英汉互译散文2

MyMothersGift母亲的礼物SuzanneChazin苏珊娜蔡津Igrewupinasmalltownwheretheelementaryschoolwasaten-minutewalkfrommyhouseandinanage,notsolongago,whenchildrencouldgohomeforlunchandfindtheirmotherswaiting.我是在一个小镇上长大的，从镇上的小学校到我家，只需步行10分钟。离当前不算太太久远的那个时代，小学生可以回家吃午饭，而他们的母亲，则会老早在家等候着。Atthetime,Ididnotconsiderthisaluxury,althoughtodayitcertainlywouldbe.Itookitforgrantedthatmotherswerethesandwich-makers,thefinger-paintingappreciatorsandthehomeworkmonitors.Ineverquestionedthatthisambitious,intelligentwoman,whohadhadacareerbeforeIwasbornandwouldeventuallyreturntoacareer,wouldspendalmosteverylunchhourthroughoutmyelementaryschoolyearsjustwithme.这一切对如今的孩子来说，无疑是一种奢望了，可是那时的我，却并不以为然。我觉得做母亲的给她的孩子制作三明治，鉴赏指画，检查他们的家庭作业，都是理所当然的事。我从来没有想过：像我母亲这样一个颇有抱负又很聪明的女人，在我降生之前，她有一份工作，而且后来她又谋了份差事，可是，在我上小学那几年，她却几乎天天陪着我吃午饭，一同打发午餐时的每一分钟。Ionlyknewthatwhenthenoonbellrang,Iwouldracebreathlesslyhome.Mymotherwouldbestandingatthetopofthestairs,smilingdownatmewithalookthatsuggestedIwastheonlyimportantthingshehadonhermind.Forthis,Iamforevergrateful.只记得，每当午时铃声一响，我就一口气地往家里跑。母亲总是站在门前台阶的最高层，笑盈盈地望着我-那神情分明表示：我便是母亲心目中唯一最重要的东西了。为此，我一辈子都要感谢我的母亲。Somesoundsbringitallback:thehighpitchedsquealofmymothersteakettle,therumbleofthewashingmachineinthebasementandthejangleofmydogslicensetagsassheboundeddownthestairstogreetme.Ourtimetogetherseemeddevoidofthegerrymanderedschedulesthatnowpervademylife.如今，每当我听到一些声音，像母亲那把茶壶水开时发出的尖叫声，地下室洗衣机的隆隆声，还有，我那条狗蹦下台阶冲我摇头摆尾时它脖子上那牌照发出的撞击声，便会勾起我对往事的回忆。和母亲在一起的岁月，全然没有充斥于我的生活中的、事先做好的安排往往任意改动。可是，和母亲在一起的那些岁月里，这样的现象似乎根本不存在。OnelunchtimewhenIwasinthethirdgradewillstaywithmealways.Ihadbeenpickedtobetheprincessintheschoolplay,andforweeksmymotherhadpainstakinglyrehearsedmylineswithme.ButnomatterhoweasilyIdeliveredthemathome,assoonasIsteppedonstage,everyworddisappearedfrommyhead.我永远忘不了在我上三年级时的那一顿午饭。在那天之前，我被学校选中，要在一个即将演出的小剧中扮演公主的角色。一连好几个礼拜，母亲总是不辞辛劳地陪着我，一起背诵台词。可是，不管在家里怎么背得滚瓜烂熟，只要一上舞台，我的脑子里就成了一片空白。Finally,myteachertookmeaside.Sheexplainedthatshehadwrittenanarratorsparttotheplay,andaskedmetoswitchroles.Herword,kindlydelivered,stillstung,especiallywhenIsawmypartgotoanothergirl.终于，老师把我叫到了一边。她说剧中旁白这个角色的台词已写好了，想把我替换下来当旁白。尽管老师这些话说得和和气气，可还是刺痛了我的心，特别是当我发觉自己扮演的公主角色让另外一个女孩顶替时，更是如此。IdidnttellmymotherwhathadhappenedwhenIwenthomeforlunchthatday.Butshesensedmyunease,andinsteadofsuggestingwepracticemylines,sheaskedIfIwantedtowalkintheyard.