美國語文第五冊 第80期：不滿意的鐘擺（03）

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The minute hand, being quick at figures, presently replied,

擅長計算的分鐘隨即回答：

"Eighty-six thousand four hundred times." "Exactly so," replied the pendulum.

“86400次。”“一點不錯，”鐘擺說，

Well, I appeal to you all, if the very thought of this was not enough to fatigue anyone;

那么，我希望大家注意，假若僅僅這點還不能使任何人疲憊至極，

and when I began to multiply the strokes of one day by those of months and years, really it was no wonder if I felt discouraged at the prospect.

如果再將每天每月每年的數(shù)字翻倍累計，我對前途感到沮喪失望，感到累得無處可逃，這，難道還有什么奇怪嗎？

So, after a great deal of reasoning and hesitation, thinks I to myself, I'll stop.

考慮到這些理由，猶豫再三，經(jīng)過反復(fù)琢磨，我決定罷工。

The dial could scarcely keep its countenance during this harangue;

鐘擺訴苦時，表盤幾乎無法保持它的沉穩(wěn)表情，

but, resuming its gravity, thus replied,

稍微定神恢復(fù)常態(tài)后，表盤開口了，

Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such a useful, industrious person as yourself should have been seized by this sudden weariness.

親愛的鐘擺先生，像你這樣勤勉能干的人，竟然被突如其來的疲憊壓垮，讓人匪夷所思。

It is true, you have done a great deal of work in your time; so have we all,and are likely to do;

在你任職期間，你的確做了大量工作，難道在座諸位不亦拼命干活？工作不亦將繼續(xù)如此？

which, although it may fatigue us to think of, the question is, whether it will fatigue us to do.

盡管想到這點，我們或許都疲憊不堪，問題在于，繼續(xù)做下去難道使我們疲憊不堪？

Would you now do me the favor to give about half a dozen strokes to illustrate my argument?

你能否幫我個忙，再擺動滴答六七下，以證明我所言不虛？”

The pendulum complied, and ticked six times at its usual pace.

按照正常的節(jié)奏，鐘擺順從地滴答了六次。

"Now," resumed the dial, "may I be allowed to inquire if that exertion is at all fatiguing or disagreeable to you?"

“好了，”表盤接著說，“可否允許我向你提個問題？說到底，這樣干活讓你生煩討厭？”

"Not in the least," replied the pendulum; "it is not of six strokes that I complain, nor of sixty, but of millions."

“一點也不，”鐘擺回答，“我抱怨的不是滴答六次，不是六十次，而是數(shù)以百萬計的六次。”