麦琪的礼物（英文版）

1 TheTheTheThe GiftGiftGiftGift ofofofof thethethethe MagiMagiMagiMagi① OneOneOneOne dollardollardollardollar andandandand eighty-seveneighty-seveneighty-seveneighty-seven cents.cents.cents.cents. ThatThatThatThat waswaswaswas all.all.all.all. AndAndAndAnd sixtysixtysixtysixty centscentscentscents ofofofof itititit waswaswaswas inininin pennies.pennies.pennies.pennies. PenniesPenniesPenniesPennies savedsavedsavedsaved oneoneoneone andandandand twotwotwotwo atatatat aaaa timetimetimetime bybybyby bulldozingbulldozingbulldozingbulldozing(强迫;胁迫) thethethethe grocergrocergrocergrocer and and and and the the the the vegetable vegetable vegetable vegetable man man man man and and and and the the the the butcher butcher butcher butcher until until until until one's one's one's one's cheeks cheeks cheeks cheeks burned burned burned burned with with with with the the the the silent silent silent silent imputation imputation imputation imputation of of of of parsimony parsimony parsimony parsimony ②thatthatthatthat suchsuchsuchsuch closeclosecloseclose dealingdealingdealingdealing implied.implied.implied.implied. ThreeThreeThreeThree timestimestimestimes DellaDellaDellaDella countedcountedcountedcounted itititit.... OneOneOneOne dollardollardollardollar andandandand eightyeightyeightyeighty----sevensevensevenseven cents.cents.cents.cents. AndAndAndAnd thethethethe nextnextnextnext daydaydayday wouldwouldwouldwould bebebebe Christmas.Christmas.Christmas.Christmas. ThereThereThereThere waswaswaswas clearlyclearlyclearlyclearly nothingnothingnothingnothing totototo dodododo butbutbutbut flopflopflopflop downdowndowndown onononon thethethethe shabbyshabbyshabbyshabby littlelittlelittlelittle couchcouchcouchcouch andandandand howl.howl.howl.howl. SoSoSoSo DellaDellaDellaDella diddiddiddid it.it.it.it. WhichWhichWhichWhich instigatesinstigatesinstigatesinstigates thethethethe moralmoralmoralmoral reflectionreflectionreflectionreflection thatthatthatthat lifelifelifelife isisisis mademademademade upupupup ofofofof sobs, sobs, sobs, sobs, sniffles, sniffles, sniffles, sniffles, and and and and smiles, smiles, smiles, smiles, with with with with sniffles sniffles sniffles sniffles predominating predominating predominating predominating....③ While While While While the the the the mistress mistress mistress mistress of of of of the the the the home home home home is is is is gradually gradually gradually gradually subsiding subsiding subsiding subsiding from from from from the the the the first first first first stage stage stage stage to to to to the the the the second, second, second, second, take take take take a a a a look look look look at at at at the the the the home home home home....④ AAAA furnishedfurnishedfurnishedfurnished flatflatflatflat atatatat $8$8$8$8 perperperper week.week.week.week. ItItItIt diddiddiddid notnotnotnot exactly exactly exactly exactly beggar beggar beggar beggar description, description, description, description, but but but but it it it it certainly certainly certainly certainly had had had had that that that that word word word word on on on on the the the the lookout lookout lookout lookout for for for for the the the the mendicancy mendicancy mendicancy mendicancy squad squad squad squad....⑤ InInInIn thethethethe vestibulevestibulevestibulevestibule(门厅;前厅) belowbelowbelowbelow waswaswaswas aaaa letter-boxletter-boxletter-boxletter-box intointointointo whichwhichwhichwhich nononono letterletterletterletter wouldwouldwouldwould go,go,go,go, andandandand anananan electricelectricelectricelectric buttonbuttonbuttonbutton fromfromfromfrom whichwhichwhichwhich nononono mortalmortalmortalmortal fingerfingerfingerfinger couldcouldcouldcould coaxcoaxcoaxcoax aaaa ringringringring⑥.... AlsoAlsoAlsoAlso appertaining appertaining appertaining appertaining thereunto thereunto thereunto thereunto was was was was a