翻译作业练习2 参考译文

When you have married your wife, you would think you were got upon a hill top, and might begin to go downward by an easy slope. But you have only ended courting (求爱) to begin marriage. Falling in love and winning love are often difficult tasks to overbearing（傲慢的）and rebellious spirits; but to keep in love is also a business of some importance, to which both man and wife must bring kindness and goodwill. The true love story commences（begins）at the altar, when there lies before the married pair a most beautiful contest of wisdom and generosity, and a life-long struggle towards an unattainable ideal. Unattainable? Ay, surely unattainable, from the very fact that they are two instead of one.

参考译文：

当你步入婚姻的殿堂，你可能认为已经爬到了山顶，剩下的只是悠闲地沿着平缓的山坡下山。然而，这只是恋爱的结束，婚姻的开始。拥有一颗骄傲而又叛逆的心，坠入爱河与赢得爱情都是难事；但维持爱情也很重要，夫妻都应相敬如宾，互相关爱。当真爱起始于圣坛之时，夫妻之间便开始了一场最为美妙的智慧与慷慨的竞争，一场为了一个不可能实现的理想而持续一生的奋斗。不可能实现? 啊，当然不可能，因为他们不是一个人，而是两个呀。

I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests involving appropriate activities. It is in this sphere that long experience is really fruitful, and it is in this sphere that the wisdom born of experience can be exercised without being oppressive. It is no use telling grown-up children not to make mistakes, both because they will not believe you, and because mistakes are an essential part of education. But if you are one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests, you may find that your life will be empty unless you concern yourself with you children and grandchildren. In that case you must realize that while you can still render them material services, such as making them an allowance or knitting them jumpers, you must not expect that they will enjoy your company.

我认为，对于那些具有强烈的不受个人好恶所影响的喜好，其活动又恰当适宜的人们来说，成功地度过晚年绝非难事。只有在这方面，长年的经历才真正有益；只有在这方面，源于经验的智慧才能得到运用而不使别人感到压抑。告诫已经成人的孩子别犯错误是没有用处的，一来因为他们不会相信你，二来错误本身原本就是教育所不可缺少的一部分。但是，如果你是那种受个人情感支配的人，你就会发现，不把心思都放在子女和孙儿女身上，你就会觉得空虚。假如是这样的话，你必须明白，虽然你还能为他们提供物质上的帮助，比如给他们一笔零花钱或者为他们编织一件外套，但是千万不要期望他们会喜欢和你在一起。