牛津书虫系列《圣诞欢歌》Chapter3 附中英双语文本

接着是这一天最激动人心的时刻！贝琳达在每个人面前放了一个干净盘子，当克拉奇蒂太太从厨房出来时，大家都转过身看着她。由于从一大早就开始忙，她的脸发热，但当她把带着蓝火圈的圣诞布丁拿进来时，她幸福地笑了。
Oh，it was a wonderful pudding！They were all delighted with it．
噢，多好的布丁啊！他们看到它都很高兴。
‘It's your greatest success in all the years that we've been married，my dear！’said Bob．
“亲爱的，这是我们结婚这么多年来你做的最成功的一件事！”鲍勃说。
‘Well，I did wonder how much fruit to put in it，’said his wife，‘but， yes， it's a good one！’And she laughed just like a young girl．
“哎，我的确不知道里面该放多少水果，”他妻子说，“不过，是的，它很不错！”她像一个小姑娘似地乐了。
Nobody said that it was a very small pudding for a large family．Nobody even thought it．No Cratchit ever said or thought things like that．
没有人说这布丁太小，尤其对这么个大家庭来说。没有人这么想过。
At last，when they had finished their meal，the children cleared the table and washed the plates．Then they all sat round the fire， eating apples and oranges．There was a large bowl of fruit and sugar and hot water and something a little stronger，but only three people could drink at the same time， because the family only owned two glasses and a cup．But this did not worry the Cratchits at all．Now Bob lifted his glass and said，‘A merry Christmas to us all， my dears！ God bless us！’
最后，当他们吃完饭后，孩子们收拾好桌子并把碗洗干净了，他们团团围坐在炉火旁吃着苹果和桔子。有一大碗水果、糖、热水和略含酒精的东西，但只有三个人可以同时喝，因为他们家只有两个玻璃杯和一个茶杯，但克拉奇蒂一家并没因此而犯愁。鲍勃现在举起杯子说，“祝我们大家圣诞快乐，亲爱的！上帝保佑我们！”
The family repeated his wish，and Tiny Tim said，last of all，‘God bless us every one！’He sat very close to his father， on a small chair．Bob held his son's thin little hand in this own．The boy had a special place in his father's heart．
全家人重复着他的祝愿，最后，小蒂姆说，“愿上帝保佑我们每一个人！”他紧靠着爸爸坐在一把小椅子上。鲍勃手握着他儿子瘦小的手，这个男孩在他父亲的心目中占据着特殊的位置。
‘Spirit，’said Scrooge，with an interest that he had never felt before，‘ tell me if Tiny Tim will live．’
“幽灵，”斯克罗吉以他以前从未有过的热情问，“告诉我小蒂姆是否能活下去。”
‘In the future I see an empty chair by the fire， with a crutch beside it．If these shadows do not change， the child will die．’
“将来我会看到火旁边有一把空椅子，边上有一根拐杖。如果这些影子不变的话，他就会死去。”
‘No，no！’said Scrooge．‘Oh no，kind spirit！Say that he will live！’
“不，不！”斯克罗吉说。“噢，善良的幽灵！说他会活下去的。”
‘If his life does not change soon， he will die before next Christmas．What does that matter？There are too many people in the world，so it's a good thing if some of them die．’
“如果他的生活近期内不能改变的话，他在明年的圣诞前就会死去。这又有什么关系呢？世界上的人太多了，所以若有一部分死了的话，岂不是件好事吗？”
Scrooge was ashamed and sad to hear his own words spoken by the spirit．But he lifted his head when he heard his name．
斯克罗吉听到幽灵重复着他曾说过的话感到羞愧悲伤。但听见自己名字的时候，他抬起了头。
‘Mr Scrooge！’said Bob．‘Let's drink to Mr Scrooge， whose money has paid for this meal！’
“斯克罗吉先生！”鲍勃说，“让我们为斯克罗吉先生干杯，是他付的钱使我们才能吃上今天的这顿饭。”
‘His money！’said Mrs Cratchit angrily．‘What can we buy with his fifteen shillings a week？ Why should we drink to the health of a hateful，hard，unfeeling，mean old man like Scrooge？’
“他的钱？”克拉奇蒂太太生气地说。“他一星期给的15先令够我们买什么的？ 我们干嘛要祝一个像斯克罗吉那样可恨、刻雹没有感情、吝啬的老头健康？”
‘My dear，’said Bob gently，‘remember it's Christmas．’
“我亲爱的，”鲍勃温柔地说，“记住今天是圣诞节。”
‘Well，Bob， I'll drink to his health only because of you and because it's Christmas．Long life to Mr Scrooge！A merry Christmas and a happy new year to him！ He'll be very merry and very happy，I'm sure！’
“好吧，鲍勃，我祝他健康只是看在你的面子上，况且今天还是圣诞节。祝斯克罗吉先生长寿。祝他圣诞、新年快乐！我肯定他会很快乐和幸福的！”