a a a card card card card bearing bearing bearing bearing the the the the name name name name "Mr. "Mr. "Mr. "Mr. James James James James Dillingham Dillingham Dillingham Dillingham Young." Young." Young." Young." ⑦ The The The The "Dillingham" "Dillingham" "Dillingham" "Dillingham" had had had had been been been been flung flung flung flung to to to to the the the the breeze breeze breeze breeze during during during during a a a a former former former former period period period period of of of of prosperity prosperity prosperity prosperity when when when when its its its its possessor possessor possessor possessor was was was was being being being being paid paid paid paid $ $ $ $30 per per per per week week week week....⑧ Now,Now,Now,Now, whenwhenwhenwhen thethethethe ① 麦琪（Magi，单数为 Magus）：指圣婴基督出生时来自东方送礼的三贤人，载于《圣经·马太福音》第二 章第一节和第七至第十三节。 ② By...parsimony: by driving a hard bargain with the grocer,the vegetable man,and the butcher over every single cent,thus making one flush with shame for being so very stingy(吝啬的，小气的). Imputation[正式]罪名，污名。 parsimony n.吝啬，小气，不大方。 ③ Which...predominating: Which makes us spiritually aware of the fact that life is full of sobs,sniffles,and smiles,with sniffles being the most noticeable. Instigate v. (以行动)促使(某事发生)；发起。'moral 精神上的， 心理上的，道义上的。 Sniffle n.抽鼻子(声)。 ④ While...home: While Della's sobs are gradually turning into sniffles,let us take a look at her home. Sub'side n.(of a feeling,pain,sound,etc.)gradually become less and then stop. ⑤ The flat was almost too wretched for words to describe.The phrase "to beggar description"means to cause one's resources of description to seem poor and inadequate. mendicancymendicancymendicancymendicancy squadsquadsquadsquad乞丐帮。 ⑥ Which...ring:no one could get a ring by pressing the electric button;obviously,the doorbell had long been out of order. Mortal:人的；人类的。 ⑦ Also...young:Close to the doorbell there was also a card with the name"Mr. James Dillingham Young" written on it. Appertain(to):属于；和……有关。 Thereunto ad. 到那里；向那里。 ⑧ The...week:The middle name "Dillingham" had been put on display on the name card during a time when Jim was better-off with a weekly wage of $30. Flung to the breeze 2 incomeincomeincomeincome waswaswaswas shrunkshrunkshrunkshrunk totototo $20,$20,$20,$20, though,though,though,though, theytheytheythey werewerewerewere thinkingthinkingthinkingthinking seriouslyseriouslyseriouslyseriously ofofofof contractingcontractingcontractingcontracting totototo aaaa modestmodestmodestmodest andandandand unassumingunassumingunassumingunassuming(谦逊的) D.D.D.D. ButButButBut wheneverwheneverwheneverwhenever Mr.Mr.Mr.Mr. JamesJamesJamesJames DillinghamDillinghamDillinghamDillingham YoungYoungYoungYoung camecamecamecame homehomehomehome andandandand reachedreachedreachedreached hishishishis flatflatflatflat aboveaboveaboveabove hehehehe waswaswaswas calledcalledcalledcalled "Jim""Jim""Jim""Jim" andandandand greatlygreatlygreatlygreatly huggedhuggedhuggedhugged bybybyby Mrs.Mrs.Mrs.Mrs. JamesJamesJamesJames DillinghamDillinghamDillinghamDillingham Young,Young,Young,Young, alreadyalreadyalreadyalready introducedintroducedintroducedintroduced totototo youyouyouyou asasasas Della.Della.Della.Della. WhichWhichWhichWhich isisisis allallallall veryveryveryvery good.good.good.good. DellaDellaDellaDella finishedfinishedfinishedfinished herherherher crycrycrycry andandandand attendedattendedattendedattended totototo herherherher cheekscheekscheekscheeks withwithwithwith thethethethe powderpowderpowderpowder rag.rag.rag.rag. SheSheSheShe stoodstoodstoodstood bybybyby thethethethe windowwindowwindowwindow andandandand lookedlookedlookedlooked outoutoutout dullydullydullydully atatatat aaaa graygraygraygray catcatcatcat walkingwalkingwalkingwalking aaaa graygraygraygray fencefencefencefence inininin aaaa graygraygraygray backyard.backyard.backyard.backyard. TomorrowTomorrowTomorrowTomorrow