那天回家吃午饭时我没有把这事告诉母亲。然而，母亲见我心神不定，因此没有再提练习背台词的事儿，而是问我愿意不愿意到院子里散散步。Itwasalovelyspringdayandtherosevineonthetrelliswasturninggreen.Underthehugeelmtrees,wecouldseeyellowdandelionspoppingthroughthegrassinbunches,asifapainterhadtouchedourlandscapewithdabsofgold.Iwatchedmymothercasuallybenddownbyoneoftheclumps. IthinkImgoingtodigupalltheseweeds, shesaid,yankingablossomupbyitsroots. Fromnowon,wellhaveonlyrosesinthisgarden. 那真是一个可爱的春日，棚架上蔷薇的藤蔓正在转青。在一些高大的榆树下面，我们可以看到，一丛丛黄色的蒲公英冒出草坪，仿佛是一位画家为了给眼前的美景增色而着意加上的点点金色。我看到母亲在一簇花丛旁漫不经心地弯下身来。“我看得把这些野草都拨了，”她说着，一边使劲把一丛蒲公英连根拨出。“往后咱这园子里只让长蔷薇花。”ButIlikedandelions, Iprotested. Allflowersarebeautiful-evendandelions. “可是我喜欢蒲公英，”我不满地说，“凡是花都好看-蒲公英也不例外。”Mymotherlookedatmeseriously. Yes,everyflowergivespleasureinitsownway,doesntit?Sheaskedthoughtfully.Inodded,pleasedthatIhadwonherover. Andthatistrueofpeopletoo, sheadded. Noteveryonecanbeaprincess,butthereisnoshameinthat.母亲严肃地看着我。“噢，这么说，每朵花都自有它令人赏心悦目的地方喽？”她若有所思地问道。我点了点头，总算说服了母亲，这使我很得意。“可是人也一样呀，”母亲接着又发话，“不见得人人都能当公主，但当不了公主并不丢脸。”Relievedthatshehadguessedmypain,IstartedtocryasItoldherwhathadhappened.Shelistenedandsmiledreassuringly.母亲猜到了我的苦恼，这使我的情绪安定下来。我哭了起来，把事情的经过讲给母亲听。母亲专注地听着，脸上带着安详的微笑。Butyouwillbeabeautifulnarrator, shesaid,remindingmeofhowmuchIlovedtoreadstoriesaloudtoher. Thenarratorspartiseverybitasimportantasthepartofaprincess. “但你会成为一名顶呱呱的解说员，”母亲又说。她说平常我是多么喜欢朗诵故事给她听，还说“从哪方面看，旁白这个角色都和公主那个角色一样重要”。Overthenextfewweeks,withherconstantencouragement,Ilearnedtotakeprideintherole.LunchtimeswerespentreadingovermylinesandtalkingabutwhatIwouldwear.往后的几个星期，在母亲的一再鼓励下，我渐渐地以担任旁白的角色感到骄傲。利用午饭时间，我们又一起念台词，议论到时候我该穿什么样的演出服装。Backstagethenightoftheperformance,Ifeltnervous.Afewminutesbeforetheplay,myteachercameovertome. Yourmotheraskedmetogivethistoyou, shesaid,handingmeadandelion.Itsedgeswerealreadybeginningtocurlanditfloppedlazilyfromitsstem.Butjustlookingatit,knowingmymotherwasoutthereandthinkingofourlunchtimetalk,mademeproud.到了演出那个晚上，当我登上后台，心里还感到紧张。离演出还有几分钟的时候，老师朝我走了过来。“你母亲让我把这个交给你，”说着她递过来了一朵蒲公英。那花儿四周已开始打蔫，花瓣儿从梗上向下有气无力地耷拉着。可是，只要看一眼，知道母亲就在外面呆着，回想起和母亲用午饭时说的那些话，我就感到胸有成竹。Aftertheplay,ItookhometheflowerIhadstuffedintheapronofmycostume.Mymotherpresseditbetweentwosheetsofpapertowelinginadictionary,laughingasshediditthatwewereperhapstheonlypeoplewhowouldpresssuchasorry-lookingweed.