精彩英语故事08

PAGE精彩英语故事08蜘蛛之丝TheSpider'sThreadOneday,theBuddhawasstrollingalonealongtheedgeofalotuspondinParadise.Thebloominglotusflowersinthepondwereeachpurewhitelikejewels,andtheplacewasfilledwiththeindescribablywondrousfragrancecontinuallyemittedfromeachflower'sgoldencenter.ItwasjustmorninginParadise.一天，佛世尊独自在极乐净土的宝莲池畔闲步。池中莲花盛开，朵朵都晶白如玉。花心之中金蕊送香，其香胜妙殊绝，普薰十方。极乐世界大约时当清晨。Afteratime,theBuddhapausedattheedgeofthepondandfrombetweenthelotusleavesthatcovereditsawaglimpseofthestateofthingsbelow.NowthiscelestialpondjusthappenedtoliedirectlyoverHell,andpeeringthroughthatcrystal-clearwaterwaslikelookingthroughamagnifyingglassattheRiverofDeathandtheMountainof俄顷，世尊伫立池畔，从覆盖水面的莲叶间，偶见池下的情景。极乐莲池之下，正是十八地狱的最底层。透过澄清晶莹的池水，宛如戴上透视镜一般，把三恶道上之冥河与刀山剑树的诸般景象，尽收眼底。TheBuddhasawthere,inthedepthsofHell,asinglemanwrithingalongwiththeothersinners.ThismanwasnamedKandata,andhehadbeenanotoriousthiefwhohadperformedmurderandarsonandotheractsofevil.Inhispast,however,hehadperformedjustonegooddeed:oneday,whenwalkingthroughthedeepforest,hesawaspidercrawlingalongtheroad.Atfirstheraisedhisfoottocrushit,butsuddenlyhechangedhismindandstopped,saying,"No,smallthoughitmaybe,aspider,too,haslife.Itwouldbeapitytomeaninglesslyendit,"andsodidnotkillit.这时，一名叫犍陀多的男子，同其他罪人在地狱底层挣扎的情景，映入世尊的慧眼。世尊记得，这犍陀多虽是个杀人放火、无恶不作的大盗，倒也有过一项善举。话说大盗犍陀多有一回走在密林中，见到路旁爬行一只小蜘蛛，抬起脚来，便要将蜘蛛踩死。忽转念一想：“不可，不可，蜘蛛虽小，到底也是一条性命。随便害死，无论如何，总怪可怜的。”犍陀多终究没踩下去，放了蜘蛛一条生路。LookingdownuponthecaptivesinHelltheBuddharecalledthiskindactthatKandatahadperformed,andthoughttousehisgooddeedasawaytosavehimfromhisfate.Lookingaside,thereonajade-coloredlotusleafhesawasinglespider,spinningoutawebofsilverthread.TheBuddhacarefullytookthespider'sthreadintohishand,andlowereditstraightdownbetweenthejewel-likewhitelotusesintothedepthsofHell.世尊看着地狱中的景象，想起犍陀多放蜘蛛生路这件善举。虽然微末如斯，世尊亦拟施以善报，尽量把他救出地狱。侧头一望，说来也巧，净土里有只蜘蛛，正在翠绿的莲叶上，攀牵美丽的银丝。世尊轻轻取来一缕蛛丝，从莹洁如玉的白莲间，径直垂向香渺幽邃的地狱底层。KandatawasfloatingandsinkingalongwiththeothersinnersintheLakeofBloodatthebottomofHell.Itwaspitchblacknomatterwhichwayhelooked,andtheoccasionalglimpseoflightthathewouldseeinthedarknesswouldturnouttobejusttheglintoftheterribleMountainofNeedles.Howlonelyhemusthavefelt!Allabouthimwasthesilenceofthegrave,theonlyoccasionalsoundbeingafaintsighfromoneofthedamned.Thosewhoweresoevilastobesenttothisplaceweretiredbyitsvarioustorments,andleftwithouteventhestrengthtocryout.EventhegreatthiefKandatacouldonlysquirmlikea这边厢犍陀多正和其他罪人，在地狱底层的血池里载沉载浮。