  - Little Women - Chapter 01 Playing Pilgrims  梅格、乔、贝思、埃米是马奇家的四姐妹。圣诞前夕，由于家境贫寒，她们因为没有礼物过圣诞而闷闷不乐。但是，却决定每个人为妈妈准备一份礼物。  - Little Women - Chapter 1 Playing Pilgrims “Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled* Jo, lying on the rug.* “We've got Father, Mother, and each other,”said Beth with a smile. “We haven’t got Father and will not have him for a long time,” said Jo. They thought of Father, far away* where the fighting was. “You know the reason Mother suggested* not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone,” Meg reminded* them regretfully.* “She thinks we shouldn't spend money for pleasure when our men are suffering* in the army.*” “I agree not to expect* anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy some candy for myself...” said Jo, who loved to read. “I planned to spend mine on new music,*” said Beth with a little sigh.* “I will get a nice box of drawing pencils,*”said Amy. “I really need them.” “Let’s each buy what we want and have a little fun,” cried Jo. “I wish I didn't have to teach those annoying* children all day,” Meg began complaining* again. “How would you like to be inside* for hours with a nervous* old lady who is never satisfied with anything you do?” said Jo. “No, washing dishes and cleaning is the worst work,” Beth said quietly as she looked at her rough* hands. “I don’t believe any of you suffer as I do,” cried Amy. “You don’t have to go to school with snobby* girls that make fun of* you because your father isn't rich!” “Don’t you wish we had the money that Father lost when we were little?” said Meg, who could remember better times. Jo immediately* sat up, put her hands in her pockets, and began to whistle.* “Don’t, Jo,” cried Amy. “It’s so boyish*!” “That’s why I do it,” said Jo. “I detest* rude, boyish girls!” said Amy. “I hate girly,* whiny* airheads*!” said Jo. “Really, girls, you are both wrong,” said Meg. “You are old enough to behave* better, Josephine. You should remember that now you are a young lady.” “I’m not,” cried Jo, pulling her hair down.“I don’t want to grow up and wear long dresses and make up*! I’m disappointed* that I’m not a boy. I’m dying to* go and fight with Father. But I can only stay at home and knit*!” “Poor Jo!” said Beth, petting* her head gently.* “It’s too bad, but it can’t be helped.” “As for you, Amy, you try to act like a lady too much,” said Meg. “All of your big words and worrying is annoying.” “If Jo is a tomboy* and Amy a snob,* what am I, please?” asked Beth. “You're a saint* and nothing else,” answered Meg warmly. The four sisters knitted quietly as the December snow fell outside. It was a comfortable* room, even though the furniture was old. Christmas flowers bloomed* by the windows.  注释 grumble v. 咕哝，抱怨 rug n. 小地毯 far away 远方 suggest v. 建议 remind v. 提醒 regretfully adv. 抱歉地 suffer v. 受苦 army n. 军队 expect v. 期望 music n. 乐谱 sigh n. 