美國語文第五冊 第200期：遺產（01）
The rich man's son inherits lands,
富家子弟，繼承了土地，
And piles of brick, and stone, and gold,
成片房舍，還有大把金錢，
And he inherits soft white hands,
以及，那雙蒼白無力的手，
And tender flesh that fears the cold,
弱不禁風，耐抵嚴寒，
Nor dares to wear a garment old;
生性嬌嫩，不愿穿粗布舊衫，
A heritage, it seems to me,
遺產，對我來說，
One scarce would wish to hold in fee.
弱者，希望永遠擁有他的所有。
The rich man's son inherits cares;
富家子弟，繼承了憂慮，
The bank may break, the factory burn,
或許，銀行破產工廠倒閉，
A breath may burst his bubble shares,
泡沫股票，轉瞬消失，
And soft white hands could hardly earn
雙手無力，很難養(yǎng)活自己，
A living that would serve his turn;
任何生者，難逃自己的責任義務，
A heritage, it seems to me,
遺產，似乎對我來說，
One scarce would wish to hold in fee.
弱者，希望永遠擁有他的所有。
The rich man's son inherits wants,
富家子弟，繼承奢侈欲望，
His stomach craves for dainty fare;
山珍海味，貪圖生活靡麗，
With sated heart, he hears the pants
酒醉飯飽后，或許瞥見，
Of toiling hinds with brown arms bare!
黝黑的農民，汗珠摔成八瓣，
And wearies in his easy-chair;
裸露在烈日下，拼死勞累，
A heritage, it seems to me,
遺產，似乎對我來說，
One scarce would wish to hold in fee.
弱者，希望永遠擁有他的所有。
What doth the poor man's son inherit?
窮人子弟，繼承什么？
Stout muscles and a sinewy heart,
強健的肌肉，意志堅定，
A hardy frame, a hardier spirit;
結實的骨骼，神情如一，
King of two hands, he does his part
依靠雙手，開創(chuàng)自己天地，
In every useful toil and art;
有所擔當，留下堅實腳??；
A heritage, it seems to me,
遺產，似乎對我來說，
A king might wish to hold in fee.
強者，希望永遠擁有他的所有。
What doth the poor man's son inherit?
窮人子弟，繼承什么？
Wishes o'erjoyed with humble things,
懷感恩之情，面對卑微萬物，
A rank adjudged by toil-won merit,
不懈奮斗，決心改變厄運，
Content that from employment springs,
知足常樂，自身不斷完善，
A heart that in his labor sings;
在勞動中，尋求幸福旋律，
