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"What's the fifth obligation?" the boy asked.
“第五項戒律是什么？”男孩問道。
"Two days ago, you said that I had never dreamed of travel," the merchant answered.
“兩天前，你說我從未夢想過云游四方?！钡昀习寤卮鹫f，
"The fifth obligation of every Muslim is a pilgrimage. We are obliged, at least once in our lives, to visit the holy city of Mecca."
“第五項戒律就是所有的穆斯林教徒都要出行一次。一生當中至少要有一次，我們應該去一趟圣城麥加?！?/div>
"Mecca is a lot farther away than the Pyramids.
“麥加比金字塔還要遠得多。
When I was young, all I wanted to do was put together enough money to start this shop.
年輕的時候，我選擇了先積攢一點錢，開這個商店。
I thought that someday I'd be rich, and could go to Mecca.
當時我想，等成了富翁，就去麥加朝圣。
I began to make some money, but I could never bring myself to leave someone in charge of the shop; the crystals are delicate things.
我賺到了錢，但卻不能把店鋪交給別人照管，前去朝圣，因為水晶是易碎的。
At the same time, people were passing my shop all the time, heading for Mecca.
與此同時，我看到許多人從我的店前經過，朝著麥加的方向走去。
Some of them were rich pilgrims, traveling in caravans with servants and camels, but most of the people making the pilgrimage were poorer than I."
有些朝圣者是富翁，他們有仆人和駱駝隨行。但是，大多數朝圣者比我當年還窮?！?/div>
"All who went there were happy at having done so. They placed the symbols of the pilgrimage on the doors of their houses.
“所有的人前去朝圣和朝圣歸來時都興高采烈，把朝圣的象征物掛在自家的門上。
One of them, a cobbler who made his living mending boots, said that he had traveled for almost a year through the desert,
他們當中有一位鞋匠，專靠替人家修補靴子為生。他對我說，他在沙漠里走了將近一年，
but that he got more tired when he had to walk through the streets of Tangier buying his leather."
但是，每當他不得不在丹吉爾穿街走巷收購皮革的時候，卻總覺得比去朝圣還要累。”
"Well, why don't you go to Mecca now?" asked the boy.
“您為什么不現在去麥加呢？”男孩問道。
"Because it's the thought of Mecca that keeps me alive.
“因為麥加是支撐我活下去的希望，
That's what helps me face these days that are all the same, these mute crystals on the shelves, and lunch and dinner at that same horrible café.
使我能夠忍受平庸的歲月，忍受櫥柜里那些不會說話的水晶，忍受那間糟糕透頂的餐廳里的午飯和晚飯。
I'm afraid that if my dream is realized, I'll have no reason to go on living."
我害怕實現我的夢想，實現之后，我就沒有活下去的動力了。”
"You dream about your sheep and the Pyramids, but you're different from me, because you want to realize your dreams.
“你的夢想是羊群和金字塔。你與我不同，因為你希望實現你的夢想，
I just want to dream about Mecca. I've already imagined a thousand times crossing the desert,
而我只是想保有去麥加的夢想。我曾無數次地想象過，如何穿過沙漠，
arriving at the Plaza of the Sacred Stone, the seven times I walk around it before allowing myself to touch it.
到達安放著圣石的廣場，在觸摸圣石之前，圍著它繞行七圈。
I've already imagined the people who would be at my side, and those in front of me, and the conversations and prayers we would share.
我曾想象過有些人站在我身旁，有些人站在我前面，還有我們的談話和共同的祈禱。
But I'm afraid that it would all be a disappointment, so I prefer just to dream about it."
可是，我擔心會大失所望，所以我寧愿只保留一個夢想?！?/div>
That day, the merchant gave the boy permission to build the display.
就在這一天，水晶店老板同意做陳列架。
Not everyone can see his dreams come true in the same way.
并非所有的人都以一樣的方式對待夢想。
| 重點單詞 | 查看全部解釋 | |||
| obligation | [.ɔbli'geiʃən] |
想一想再看 n. 義務，責任 |
聯想記憶 | |
| merchant | ['mə:tʃənt] |
想一想再看 n. 商人，店主，專家 |
||
| heading | ['hediŋ] |
想一想再看 n. 標題，題目，航向 |
||
| leather | ['leðə] |
想一想再看 n. 皮革，皮制品 |
||
| delicate | ['delikit] |
想一想再看 n. 精美的東西 |
||
| disappointment | [.disə'pɔintmənt] |
想一想再看 n. 失望，令人失望的人或事 |
||
| pilgrimage | ['pilgrimidʒ] |
想一想再看 n. 朝圣之旅，人生歷程 vi. 朝圣 |
聯想記憶 | |
| symbols | ['simbəls] |
想一想再看 n. 符號；象征；標志；符號表（symbol的復數） |
||
| mute | [mju:t] |
想一想再看 n. 啞子，默音字母，弱音器 |
聯想記憶 | |
| permission | [pə'miʃən] |
想一想再看 n. 同意，許可，允許 |
聯想記憶 |
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