wouldwouldwouldwould bebebebe ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmas Day,Day,Day,Day, andandandand sheshesheshe hadhadhadhad onlyonlyonlyonly $1.87$1.87$1.87$1.87 withwithwithwith whichwhichwhichwhich totototo buybuybuybuy JimJimJimJim aaaa present.present.present.present. SheSheSheShe hadhadhadhad beenbeenbeenbeen savingsavingsavingsaving everyeveryeveryevery pennypennypennypenny sheshesheshe couldcouldcouldcould forforforfor months,months,months,months, withwithwithwith thisthisthisthis result.result.result.result. TwentyTwentyTwentyTwenty dollarsdollarsdollarsdollars aaaa weekweekweekweek doesn'tdoesn'tdoesn'tdoesn't gogogogo far.far.far.far. ExpensesExpensesExpensesExpenses hadhadhadhad beenbeenbeenbeen greatergreatergreatergreater thanthanthanthan sheshesheshe hadhadhadhad calculated.calculated.calculated.calculated. TheyTheyTheyThey alwaysalwaysalwaysalways are.are.are.are. OnlyOnlyOnlyOnly $1.87$1.87$1.87$1.87 totototo buybuybuybuy aaaa presentpresentpresentpresent forforforfor Jim.Jim.Jim.Jim. HerHerHerHer Jim.Jim.Jim.Jim. ManyManyManyMany aaaa happyhappyhappyhappy hourhourhourhour sheshesheshe hadhadhadhad spentspentspentspent planningplanningplanningplanning forforforfor somethingsomethingsomethingsomething nicenicenicenice forforforfor him.him.him.him. SomethingSomethingSomethingSomething finefinefinefine andandandand rarerarerarerare andandandand sterlingsterlingsterlingsterling(品格优秀的)--------somethingsomethingsomethingsomething justjustjustjust aaaa littlelittlelittlelittle bitbitbitbit near near near near to to to to being being being being worthy worthy worthy worthy of of of of the the the the honor honor honor honor of of of of being being being being owned owned owned owned by by by by Jim Jim Jim Jim....⑨ ThereThereThereThere waswaswaswas aaaa pier-glasspier-glasspier-glasspier-glass betweenbetweenbetweenbetween thethethethe windowswindowswindowswindows ofofofof thethethethe room.room.room.room. PerhapsPerhapsPerhapsPerhaps youyouyouyou havehavehavehave seenseenseenseen aaaa pierglasspierglasspierglasspierglass inininin anananan $8$8$8$8 flat.flat.flat.flat. AAAAveryveryveryvery thinthinthinthin andandandand veryveryveryvery agileagileagileagile personpersonpersonperson may,may,may,may, bybybyby observingobservingobservingobserving hishishishis reflectionreflectionreflectionreflection inininin aaaa rapidrapidrapidrapid sequencesequencesequencesequence ofofofof longitudinallongitudinallongitudinallongitudinal strips,strips,strips,strips, obtainobtainobtainobtain aaaa fairlyfairlyfairlyfairly accurateaccurateaccurateaccurate conceptionconceptionconceptionconception ofofofof hishishishis looks.looks.looks.looks. Della,Della,Della,Della, beingbeingbeingbeing slender,slender,slender,slender, hadhadhadhad masteredmasteredmasteredmastered thethethethe art.art.art.art. SuddenlySuddenlySuddenlySuddenly sheshesheshe whirledwhirledwhirledwhirled fromfromfromfrom thethethethe windowwindowwindowwindow andandandand stoodstoodstoodstood beforebeforebeforebefore thethethethe glass.glass.glass.glass. herherherher eyeseyeseyeseyes werewerewerewere shiningshiningshiningshining brilliantly,brilliantly,brilliantly,brilliantly, butbutbutbut herherherher facefacefaceface hadhadhadhad lostlostlostlost itsitsitsits colorcolorcolorcolor withinwithinwithinwithin twentytwentytwentytwenty seconds.seconds.seconds.seconds. RapidlyRapidlyRapidlyRapidly sheshesheshe pulledpulledpulledpulled downdowndowndown herherherher hairhairhairhair andandandand letletletlet itititit fallfallfallfall totototo itsitsitsits fullfullfullfull length.length.length.length. Now Now Now Now ⑩,,,, theretheretherethere werewerewerewere twotwotwotwo possessionspossessionspossessionspossessions ofofofof thethethethe JamesJamesJamesJames DillinghamDillinghamDillinghamDillingham YoungsYoungsYoungsYoungs inininin whichwhichwhichwhich theytheytheythey