(jīng)濟(jì)困擾而生活的人，或者能把錢(qián)花在別人身上那么自在的人，都是不尋常的人。9 托馬斯.愛(ài)迪生就是這種男的人。如果這位大發(fā)明家把它的錢(qián)積蓄起來(lái)，去世的時(shí)候就會(huì)使一個(gè)

16、達(dá)芙文。他的 第一項(xiàng)成功發(fā)明是他靜的四萬(wàn)美元，這在1869年是一筆巨款。他一生中，獲得了1.93項(xiàng)發(fā)明專利，然而，在他離開(kāi)這個(gè)世界的時(shí)候卻生物分文。10 多年以后，他的日子查爾斯回憶起自己的父親對(duì)錢(qián)的態(tài)度是說(shuō)：“他把錢(qián)堪稱是原材料，就像金屬一樣是給人用的，而不是給人囤積的，因此他一直把自己的基金重新投資到新的項(xiàng)目中去。有好幾次他幾近破產(chǎn)，但他決不讓簽主宰他的行動(dòng)?！?1 約翰衛(wèi)斯理也一樣。這位衛(wèi)斯理會(huì)的創(chuàng)始人在18C的英國(guó)收入最高，但他把自己的收入都給了別人。他的金錢(qián)哲學(xué)很簡(jiǎn)單:“盡量掙，盡量省，盡量給?！板X(qián)是萬(wàn)惡之源嗎？12 錢(qián)也許并不是萬(wàn)惡之源，但如果他是我們夜里不能寐，那他在我們生活中就

17、過(guò)于重要了。13 這也是列夫托爾斯泰在他創(chuàng)作的伊萊亞斯故事中所告誡的。故事講述了一對(duì)經(jīng)營(yíng)農(nóng)場(chǎng)富有的夫婦，他們失去了所有的錢(qián)，不得不去當(dāng)傭人。14 一天有位客人問(wèn)這位妻子，他是不是應(yīng)為貧窮而痛苦，尤其是考慮到他曾擁有巨大的財(cái)富。夫人的回答是他比以前更幸福，這是客人很吃驚。15 “當(dāng)我們富有的時(shí)候，我丈夫和我有那么多令人煩惱的事，以至于我們沒(méi)時(shí)間交談或想象我們心靈深處火上上帝祈禱”妻子解釋道，我們晚上躺在床上徹夜難眠在擔(dān)心，唯恐模樣壓在小羊身上，于是我們一次又一次的起床，以確保一切平安.現(xiàn)在當(dāng)我和丈夫醒來(lái)的時(shí)候，我們都要互相問(wèn)候，恩愛(ài)和諧，我們生活安寧無(wú)憂無(wú)慮?！?、16 對(duì)我們大多數(shù)人來(lái)說(shuō)，經(jīng)紀(jì)上

18、的安全感是難以達(dá)到的目標(biāo)，不管我們恩擁有都是，總是覺(jué)得不夠，卡利爾紀(jì)伯倫是這樣說(shuō)的：“即便是糧食漫長(zhǎng)，但對(duì)貧窮的恐懼會(huì)成為多積蓄難于滿足的渴望?！?7 當(dāng)故事下跌時(shí)，即使我們擁有足夠的財(cái)富，依然會(huì)恐慌，擔(dān)憂，囤積?；蛘?，我們深深地吸口氣并記住：錢(qián)只是一種原材料，用來(lái)投資其他方面的Elias: A Parable*At one time the elderly couple had been the wealthiest in the region; now they were merely servants who had nothing but each other. 1 In the Pr

19、ovince of Oufa there lived a man named Elias. His father died a year after he married, and left him a poor man. At that time Eliass property consisted only of seven mares, two cows, and twenty sheep, but now that he had become master he began to better himself. He and his wife worked hard from morni

20、ng till night for thirty years, growing richer each year.2 Elias had two sons and a daughter, all of whom he duly married off. In the days of his poverty his sons had worked with him; but when they became rich, they began to indulge in foolish pleasures. One of them, in particular, began to drink to

21、 excess. Eventually the elder of the two was killed in a fight, and the other one, because he disobeyed his father, was turned out.3 Elias turned him out, but at the same time he gave him a house and cattle. His own wealth was thus diminished in proportion.4 Soon afterwards his sheep became infected

22、 with disease, and many of them died. Next, there was a year of drought, when no hay grew, so that many cattle starved to death during the following winter. Then the Khirgizes came and stole the best of his horses, and his property was diminished even more. By the time he had reached his seventieth

