美国语文第四册 第188期:最好的资本(4)

 　　And so he had, for when we looked among his papers, all was in order, 他确实安排好了，当我们查看他的遗嘱的时候，一切井井有条

　　not a debt remained; and safely put away was enough to keep his wife comfortable and independent. 没有债务，他的积蓄足够让他的妻子过上舒适而独立的生活。

　　Then we knew why he had lived so plainly, denied himself so many pleasures, except that of charity,  我们这才知道他为什么过那么简朴的生活，一点快乐都不享受，除非是为了慈善，

　　Tand worked so hard that I fear he shortened¹ his good life. 而且那么努力工作，我感觉他缩短了自己的寿命。

　　He never asked help for himself, though often for others, but bore his own burden and worked out his own task bravely and quietly. 他从来不为自己求人，却常常为了他人向人求助，他承担自己的担子，勇敢、安静地完成自己的工作。

　　No one can say a word of complaint against him, so just and generous and kind was he; 没人对他有一句怨言，他是那么公正、慷慨和善良；

　　and now, when he is gone, all find so much to love and praise and honor, that I am proud to have been his friend, 现在，他走了，人们发现他是那么值得爱、赞扬和尊敬，我很骄傲曾经是他的朋友，

　　and would rather leave my children the legacy² he leaves his than the largest fortune ever made. 我宁愿把他留给他的孩子的遗产留给我的孩子，而不是很多金钱。

　　Yes! simple, genuine goodness is the best capital to found the business of this life upon. 是的！简单、真诚的善良就是奠定这一生的最好资本。

　　It lasts when fame and money fail, and is the only riches we can take out of this world with us. 当名誉和金钱消失的时候，它依然存在，它是我们能从这个世界带走的唯一财富。

　　Remember that, my boys; and, if you want to earn respect and confidence and love, follow in the footsteps of John Brooke. 记住，孩子们；如果你想要赢得尊敬、信心和爱，就要踩着布鲁克舅舅的脚印走。

1 shortened   

v.弄短，缩短( shorten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shortened the skirt by an inch. 她把裙子缩短了一英寸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Vacations have lengthened and the work week has shortened. 假期延长，工作周就缩短了。 来自辞典例句

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。