叹息 drawing pencil 画笔 annoying adj. 令人讨厌的 complain v. 抱怨 inside adv. 在里面地 nervous adj. 神经质的 rough adj. 粗糙的 snobby adj. 势利的 make fun of 取笑 immediately adj. 立即 whistle v. 吹口哨 boyish adj. 男孩子气的 detest v. 讨厌，憎恨 girly adj. 女人气的 whiny adj. 爱抱怨的 airhead n. 傻兮兮的人 behave v.举止端正 make up 化妆 disappointed adj. 失望的 be dying to 渴望，非常想 knit v. 编织 pet v. 爱抚 gently adv. 轻柔地 tomboy n. 假小子 snob n. 假淑女 saint n. 可爱的人 comfortable adj. 舒适的 bloom v. 开花 译文  “如果圣诞节没有礼物，就不能叫圣诞节了。”乔躺在小地毯上咕哝道。 “但我们有父亲、母亲，还有姐妹们啊。”贝思微笑着说。 “我们没有父亲，而且之后很长一段时间也没有父亲。”乔说道。她们想起了远在前线的父亲，那里正在打仗。 “你们知道，妈妈建议今年圣诞节不送礼物就是因为今年冬天对大家来说都不好。”梅格不无遗憾地提醒她们。 “她认为我们的男人们在军队里受苦受难，我们不应该花钱作乐。” “我不期望向妈妈或者你要东西，但我的确很想给我自己买些糖果……” 爱读书的乔说。 “我原计划花钱买新乐谱。”贝思轻轻地叹了口气说。 “我要买一盒精致的画笔，”埃米说。“我真的很需要。” “我们不如各自买点儿自己喜欢的东西高兴高兴吧。”乔大声说。 “真希望不用一天到晚都教那些讨厌的孩子。”梅格又开始抱怨了。 “那你觉得和一个从不会对你做的事情感到满意、神经质的老太太待在一起几个小时，是什么感觉？”乔问道。 “不，洗碗、打扫房子才是最痛苦的事情。”贝思一边小声地说，一边望着自己粗糙的双手。 “我想你们没人受我这份罪，”埃米嚷道。“你们都不用和那些势利的女孩子一起上学。她们会嘲笑你爸爸没钱！” “难道你们就不想拥有我们小时候爸爸失去的那笔钱吗？”梅格问道，她还能记得过去的好日子。 乔马上起身，手插在口袋里，开始吹口哨。 “别这样，乔，”埃米大声说。“男孩才那样呢！” “我就是因为这个才吹的。”乔说。 “我讨厌粗鲁、男孩子气的女孩！”埃米说。 “我厌恶那些女孩子气的、牢骚满腹的、傻乎乎的毛丫头！”乔说。 “其实，姑娘们，你们都不对，”梅格说。“约瑟芬，你已经长大了，举止应该比以前更加得体。你可要记得你现在已经是年轻的女士了。” “我才不是呢，”乔嚷道，把头发披散下来。“我不想长大，不想穿长裙，不想化妆！做不成男孩我真失望。我真的想跟爸爸一起参加战斗，可我现在只能待在家里做编织的活！” “可怜的乔！”贝思边说，边抚摸着乔的头。“真是不幸，但有什么办法呢？” “至于你，埃米，你太假装淑女了，”梅格说。“你那些华丽的辞藻和焦虑让人心烦。” “如果乔是个假小子，埃米是个假淑女，请问，我是什么样的人呢？”贝思问。 “你就是个小可爱，再没别的了。”梅格亲切地说。 四姐妹静静地织着衣服，屋外十二月的雪花飘落下来。尽管家具有些老旧，但房子却很舒适。圣诞花在倚窗开放。  Margaret, the oldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty. She had large eyes, soft brown hair, and white hands, of which she was proud. Fifteen-year-old Josephine was very tall, thin, and brown. She reminded people of a young horse, and her sharp, gray eyes seemed to see everything. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty. Elizabeth was a rosy, bright-eyed girl of thirteen. She was shy, timid,*and peaceful.* She seemed to live in a happy world of her own and only spoke to people she loved and trusted. Amy has blue eyes and golden hair curled around her shoulders. Though the youngest, she felt she was very important and she looked down at* people. The clock struck* six. Mother was coming, and everyone wanted to welcome her. Jo held the slippers near the fire to make them warm for Mother. “They are quite worn out,*” said Jo.“Mom should get a new pair.” “I wanted to buy her some,” said Beth. “No, I will!” cried Amy. “I’m the oldest,” said Meg. “I’m the man of the family now that* Father is away,” interrupted* Jo. “I shall buy the slippers.” “Let’s each get her something for Christmas,” said Beth. “What will we get?” said Jo. “I shall give her a nice pair of gloves,” said Meg. “Army shoes,” cried Jo. “Some handkerchiefs,*” said Beth. “I'll get a little bottle of perfume,*”added* Amy. “It's cheap, so I can still buy my pencils.” “How will we give the things?” asked Meg. “Let Mommy think we are getting things for ourselves and then surprise her,” said Jo, walking up and down. “We must go shopping tomorrow afternoon, Meg. We have to practice for the play tonight. Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene.*” “I don't want to get hurt,” said Amy, who was not a talented* actress.* “Do it this way,” said Jo. “Hold your hands like this, and cry dramatically*!’” Amy followed, but her voice did not have the same passion.* Jo sighed deeply,* and Meg laughed. Beth watched the fun with interest. Then things went smoothly.* They all remembered the words and acted as their characters.* “It’s the best we’ve had yet,*” said Meg, who was playing the dead villain.* “I don’t see how you can write and act such amazing* things, Jo,” exclaimed* Beth. “You’re like Shakespeare!” “Not quite,” replied Jo modestly.* “I do think The Witches Curse, an ‘Operatic Tragedy’* is fun, but I’d like to try Macbeth.” “I’m glad to find you so happy, my girls,”said a cheery* voice at the door. The woman at the door was not elegantly* dressed, but she was noble-looking.* “Has anyone called, Beth?” she said.“How is your cold, Meg? Jo, you look tired to death.* Come and kiss me.” Mrs. March took off her wet clothes and put on her warm slippers. She sat down and Amy sat in her lap. Meg set the tea table, and Jo clumsily* brought wood to the fireplace. Beth finished some chores* while Amy gave directions* to everyone. “I’ve got a treat for you after supper,”their mother said. “A letter from Father!” they cried. “I think it was wonderful of Father to go as a preacher* because he is too old to be a soldier,” said Meg warmly. “I wish I could go as a drummer or a nurse,” said Jo, “so I could be near him and help him.” “When will he come home, Mommy?”asked Beth. “Not for many months, dear,” said Mrs. March. “Now come and hear the letter.” 注释 timid adj. 胆怯的 peaceful adj. 安静的 look down at 看不起 strike v.敲 worn out 破旧的 now that 既然 interrupt v . 打断（某人的谈话） handkerchief n. 手帕 per fume n. 香水 add v. 补充 scene n. 幕，场景 talented adj. 有天赋的 actress n. 女演员 dramaticallyadv. 剧烈地 passion n. 激情 deeply n. 深深地 smoothly adv. 顺利地 character n. 角色 yet adv. 至今 villain n. 恶棍 amazing adj. 令人吃惊的 exclaim v. 惊叹道 modestly adv. 谦虚地 tragedy n. 悲剧 cheery adj. 喜悦的 elegantly adv. 华丽地 noble-looking adj. 仪态高贵的 tired to death 累极了 clumsily adv. 笨拙地 chores n. 琐事 give directions 发号施令 preacher n. 牧师 译文 玛格丽特，四个孩子中最大的一个，十六岁了，非常漂亮。她长着大大的眼睛，柔软的棕色头发，还有白皙的双手，这是最让她骄傲的了。十五岁的约瑟芬身材高瘦，有着棕色皮肤。她能让人想起小马，她犀利的、灰色的眼睛似乎能看出所有东西。她长长的、密密的头发是她的一个迷人之处。伊丽莎白是一个乐观的、长着明亮眼睛的女孩，十三岁了。她有点儿害羞，有点儿胆小，总是很安静。她好像生活在自己快乐的世界里，只和自己爱和信任的人说话。埃米的眼睛是蓝色的，金色的卷发披在肩上。虽然是最小的一个，但她觉得自己很重要并且会看不起别人。 钟敲了六下。妈妈就要回来了，每个孩子都想迎接她。乔把拖鞋放在火边，给妈妈把鞋烤暖和。 “拖鞋已经很破旧了，”乔说。“妈妈应该买一双新的。” “我想给她买，”贝思说。 “不，我来买！”埃米喊道。 “我是老大，”梅格说。 “既然爸爸不在，我就是这个家里的男人，”乔打断梅格说。“我来买这双拖鞋。” “咱们每个人都给她买个圣诞礼物吧，”贝思说。 “我们应该买什么呢？”乔说。 “我要给妈妈买一副漂亮的手套，”梅格说。 “我要买军鞋，”乔大喊道。 “我买手帕，”贝思说。 “我想买一小瓶香水，”埃米补充说。“香水不贵，这样我还能买些铅笔。” “那我们怎么才能把礼物送出去呢？”梅格问道。 “让妈妈以为我们给自己买东西，然后给她一个惊喜，”乔一边说一边来回地走着。“我们明天下午才能去买，梅格。我们今晚要练习节目。埃米，来，你演晕倒那一幕。” “我才不想受伤呢，”埃米说，她在表演方面没什么天赋。 “就这样，”乔说。“把手这样放，然后使劲儿哭！” 埃米照做了，但她的声音没那么有激情。乔深深地叹了一口气。梅格笑了。贝思津津有味地看着。后来排练进行得很顺利。大家都能记得台词并且都能进入各自的角色。 “这是我们排练得最好的一次了，”梅格说，她正扮演死了的恶棍。 “我真没想到你能写得这么好而且演得也这么棒，乔，”贝思惊叹道。“你简直是莎士比亚再世！” “还不算，”乔谦虚地回答道。“我真的觉得《女巫的咒语》，一个‘歌剧似的悲剧’挺有意思的，不过我想演《麦克白》。” “看到你们这么快乐我真高兴，孩子们，”门口传来一个愉快的声音。进来的这位女士虽然衣着并不华丽，但仪态高贵。 “有人来过吗， 贝思？”她问道。“你的感冒怎么样了，梅格？乔，你看起来累极了。过来亲亲我。” 马奇夫人脱下湿衣服，穿上温暖的拖鞋。她坐下来，埃米坐在妈妈的腿上，梅格收拾茶几，乔笨笨地把柴火搬到壁炉。贝思做了一些琐事，而埃米则给每个人发号施令。 “晚餐后，我有好东西给你们，”她们的妈妈说。 “有爸爸的来信了！”她们大声叫道。 “我想爸爸能做随军牧师，这真的是太好了，他年纪大了，不能当兵了，”梅格热切地说。 “我希望我能做个鼓手或者护士，”乔说，“这样我就能在他身边帮他了。” “他什么时候才能回来呢，妈妈？”贝思问。 “没几个月就回来了，亲爱的，”马奇夫人说。“好了，都过来听听信上说些什么吧。”  They all gathered* around the fire. He wrote about the life at war hopefully and cheerfully. Finally, he sent them love and best wishes. “Tell them I think of them every day. A year seems like a very long time to wait, but remind them that while we wait we should work and not waste* the days. I know they will be good little women that will make me proud.” Everybody cried at that part. Amy promised not to be selfish.* “We all will,” said Meg. “I'll try to be a proper* woman,” said Jo, thinking it was harder to stay at home than to fight as a soldier in the South. “Do you remember how you used to play when you were little girls?” said Mrs. March. “You always collected many things and pretended* you were making a new city.” “The most interesting part was fighting the lions and the goblins,*” said Jo. “I don’t remember much about it,” said Amy, who was only twelve. “If I weren't too old for such things, I’d like to play it again.” “We are never too old for this, my dear,”said her mother. “In our real lives, we must journey* and struggle* to make good things. Each of you has something that you struggle with.” “I envy* girls with nice pianos, and I'm scared of* everyone,” whispered* Beth. “Let us do it,” said Meg thoughtfully.* They all began to do the sewing* work, which was boring, but no one complained. At nine, they stopped work and sang. Beth played the old piano skillfully.* 注释 gather v. 聚集 waste v. 浪费 selfish adj. 自私的 proper adj. 得体的 pretend v. 假装 goblin n. 小妖精 journey v. 奔波 struggle v. 努力 envy v. 羡慕 be scared of 害怕 whisper v. 小声说 thoughtfully adv. 若有所思地 sewing n. 针线活 skillfully adv. 娴熟地 译文 她们围坐在炉火旁。父亲在信中写了战争中的生活，其中洋溢着希望和喜悦之情。最后，他还给孩子们送去了他的爱和最美好的祝福。 “告诉孩子们我每天都在想着她们。要等待一年，这似乎是很长一段时间，但要提醒孩子们：在等待的时候，我们应该工作而不是虚度时光。我知道她们会成为让我骄傲的小妇人。” 读到这时，每个人都哭了。埃米许诺她再也不自私了。 “我们都会是让爸爸骄傲的小妇人，”梅格说。 “我要努力做个举止得体的小妇人，”乔说，现在她觉得待在家里比在南方当兵打仗还难。 “还记得小时候你怎么玩吗？”马奇夫人问道。“你总在收集东西，假装你要建一座新的城市。” “最有趣的部分就是与狮子和小妖精打架，”乔说。 “我不记得那么多了，”十二岁的埃米说。“要不是长大了，不太适合做这些事情，我还想再玩一次。” “我们永远都没过做这件事的年龄，我亲爱的孩子，”妈妈说。“我们必须要为美好的事情奔波、努力。你们每个人都有需要努力的事情。” “我羡慕那些有好钢琴的女孩们，我害怕所有人，”贝思小声说。 “咱们开始行动吧，”梅格若有所思地说。 她们开始做针线活，虽然有些无聊，但没有人抱怨。九点钟的时候，她们停下手中的活开始唱歌。贝思娴熟地弹奏着那架老钢琴。 上 文 选 自 亲亲经典·小妇人 |
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