不论朝哪儿望去，处处都是黑魆魆暗幽幽的，偶尔影影绰绰，暗中悬浮着什么，原来是阴森可怕的刀山剑树，让人看了胆战心惊。尤其是四周一片死寂，如在墓中。间或听到的，也仅是罪人恹恹的叹息声。凡落到这一步的人，都已受尽地狱的折磨，衰惫不堪，恐怕连哭出声的气力都没有了。所以，恁是大盗犍陀多，也像只濒死的青蛙，在血池里，惟有一面咽着血水，一面苦苦挣扎而已。Butoneday,raisinguphisheadandglancingattheskyabovethelake,intheemptydarknessKandatasawasilverspider'sthreadbeingloweredfromtheceilingsofar,faraway.Thethreadseemedalmostafraidtobeseen,emittingafrail,constantlightasitcamedowntojustaboveKandata'shead.Seeingthis,Kandatacouldn'thelpbutclaphishandsinjoy.Ifheweretoclingtothisthreadandclimbupit,hemaybeabletoclimboutofHell!PerhapshecouldevenclimballthewaytoParadise!ThenhewouldneverbechaseduptheMountainofNeedles,nordrownedintheLakeof偶然间，犍陀多无心一抬头，向血池上空望去，在阒然无声的黑暗中，但见一缕银色的蛛丝，正从天而降。仿佛怕人看到似的，细细一线，微光闪烁，恰在自己头上笔直垂落下来。犍陀多一见，喜不自胜，拍手称快。倘抓住蜘蛛丝，攀援而上，准保能脱离苦海。不特此也，侥幸的话，兴许还能爬进极乐世界哩。如此，再不会驱之上刀山，也庶免沉沦血池之苦了。Thinkingso,hefirmlygraspedthespider'sthreadwithbothhandsandbegantoclimbthethread,higherandhigher.Havingoncebeenagreatthief,hewasusedtotaskssuchasthis.ButthedistancebetweenHellandParadiseistensofthousandsofmiles,andsoitwouldseemthatnoamountofeffortwouldmakethisaneasyjourney.AfterclimbingforsometimeKandatatired,andcouldn'tclimbabithigher.Havingnootherrecourse,hehungtherefromthethread,resting,andwhiledoingsolookeddownbelow.这样一想，犍陀多赶紧伸出双手，死死攥住蛛丝，一把一把，拼命往上攀去。原本是大盗，手并足抵，区区小事一桩而已。可是，地狱与净土之间，何止千万里！不论犍陀多怎样心焦气躁，要想爬出地狱，真谈何容易。爬了一程，终于筋疲力尽，哪怕伸手往上再升一级，也难以为役了。一筹莫展之下，只好住手，先歇会儿喘口气，便吊在蛛丝上，悬在半空中，一面放眼向下望去。Hesawthathehadmadeagooddealofprogress.TheLakeofBloodthathehadbeentrappedinwasnowhiddeninthedarkbelow,andhehadevenclimbedhigherthanthedimlyglowingMountainofNeedles.Ifhecouldkeepupthispace,perhapshecouldescapefromHellafterall.Kandatagraspedthethreadwithbothhands,andlaughinglyspok方才是不顾死活往上攀，总算没白费力气，片刻前自己还沉沦在内的血池，不知何时，竟已隐没在黑暗的地底。那寒光闪闪，令人毛骨悚然的刀山剑树，也已在自己脚下。如果一直这样往上爬，要逃出地狱，也许并非难事。犍陀多将两手绕在蛛丝上，开怀大笑起来：“这下好啦！我得救啦！”那吼声，自打落进地狱以来多年不曾得闻的。Lookingdown,however,whatdidheseebutanendlessqueueofsinners,intentlyfollowinghimupthethreadlikealineofants!Seeingthis,surpriseandfearkeptKandatahangingthereforatimewithmouthopenandeyesblinkinglikeafool.Howcouldthisslenderspider'sweb,whichshouldbreakevenunderjusthisweight,supporttheweightofalltheseotherpeople?Ifthethreadweretosnap,allofhiseffortwouldbewastedandhewouldfallbackintoHellwiththeothers!Thatjustwouldnotdo.Butevenashethoughtthesethoughts,hundredsmore,thousandsmoreofthedamnedcamecrawlingupfromtheLakeofBlood可是，他留神一看，蛛丝的下端，有数不清的罪人，简直像一行蚂蚁，跟在自己后面，正一意在攀登上来。