I will live this day as if it is my last.
我会把今天当成生命的最后一天去生活。
And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping?First,I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand. I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday’s misfortunes, yesterday’s defeats, yesterday’s aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?
我要如何利用属于我的这最后的、宝贵的一天呢?首先,我将把这生活的容器密封,把一天一天的时间好好珍藏,不让一分一秒的时间滴漏在沙滩上。我不会浪 费哪怕是一小会儿的时间为昨日的不幸、昨曰的失败、昨日的心痛而叹息。为什么 我要扔掉眼前的幸福时光呢?
Can sand flow upward in the hour glass? Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday’s wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday? Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? No. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.
时间的沙漏可以倒流吗?太阳会西升东落吗?我能回到昨天,改正那时的错误 吗?我能召回昨日的创伤并将之抚平吗?我能比昨天年轻吗?我能收回伤人的话、 挥出的拳头、造成的伤害吗?不能!昨日已经永远埋葬,我不会再想它。
I will live this day as if it is my last.
我会把今天当成生命的最后一天去生活。
And what then shall I do? Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw note after maybe? Can tomorrow’s sand flow through the glass before today’s? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow’s deeds while standing in today’s path? Can I place tomorrow’s gold in today’s purse? Can tomorrow’s child be bom today? Can tomorrow’s death cast its shadow backward and darken today’s joy? Should I concern myself over events which 1 may never witness? Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more.
那么我该怎么做呢?我将忘记昨天,我也不会去梦想明天。为什么要把时间的 钞票浪费在未知数上?明天的时间能穿过沙漏倒流,回到昨日吗?今早太阳能再次 升起吗?我能站在今天的道路上做明天的事吗?我能把明天的金币放进今天的钱袋 吗?明日出生的孩子今天会降临吗?明天的死亡能给今天的欢乐蒙上阴影吗?我要 为自己可能永远无法见证的事件担忧吗?我要用可能永远无法到来的问题来折磨自 己吗?不能!明天和昨天一样已被埋葬,我不会再想它。
I will live this day as if it is my last.
我会把今天当成生命的最后一天去生活。
This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift my arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday’s sunrise who are no longer with the living today.I am indeed a fortunate man and today’s hours are but a bonus, undeserved.
今天是我仅有的一天,这些分秒现在就是我的永恒。我流着喜悦的泪水,欢呼 迎接今天的日出,就像被赦免死刑的囚犯一般。我举起双臂,感谢这无价的馈赠, 这无与伦比的新的一天。因此,当我想到昨天和我一起迎接日出的朋友今天已远离 尘世,我也会心存感激,我确实是无比幸运的人,今天的时光是我的奖赏,我本不 应该获得的奖赏。
I will live this day as if it is my last.
我会把今天当成生命的最后一天去生活。
I have but one life and life is naught but, a measurement of time. When I waste one I destroy the other. If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life. Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return. It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow,for who can trap the wind? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly give all his gold? What price dare I place on the hours ahead? I will make them priceless!
我只有一次生命,生命不过是时间的衡量工具。当我虚度人生时,我摧毁的是 时间。如果我浪费了今天,就等于毁掉了我人生的最后一页。因此,我会珍惜今天 的每一个小时,因为它将一去不返。我们无法把今天存入银行,明日再取用,谁会 捕捉到如风一样的时间呢?今天的每一分钟我都要用双手捧住,用爱心抚摸,因为 它价值无限。哪一个垂死的人能买得一口气息,即使他花去所有的金子。我怎敢给 剩下的时间贴上价格标签?我要让它们成为无价之宝!
I will live this day as if it is my last.
我会把今天当成生命的最后一天去生活。
And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monument. This day I will make the best day of my life. This day I will drink every minute to its full.I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will make the every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.
如果这是我的最后一天,它将是我最伟大的丰碑。我会让今天成为人生中最美 好的一日。我会畅饮每一分钟,我会品尝它的味道并且满怀谢意。我要让每一分钟 都富有价值,每一分钟只能换取珍贵的事物。我会比以往任何时候都更努力地劳 动,用尽浑身肌肉,直到精疲力竭,之后我还将继续。我会比以往任何时候都频繁 地拜访客户,销售更多的货物,赚取更多的财富。今天的每一分钟都将硕果累累, 胜过昨日的每一小时。我的最后一天必定是我人生中最辉煌的一日。
课堂笔记:
1.古人曾用沙漏来测量时间,此处作者把时间比作装着沙子的容器“container of life”,一分一秒比作容器中的一粒粒沙子。英语中“名词+of+名词”是常用来表示比喻的结构,例 如:“a flood of crowds” (如洪水般的人潮),“a heart of stone” (铁石心肠)等。
2.此处的“good”应理解为“good day” (美好的一天),“bad”理解为“bad day” (糟 糕的一天)。
3.“note”指“钞票,钱币”,这里是作者的比喻。“maybe”此处不作副词,而作名词,意为“可能的事”。
4.此处的“as”用作连词,表“如……一样”,名词“prisoner”后是由关系代词“who”引导 的定语从句。
5.“as”在此用作连词,表示“当……时候”。两个由“who”引导的定语从句均用于修 饰“all”(所有人)。
6.此处的“but”为副词,表示语气的转折。
7.此处的“but”为介词,后接名词作宾语。
8.这个句子是部分倒装句,宾语“each hour of this day”被置于句首,加以突出强调,表示 时间一分一秒的重要。
9.“on the morrow”等同于“tomorrow”。“morrow”是古时的词语,表示“次日,明日”。
10. “what”在此作限定词,后接名词引导疑问句,表示“哪一个,什么样的人”。
11.此处作者把时间比作美酒,说明每分每秒都要细细品尝。搭配“to its full”表“完完全 全地,彻底地”之意。