bothbothbothboth tooktooktooktook aaaa mightymightymightymighty pride.pride.pride.pride. OneOneOneOne waswaswaswas Jim'sJim'sJim'sJim's goldgoldgoldgold watchwatchwatchwatch thatthatthatthat hadhadhadhad beenbeenbeenbeen hishishishis father'sfather'sfather'sfather's andandandand hishishishis grandfather's.grandfather's.grandfather's.grandfather's. TheTheTheThe otherotherotherother waswaswaswas Della'sDella'sDella'sDella's hair.hair.hair.hair. HadHadHadHad thethethethe queenqueenqueenqueen ofofofof ShebaShebaShebaSheba livedlivedlivedlived inininin thethethethe flatflatflatflat acrossacrossacrossacross thethethethe airshaft,airshaft,airshaft,airshaft, DellaDellaDellaDella wouldwouldwouldwould havehavehavehave letletletlet herherherher hairhairhairhair hanghanghanghang outoutoutout thethethethe windowwindowwindowwindow somesomesomesome daydaydayday totototo drydrydrydry justjustjustjust totototo depreciatedepreciatedepreciatedepreciate HerHerHerHer Majesty'sMajesty'sMajesty'sMajesty's jewelsjewelsjewelsjewels andandandand gifts.gifts.gifts.gifts. HadHadHadHad KingKingKingKing SolomonSolomonSolomonSolomon beenbeenbeenbeen thethethethe janitor,janitor,janitor,janitor, withwithwithwith allallallall hishishishis treasurestreasurestreasurestreasures piledpiledpiledpiled upupupup inininin thethethethe basement,basement,basement,basement, JimJimJimJim wouldwouldwouldwould havehavehavehave pulledpulledpulledpulled outoutoutout hishishishis watchwatchwatchwatch everyeveryeveryevery timetimetimetime hehehehe passed,passed,passed,passed, justjustjustjust totototo seeseeseesee ⑨ something...Jim:something that comes a little closer to deserving the great privilege of belonging to Jim. ⑩ Now: Here the adverb"now" is used to get somebody's attention or to introduce a new subject or statement. 3 himhimhimhim pluckpluckpluckpluck atatatat hishishishis beardbeardbeardbeard fromfromfromfrom envy.envy.envy.envy. SoSoSoSo nownownownow Della'sDella'sDella'sDella's beautifulbeautifulbeautifulbeautiful hairhairhairhair fellfellfellfell aboutaboutaboutabout herherherher ripplingripplingripplingrippling andandandand shiningshiningshiningshining likelikelikelike aaaa cascadecascadecascadecascade ofofofof brownbrownbrownbrown waters.waters.waters.waters. ItItItIt reachedreachedreachedreached belowbelowbelowbelow herherherher kneekneekneeknee andandandand mademademademade itselfitselfitselfitself almostalmostalmostalmost aaaa garmentgarmentgarmentgarment forforforfor her.her.her.her. AndAndAndAnd thenthenthenthen sheshesheshe diddiddiddid itititit upupupup againagainagainagain nervouslynervouslynervouslynervously andandandand quickly.quickly.quickly.quickly. OnceOnceOnceOnce sheshesheshe falteredfalteredfalteredfaltered forforforfor aaaa minuteminuteminuteminute andandandand stoodstoodstoodstood stillstillstillstill whilewhilewhilewhile aaaa teartearteartear orororor twotwotwotwo splashedsplashedsplashedsplashed onononon thethethethe wornwornwornworn redredredred carpet.carpet.carpet.carpet. On On On On went went went went her her her her old old old old brown brown brown brown jacket; jacket; jacket; jacket; on on on on went went went went her her her her old old old old brown brown brown brown hat hat hat hat 11 1111 11.... WithWithWithWith aaaa whirlwhirlwhirlwhirl(回转) ofofofof skirtsskirtsskirtsskirts andandandand withwithwithwith thethethethe brilliantbrilliantbrilliantbrilliant sparklesparklesparklesparkle stillstillstillstill inininin herherherher eyes,eyes,eyes,eyes, sheshesheshe flutteredflutteredflutteredfluttered outoutoutout thethethethe doordoordoordoor andandandand downdowndowndown thethethethe stairsstairsstairsstairs totototo thethethethe street.street.street.street. WhereWhereWhereWhere sheshesheshe stoppedstoppedstoppedstopped thethethethe signsignsignsign read:read:read:read: "Mne."Mne."Mne."Mne. Sofronie.Sofronie.Sofronie.Sofronie. HairHairHairHair GoodsGoodsGoodsGoods ofofofof AllAllAllAll Kinds."Kinds."Kinds."Kinds." OneOneOneOne flightflightflightflight upupupup DellaDellaDellaDella ran,ran,ran,ran, andandandand collectedcollectedcollectedcollected( 恢 复 镇 定 ) herself,herself,herself,herself, panting.panting.panting.panting. Madame, Madame, Madame, Madame, large, large, large, large, too too too too white, white, white, white, chilly, chilly, chilly, chilly, hardly hardly hardly hardly looked looked looked looked the the the the "Sofronie." "Sofronie." "Sofronie." "Sofronie." 