见此情景，犍陀多又惊又怕，有好一忽儿傻不愣登张着嘴，眨巴着眼睛。这样细细一根蜘蛛丝，负担自家一人尚且发发可危，那么多人的重量，怎禁受得住？万一半中间断掉，就连好家伙我，千辛万苦才爬到这里，岂不也要一头朝下，重新掉进地狱里去么？那一来，可乖乖不得了！这工夫，成百上千的罪人蠢蠢欲动，从黑洞洞的血池底下爬将上来，一字儿沿着发出一缕细光的蜘蛛丝，不暇少停，拼命向上爬。不趁早想办法，蛛丝就会一断二截，自己势必又该掉进地狱去了。Kandatashoutedout,"Hey!Yousinners!Thisthreadismine!Whosaidyoucouldclimbupit?Getoff!Getoff!"于是，犍陀多暴喝一声：“嘿，你们这帮罪人，这根蛛丝可是咱家我的！谁让你们爬上来的？快滚下去！滚下去！”Thoughthethreadhadbeenfineuntiljustthen,withthesewordsitsnappedwithatwangrightwhereKandataheldit.PoorKandatafellheadfirstthroughtheair,spinninglikeatop,rightdownthroughthedarkness.Theseveredendofthesilverthreadhungthere,suspendedfromheaven,shiningwithitspalelightinthatmoonless,starlesssky.说时迟，那时快，方才还好端端的蜘蛛丝，竟噗哧一声，从吊着犍陀多的地方突然断裂。这回有他好受的了。霎时间，犍陀多像个陀螺，滴溜溜翻滚着，唆地一头栽进黑暗的深渊。此时，惟有极乐净土的蜘蛛丝，依然细细的，闪着一缕银光，半短不长的，飘垂在没有星月的半空中。TheBuddhastoodinParadiseattheedgeofthelotuspond,silentlywatchingtheseevents.AfterKandatasanklikeastonetothebottomoftheLakeofBlood佛世尊伫立在宝莲池畔，始终凝视着事情的经过。当犍陀多倏忽之间便石头般沉入血池之底，世尊面露悲悯之色，又重新踱起步来。犍陀多只顾自己脱离苦海，毫无慈悲心肠，于是受到应得的报应，又落进原先的地狱。在世尊眼里，想必那作为是过于卑劣了。YetthelotusblossomsinthelotuspondsofParadisecarenothingaboutsuchmatters.Theirjewel-likewhiteflowerswavedaboutthefeetoftheBuddha,andeachflower'sgoldencentercontinuouslyfilledtheplacewiththeirindescribablywondrousfragrance.ItwasalmostnooninParadise.不过，极乐莲池里的莲花，并不理会这等事。那晶白如玉的花朵，掀动着花萼在世尊足畔款摆，花心之中金蕊送香，其香胜妙殊绝，普薰十方。极乐世界大约已近正午时分。(16April1918)（一九一八年四月）艾莲译用生命托起你生的可能假如这都不算爱……Agirlandaboywereonamotorcycle,speedingthroughthenight.一天夜里，男孩骑摩托车带着女孩超速行驶。Theylovedeachotheralot..他们彼此深爱着对方……Girl:"slowdownalittle..I'mscared.."女孩：“慢一点...我怕...”Boy:"no,it'ssofun.."男孩：“不，这样很有趣”Girl:"please...it'ssoscary.."女孩：“求求你...这样太吓人了...”Boy:"thensaythatyouloveme.."男孩：“好吧，那你说你爱我...”Girl:"fine.Iloveyou.canyouslowdownnow."女孩：“好我爱你...你现在可以慢下来了吗？”Boy:"givemeabighug.."男孩：“紧紧抱我一下...”Thegirlgavehimabighug.女孩紧紧拥抱了他一下。Girl:"nowcanyouslowdown."女孩：“现在你可以慢下来了吧？”Boy:"canyoutakeoffmyhelmetandputitonit'suncomfortableandit'sbotheringmewhileIdrive."男孩：“你可以脱下我的头盔并自己戴上吗？它让我感到不舒服，还干扰我驾车。”Thennextday,therewasastoryinthenewspaper.Amotorcyclehadcrashedintoabuildingbecauseit’sbrakeswerebroken.