23、year, all the property left to him consisted of the clothes on his body and his wife, Sham Shemagi, who was as old as himself. The son whom he had turned out had gone to a distant land, and his daughter was dead; so that there was no one left to help the old people.5 However a former neighbor of the

24、irs, named Muhamedshah, felt sorry for them. He was neither rich nor poor, but lived plainly and was a respectable man. Remembering the days when he had been a guest in the house of Elias, he asked the couple to come and live with him and do some work for him if they liked. Elias thanked his good ne

25、ighbor, and went with his old wife to live in the service of Muhamedshah. At first it grieved them to do so; but in time they got used to it, and settled down to live there and to work as much as their strength permitted.6 It suited their master to have them in his service, since the old people had

26、been in authority themselves, and so knew how to do things. Moreover, they were never lazy, but worked the best they knew. Yet Muhamedshah used to feel sorry to see people formerly so high in the world now reduced to such a difficult situation.7 One day some of Muhamedshahs friends came to visit him

27、. When the guests learned that Elias, once the wealthiest man in the region, was merely a servant of the host, they were so surprised that they asked the couple about their former life.8 “Old man,” said one of the guests, “tell me whether it grieves younow as you look upon usto remember your former

28、fortunes and your present life of misery?”9 Elias smiled and answered: “If I were to speak to you of our happiness or misery you might not believe me. You should rather ask my wife. She has both a womans heart and a womans tongue, and will tell you the whole truth about that matter.”10 Then the gues

29、t called to the old woman who was seated behind the curtain: “Tell me, old woman, what you think concerning your former happiness and your present misery.”11 And Sham Shemagi answered from behind the curtain: “This is what I think concerning them. I lived with my husband for fifty yearsseeking happi

30、ness, and never finding it; but now, although we live as servants, and this is only the second year since we were left poor, we have found true happiness, and desire no other.”12 Both the guests and their host were surprised at thisthe latter, indeed, so much so that he rose to his feet to draw asid

31、e the curtain and look at the old woman. There she sather hands folded in front of her, and a smile upon her face, as she gazed at her old husband and he smiled back at her in return. Then she went on: “I am telling you the truth, I am not joking. For half a century we sought happiness and never fou

32、nd it so long as we were rich; yet now that we have nothingnow that we have come to live among humble folkwe have found such happiness as could never be exceeded.” 13 “Where, then, does your happiness lie?” asked the guest.14 “When we were rich my husband and I had so many cares that we had no time

33、to talk to one another, or think of our souls, or pray to God. If guests were with us we were fully occupied in thinking how to entertain them. Moreover, when guests had arrived we had their servants to look after. In addition, we constantly worried lest a wolf kill one of our fowls or calves, or th

34、ieves drive off the horses. We lay awake at night worrying, lest the ewes should lie on their lambs, and we got up again and again to see that all was well. When we retired to rest, we would find ourselves filled with fresh anxieties as to how to get fodder for the winter, and so on. Moreover, my hu

35、sband and I could never agree. He would say that a thing must be done in this way, and I that it must be done in that; and so we would begin to quarrel. The life led us only from worry to worry, but never to happiness.”15 “But how is it now?” asked the guest.16 “Now,” replied the old woman, “when my

36、 husband and I rise in the morning, we always greet each other in love and harmony. We live peacefully, having nothing to worry about. Our only care is how best to serve the master. We work according to our strength, and with a good will, so that the master profits from our work. Then, when we come

37、in, we find dinner and supper ready for us. Whenever it is cold we have fuel to warm us and sheepskin coats to wear. Moreover, we have time to talk to one another, to think about our souls, and to pray to God. For fifty years we sought happinessbut only now have we found it.”17 The guests burst out

38、laughing, but Elias cried: “Do not laugh, good sirs. This is no joke, but the truth. We have revealed it to younot for our own diversion, but for your good.”18 Then the guests ceased to laugh, and became thoughtful.伊萊亞斯：一則寓言一對(duì)老夫婦從前是這個(gè)地區(qū)最富有的，現(xiàn)在他們成了仆人，一無(wú)所有，只好相依為命。1 烏法省住著以為名叫伊萊亞斯的人?；楹笠荒晁赣H就去世了，他淪為了窮人。那

