美國語文第四冊 第88期：競爭（01）
Frank's father was speaking to a friend, one day, on the subject of competition at school.
一天，弗蘭克的爸爸正在和一個朋友聊天，內容是關于校園內競爭的。
He said that he could answer for it that envy is not always connected with it.
他說自己敢負責任地說，嫉妒并不總是和競爭聯(lián)系在一起。
He had been excelled by many, but did not recollect ever having felt envious of his successful rivals;
很多人都比他優(yōu)秀，但他不記得自己曾經嫉妒過對手的成功。
"nor did my winning many a prize from my friend Birch," said he, "ever lessen his friendship for me."
“我從朋友波馳那里贏過很多獎，”他說，“但這絲毫沒有削弱他和我的友誼。”
In support of the truth of this, a friend who was present related an anecdote which had fallen under his own notice in a school in his neighborhood.
為支持這種說法的真實性，在場的一位朋友講述了他注意到的一個故事，就發(fā)生他家社區(qū)的學校里。
At this school the sons of several wealthy farmers, and others, who were poorer, received instruction.
在這所學校里，一些富農的孩子和貧農的孩子一起上課接受教育。
Frank listened with great attention while the gentleman gave the following account of the two rivals:
弗蘭克全神貫注地聽著，這位紳士講述了以下關于兩名競爭對手的故事。
It happened that the son of a rich farmer and the son of a poor widow came in competition for the head of their class.
一個富農的兒子和一個窮寡婦的兒子在班里競爭當班長。
They were so nearly equal that the teacher could scarcely decide between them;
他們兩人的成績不分伯仲，老師也沒法決定讓誰來當。
some days one, and some days the other, gained the head of the class.
有些時候其中一個人的成績是班上最好的，過些天另外一個人的成績又是最好的。
It was determined by seeing who should be at the head of the class for the greater number of days in the week.
最后決定，誰在一周里成績好的時間長就由誰來當班長。
The widow's son, by the last day's trial, gained the victory,
在最后一天的角逐中，寡婦的兒子獲得了勝利，
and kept his place the following week, till the school was dismissed for the holidays.
并將優(yōu)勢保持到了接下來的一周，直到學校假期的來臨。