第二天，报纸报道：一辆摩托车因为刹车失灵而撞毁在一幢建筑物上。Thereweretwopeopleonthemotorcycle,ofwhichonedied,andtheotherhadsurvived...车上有两个人，一个死亡，一个幸存...Theguyknewthatthebrakeswerebroken.hedidn'twanttoletthegirlknow,becauseheknewthatthegirlwouldhavegottenscared.驾车的男孩知道刹车失灵，但他没有让女孩知道，因为那样会让女孩感到害怕。Instead,hewastoldthelasttimethatshelovedhim,gotahugfromher,puthishelmetonhersothatshecanlive,anddiehimself...相反，他让女孩最后一次说她爱他，最后一次拥抱他，并让她戴上自己的头盔，结果，女孩活着，他自己死了...Onceinawhile,rightinthemiddleofanordinarylife,lovegivesusafairytale...就在一会的时间里，就在平常的生活里，爱向我们展示了一个神话……移石AlittleboywasspendinghisSaturdaymorningplayinginhissandbox.Hehadwithhimhisboxofcarsandtrucks,hisplasticpail,andashiny,redplasticshovel.Intheprocessofcreatingroadsandtunnelsinthesoftsand,hediscoveredalargerockinthemiddleofthesandbox.在一个周六的早上，一个小男孩在他的沙箱里玩耍，还带了一盒子的玩具车、一只塑料桶和一把闪闪发亮的塑料小红铲。在柔软的沙中堆砌道路和隧道的过程中，他在沙箱的中央发现了一块大石头。Theboydugaroundtherock,managingtodislodgeitfromthedirt.Withalittlebitofstruggle,hepushedandnudgedtherockacrossthesandboxbyusinghisfeet.(Hewasaverysmallboy,andtherockwasverylarge.)Whentheboygottherocktotheedgeofthesandbox,however,hefoundthathecouldn’trollitupandoverthelittlewall.小男孩在石头的周围挖呀挖，成功地把它从泥沙中挖了出来。接着，他有点吃力把石头往沙箱上推。（他只是个小男孩，石头显得很大。）当他把石头推到沙箱的边缘是，却发现自己没办法把石头滚过沙箱那堵矮小的墙。Determined,thelittleboyshoved,pushed,andpried,buteverytimehethoughthehadmadesomeprogresstherocktippedandthenfellbackintothesandbox.Thelittleboygrunted,struggled,pushed,andshoved;buthisonlyrewardwastohavetherockrollback,smashinghischubbyfingers.小男孩下定决心要把石头移走，他又推又撬，但每次自以为取得一些成果时，那石头又滚了下来掉回沙箱中。小男孩咕哝着，使尽全力去推。但唯一的结果就是石头滚回来，撞到他胖胖的手指上。Finallyheburstintotearsoffrustration.Allthistimetheboy’sfatherwatchedfromhislivingroomwindowasthedramaunfolded.Atthemomentthetearsfell,alargeshadowfellacrosstheboyandthesandbox.Itwastheboy’sfather.Gentlybutfirmlyhesaid,“Son,whydidn’tyouuseallthestrengththatyouhadavailable?”Defeated,theboysobbedback,“ButIdid,Daddy,Idid!IusedallthestrengththatIhad!”“No,son,”correctedthefatherkindly.“Youdidn’tuseallthestrengthyouhad.Youdidn’taskme.”Withthatthefatherreacheddown,pickeduptherockandremoveditfromthesandbox.最后，小男孩沮丧地大哭起来。小男孩的父亲一直在客厅的窗户旁注视着这一幕。当小男孩开始掉眼泪的时候，一个大大的身影落在小男孩和他的沙箱上。那是父亲的影子。他温和而坚定地问：“儿子，为什么你没有用尽你所有的力量？”小男孩很受挫，呜咽的回答道：“我用了，爸爸，我用了！我用尽了我全身的力量。”“不，儿子，”父亲温柔地纠正他说：“你没有用尽你所有的力量。你没有叫我来帮你。”父亲边说着边弯下腰，捡起那块石头丢出了沙箱。