39、時(shí)伊萊亞斯的全部財(cái)產(chǎn)僅為七匹母馬，二頭牛和二十只羊，但他既然當(dāng)家作主了，便開(kāi)始改善自己的境況。他和妻子從早到晚拼命干活，整整三十年，逐年富裕了起來(lái)。2 伊萊亞斯有兩個(gè)兒子和一個(gè)女兒，他都恰如其分地給他們辦了婚事。在他貧困的時(shí)，兩個(gè)兒子與他一起干活；但富裕時(shí)，他們就開(kāi)始沉迷于荒唐的玩樂(lè)之中。特別是其中一個(gè)開(kāi)始酗酒。最終，長(zhǎng)子在斗毆中喪命，次子由于違背父命而被趕出家門(mén)。3 伊萊亞斯在把兒子趕出家門(mén)的同時(shí)還給了他房子和牛。這樣他的財(cái)富就相應(yīng)的地減少了。4 不久他的羊染上了疾病，死了許多。接著是一年大旱，寸草不長(zhǎng)，結(jié)果那年冬天餓死了許多牛。然后，來(lái)了吉爾吉斯人，偷走了他最好的馬屁，他的財(cái)產(chǎn)就更少了。到

40、他七十歲的時(shí)候，他還剩有的全部家當(dāng)就只有他身上穿的衣服以及他的老伴兒，薩姆薩瑪姬，她也同他一樣老了。被趕出去的兒子已遠(yuǎn)走他鄉(xiāng)，女兒去世了，所以沒(méi)人能幫助這對(duì)老人了。5 不過(guò)他們以前的以為鄰居，名叫穆罕默德，很同情他們。他家境小康，生活樸素，受人尊敬。他想起了在伊萊亞斯家做客的日子，就邀請(qǐng)老夫婦來(lái)他家和他同住，如果愿意，幫他干點(diǎn)活兒。伊萊亞斯謝過(guò)這位好鄰居，就和老伴搬過(guò)來(lái)做了穆罕默德的仆人。起先落到這一地步他們感到悲哀，不過(guò)一段時(shí)間之后也漸漸地習(xí)慣了，安心的住下來(lái)了，盡其所能地勞動(dòng)。6 因?yàn)槔戏驄D曾經(jīng)是主人，知道怎么干活，所以穆罕默德有他們服侍自己，感到稱心如意。再者，他們從來(lái)不偷懶，只是盡量把

41、事情做得盡善盡美。到時(shí)穆罕默德看到他們從當(dāng)初那么高的的地位淪落到如此困境，常常感到十分惋惜。7 一天，穆罕默德的幾個(gè)朋友來(lái)他家做客。當(dāng)他們知道伊萊亞斯曾是這一帶最富有的人，而現(xiàn)在僅是主人的傭人時(shí)，感到十分吃驚，便詢問(wèn)起老夫妻以前的生活。8 “老人家，”一位客人問(wèn)道，“眼下，在你瞧著我們的時(shí)候，想想以前曾經(jīng)擁有過(guò)的財(cái)富，看看現(xiàn)在悲慘的生活，你是不是很悲傷？”9 伊萊亞斯笑著回答：“如果要我來(lái)回答你哲哥關(guān)于快樂(lè)還是悲哀的問(wèn)題，你也許不會(huì)相信我。你還是問(wèn)問(wèn)我的妻子吧。她既有女人的心腸，又有女人的口才，會(huì)如實(shí)告訴你們的?！?0 于是這位客人就坐在簾子后面的老婦大聲詢問(wèn)：“老太太，請(qǐng)你告訴我，你對(duì)以前的

42、幸福生活和現(xiàn)在的悲慘境況有什么想法？”11 薩姆薩瑪姬從簾子后面回答道：“我是這么認(rèn)為的：原先，我和丈夫一起生活了五十年，一直在尋求幸福卻未能找到；而現(xiàn)在，盡管我們身為仆人，這也是我么淪為窮人的第二年，但我們已經(jīng)找到了正真的幸福，沒(méi)有別的奢望了?！?2 客人們和主人聽(tīng)了薩姆的話都很吃驚，特別是主人，他驚訝的起身?yè)荛_(kāi)簾子望著老婦。她坐在那兒，雙手交叉抱在胸前，面帶微笑，凝視著年邁的丈夫，丈夫也以微笑回報(bào)，然后她接著說(shuō)：“我是在說(shuō)實(shí)話，并沒(méi)有開(kāi)玩笑。半個(gè)世紀(jì)了，我們都在群球幸福，而只要我們有錢(qián)，我們就難以找到；而現(xiàn)在我們一貧如洗，與下人生活在一起，我們卻找到了無(wú)與倫比的幸福?！?3 “那么，你們的