演出结束后，我把塞在演出服围裙里的那朵蒲公英拿回了家。母亲将花接了过去，用两张纸巾将它压平，夹在了一本字典里。她一边忙碌着，一边笑，想到也许只有我们俩会珍藏这么一朵打了蔫的野草花。Ioftenlookbackonourlunchtimestogether,bathedinthesoftmiddaylight.Theywerethecommasinmychildhood,thepausesthattoldmelifeisnotsavoredinpremeasuredincrement,butinthesumofdailyritualsandsmallpleasureswecasuallysharewithlovedones.Overpeanut-buttersandwichesandchocolate-chipcookies,Ilearnedthatlove,firstandforemost,meansbeingthereforthelittlethings.我常常回想起和母亲在一起度过的那些沐浴在和煦阳光之中的午餐时光。它们是我孩提时代的一个个小插曲，告诉我一个道理：人生的滋味，就在于和我们所爱的人在一起不经意地共度的日常生活、分享的点点滴滴的欢乐，而不在于某种事先测量好的“添加剂”。在享用母亲做的花生酱、三明治和巧克力碎末小甜饼的时候，我懂得了，爱就体现在这些细微这处。Afewmonthsago,mymothercametovisit,Itookoffadayfromworkandtreatedhertolunch.Therestaurantbustledwithnoontimeactivityasbusinesspeoplemadedealsandglancedattheirwatches.Inthemiddleofallthissatmymother,nowretired,andI.FromherfaceIcouldseethatsherelishedthepaceoftheworkworld.几个月前，母亲又来看我。我特意请了天假，陪母亲吃午饭。中午，饭馆里熙熙壤攘，做生意的人忙不迭地从事交易活动，他们不时地看看手表。如今已经退休的母亲和我就坐在这群人中间。从母亲的表情中，我看得出，母亲打心眼里喜欢上班族这种生活的节奏。Mom,youmusthavebeenterriblyboredstayingathomewhenIwasachild, Isaid.“妈，我小的时候，您老呆在家里一定觉得很烦吧？”我说。Bored?Houseworkisboring.Butyouwereneverboring. “烦？做家务是令人心烦，不过，你从来没使我感到心烦过。”Ididntbelieveher,soIpressed. Surelychildrenarenotasstimulatingasacareer. 我不相信这是实话，于是我又想法子套她的话。“看孩子哪会像工作那样富有刺激性呢？”Acareerisstimulating, shesaid. ImgladIhadone.Butacareerislikeanopenballoon.Itremainsinflatedonlyaslongasyoukeeppumping.Achildisaseed.Youwaterit.Youcareforitthebestyoucan.Andthenitgrowsallbyitselfintoabeautifulflower. “工作是富有刺激性的，”母亲答道，“很高兴我也有过工作。可是工作好比开了口的气球，你只有不停地充气，它才能鼓着劲。可是一个孩子就是一粒种子，你浇灌了它，全心全意地爱护它，然后，它就会独立自主地开出美丽的花朵来。”Justthen,lookingather,Icouldpictureussittingatherkitchentableonceagain,andIunderstoodwhyIkeptthatflakybrowndandelioninouroldfamilydictionarypressedbetweentwocrumpledbitsofpapertowel.此时此刻，我凝视着母亲，脑海里又浮现儿时和母亲一起坐在饭桌旁的情景，同时也明白了我为什么仍要把那朵已经发黑、一碰就碎的蒲公英用两片皱纸巾夹起来，珍藏在祖传的那本旧词典里。MyFathersMusic我父亲的音乐WayneKalyn韦恩卡林IrememberthedayDadfirstluggedtheheavyaccordionupourfrontstoop,taxinghissmallframe.Hegatheredmymotherandmeinthelivingroomandopenedthecaseasifitwereatreasurechest. Hereitis,hesaid. Onceyoulearntoplay,itllstaywithyouforlife.我还记得那天，爸爸豁出瘦小的身躯，第一次把那沉甸甸的手风琴拖上我们家的门廊。他把妈姆和我召到客厅，打开箱子，好像那是个百宝箱似的.“给，”。他说，“你一学会拉它，它就跟你终身做伴。”