Doyouhave“rocks”inyourlifethatneedtoberemoved?Areyoudiscoveringthatyoudon’thavewhatittakestoliftthem?ThereisONEwhoisalwaysavailabletousandwillingtogiveusthestrengthweneed.Isn’titfunnyhowwetrysohardtodothingsourselves?在你的生命中，你也遇到过需要移开的“石头”吗？你有没有发现你缺少挪动它的力量？但无论如何，总会有某人在我们需要帮助的时候愿意向我们伸出援手。我们单靠自己的力量来办事不是很傻吗？人生没有过不去的坎Ourtoleratingabilityisindeedwaybeyondourimagination.Butnotuntiltheverycriticalmomentwillwerealizeourpotentialtoleratingability.人的承受能力，其实远远超过我们的想象，就像不到关键时刻，我们很少能认识到自己的潜力有多大。Therewasawomaninthecountrysidewhogotmarriedattheageof18andhadtoescapewithhertwodaughtersandasonwherevershecouldattheageof26duetotheJapanesearmy'sinvasion.Manypeopleinthevillageatthattimecouldnotbearthesufferingofbeingafugitiveandwantedtocommitsuicide.Aftersheknewaboutit,shewouldcometothosepeopleandsoothedthembysaying,"Don'tdothatsillything.Therearenosuchsetbacksthatwecouldnotovercome.TheJapanesearmiesareboundtobefoiledoneday!"有这样一位农村妇女，她18岁的时候结婚，26岁赶上日本人侵略中国，在农村进行大扫荡，她不得不经常带着两个女儿一个儿子东躲西藏。村里很多人受不了这种暗无天日的折磨，想到了自尽，她得知后就会去劝：“别这样啊，没有过不去的坎，日本鬼子不会总这么猖狂的。”FinallysheinsisteduntilthedaywhenalltheJapanesearmieswerekickedoutofChina.Nonetheless,hersondiedofdiseasewithoutsufficientmedicineandnutritioninthosedaysofhardships.Herhusband,afterknowingthedeathofhisson,layinbedfortwodayswithouteatinganddrinkinganything.Shetearedtoherhusbandandsaid,"Wehaveatoughdestiny,buthowevertoughourliveswillbe,weshouldalsopersist.Thoughoursonhaspassedaway,wecanhaveanother.Therearenosuchsetbacksthatwecouldnotovercome."她终于熬到了把鬼子赶出中国的那一天，可是她的儿子却在那炮火连天的岁月里，由于缺医少药，又极度缺乏营养，因病夭折了。丈夫不吃不喝在床上躺了两天两夜，她流着泪对丈夫说：“咱们的命苦啊，不过再苦咱也得过啊，儿子没了，咱再生一个，人生没有过不去的坎。”Aftergivingbirthtothesecondson,herhusbanddiedofedema,whichalmostblewheraway.Buteventually,sherecoveredandcuddledthethreeyoungchildren,saying,"Mysweethearts,don'tfeelscared.Youstillhaveme,yourdearmum!"刚刚生了儿子，丈夫因患水肿病离开了人世。在这个打击下，她很长时间都没回过神来，但最后还是挺过来了，她把三个未成年的孩子揽到自己怀里，说：“娘还在呢，有娘在，你们就别怕。”Ittookherpainstakingeffortstoraiseherchildrenupandthelifeofherfamilywasgettingbetterandbetter.Twodaughtersweremarriedandsowashissonfinally.Shesaidtoeveryoneshemet,"Look!WhatIsaidisabsolutelyright.Therearenosuchsetbacksthatwecouldnotovercome!Mylifeissohappynow!"Shewasaginggraduallyandcouldnotdothefarmworkanymore.Soshestayedathomeanddidsomestitchingwork.她含辛茹苦地把孩子一个个拉扯大了，生活也慢慢好转起来。两个女儿嫁了人，儿子也结了婚。她逢人便乐呵呵地说：“我说吧，没有过不去的坎，现在生活多好啊。”