43、幸福體香在哪里呢？”客人又問(wèn)。14 “當(dāng)我們富有的時(shí)候，我丈夫和我有那么多的事要操心，以至于沒(méi)有時(shí)間交談、或想想我們心靈深處、或向上帝祈禱。如果有客人和我們一起，我們就完全忙著考慮如何寬帶他們。而且，客人到來(lái)了，我們還得照顧他們的仆人。不僅如此，我們還成天擔(dān)心狼會(huì)咬死雞鴨和牛犢，擔(dān)心竊賊盜走馬匹。我們晚上躺在床上，徹夜難眠地在擔(dān)心，唯恐母羊壓在了小羊羔的身上，于是，我們一次次的起床，已確保一切平安。等我們上床休息時(shí)，發(fā)現(xiàn)又有其他的事情要操心，比如怎么弄到過(guò)冬的飼料啦，等等。此外，我和丈夫總是意見(jiàn)相左。他會(huì)說(shuō)這件事必須要這樣做，而我說(shuō)必須那樣做，于是我們就開(kāi)始爭(zhēng)吵。這種生活只能使我們整日憂心忡忡

44、，毫無(wú)幸?？裳?。”15 “那么現(xiàn)在呢？”客人問(wèn)道。16 “現(xiàn)在”，老婦回答道，“當(dāng)我和丈夫早晨醒來(lái)的時(shí)候，我們都要互相問(wèn)候，恩愛(ài)和睦。我們生活得安寧，無(wú)憂無(wú)慮。我們唯一關(guān)心的是怎樣盡心的把主人伺候好。我們盡心盡意，量力而行，這樣，主人能從我們的勞動(dòng)中獲益。還有，我們進(jìn)門(mén)就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)飯菜都替我們準(zhǔn)備好了。天氣一冷，我們就可以烤火暖身，有羊皮衣服可穿。而且我們有時(shí)間相互交談，思考我們的靈魂深處，并向上帝祈禱。我們五十年苦苦尋求，直到現(xiàn)在才找到幸福。”17 客人哄堂大笑，伊萊亞斯叫道：“不要笑，高尚的先生們。這決非玩笑，而是事實(shí)。我們向您們披露這些，不是給自己解悶的，而是為了你們好啊?！?8 于是客人們

45、停止了笑聲，陷入了沉思。A Letter to God1 The housethe only one in the entire valleysat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and, next to the corral, the field of ripe corn dotted with the kidney-bean flowers that always promised a good harvest. 2 The only thing the earth needed w

46、as a rainfall, or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lenchowho knew his fields intimatelyhad done nothing else but scan the sky toward the northeast.3 “Now were really going to get some water, woman.”4 The woman, who was preparing supper, replied:5 “Yes, God willing.”6 The oldest boys were wo

47、rking in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house, until the woman called to them all:7 “Come for dinner.”8 It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the northeast huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air wa

48、s fresh and sweet.9 The man went out to look for something in the corral for no other reason than to allow himself the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed:10 “Those arent raindrops falling from the sky, theyre new coins. The big drops are ten-centavo pieces an

49、d the little ones are fives.” 11 With a satisfied expression he looked at the field of ripe corn with its kidney-bean flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and together with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coi

50、ns. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.12 “Its really getting bad now,” exclaimed the man. “I hope it passes quickly.”13 It did not pass quickly. For an hour the hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, on the whole valley. The f

51、ield was white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the kidney-bean plants. Lenchos soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said to his sons:14 “A plague of locu

52、sts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing: This year we will have no corn or beans.”15 That night was a sorrowful one:16 “All our work, for nothing!” 17 “Theres no one who can help us!”18 “Well all go hungry this year.” 19 But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house

53、 in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.20 “Dont be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger!” 21 “Thats what they say: no one dies of hunger.”22 All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose

54、 eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in ones conscience.23 Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write. The following Sunday, at daybreak, after having convinced himself that there is a protecting spirit, he began to

55、write a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail.24 It was nothing less than a letter to God.25 “God,” he wrote, “if you dont help me, my family and I will go hungry this year. I need a hundred pesos in order to resow the field and to live until the crop comes, because the h

56、ailstorm.”26 He wrote “To God” on the envelope, put the letter inside, and, still troubled, went to town. At the post office he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox.27 (How do you think the story will go?)28 One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post

57、office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as postman had he known that address. The postmastera fat, amiable fellowalso broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented:29 “What faith! I

58、 wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. To believe the way he believes. To hope with the confidence that he knows how to hope with. Starting up a correspondence with God!”30 So, in order not to destroy that wonderful example of faith, revealed by a letter that could not be delivered, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it