Ifmythinsmiledidntmatchhisfull-fledgedgrin,itwasbecauseIhadprayedforaguitarorapiano.Itwas1960,andIwasgluedtomyAMradio,listeningtoDelShannonandChubbyChecker.Accordionswerenowhereinmyhitparade.AsIlookedattheshinywhitekeysandcream-coloredbellows,Icouldalreadyhearmyfriendssqueezeboxjokes.我淡淡一笑，满不像他那么喜笑颜开，可那是因为裁一直巴望着有一把吉他，或一架钢琴。当时是1960年，我迷上了在调幅广播里收听戴尔香农和查比切克的音乐。手风琴在我的流行曲目里根本排不上号。看着那白晃晃的琴键和奶油色的风箱，我都可以听到伙伴们嘲弄这玩意儿的声音。Forthenexttwoweeks,theaccordionwasstoredinthehallcloset.ThenoneeveningDadannouncedthatIwouldstartlessonsthefollowingweek.IndisbeliefIshotmyeyestowardMomforsupport.ThefirmsetofherjawtoldmeIwasoutofluck.后来的两个礼拜，手风琴一直搁在门厅的壁橱里。有天晚上，爸爸宣布，下周起我就开始上手风琴课。狐疑中我直向母亲递眼色，求她帮忙。可她紧闭着嘴，就是说我这次倒了霉了。Spending$300foranaccordionand$5perlessonwasoutofcharacterformyfather.Hewaspracticalalways-somethinghelearnedgrowinguponaPennsylvaniafarm.Clothes,heatandsometimesevenfoodwerescarce.花300元买架手风琴，每上一课还得交五元，这可不合我父亲的性格。他向来都很讲究实际这是他自小在宾夕法尼亚州的农场学来的。当时穿的，取暖的，有时候连吃的都很少。BeforeIwasborn,heandmymothermovedintoherparentstwo-storyhomeinJerseyCity,N.J.Igrewupthereonthesecondfloor;mygrandparentsliveddownstairs.EachweekdayDadmadethethree-hourcommutetoandfromLongIsland,wherehewasasupervisorinacompartythatservicedjetengines.Weekends,hetinkeredinthecellar,turningscrapsofplywoodintoautilitycabinetorfixingabrokentoywithspareparts.Quietandshy,hewasnevermorecomfortablethanwhenathisworkbench.我出生前，父母搬进了新泽西州泽西城外公外婆家一楼一底的房子。我就是在那儿的楼上长大的，外公他们住楼下。爸爸每天去长岛上班来回要坐三个小时的车。他在那儿的一家飞机发动机维修公司做监督，周末他就在地窖里东修西补，不是把零星的胶合板拼凑成多用柜，就是找些个零部件修理破玩具。他生性沉静腼腆，只有坐在工作凳上时他才最为自在。OnlymusiccarriedDadawayfromhisworldoftoolsandprojects.OnaSundaydrive,heturnedtheradioonimmediately.Atredlights,Idnoticehisfoottappingintime.Heseemedtohangoneverynote.只有音乐可以使爸爸陶醉，忘却他那个近视工具和活计的天地。星期天只要一开车，他便打开收音机。遇见红灯，就见他的脚及时地轻轻打起拍子。他好像不放过每一个音符。Still,Iwasntpreparedwhen,rummaginginacloset,Ifoundacasethatlookedtomelikeatinyguitars.Openingit,Isawthepolishedglowofabeautiffilviolin. Itsyourfathers,Momsaid. Hisparentsboughtitforhim.Iguesshegottoobusyonthefarmtoeverlearntoplayit.ItriedtoimagineDadsroughhandsonthisdelicateinstrument-andcouldnt. .然而，我还是没有料到，又一次翻一个壁橱，竟发现一只盒子，我看像个小吉他盒。打开一看，却是把漂亮的小提琴，光滑锃亮的。“那是你父亲的，”妈妈说，“他父母给他买的。怕是农场上太忙了吧，他压根儿就没顾上学。”我尽量想象爸爸那双粗手在摆弄这把精巧的小提琴可就是想象不出来。