她年纪大了，不能下地干活，就在家纳鞋底，做衣服，缝缝补补。Nevertheless,theHeavenseemedtoshownoaffectiontoherwhohadundergonearoughlife.Shegotherlegbrokenaccidentallywhenshewasnursinghergrandson.Duetoheroldagethatposedagreatrisktoheroperation,shedidnotreceiveoperationandhadtolieinbedalldaylong.Herchildrenallcriedheavily,whileshemerelysaid,"Whydoyoucry?Iamstillliving."可是，上苍似乎并不眷顾这位一生坎坷的妇女，她在照看孙子时不小心摔断了腿，由于年纪太大做手术危险，就一直没有做手术，她每天只能躺在床上。儿女们都哭了，她却说：“哭什么，我还活着呢。”Eventhoughshecouldnotrisefrombed,shedidnotcomplainaboutanythingandanybody.Instead,shesatonthebedanddidsomestitchingwork.Shehadlearntscarves-weaving,broidery,crafts-making,etc.Allherneighborsspokehighlyofherskillsandcametolearnfromher.即便下不了床，她也没有怨天尤人，而是坐在床上做针线活。她会织围巾，会绣花，会编手工艺品，左邻右舍的人都夸她手艺好，还来跟她学艺。Sheliveduntil86.BeforeshewenttoHeaven,shesaidtoherchildren,"Youallshouldlivetoyourbest.Therearenosuchsetbacksthatwecouldnotovercome!"她活到86岁，临终前，她对自己儿女们说：“都要好好过啊，没有过不去的坎。”Wewillonlygettorealizeourownironwillandstrongtoleratingabilityaftergettingstrickenheavily.Therefore,nomatterwhatyouaresufferingfromnow,donotmerelycomplainabouttheunfairnessofourdestinyandmaintainlow-spiritedallthetime.Therearenosuchsetbacksthatwecouldnotovercome.Onlythosewhohavenoconfidenceandcouragetoovercomesetbackswillbedefeatedatlast!人总是在遭遇一次重创之后，才会幡然醒悟，重新认识自己的坚强和坚忍。所以，无论你正在遭遇什么磨难，都不要一味抱怨上苍不公平，甚至从此一蹶不振。人生没有过不去的坎，只有过不去的人。爱的伤疤TheScarsofLoveSomeyearsagoonahotsummerdayinsouthFloridaalittleboydecidedtogoforaswimintheoldswimmingholebehindhishouse.几年前的一个炎炎夏日，在美国佛罗里达州南部，有个小男孩为贪图凉快，决定去自家房子后面一个形成已久的深水潭中游泳。Inahurrytodiveintothecoolwater,heranoutthebackdoor,leavingbehindshoes,socks,andshirtashewent.Heflewintothewater,notrealizingthatasheswamtowardthemiddleofthelake,analligatorwasswimmingtowardtheshore.Hismother—inthehousewaslookingoutthewindow—sawthetwoastheygotcloserandclosertogether.Inutterfear,sherantowardthewater,yellingtohersonasloudlyasshecould.因为迫不及待地想投入到清凉的水中，他飞快地从后门跑了出去，边跑边脱掉鞋子、袜子和衬衣，把它们随手抛在了身后。他一头扎进了水里，丝毫没有意识到自己游往潭中心的同时，一只美洲鳄也正在朝岸边游来。小男孩的母亲当时在屋子里透过窗子向外看着，发现那只美洲鳄正向她的孩子步步逼近。她极度惊恐起来，一边迅速奔向水潭，一边声嘶力竭地朝自己的孩子呼喊着。Hearinghervoice,thelittleboybecamealarmedandmadeareturntoswimtohismother.Itwastoolate.Justashereachedher,thealligatorreachedhim.听到她的呼喊，小男孩才猛然意识到了危险，立即掉头向岸边的母亲游去。可这时已经无济于事。他的手勉强刚够到他的母亲，鳄鱼也已经接触到了他。Fromthedock,themothergrabbedherlittleboybythearmsjustastheallig