1、优秀英语文章The Marbles 大理石 来源：英语智慧背囊 I照亮黑暗角落的光芒 时间：2007-03-22 财富取之有道，用之宜应有道。若是获得了财富，却只是把它拿来独自欣赏，也许自己能获得片刻的自满，无论如何不能发挥它的作用；而且，稍不留意，它可能会丢失。还是把它用在该用的地方吧，既能避免丢失，也能有助于人，于己于人皆有所得。物质的财富也许会耗尽，但心灵上获得的财富却可长存。 Once upon a time, there was a foolish boy who had a bag full of beautiful marbles. Now this boy was quite
2、proud of his marbles. In fact, he thought so much of them that he would neither play with them himself nor would he let anyone else play with them. He only took them out of the bag in order to count and admire them; they were never used for their intended purpose. Yet that boy carried that coveted b
3、ag of marbles everywhere he went. Well, there was also a wise boy who wished he could have such a fine bag of marbles. So this boy worked hard and earned money to purchase a nice bag to hold marbles. Even though he had not yet earned enough with which to purchase any marbles, he had faith and purcha
4、sed the marble bag. He took special care of the bag and dreamed of the day it would contain marbles with which he could play and share with his friends. Alas, the foolish boy with all of the marbles didnt take care of the marble bag itself, and one day the bag developed a hole in the bottom seam. St
5、ill, he paid no attention and, one by one, the marbles fell out of the bag. It didnt take long, once the foolish boys marble bag developed a hole, for the wise boy to begin to find those beautiful marbles, one at a time, lying unnoticed on the ground. And, one by one, he added them to his marble bag
6、. The wise boy thus gained a fine bag full of marbles in no time at all. This boy played with the marbles and shared them with all of his friends. And he always took special care of the bag so he wouldnt lose any. And what about the foolish boy? Because he was selfish and careless, he lost all of hi
7、s marbles and was left holding the bag. 精美译文：很久以前，有个愚蠢的男孩，他有一包满满的美丽大理石。男孩因为拥有这些大理石感到特别骄傲。事实上他太在意它们了，他既舍不得与大理石玩耍，也不让别人与它们玩耍。他只是将大理石拿出包来，数一数有多少，然后便赞叹地欣赏起来。他从没有有目的地去使用过它们，但是不管去哪儿，他都要背着那包令他垂涎三尺的大理石。 还有一个聪明的男孩，他希望他能拥有这样一包美丽的大理石。因此，男孩努力去挣钱想买一个装大理石的好包。尽管他挣的钱不足以买任何大理石，但他却信念坚定，于是买了一个大理石包。他对这个包特别小心，梦想有一天包里装满大
8、理石，他自己与大理石玩耍，并且跟朋友一起玩耍。 然而，那个拥有大理石的笨男孩对大理石包漠不关心。一天，包底的缝合处开了个口子，但他根本没有注意到，结果大理石一个接一个地从包里掉了出来。 自从笨小孩的包破了洞后，聪明的男孩开始发现那些漂亮的大理石一个接一个地躺在地上，没人理睬。于是，他就一个接一个地将它们捡起，放到自己的大理石包里。就这样，聪明的男孩很快便有了一包美丽的大理石。从此，他自己玩大理石，并和他的所有朋友一起玩。他总是给予装大理石的包无微不至的关心，以免包破后把大理石丢了。 结果那个愚蠢的男孩怎么样？因为他自私自利，粗心大意，丢失了他所有的大理石，到头来只剩下一个空包。 注释： 1.
9、marble n. 大理石 2. intended adj. 打算中的，有意的3. covet vt. 垂涎 4. purchase vt. 买，购买 5. faith n. 信心，信念 6. seam n. 缝合处，接合线 7. unnoticed adj. 未被发觉的，不被注意的 8. selfish adj. 自私的，自私自利的Courage勇气Mark Twain Apri1 18, 1908In the matter of courage we all have our limits. There never was a hero who did not have his bound
10、s. I suppose it may be said of Nelson and all the others whose courage has been advertised that there came times in their lives when their bravery knew it had come to its limit.I have found mine a good many times. Sometimes this was expected-often it was unexpected. I know a man who is not afraid to
11、 sleep with a rattle-snake, but you could not get him to sleep with a safety-razor.I never had the courage to talk across a long, narrow room. I should be at the end of the room facing all the audience. If I attempt to talk across a room I find myself turning this way and that, and thus at alternate
12、 periods I have part of the audience behind me. You ought never to have any part of the audience behind you; you never can tell whatthey are going to do.Ill sit down.勇气马克吐温/1908 年 4 月 18 日在勇气问题上，人人都有极限。从来就没有胆大包天的英雄好汉。我想，可以说，纳尔逊和所有那些被大量宣传的勇士，一生中都有勇气达到极限的时候。我就多次发现自己的勇气到了极限。有时是意料之中的经常是出乎意料的。我认识一个人此君不怕与响尾蛇同寝，可你无法让他与保安剃刀共眠。我从来就没有勇气在狭长房间的中央发表讲话。我得站在房间的一头，面对全体听众。如果我试图站在房间中央讲话，我就会不断地转身，这样，就不断有部分听众在我背后。你们永远不能让自己背后有听众；你们永远闹不清他们要干什么。我得坐下了。本篇发表于纽约市美术家、漫画家和幽默作家的一次聚会。
