美国语文第五册 第55期：公正不会缺席（03）
But the industrious mother of helpless and depending children, far from the reach of human charity, has none of these to console her.
然而，这位勤劳无助而依赖孩子的母亲，远离人间行善，亦未曾接受任何仁慈，以安慰她那颗饱经苍凉的心。
And such a one was the widow of the Pine Cottage;
一位松树木屋里的寡母，
but as she bent over the fire, and took up the last scanty remnant of food to spread before her children, her spirits seemed to brighten up,
当她弯身从火堆里拿出家里仅存的食物，分给面前嗷嗷待哺的孩子，她的心情似乎略微轻松，
as by some sudden and mysterious impulse, and Cowper's beautiful lines came uncalled across her mind:
仿佛某种突如其来的神秘感召，库柏的优美诗句蓦然在她的心头响起：
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense.
不要用你微弱感知判断上帝，
But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning Providence, he hides a smiling face.
相信他的宽宏慈悲，一个蹙眉的上帝身后，它藏匿了自己笑脸。
The smoked herring was scarcely laid upon the table,
烟熏的鲱鱼刚刚放到桌上，
when a gentle rap at the door, and the loud barking of a dog, attracted the attention of the family.
门上响起轻轻的叩门声，狗的大声吠叫，吸引了全家人目光。
The children flew to open it, and a weary traveler, in tattered garments and in apparently indifferent health; entered,
孩子们飞快跑过去打开门，一位衣着褴褛的过路人走进屋，他面色疲惫，神情淡然，
and begged a lodging and a mouthful of food.
祈求主人能否给他安顿住处，再给他点吃的东西。
Said he: "It is now twenty-four hour's since I tasted bread."
他说，“我已经一天一夜没吃一点东西了。”
The widow's heart bled anew, as under a fresh complication of distresses; for her sympathies lingered not around her fireside.
那位母亲的心突然又揪痛起来，新的困厄到来更是雪上加霜；毕竟，她的同情心不会让她无动于衷地坐在火堆边，
She hesitated not even now; rest, and a share of all she had, she proffered to the stranger.
哪怕现在，也不会犹豫不决。她请陌生人和全家一起分享食物。
"We shall not be forsaken," said she, "or suffer deeper for an act of charity."
她对他说，“哪怕付出的善行再小，我们亦不该被上帝抛弃或者遭难更多。”