Shortlyafter,mylessonsbeganwithMr.ZelliattheAllegroAccordionSchooltuckedbetweenanoldmovietheaterandapizzaparlor.Onmyfirstday,withstrapsstrainingmyshoulder,Ifeltclumsyineveryway. Howdidhedo?myfatheraskedwhenitwasover. Fineforthefirstlesson,saidMr.ZeUi.Dadglowedwithhope.不久，我在手风琴速成学校跟泽里先生上起课来了，那个学校夹在一家旧电影院和一家馅饼店之间。第一天，我肩上勒紧了两条皮带，怎么都觉得别扭。“他怎么样？”过后父亲问老师。“第一课嘛，还可以。”泽里先生说。爸爸看有希望，神采奕奕。Iwasorderedtopracticehalfanhoureveryday,andeverydayItriedtogetoutofit.Myfutureseemedtobeoutsideplayingball,notinthehousemasteringsongsIwouldsoonforget,butmyparentshoundedmetopractice.按规定我每天的练半小时的琴，而我每天都没法躲过去。我看我的前途是在户外打球，不是呆在屋里练很快就会遗忘的曲子，可父母逼着我练。Gradually,tomysurprise,Iwasabletostringnotestogetherandcoordinatemyhandstoplaysimplesongs.Often,aftersupper,myfatherwouldrequestatuneortwo.Ashesatinhiseasychair,IwouldfumblethroughLadyofSpainandBeerBarrelPolka.想不到我渐渐可以把各个音符串起来，两手配合着拉起简单的歌曲了。晚饭后，父亲常常要我拉上一两段曲子。他坐在安乐椅里，我就笨手笨脚地拉完西班牙女郎和啤酒桶波尔卡Verynice,betterthanlastweek,hedsay.ThenIwouldsegueintoamed-leyofhisfavorites, RedRiverValleyandHomeontheRange,andhewoulddriftofftosleep,thenewspaperfoldedonhislap.Itookitasacomplimentthathecouldrelaxunderthespellofmyplaying.“很好，比上星期强。”他会说。于是我一口气拉下去，把他最喜欢的歌曲红河谷和家在牧场混在一起，于是他不知不觉地睡去，报纸还摊在膝上。他能在我的演奏感召之下，也轻松一下算是对我的赞赏吧。OneJulyeveningIwasgivinganalmostflawlessrenditionofComeBacktoSorrento,andmyparentscalledmetoanopenwindow.Anelderlyneighbor,rarelyseenoutsideherhouse,wasleaningagainstourcarhummingdreamilytothetune.WhenIfinished,shesmiledbroadlyandcalledout, IrememberthatsongasachildinItaly.Beautiful,justbeautiful.有年七月的一天傍晚，我正在拉重归苏连托，几乎是无懈可击，父母把我叫到一扇窗口。一个上了年纪的邻居，很少见她出门，这时正依在我家车旁，恍恍惚惚地跟着曲子哼着。我拉完了，她笑眯眯地喊道：“我小时候在意大利就记得这首歌。好听，真好听。”Throughoutthesummer,Mr.Zellislessonsgrewmoredifficult.Ittookmeaweekandahalftomasterthemnow.AllthewhileIcouldhearmybuddiesoutsideplayingheatedgamesofstickball.Idalsohearanoccasionaltaunt: Hey,wheresyourmonkeyandcup?整个夏天，泽里先生的课越上越难。现在要花一个半星期才能学会。我一边学琴一边可以听到伙伴们在外面玩棍球玩得好热闹，不时还听到句把损人的话：“喂！你那猴儿罐儿呢？”Suchhumiliationpaled,though,besidetheimpendingfallrecital,Iwouldhavetoplayasoloonalocalmovietheatersstage.Iwantedtoskipthewholething.EmotionsboiledoverinthecaroneSundayafternoon.不过，眼看秋季演奏会就要到来，这么糟践人也就不算个事了。强得耷本地一家电影院上台独奏。我想赖掉这差事。个星期天下午在车上，我们都动了感情，都发火了。Idontwanttoplayasolo,Isaid.我不想独奏。”我说。Youhaveto,repliedmyfather.你就得独奏。”父亲答道。