读点好英文:The Old, Old Wine 陈年老酒

The Old, Old Wine 陈年老酒

Once there lived a rich man who was justly proud of his cellar and the wine therein. And there was one jug of ancient vintage kept for some occasion known only to himself.

The governor of the state visited him, and he bethought him and said，“That jug shall not be opened for a mere governor.”

And a bishop of the diocese visited him, but he said to himself，“Nay, I will not open that jug. He would not know its value, nor would its aroma reach his nostrils.”

The prince of the reaIm came and supped with him. But he thought，“It is too royal a wine for a mere princeling.”

And even on the day when his own nephew was married, he said to himself，“No, not to these guests shall that jug be brought forth.”

And the years passed by, and he died, an old man, and he was buried like unto every seed.

And upon the day that he was buried the ancient jug was brought out together with other jugs of wine, and it was shared by the peasants of the neighborhood. And none knew its great age.

To them, all that is poured into a cup is only wine.

从前，有一位富人，他很为自己的酒窖和里面存放的美酒感到骄傲。他有一坛陈年老酒，准备在一些特殊的场合享用，这只有他一个人知道。

州长来拜访他，他仔细想过之后自语道：“为一个小小的州长就打开那坛酒不值得。”

辖区的一位主教来拜访他，他自言自语地说：“不，我不会开那坛酒的。他不懂它的价值，就是酒香扑鼻他也未必能闻到！”

王子来和他一起吃晚饭，可他想：“这酒太高贵了，一个小王子不配喝啊。”

就是在他的亲侄子结婚的那天，他还是自言自语地说：“不，这酒可不是为那些客人酿制的。”

很多年后，这个老人死了，他像种子一样被埋入土中。

他下葬那天，那坛陈年老酒和别的酒一起被抱了出来，被周边的农民喝掉了。根本没有人知道它是哪年酿造的。

对他们而言，倒入杯中的不过是酒而已。

Practising&Exercise 实战提升篇

单词注解

creed[kri：d]n.（宗教）信条，教条

weary['wiəri]a.疲倦的；困乏的；萎靡的

resume[ri'zju：m]v.重新开始；（中断后）又继续

diocese['daiəsis]n.主教管区，教区

reaIm[relm]n.王国；国度

实用句型

His mind wondered on the“real”picture he hoped to paint.

他的脑子里想着自己希望画出来的“真实”之作。

Not a minute passed by that our children and I had not thought of you.

我和孩子们时刻都在想你。

No, not to these guests shall that jug be brought forth.

不，这酒可不是为那些客人酿制的。

智慧点津

East or west, home is the best.

金窝银窝，不如自己的狗窝。

Many people like to treasure their favorite things, have to wait until a special opportunity to make it fully shown the greatest value. As everyone knows, to make the most of the thing is the best of its maximum value.

很多人喜欢珍藏自己的心爱之物，一定要等到一个特殊的机会让它尽显最大价值。殊不知，物尽其用就是它最大的价值。