美国语文第三册 第45期：轻声说话
Speak gently; it is better far
请轻声说话，
To rule by love than fear:
爱的力量胜于恐惧的统治；
Speak gently; let no harsh words mar
请轻声说话，
The good we might do here.
勿让刺耳之语成为美德的瑕疵。
Speak gently to the little child;
请对小朋友轻声说话，
Its love be sure to gain;
无疑你将得到他们的爱；
Teach it in accents soft and mild;
教导的音调宜温柔文雅，
It may not long remain.
否则爱就不再存留。
Speak gently to the aged one;
请对长者轻声说话，
Grieve not the care worn heart:
饱经忧患的心不应再感悲伤；
The sands of life are nearly run;
生命的沙漏即将停下，
Let such in peace depart.
让他们平静离场。
Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
请对穷苦之人轻声和蔼说话，
Let no harsh tone be heard;
不让他们听到严苛的音调；
They have enough they must endure,
他们忍受的苦难已够巨大，
Without an unkind word.
即使一个刻薄的字眼也不曾听到。
Speak gently to the erring; know
即使没有无情的话语，
They must have toiled in vain;
他们要忍受的苦难也已够多。
Perhaps unkindness made them so;
也许就是无情的对待让他们把过错犯下，
Oh, win them back again.
噢，把他们再争取回来吧。
Speak gently: it is a little thing
请轻声说话，
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
这微不足道却能深入人心，
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
它可能激发美德，创造欢乐，
Eternity shall tell.
直到永恒不竭不尽。
(George Washington Langford)
（乔治.华盛顿.兰福德）
