当越来越多的年轻女孩认同“宁愿坐在宝马车里哭，也不愿坐在自行车上微笑”时，当步入社会，不堪重负的男孩越来越希望娶个富家女，希望“少奋斗三十年”时，爱情在物欲横流的今天，能让好逸恶劳的身心得到满足吗？或许你能在纪伯伦的这篇文章中找到答案。
这篇文章语言非常优美，但难度系数较高，除生词较多外，还运用了大量的复合句和修辞手法，因此大家要先多听几遍录音，细细体会此文文字的优美，然后再跟着我们的“学习小提示”将它的难点一一攻破，学习其语言的精妙之处。
As the Sun 1)withdrew his rays from the garden, and the moon threw 2)cushioned 3)beams upon the flowers, I sat under the trees 4)pondering upon the 5)phenomena of the 6)atmosphere, looking through the branches at the 7)strewn stars which 8)glittered like 9)chips of silver upon a blue carpet; and I could hear from a distance the 10)agitated murmur of the 11)rivulet singing its way 12)briskly into the valley.
太阳渐渐从花园收起余辉，月亮在花朵上洒下柔美的银光，此时我正坐在树丛下，思索着这瞬息万变的景象，仰望枝叶间的满天繁星，这点点繁星就像撒落在蓝色地毯上的闪烁银币；我侧耳细听，远处传来山涧小溪淙淙的流水声。
When the birds took 13)shelter among the 14)boughs, and the flowers folded their petals, and 15)tremendous silence 16)descended, I heard a rustle of feet through the grass. I 17)took heed and saw a young couple approaching my 18)arbour. They sat under a tree where I could see them without being seen.
夜鸟投林，花儿合拢起花瓣，四周一片寂静，这时，我听到草地上传来一阵沙沙的脚步声。我留神地听着，然后看到一对青年男女向我坐着的凉棚走来。他们坐在一棵枝繁叶茂的树下，他们看不见我，我却能看清他俩。
After he looked about in every direction, I heard the young man saying, “Sit by me, my beloved, and listen to my heart; smile, for your happiness is a symbol of our future; be merry, for the 19)sparkling days 20)rejoice with us.
小伙子先向四周望了望，然后才听见他开腔：“坐在我身旁吧，亲爱的，细听我的心跳；笑一笑吧，因为你的欢乐象征着我们的未来；高兴起来吧，因为我们精彩的日子充满欢乐。
“Soon you will be the owner of this vast land, lighted by this beautiful moon; soon you will be the mistress of my palace, and all the servants and maids will obey your commands.
“不久以后，月光照耀下的这片广阔土地将属于你；不久以后，你就会成为我宫殿的女主人，所有的随从和女仆都任你使唤。
“Smile, my beloved, like the gold smiles from my father's 21)coffers.
“微笑吧，亲爱的，就像我父亲宝库中的黄金那样微笑吧。
“My heart refuses to deny you its secret. Twelve months of comfort and travel await us; for a year we will spend my father's gold at the blue lakes of Switzerland; you will meet the princesses who will envy you for your jewels and clothes.
“我的心执意要在你面前倾吐秘密。在未来的一年里，我们将共享舒适，挽手旅游；在这一年里，我们将带上父亲的金钱，到瑞士的蔚蓝湖泊边度假；你将会见诸位公主，你一身的珠光宝气和奢华穿着，连她们都会对你妒忌。
“All these things I will do for you; will you be satisfied?”
“这一切都是我要献给你的；你可满意？”
In a little while I saw them walking and stepping on flowers as the rich step upon the hearts of the poor. As they disappeared from my sight, I 22)commenced to make 23)comparison between love and money, and to 24)analyze their position in the heart.
过了一会儿，我看到他俩慢慢地走开，脚下踩踏着鲜花，就好像富人践踏着穷人的心。他们消失在我视线之外之后，我开始比较爱情与金钱，分析爱情和金钱在心灵中所占的地位。
Money! The source of insincere love; the spring of false light and fortune; the well of poisoned water; the desperation of old age!
金钱！这虚情假意之源；这虚假光明和命运之源；这毒鸩之源；这暮年时的绝望之源！
I was still wandering in the vast desert of 25)contemplation when a 26)forlorn couple passed by me and sat on the grass; a young man and a young woman who had left their farming 27)shacks in the nearby fields for this cool and 28)solitary place.
在我浮想联翩之际，一对潦倒的情侣经过我面前，然后坐在草地上；这又是一对青年男女，他们离开附近的田间农舍，来到这个清静的地方。
After a few moments of complete silence, I heard the following words uttered with sighs from 29)weather-bitten lips, “Shed not tears, my beloved; love that opens our eyes and 30)enslaves our hearts can give us the blessing of patience. Be 31)consoled in our delay, for we have taken an 32)oath and entered Love's 33)shrine; for our love will ever grow in 34)adversity; for it is in Love's name that we are suffering the 35)obstacles of 36)poverty and the sharpness of 37)misery and the emptiness of separation. Good-bye, my beloved; I must leave before the heartening moon 38)vanishes.”
先是一阵沉默，然后我听到那粗糙的唇间吐出的话语和叹息：“别哭了，亲爱的；爱情使我们眼亮心明，让我们成为它的仆从，也赋予我们耐心。虽然我们要推迟婚期，但不要悲痛，因为我们已经发过誓，踏入了爱的神殿；因为我们的爱会在逆境中茁壮成长；因为是在爱的名义之下，我们承受着贫困的折磨与分离的惨痛和空虚。亲爱的，再见了；在鼓舞人心的月亮落去之前，我该走了！”
They separated, and the 39)elegy to their union was 40)smothered by the 41)wails of my crying heart.
随后，他俩分了手，为他们奏起的重逢挽歌被我内心的哭喊重重压下。
I looked upon 42)slumbering Nature, and with deep 43)reflection discovered the reality of a vast and infinite thing—something no power could demand, influence acquire, nor riches 44)purchase. Nor could it be 45)effaced by the tears of time or 46)deadened by sorrow; a thing which cannot be discovered by the blue lakes of Switzerland or the beautiful 47)edifices of Italy.
我注视着沉睡的大自然，深思之后参透了一样无边无际的东西——一种用权力无法强求，用势力无法获得，用金钱也无法买到的东西；一种用时间的泪水所不能抹掉，悲伤不能冲淡的东西；一种不能为严冬的悲愁所扼杀的东西；一种在瑞士的蔚蓝湖畔、意大利的优美建筑所找不到的东西。
It is something that gathers strength with patience, grows despite obstacles, warms in winter, flourishes in spring, casts a breeze in summer, and bears fruit in autumn—I found Love.
它以耐心积聚力量，在重重困难中成长，在严冬获得温暖，在春天开花生长，在夏天送去柔柔清风，在秋天繁茂结果——那就是爱情。