Why?Ishouted. Becauseyoudidntgettoplayyourviolinwhenyouwereakid?WhyshouldIhavetoplaythisstupidinstrumentwhenyouneverhadtoplayyours7Dadpulledthecaroverandpointedatme.“为啥？”我吼道，“就因为你小时候没能拉成小提琴？你不拉就行我干吗就非得拉这笨乎乎的玩意儿？爸爸刹住车，面对着我。Becauseyoucanbringpeoplejoy.Youcantouchtheirhearts.ThatsagiftIwontletyouthrowaway.Headdedsoftly, SomedayyoullhavechanceIneverhad:youllplaybeautifulmusicforyourfamily.Andyouunderstandwhyyouveworkedsohard.“就因为你可以给别人带来欢乐。你可以打动他们的心。，那是给人的一份礼物，我不许你白扔了。”他又轻声说，“总有一天你会有我从来没有的机会：你会给你的妻子儿女演奏美丽动听的音乐。那时候你就会明白你干吗要这么苦练了。”Iwasspeechless.IhadrarelyheardDadspeakwithsuchfeelingaboutanything,muchlesstheaccordion.Fromthenon,Ipracticedwithoutparentsmakingme.我无言以对。我很少听到父亲说话这么动情，更何况是说的手风琴。从此我练琴不用父母逼了。TheeveningoftheconcertMomworeglitteryearringsandmoremakeupthanIcouldremember.Dadgotoutofworkearly,putonasuitandtie,andslickeddownhishairwithVitalis.Theywereanhourearly,sowesatinthelivingroomchattingnervously.Igottheunspokenmessagethatplayingthisonesongwasadreamcometrueforthem.音乐会那天晚上，妈妈戴上亮晶晶的耳环，脸上没见她这么打扮过。爸爸早早就下了班，扎上领带，一身套装，头发用发油梳得溜光。他们提前一小时就打扮完了，我们便坐在客厅里紧张地聊天。这时我得到一个无言的启示：演奏这么一首歌是实现他俩的一个梦想。AtthetheaternervousnessovertookmeasIrealizedhowmuchIwantedtomakemyparentsproud.Finally,itwasmyturn.IwalkedtothelonechaironstageandperformedAreYouLonesomeTonight?withoutamistake.Theapplausespilledout,withafewhandsstillclappingafterothershadstopped.Iwaslightheaded,gladmyordealwasover.在电影院，我意识到我是真想使父母感到自豪时，简直紧张死了。终于轮到我上场了。我走向台上孤零零的椅子，演奏了今晚你可寂寞？没出一点儿错。一时掌声四起，落下后还有几个人在拍手。我高兴得轻飘飘的，总算熬到头了。AftertheconcertMomandDadcamebackstage.Thewaytheywalkedheadshigh,facesflushedIknewtheywerepleased.Mymothergavemeabighug.Dadslippedanarmaroundmeandheldmeclose. Youwerejustgreat,hesaid.Thenheshookmyhandandwasslowtoletitgo.音乐会散后妈妈和爸爸来到后台。瞧他们走路那神气昂首挺胸，红光满面，我就知道他们很高兴。母亲紧紧拥抱了我。爸爸伸过一只胳臂搂住我不放。“你真是好样儿的！”他说，然后又握住我的手，久久不松开。Astheyearswentby,theaccordiondriftedtothebackgroundofmylife.Dadaskedmetoplayatfamilyoccasions,butthelessonsstopped.WhenIwenttocollege,theaccordionstayedbehindinthehallclosetnexttomyfathersviolin.随着岁月的流逝，那架手风琴在我的生活中也渐渐隐退了。爸爸只要我在家有节庆的时候拉一拉，课是不上了。我上大学，那琴就放在门厅的壁橱里，挨着父亲的小提琴。Ayearaftermygraduation,myparentsmovedtoahouseinanearbytown.Dad,at51,finallyownedhisownhome.Onmovingday,Ididnthavethehearttotellhimhecoulddisposeoftheaccordion,soIbroughtittomyownhomeandputitintheattic.我毕业一年后，父母搬到了附近一个镇上。父亲在51岁终于有了自己的房子。搬家那天，我不忍心告诉他可以把手风琴卖了，于是我把它拿回我自己的