12 1212 12 "Will"Will"Will"Will youyouyouyou buybuybuybuy mymymymy hair?"hair?"hair?"hair?" askedaskedaskedasked Della.Della.Della.Della. "I"I"I"I buybuybuybuy hair,"hair,"hair,"hair," saidsaidsaidsaid Madame.Madame.Madame.Madame. "Take"Take"Take"Take yeryeryeryer hathathathat offoffoffoff andandandand let'slet'slet'slet's havehavehavehave aaaa sightsightsightsight atatatat thethethethe lookslookslookslooks ofofofof it."it."it."it." DownDownDownDown rippledrippledrippledrippled thethethethe brownbrownbrownbrown cascade.cascade.cascade.cascade. "Twenty"Twenty"Twenty"Twenty dollars,"dollars,"dollars,"dollars," saidsaidsaidsaid Madame,Madame,Madame,Madame, liftingliftingliftinglifting thethethethe massmassmassmass withwithwithwith aaaa practisedpractisedpractisedpractised hand.hand.hand.hand. "Give"Give"Give"Give itititit totototo memememe quick,"quick,"quick,"quick," saidsaidsaidsaid Della.Della.Della.Della. Oh,Oh,Oh,Oh, andandandand thethethethe nextnextnextnext twotwotwotwo hourshourshourshours trippedtrippedtrippedtripped bybybyby onononon rosyrosyrosyrosy wingswingswingswings....13131313 ForgetForgetForgetForget thethethethe hashedhashedhashedhashed metaphor.metaphor.metaphor.metaphor. SheSheSheShe waswaswaswas ransackingransackingransackingransacking thethethethe storesstoresstoresstores forforforfor Jim'sJim'sJim'sJim's present.present.present.present. SSSShehehehe foundfoundfoundfound itititit atatatat last.last.last.last. ItItItIt surelysurelysurelysurely hadhadhadhad beenbeenbeenbeen mademademademade forforforfor JimJimJimJim andandandand nononono oneoneoneone else.else.else.else. ThereThereThereThere waswaswaswas nononono otherotherotherother likelikelikelike itititit inininin anyanyanyany ofofofof thethethethe stores,stores,stores,stores, andandandand sheshesheshe hadhadhadhad turnedturnedturnedturned allallallall ofofofof themthemthemthem insideinsideinsideinside out.out.out.out. ItItItIt waswaswaswas aaaa platinumplatinumplatinumplatinum fobfobfobfob chainchainchainchain simplesimplesimplesimple andandandand chastechastechastechaste inininin design,design,design,design, properlyproperlyproperlyproperly proclaimingproclaimingproclaimingproclaiming itsitsitsits value value value value by by by by substance substance substance substance alone alone alone alone and and and and not not not not by by by by meretricious meretricious meretricious meretricious ornamentation ornamentation ornamentation ornamentation 14 1414 14--as--as--as--as allallallall goodgoodgoodgood thingsthingsthingsthings shouldshouldshouldshould do.do.do.do. ItItItIt waswaswaswas eveneveneveneven worthyworthyworthyworthy ofofofof TheTheTheThe Watch.Watch.Watch.Watch. AsAsAsAs soonsoonsoonsoon asasasas sheshesheshe sawsawsawsaw itititit sheshesheshe 11 On...hat: She put on her old brown jacket;she put on her old brown hat.Note that this kind of sentence structure is adopted for lyrical effect. 12 Madame..."Sofronie":Madame Sofronie was heavily-built,pale-looking,and friendly,entirely different from what her name suggested. 13 And...wings:and time flew by for the next two hours as if it had got wings on it.What is implied is that Della was so absorbed in trying to find the right kind of Christmas present for husband that she was not conscious of the passing of time. 14 Properly...ornamentation:showing its true value by